Sunset Ride

Last night Jerry and I, me on my horse and Jerry riding a mule, went on a sunset/moonlight ride along the American River. It was chilly but not too cold, the sun was setting and the full moon rising. I just love riding the trails with only the moon lighting our path. We heard owls, watched a mama doe and her twin fawns watch us, and listened to our mount's hooves clip clop along the path as we quietly walked along. We timed our ride so we'd make it to the American River at sunset, where I planned to take some photos, then our ride back to the trailhead and our trailer would be in the moonlight. Recently, we have enjoyed breathtaking, spectacular, brilliant sunsets......

....Last night wasn't one of them. This was as colorful as it got. The sunset may have been a bit of a dud, but the trail ride with Jerry was spectacular.

Try a moonlit trail.

Point Reyes, Part 1, Ride to the Coast

Ten days ago we loaded up two horses and headed to Point Reyes, on the coast, north of San Francisco. Hot and dry at home, the weather predicted rain along the coast and coastal range for the weekend. There, on the windshield, our first raindrops since spring. The drive was nice and I was hoping that the rain wouldn't ruin our trip.

We arrived at the campground safe and sound, quickly set up camp, saddled up the horses and hit the trails with some friends who had been there for a few days already. It was very foggy and damp in the forest, so refreshing!

The trails were bordered by lush green trees, bushes and ferns. It smelled so good!

Back at camp, the horses are napping on the high-line. A group of our friends had been there for several days already. We all enjoyed a pot luck dinner and a surprise birthday cake for one gal. Jerry had made his delicious cherry cobbler which everyone always gobbles up. The group warned us about the persistent raccoons hanging about the campground, scavenging any bit of food left unsecured. One couple had stashed all of their food in coolers in the bed of their pickup truck the first night, only to find all of their food eaten or destroyed in the morning by those pesky coons.

We kept all of our food and horse feed locked up in the horse trailer. But in the morning we found raccoon prints all over the hood of our truck.

The second day was rainy enough for slickers, it was more of a fine mist and it was deliciously cool! We took an easy trail along the foot of the mountains, mostly flat, some wooded areas, and we had to ride through several cattle pastures with lots of momma cows and new baby calves. Not many pictures, my lens was wet and the pictures were awfully splotchy.

On the way back we stopped to watch this fella browse along the trail. Then he decided to mosey along ahead of us for quite a distance before he turned and disappeared into the thick underbrush.
After returning to camp, the others in our group packed up camp and went home. They all had previously ridden the trail over the mountains and to the coast before we arrived, it rained the day they rode to the beach.

We woke Monday to a beautiful day! After eating breakfast and packing our saddlebags with a lunch, we headed out. The trails are nice and well manicured, no dust, lots of green and even flowers still in bloom. So many wonderful trees, many of the large ones were Douglas Firs, and numerous Bay Laurel trees with that wonderful bay scent.

This is the view I had of Jerry and Cheyenne for most of the ride. Cheyenne was eager to be walking out at quite a clip while my mare and I were happy to quietly stroll along the paths.

We would catch up with the boys for some yummy green grassy snack breaks. But notice old Cheyenne, he is looking ahead wanting to be on the move again.

Some stretches of trail in this rain forest area were still wet and muddy, we did some slip sliding around on the steeper slopes. Lots of climbing uphill on the way to the ocean.

We loved these trails, cool wet and refreshing. Not humid at all. And No Dusty Trails!

to be continued.......

Point Reyes, California Part 2

The way was very well marked and there is a very large network of trails in this park. Hikers, bikers and equestrians with no motorized vehicles allowed. Many of the trails are for horses and bicycles only. We started at the Five Brooks Trail Head 6.0 miles ago and at this point it was 0.7 miles to get to Wildcat Camp on the beach.

The trail is drying out, the trees are further apart and the sunshine was streaming through.

