Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Our Lady of Perpetual LD smiled upon us again this year at Desert 
Gold.  My partner and I have been to this ride twice before, with 
mixed results.  First time out we got too cold one day and had 
assorted horse mishaps the next so RO'd out both days.  Last year, I 
did finish all 3 days but my partner missed out one because he 
brought only 1 (!) pair of riding pants and they got soaked the first 
day.

The rain gods were kind to us this year. (to the LD riders I mean, 
some endurance riders just had to get wet!)  These trails are in the 
former military base, Fort Ord and on BLM lands on the Monterey 
peninsula of northern CA.  Just beautiful footing ,mostly gradual 
up/down slopes, a good mix of twisty single track and wide fire 
roads.  Some deep sand, which we non-Floridians fear like plague. 
Scott Sansome, the ride manager, and his hardy band of volunteers 
worked hard to keep up the excellent markings in the face of 
territorial displays by the local mountain bikers.  It would be very 
easy to get lost in the maze of trails on these lands without the 
careful marking.  All the other trail users we met seemed pleasant 
and non-confrontational.  The only thing I could have lived without 
was the helicopter that buzzed us early on the second day.  Our 
horses just had a good training opportunity, but I did hear that a 
rider came off (all parties OK).

We had a group of 4, my experienced mare Sky, 2 7 year old mares with 
a couple of LD's and our 8 year old gelding on his first outing.  I'm 
a confirmed LD rider (I'll even tell you my confirmation name if 
asked), my partner has tons of endurance experience and the buckles 
to prove it.  We also had a friend riding whose mare is laid up this 
year and she brought to us a potential new convert who is a grad 
student looking to ride again.

Our merry band  had a classic pilot error early the first day:broken 
stirrup leather.  Although 2 gallant BLM employees we ran into helped 
us cobble it together, we decided it was too chancy so my partner and 
the grad student walked back to the camp.  The two of us had a great 
day and continued with our plan of finishing all 3 days in good shape.

The second day went smoothly after the helicopter had done whatever 
it was doing and went away.  Trails great: trot when possible, walk 
when necessary, canter just for fun.  Vet check a bit crowded, 
everybody working hard to keep things moving.  I wasn't whining 
because (a) they gave me Doritos! and (b) it gave both the horse and 
me time to relax.  Back on the trail, more trot, walk, canter and 
then home.

I really enjoyed the final day's trail.  We did a lovely mix of 
single track and wide roads twice and I would have enjoyed a third go 
round.  Sky did ask if we really had to go out of camp on the same 
out trail yet again, but she complied when I insisted that indeed was 
the case.  We got back in good time, all vetted in with almost no 
issues.

I don't remember the results for the 50 milers, sorry.  I don't know 
where we stood in relation to the LD group.  I do know that all our 
horses finished well and happy.  And Sky will wear a cooler at the 
next ride with  Desert Gold 3 Day LD BC embroidered on it (not 
official AERC BC).  She deserved it, she was a pro.  The other guys 
need more work at home for the trot outs, but they were perfect out 
on the trails.  In contrast to what others say, my experience at all 
the LDs I've attended has been quite low key and calm.  I've never 
seen mad starts or racing of any kind.  There is nothing to win, 
after all. Your mileage may vary.

Thank you to ride management for great rides and wonderful campfires. 
Congratulations to the winners and to many who reached mileage goals 
at this ride.  Thanks to Don for the horses, Sandy and Claudia for 
trail companionship.  And especial thanks to Claudia's husband, Jason 
for being our hardworking, ever helpful crew.  He's taking riding 
lessons now and does ride with us on training rides.  Next year, 
he'll be out competing and AERC will have 2 more members.
And for all those wondering, those fabulous red full-seats with 
fringe were a 50th birthday present and come out on special 
occasions, which this was.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=