The day started out overcast, low ceiling. I could hear planes overhead but could not see them. Humidity was creeping up. My hair was getting a halo, frizzy.
We headed out to meet our friends at their boarding barn in Windsor Mill, on the other side of the demolished town of Daniels. Our navigator would announce a turn about 50 feet from the actual turn. This caused some issues with lane changing, a problem while hauling a trailer. The barn had a 'red' gate, but the navigator allowed us to go past it, with 5 cars on our butt, announcing at the far corner of the farm's 80 acres. Argh! The red gate could have used a coat of paint, to bring it from rusty maroon back to red.
The further we went the worse the road became. The crowned road was seriously narrow, there was no sign alerting to the one-lane bridge, and the white stripe on the side of the road was missing in lots of places, turned to rock and gravel. There is no shoulder.
We turn left into the next road, allowing the bevy of cars to get past. I jump out and direct him out into the roadway. There are no cars, all is quiet.
We come out onto a paved driveway and enter the road way. I hate this part, because it is a blind corner and people really do drive too fast. The roads aren't that good in this area and speed only adds to my anxiety. Traveling down the road about 50 feet to the stop sign to turn left, we do stop traffic. I thank every single driver for waiting for the four of us to cross the roads and into the park.
We now were on trails that we've been on before and these trails have been maintained. We are warned that the way back, a different route, has a downed tree that is so low we'll have to take our saddles off and let the horses crouch under to get by. Like we haven't done that before!
We pick up the speed where we can, and others, on bikes, are doing the same. I see the bike coming and yell out WHOA (haha) and he comes to a sliding stop. Horses have the absolute right-of-way in the park, and we usually let the bikes go past us, but at this particular area there is no way to safely share the path. Straight up and straight down, the path is steep and is bench-cut into the hill side. The rocks are used by climbers, too. Bare rock walls, solid granite.
We had our pit stop at the Woodstock Inn. Seeing friends there, one shared a wallet he had found in the attic. He has lived in the house his entire life, and has been in his family for generations. One of the pictures is of a horse and rider, dated 1907, Druid Hill Park. Also included and shared with us is his great-grandparents' wedding announcement from 1880.
We headed back out to Daniels and was able to pick up the pace on the trail next to the river. Mostly sandy, with a serpentine trajectory. The sun is shinning brightly. We came upon a slope that had been blocked some years ago when we were last there. Glad to see it cleared. We crisscrossed the river, letting the horses cool off and drink. There were walkers and kayaks and canoes, swimmers, too, on a rope swing, now that the sun is out. I know that water is cold!
We picked up the pace along this straight trail, wide enough for cars to travel and pass. Some wet spots, but mostly firm and solid. I urged KC on, staying in front, and kept going until I needed to stop to rest. We came upon a woman walking a Golden Retriever, off-leash, meeting at another wet spot, rutted out by bike tires with standing water. KC stopped and I said to the woman that he doesn't like mud. She said that was the funniest thing she'd heard! True enough, really.
We aired up and continued on at a fast pace, covering lots of ground. We arrived back at the ruins of Daniels, the dam and parking lot. Busy, busy. KC is soaked and hot. We cross back onto the other side, under the pillars of the old train trestle that was washed away during the 1972 Hurricane Agnes event. Now retracing our steps, through the three-way intersection and back up the hill. Sunny and warm, but the humidity is receding.
Finally make it back to the farm, untack and head on home. We got back with plenty of daylight left; he planned on cutting grass and I wanted to rinse the boys off with our hot water hose.
I put the boys out into field #3, he's mowing #2. KC rolled, like he always does after a bath or a ride, and that was the beginning of an anxious evening.
KC was exhibiting signs of colic pretty much as soon as I put him in field #3. Tom had just gotten onto the tractor to mow field #2 and was coming up the hill and I was waving frantically at him. I advised him that KC was not feeling well, could he please get the bottle of 'STOP COLIC' 'SAY WHOA' from the kitchen, PLEASE. KC was rolling his eyes and kicking the kick-boards in the run-in shed. He was hot to the touch and pawing.
Had taken his halter off, so all I had was a rope around his neck, and that little man is strong. He was dragging me around, while I was trying to drag him around. Needles to say,I'm freaking!
He gets back to the run-in shed and draws the first dose out of the bottle. I'm hanging onto the rope around KC neck, and have a hand on his jaw. Directions say tip their mouth up. We accomplished that and IMMEDIATELY he stops rolling his eyes, now licking his lips and drops his head. W0W! That works faster than the vet-admistered colic remedy. Gut sounds within 15 minutes, drinking and eating within a half hour. This stuff is a miracle worker!
I promise never to rinse him off after a ride, no matter what, ever, ever again, AMEN.
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