We've reached the summit of our climb through the wet rain forest surroundings, and catch our first glimpse of the ocean. The narrow, slick-with-mud, steep trails were now behind us. I was giddy with anticipation......

We frequently dismount on rides to give the horses a break, especially on the steeper down hill trails. The horses seem to enjoy it and we get to stretch out our tired limbs and rest that part that sits on the hard leather seat. This was long, tough ride and we all appreciated the breaks.

Just zooming in on the coast ahead and below. My focus and settings aren't that great on the trails, most of the time it's get out the camera and shoot fast while my mare is walking along.

Cheyenne kept wanting to look out to sea, his mane blowing and his nostrils flaring. The blues were incredible but I haven't taken the time to adjust the color on this picture.

The remainder of the ride to the coast is along this two track dirt road. There is a camping site next to the beach that folks can hike into and the road is used by the Rangers to service the outhouses and check the campground daily. The road runs the entire way but it is a much more scenic route to ride or hike the trails.

Steep switch backs take us lower quickly. It is dry and windy, and the vegetation is completely different on this furthest west slope of these coastal mountains

Here we are, finally at sea level. It was lovely.

One last bit of narrow, steep path, just a few steps from the sand and the Pacific Ocean.



To be continued............

Point Reyes, California, Part 3, The Pacific Coast

We made it! Tracks tell that we weren't the first riders on the beach that afternoon.

Our destination, the Pacific Coast. The waves were high, the wind blowing and the roar of the surf constant. Both horses were on high alert.

First close-up look at the big noisy ocean.



Once she figured out the waves weren't attacking, she focused her attention on the globs of kelp littering the sand.







As we s l o w l y walked aong the beach, my mare kept watch between the waves, the kelp and the small rocks that tumbled down the cliffs beside us. Horses point their ears in the direction of their interest, her ears were spinning like little wind mills. I did not take bunches of pictures, there was the greater need to use all of my skill to keep my hot, red-headed, firecracker of a horse between my legs!

It was a great time.
I think I need to return to this sweet place.

HAPPY TRAILS!

From the back of my mule.....

This was my favorite ride, ever, anywhere. Two weeks ago we explored a trail loop in the Sierra Nevada on horse (mule) back with a group of friends. Perfect weather, abundant mountain wild flowers, overlooks and views that melt away burdens. I'd love to share the lonely sound of breezes rustling the pine boughs and pause with you, to deeply inhale the fresh mountain scent of sage, pine and flowers. Instead, I'll settle with sharing these few photos of a small section of our vast wilderness.

Steep switch backs taking us higher and higher into the mountains.

Snow still melting, created little streams feeding fields bursting with color.

Trailing along the crest of a ridge.

Millie looking for her buddies ahead. They have disappeared in the fields of lupine.

Pretty.

See the patch of snow in the distance behind Jerry and Pistol? Those two little dots on it are a boy and his Golden Retriever sliding and playing in the snow.

A bit of rock climbing.

I want to go back and stay a week, or more.

Our noon lunch stop.

Pistol and Millie taking their noon break.

Lake Tahoe can be seen in the distance.

Peace.

We rode for 4 1/2 hours, stopping frequently to enjoy.

Yes, I want to go back.

Enjoy your trails.

More Oroville Trails

The campsites at Oroville are some of the nicest we visit. Corrals for the horses and even hot showers for the humans. That's a bedroll next to the horse, it was so hot we slept out on the ground. I love the sound of horses munching hay during the night.

Everyone gathered at our campsite Saturday evening for a pot luck dinner.

Dusty trails through the woods.

The only green grass was in the shady wooded areas.

Only three of us stayed through Monday. We trailered past the reservoir to the Feather River trails. The river and shade provided some welcome relief from the heat.

A very long unused railroad tunnel gave the horses something new to experience.

There were a few places we could ride into the river to cool off and let the horses drink. Koko loves to play and splash whenever she gets in water.

It was a nice weekend, even with the heat.

But I am glad to be home, there's no place like home.