Ridecamp: [RC] Caddie/Jeep - Part 2

The ride started off really nice.  We were just going to walk the entire
course so we could get an idea of where the trail would go.  Would it
follow the exact same course as last years NRR, or would it divert here
and there along new trails?  What about the deep water hole?  Keep it, or
by pass it?  How long on the bike path?  All these questions, and more,
will be answered at the Ride Meeting next Friday night.  Be there, or be
square.  

We passed under the Van Buren Bridge and entered an area Caddie and I
have never been to.  Trailmaster would occasionally stop and describe
trails he plans to make in the future, and discussions about a possible
75 miler at NRR, and the Coast to Coast Trail that will go through the
area.  I wasn't really fond of the time spent on the bike path, but
during the race most likely people will be trotting, so that part will be
over with fairly quickly.  

We came to a really neat spot on leg 3 that actually burned a couple
months ago.  Now it's a really beautiful green meadow.  Trailmaster cut a
swath through the grass and you meander around really nice.  The grass is
really cool looking stuff too.  Kind of a blue green, pine tree color
that actually looks like pine seedlings.  It looked an awful lot like a
mountain meadow.  In a few places water has invaded the trail and you
feel like you're in a boggy, mountain streamside, but the footing
underneath is really firm and the water just inches deep.  It's really
'un-Southern California' looking.  There wasn't any water in the trough
at Anza Narrows, but Trailmaster knows where the water main is (he
installed it) and filled the trough up.  The horses weren't all that
interested in drinking, but hunger was beginning to nudge.  TB and Jeep
dove into the green grass, but Caddie just nibbled - I think she didn't
like the idea of sharing with TB.  

In all of leg 3 the only spot I remember that you need to be careful at
is coming out of a water crossing.  There's a deep hole right next to the
very narrow trail that has a lot of weed growth in it.  It's very
deceptive looking until you're right on top of it.  I personally would
like to see it filled in, but then I ride a horse that's very large and
not in the least bit agile.  She needs a lot of space, and narrow
openings always give me the heeby-jeebies (plus, I'm a chickenshit).  So
far, Caddie has been doing just fine, so if she can do it, so can a lithe
little endurance horse.  

By the time we got to Vet Check 3 Caddie was really hungry and actually
trying to eat as she walked (she's never been successful at that).  The
beautiful grassy meadow provided her with the best opportunity for 'lunch
on the fly', and she managed to get a few mouthfuls.  There was no
stopping a Vet 3.  We headed out into the sand - deep sand.  Let me
repeat - DEEP SAND.  Is that a hint to save your horses?  It's meant to
be.  Don't rush the first 3 legs of NRR because leg 4 is going to be a
killer.  Braveheart is considering rerouting a portion of leg 4 up onto
the bluffs to avoid the sand.  We don't want anymore problems like we had
at last years ride.  Even with a reroute there will still be a lot of
deep sand on portions of leg 4, and I have no problems hollering at you
to slow down when you come whizzing passed me (just preparing you).

We came to a spot where the trail passed by a nice creek, so I asked for
a water stop.  All three horses entered the water - TB enters water
without the slightest hesitation, Caddie always has to inspect before
entering, Jeep enters water nicely but won't drink from the river.  TB
was drinking heartily, Jeep was just standing there, and Caddie didn't
know what to do.  Was she suppose to cross?  Standing there next to TB
was insulting.  She kept pinning her ears and rolling her eyes at him. 
When that didn't work, she started snapping her teeth at him.  He wasn't
close enough to even feel a breeze from her swinging head, and she knows
she'll get the snot beat out of her from me if she ever tries to lunge at
another horse, so she just stands there looking menacing, and sounding
like a big shot with those teeth of hers snapping shut.  TB just ignored
her and kept drinking.  Trailmaster moved him anyway.  Just turned him a
little so TB's face wasn't in her direct line of sight.  You'd think that
would have satisfied Her Highness and she would have taken a drink, but
no, she was just too put out by the whole ordeal and wanted to move on.

We plowed through the sand a little while longer and finally came to some
decent footing.  New trail just cleared.  Real nice.  We crossed the
river and entered Jurupa Park.  

And that, my friends, is the end of Part 2.  Hubby wants lunch and is
begging for Bradfield sammies (another long story).  So, that means I
have to go to the grocery store.  Hope you have enjoyed the story so far,
it gets real good after this (a lot more mistakes coming up).

Chickenshit 

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