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Re: [RC] [RC] Favorite Rides in 2004 - East Coast - Flora Hillman1) Fair
Hill in Maryland - the open 50/100 mile rides, and first FEI CCI 100
mile ride in October. Autumn in Maryland is generally beautiful, but the
weekend of this International festival of Eventing, Endurance, and Driving
Ma Nature was (sadly) in a foul mood. I'll remember it for the sleet,
rain, cold, thunderstorms, endlessly deep mud in the camp, and stunning
fields and trails through beautiful foxhunting country. I'll also remember
it for passing the CCI** eventing course and waving to the fence judges even as
my riding buddy and I were gasping at the size of the advanced level
fences, singing a rousing "Happy Birthday" to the delightful 90 year old
landowner who had been so excited to have the ride pass through his beautiful
estate on his birthday that he asked to have one part of the trail pass right by
his house so he could watch and wave to the the riders as they passed by,
and racing to the 50 mile finish line hand in hand with my riding buddy,
laughing so hard we almost fell off.
2) No
Frills in Virginia - old ride but new venue -- and early enough in April
that snow was still a possibility, especially in the mountains bordering West
Virginia where the ride was located. And snow it did, and sleet, and
drizzle, and all with a fog so thick on the crest of the mountains it looked
like a white blanket thrown over the peaks. I didn't get to ride due to an
injury, but being a first time volunteer I was privy to lots of riders telling
me about the lovely trails, and how they would happily do the ride again next
year, lousy weather or not. This coming spring I expect to be among them,
seeing it all from the saddle.
3) Michaux Madness in PA -- new ride with a *great* group of
volunteers all eager to show everyone a wonderful time. I'll remember it
for the stunning scenery on top of the Michaux State Forrest mountains, and for
coming in third even though I diddled away a hour's lead down to only 5
minutes on the last loop by stopping many times to let my pony graze
just so I could sit and enjoy the view. :-)
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