Wow Kathy, beautiful post....you also seem to be
really tuned into the natural wonders, wildlife and plants of the area...would
love to ride with you!!!
Yesterday I rode a section of trail that passes
by an iris pond, in full bloom, one of the most spectacular sights I've seen
in a long time. Riders of the American River ride will have a treat this year
when they pass Avery's Pond. If you live in the area, are not doing the ride,
and haven't yet seen Avery's Pond in full bloom, go ride the trail
soon.
We get to see miles & miles of beautiful
scenery, mountains, deserts, lakes, ponds, mountain meadows, waterfalls that
appear out of nowhere, wild rivers carrying tons of debris & topsoil,
changing colors and mixing with cleaner waters of a joining branch, boulders
that look like giant faces carved into the mountainsides....all from the backs
of our horses. You couldn't hike enough in your lifetime to see what we can
see, and you're too low on a bike. We get to see bears, bobcats, mt. lions,
wild turkeys, coyotes, bison, elk, hawks trying to take flight with the next
meal in their talons, trails hanging with blooming red buds, shimmery poison
oak leaves breaking into bloom (it really is pretty, although I wouldn't miss
it if it suddenly dropped off the face of the earth!), fairy lanterns, wally
baskets, lupines all in beautiful bloom. We get to watch the changing seasons
in the forests and deserts, mountains & meadows.
