Re: [RC] No Frills 30/55 and Annual Tractor Pull - steelsidedown
Was a blast!
Weather was gorgeous for setting up camp Friday
afternoon. Camp was great, well organized, plenty volunteers to steer you in the
right direction.
Weather continued to hold for dinner which was to
die for! Salad, Roast Pork+ Beef w/ gravy+onions, two vegetarian soups,
baked potatoes w/ all the fixins, loads of yummy baked goodies for
dessert. Ahh once again no weight lost this weekend.....
Ride meeting was following dinner. We almost
got thru the whole meeting, but alas the thunderstorm broke. Art King we
think the world of ya, but not standing in an open field during a thunderstorm
to hear the rest of the parameters! Apologies!
OK guys, no sweetening up this part of the story!
It poured for hours! Horses were comfy in their blankies. Riders
went to bed early to the pitter pat of rain on metal roofs. It was
actually much more peaceful than most rides, no screaming horses, no giggling,
just good snoozing weather for all!
Woke up to light sprinkles and 60'. Got
overdressed for the weather and rode off. Our group included, an
experienced pair, brand new horse to endurance w/ experienced rider, and a brand
new horse and rider to endurance. High hopes for 3 completions in the
30.
Trail has changed, and much for the better (it was
great before). There were more woods trails, and less fire road, more
water crossings. Oh! don't worry the "hill to heaven" is still there, only this
time you get to climb it! (for those who haven't ridden it; this hill goes
up for like ever, you get to the top out of breath, on a horse and in the
clouds - literally -- it must be heaven!) Everything was marked very
well, mile markers at the end where you really need the
encouragement!
Vet Check to die for! Again this ride is a
little different, crewing is done entirely by volunteers. (due to Forestry
Service restrictions personal crews aren't able to drive to the vet
check). Which means everybody gets crew! Tons of yummy hay + grain
provided, water provided, and ride management hauling any additions you'd
like. We packed e'lytes and rump rugs on our saddles, and got totally
spoiled with everything else provided! (did a mention yummy people food,
drinks, HOT TEA also done by management?! -- Again no weight lost this
weekend)
Ok it did rain all day, it did get chilly, we did
get cranky. We kept getting distracted by the beautiful trails, and the
horses doing so well. Before we knew it there was a mile to go sign, then
1/2, then the vet check at the finish -- we all completed! Rain and wet
was forgotten.
And now for the tractor pull......... For
those who don't know there is an odd meteorological condition that occurs at
nearly every No Frills ride, no matter where or when it seems to follow the
ride. Its not El Nino or La Nina, but what I like to call El Slicko
Muddo. This occurence can happen with only the slightest mist at a No
Frills ride, sometimes it has happened with no rain at all during out actual
time at the ride. Side effects of El Slicko Muddo include: trucks
hooked to heavy trailers loaded with insane amounts of gear at the bottom of an
incline, gate at the top of said incline, one small volunteered tractor enroute
to help, wet exhausted riders charging the hill at full speed in said
trucks and not making it to the top, pitiful wet exhausted pit crews walking
horses to top of said incline waiting for trucks.
Sound awful? Nah its great fun! We sat at
mid-hill heater blasting, hot tea in hand, watching the insanity unfold.
Actually, Jon Crandell was quite the professional, methodically pulling each rig
to the top unhooking and going to the next, what a sport! Finally it
looked clear for my turn, horses left on foot for the top with another
rider. I started up the beastie truck, and drove to the top of the hill --
OK what is all the drama for? That was NO problem. I must confess I
have a huge truck and tiny light trailer, which makes it much
easier.
We had a blast during the ride and during
the tractor pull. Thanks to the hoards of volunteers, and Kate the
manager, and the Crandell family who let us crash at their place for the
weekend!
No Frills had 90 horses signed up to start on a
nice (58 degree) gentle rainy day, that is much needed after the driest
March in recorded history (.05 inch) in Va.
ts
