Million Pines: A sponger is born

["Steph Teeter" <steph@endurance.net>]

I'm throwing away my scoop. Sponging is definitely where
it's at. It took a little while to get the technique down, and
I still have lots of work to do... but I was getting awesome by the
end of the ride. On Friday I was mumbling to Angie about 
how sponging never seemed worth it - all the hassle with the 
straps, clips, etc, can't get that much water on the horse, blah 
blah blah. She whipped out one of her Walmart specials and 
said - just try this. Gave a few demonstrations, I played around 
flinging it into a bucket and thought - yeh it's kinda fun, but 
still had my doubts. I stuffed the sponge and string in one
of my water bottle pouches and politely promised to try it.

The first half of the first loop I was mostly trying to control
my horse, the sponge was a soggy reminder against my leg,
but I didn't dare lose my grip on the reins. Calm, steady
Khruschev was out of town. I started up front (a pack of
102, didn't want to get caught in the middle) and we kept
up with the front runners for 5 or 6 miles and then I pulled
him in. Probably more for my sake than his, but I really do
like to be in control, and I was definitely not the one
calling the shots! About 6-8 miles out we started getting into
some real water - creek crossings, and alligator type
swamps. I got the sponge out and wrapped the string around
my wrist (big leap of faith on this - I could just see the
sponge getting looped around a leg and pulling me out of
the saddle by my wrist...) and did a few tentative tosses.
Not bad .... hitting the target was pretty easy, and Angie's
preferred sponge really did soak up a lot of water - but
I was having some problems getting the sponge back into
my hand. (as I eventually learned, it's all in the wrist). I
tried the quick snap rebound - a little tough when you're
moving fast, and that soaked sponge really is heavy. I started
getting the hang of the 'toss it forward, swing it back, 
swing it forward, then snatch' technique. Angie had told
me this would work the best. Only had a few problems
early on with the 'swing it forward, then snatch' part. If
you swing it forward too hard, and don't snatch it soon 
enough it keeps going forward, then up, then over and 
back down behind you. Khruschev was very patient (actually 
generally oblivious) and Duane didn't laugh too hard when 
I almost hit him on the 'up, then over, then back down
behind you' part. 

I don't think I've ever been so entertained during a ride.
I can see why Angie is so passionate about sponging - it's
a gas! Always looking around the next corner for a puddle,
untangling the string after the occasional wraps around
your stirrup, perfecting the timing ... no more scoops (how
vulgar) for this Westerner.  

So, this ride, Million Pines, was probably the nicest I've
ever been to. I arrived Wednesday night and Wesley and
Carol Crowe let me put the horses in a nice fenced in
paddock and invited me in for a turkey sandwich. Such
kind people - and such wonderful accents! Quite a few
rigs arrived by Thursday evening (30-40) and Wesley
and Carol put on a fish (fresh catch) dinner in their
beautiful back yard (this place is spectacular!) - warm
night air, dogwoods, azaleas, just perfect. And there
are millions of pines. Unbelievable to see all of the trucks
and trailers skillfully (or not) wedged into the spaces.
There's a huge pond behind the house - Friday afternoon
was hot and sunny and there were kids running all over,
swimming, and swimming their horses, and galloping
bareback around the egde of the pond. Normal Rockwell
kind of stuff. Jaye Perry was there shoeing my horses
(this guy is a truly talented farrier) and I watched all
the activity while he worked on the horses. Great ride 
meeting Friday - Wes should have been a standup comic. 
He has a very dry sense of humor, and is most entertaining! 
They provided hotdogs for everybody, and I also managed 
to join Carlos,Lynn, Truman,Kathy and the whole Florida 
gang for a great steak dinner after the meeting. 

The trail wasn't anything spectacular (after
Outlaw Trail, nothing compares) - but it was great fun.
Some windy single track, some dirt road, some cypress
swamp, and some very cool straight shots through pine
plantations - galloping in a straight row with the pines
zooming rhythmically past - a little vertigo even. We rode
a freeway overpass (that was pretty amazing) and went
past the original Million Pines plantation mansion. Very
Georgia. The pace was, in a word, FAST. Mostly good footing, 
fairly flat, and other than the single track, swamps and 
pavement, was great galloping. And we galloped! Khruschev
was on and we had a wonderful ride. We rode the last
11 mile loop fastest of all - did it in around 45 minutes.
I kept thinking some of the group (5) that I was riding
with would fall back - no such luck. We just all zoomed
along. Duane (and Goat) and I pulled back before the
finish and like a true southe'n gentleman he let me
finish before him (and Nina, like a true southe'n lady
responded to Duane's gallantry by telling him 
'your a** is grass! ')

Wonderful ride - definitely one I'll remember fondly. 
We sort of had a party after the ride (it was cold! but
after a while nobody noticed) to celebrate my birthday
(also Melissa's and a few others) although I don't think
any of this group needs an excuse for a party. Tommy C.
sang Happy Birthday (he was definitely not feeling the
cold). Susan Kasemyer had taken a hard fall early in 
the ride and was pretty sore but still managed to pull 
some awful jokes. And Nina and her Long Island Tea... 

I'm in Virginia now - will head north to condition in
the mountains and then on to Biltmore. It's been a most
wonderful, incredible adventure. The folks in Florida
that put me up, and put up with me, are absolutely wonderful.
Truman Prevatt and Kathy Thompson gave me and the
horses a place to live and train, Carlos and Lynn Crespo
probably win the prize by taking the six foot albino python 
(that my son and his friend caught in the Everglades) off
my hands - I wasn't too sure I wanted to keep him with
me in the horse trailer..) . Darlene Krell kept my horses
fit while I was back home, and was a great friend and
riding companion, Randy Lavikoff kept me laughing on
the trail, Ron and Lori Lupe- wonderful folks. I'll miss
them all. 

Steph