Mountain Times

A walk on water moment, Pantz and sis

We had an awesome experience horse camping, our third time to Clackamas Lake in Mount Hood National Forest. Clackamas lake sites are only 3 years old and have dedicated horse sites with very nicely built corrals.

Our time away, this time, was truly a "separated from the "connected" world of cell service", for my man, sister and myself.

The tiny dock of Clackamas lake

Usually, we may take a walk down the planked runway to the  tiny dock of the lake. We sit with our coffee's while we check in and catch up on "Home" activities with our elderly mother.
We took the coffee, and walked the planked runway to our known world's reception ..but nope, no reception! We got spotty reception near the road once...but after that, nothing. Actually-it was kinda refreshing  since we already knew other's were checking in on "grandmother". My Nephew was working on his motorcycle in her garage, and was there at all hours, days in a row replacing parts. Super helpful for the timing, as we girls and my man could relax, knowing he was around to make sure she was alright.
So....
No calls, no txts, blogs, no  "Instagram" ...it was a vacation from known connected realities! We only had each other and the horses, NICE!

Here is the stinker news though...I have waited to post this because *** my camera got taken this spring from my parked truck outside my house. I got another camera like it at the pawn shop...but apparently, it is not enough like it,(cords and connections don't link up) and I am unable to retrieve photos from it to our "old as hills" computer. I am frustrated. So there are just a  shots from my phone this time.

Sister with mares in a rare-non mosquito'd moment!

My sister used our tent to sleep in, as we always use the "Tent TRAILER"now...after I power wash the crap outa it (litterally so!)... It is awesome for camping. Screened windows, safe from bears and wildlife, rainproof...level for the queen air mattress.

My man was to drive up to the mountain camp site later that night, after he got done with his normal work day. We sisters got there midday, at check in time, and set up the entire camp site. We then decided to Chilax with the horses. It was very hot and they seemed content in the corral nearby. My man drove in late, but that was alright...we had a nice roaring fire for him, to make him feel like sitting down with a cold one. Dinner was ready for him on the table.

Unfortunately, the blasted mosquitoes were awful and plentiful. We did our best with the arsenal of bug replants...but in the end, we waited for the fall of darkness for relief!

Next morning we all had a lovely round of STRONG COFFEE and I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. We sisters decided to take a riding outing to the lake for 4th of July. It was the first of 5 rides this trip.

My mare was very nicely walking behind Pantz, I was sighing in delight and looking all around. My mare has this kicking walk. She gets her walk on at around 4-5 m.p.h. and gets mighty disturbed, when she must be checked back for using it on trail rides, behind a slow pokey horse.

 I was just reading over in Germany at LYTHA'S place, that she had gone out with her Mara mare, and met a rider with a horse that has a great walk too...the owner doesn't like to ride with others because their horses get disturbed because... they probably get left behind! That would be a good fit for us, like Pantz is... she outwalks Wa every time.

Anywho...we were struting through the vast beautiful and my sister and I did a "Leap Frog" in positioning. While Wa was clam, I allowed her to lead. It is the perk for her for remaining calm behind. We did that several times and once my sister spied a large BLACK RAVEN feather! She still has a gimpy leg so getting off to retrieve it was near impossible . I popped off and got it and placed it directly in Wa's mane!

I Adore finding feathers and did a complete

 POST HERE about the meanings......

I felt a little badly for claiming the RAVEN Feather so quickly but I had given her a Red Tailed Hawk feather just before the ride, and it was in place in Pantz's mane , looking rather smart!

It was a nice little first ride, but we did have a slight bolt situation from my mare. The weather was so hot and the winds had come up across the Lake. While it kept us cooler on a very hot day, it made the lake waters have a small tide effect, "Lapping" up onto the land. My mare took issue with the waters and spooked suddenly. She turned to leave...right into my sister! Sis got a huge bruise from that on her forearm...but we gained control quickly and hung out by the waters till the mares settled. It was so Beautiful!

We had some cobbler for dessert that eve for the 4th. My man is a great cook and he comes up with such camping delights each year! We pretty much ate only Vegetarian delights this year, Hummus with veggies, my special sandwhich ( Dave's killer bread, avocado , almond butter, grated carrot,cucumber, safflower mayo and spinach leaves, grated cheese) 

Naan open faced grilled cheesy delight, apple slaw..on and on the veggie meals went...It felt super good to eat lighter.

The next days ride was to be the long one of the trip, since my man had to go to work that day before he could return for the final  3 nights and 2 days of camping with us girls. I had told my sissy that the LAKE RIDE around Timothy is what I wanted to accomplish this year. Last year when we came, she and Pantz mare were recovering from health maladies, and the entire lake ride was out -NOT plausible. But this year...there was nothing stopping us...though it is long, the weather had cooled and water was available along the route for the horses plus, we brought hay lunch for them.

Lunching with mares-half way point around Timothy lake, Oregon

We stopped at mile 8 to have our lunches...since the weather had cooled and in the forest shade it seemed even cooler( me loving it, sister freezing) we made sure to sit in the sun for lunch!

We soon headed out again, (after a photo shoot with me in the shots, but alas...on the camera) for the rest of the ride around Timothy lake. We were almost half way around the lake when my sister asked me, "How much further will it be?"  When I answered, " Sister, we are riding the entire loop around the lake today"..and though when you add up the separate trail distances on the map, my GPS was on, and my calculations had us at almost, half way at that moment. " We have about 8 or nine miles to go"....
!!!  She exclaimed,"Are you trying to kill us??!!"

After her worry and a diatribe conversation, I took this "little video"....Sighing in it, as you hear...we went onward and forward, walking briskly through the beauteous place, above the Lake in the Mountains.
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The second mishap happened about 5 miles from home camp. The ride from my GPS was 16 miles. According to the map readout on mileage, it's 20. It seems very long, to be sure...Pantz was tired and she tripped on uneven footing and caught her hoof boot. They did not go down, but that initial jerk and adrenaline feels terrible. I hate that!

 So, my sister thought I tried to kill her and her horse..but the next day...we all felt pretty darned  GOOD!!!
We repeated a neat action we had started the morning of the 5th...get up with the sun( just before 6am), feed the horses, clean the stalls, replenish water, take a jaunt to the rest rooms...then go back to bed!
That was refreshing!!




So the next few rides we stayed closer to camp. We did a "Headwaters Loop" once, and that was totally cool! The terrains varied so much and it was only 4 miles. We also did loops around camp and to a nice meadow 2 miles away. The horses were so wonderful, really willing and calm.

We enjoyed our getaway very much...and returning home was equally nice. Sleeping in a real bed for us and also the mares being back to a normal routine-less the terrible MOSQUITOS! They were horrendous!
Sigh...summertime is lovely. We seem to have had 3 in one season this year...the 90's were hit more than ever and now we continue to go without Oregon's rains and staying in the 80's...I'M NOT COMPLAINING!

Hope you all are well, I must check in to find out about your summer times. My man is READY for fall..he has been for a month. What can I say, we are true Oregonians...liking it cooler and with lots of color.

BE WELL ALL

My mare, sporting her Raven feather back home again