[RC] Hallelujah! Movin' on up (Part 2) - Jim Holland
1.5 hours on the first 15 mile loop…little too fast,
but OK…Magic didn’t drink at all on the trail, but ate his slurry
and took a good drink just as we were leaving the 10 minute hold. Back
after the 10 mile loop at 10:18…8 miles/hr. Still just a little fast,
but acceptable. Dumped the saddle, washed off the sand and went immediately to
the Vet...pulse at 56. Perfect Vet score…all A’s.
Out at 10:55 on the next loop…15 miles….arrival
at 12:51…perfect pace! Magic is drinking well now. Dumped the
saddle, straight to the Vet, pulse at 50. Another perfect Vet score…all
A’s. An hour hold here. Magic drank well and is HUNGRY!
Wolfed down his beet pulp slurry…so we made him another one. Ate
that one as well, then moved on to the hay for a few minutes, cocked a back leg
and took a nap! What a guy!
Out at 1:59 for another 10 mile loop, arrived at
3:18….pace is good. Pulse is 52…..Vet scores again
perfect…all A’s.
25 miles to go. Last 15 mile loop, out at
3:55…done this loop before….Magic is dragging a little with no company,
but about halfway through the loop, he realizes he is headed for camp and picks
it up. Arrived at 6:02….pace still good…right at two hours for 15
miles. Again straight to the Vet….pulse at 61…highest of the
day so far, but the sand is deep on this loop. They are serving dinner, so Joan
does the trot out while I grab a plate of pork barbecue and some wonderful
desert. Otis gives me a “thumbs up” from the Vet area….again
straight A’s…..can he hold this for the rest of the ride?
10 miles to go…Otis asks “Are you OK?” He
isn’t worried about Magic! <grin> Out on the last 10 miles at
dusk….moon is rising, but lots of shadows and dark in the trees. After
about 5 miles, can’t see anything but the glow sticks, so trusting Magic
now, who is still holding a nice steady trot. He knows this trail and
handles it well, slowing for the downhills and sand, picking it up on the flat,
getting stronger. He slows as the lights of camp come into sight and I dismount
and lead him into camp. Checked with the in timer and head for the
trailer. Drop the saddle, and don’t even bother with a pulse check. At
the P/R, his pulse is the lowest of the day….47. When the Vet
checks him after the trot out, it is 44! Again straight
A’s….a perfect day. Ten riders started, 9 finished…we
were 7th. Joan and I were hugging Magic we were so proud of
him…75 miles with a perfect Vet score…better than a win!
Got Magic clean and his blanket on and crashed for the
night. Joan got up at midnight, fed Magic and took him for a walk just as the
last 100 miler (Sandy Thompson) was coming in. About 6:30AM, heard the
patter of rain on the trailer roof. Bounced out of bed to get all the
“stuff” under the awning. Dang, just can’t get away
from this rain! The 75 and 100 milers huddled under the tent for awards
Sunday morning. Don’t remember much about placings….Debra
Foti won the 50….
Looking forward to doing the 100 at Goethe.
I really enjoyed this ride. My thanks to Lucie
Hancock, Patricia Jackson, and the rest of the staff.. We enjoyed it a
lot and hope to be back next year. The trail was marking was excellent…if
you got lost on this ride you were not paying attention!
The vets were great! An international crew in addition to
Otis Schmitt…they really liked Magic, although they were somewhat
surprised when I showed up for the trot out in a neck rope. (I could probably
do the trot out in nothing with Magic! <grin>) He does a
“purty” trot on my shoulder.
When I was out on the trail, Joan was
“volunteering” as a timer….and crewing for other riders.
Couldn’t have done it without her!
