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Elly and I rode the GG on Saturday for our first 50 miles. Luckily, Karen
had talked me into entering as two separate 50's!
The first day was great. We had pre-ridden some of the trails a few weeks
before, so when I wasn't paying attention, Elly took that opportunity to
head towards Karen's house. Luckily I noticed that there weren't any
ribbons, so I made her (albeit unwillingly) turn around and head back!
The trails were good and the scenery was nice--especially when we were up
high enough for panoramic views of the entire countryside. Other than
that, what can I say, its Nevada. I used to live there and sagebrush is
sagebrush, after all!!
I started to feel sick at lunch time, I've just not been able to find
something I can eat that agrees with me on a hot ride lunch time. But
after the next water check about 8 miles out, I was feeling much better and
we started to make some time. Not much though, since we rode in the rest
of the way with Kae (?) and Barry (her stallion) and came in last.
A funny little aside to this though is that at the very end...and I do mean
VERY END...two riders came blasting past to finish ahead of us. Actually,
they thought the finish was at the fairgrounds and that the two guys out
there were just number takers. Well the two guys were friends of mine, so
they put those two riders ahead of us, then Kae and then me. The good
news: I got the last place award!! It pays to be last sometimes.
Saturday night I wasn't the least bit certain about starting on Sunday.
Karen had been honest--the trail was moderately difficult and harder than
any other ride Elly and I had finished. I was sore and very tired after
not having slept on Friday night. But I did some stretches, went to bed
early, and felt much better on Sunday.
I loaded Elly and took her to the fairgrounds to saddle her up and warm up
Sunday morning. We rode around for about 20 minutes before the ride
started and then started in the middle of the pack. She felt really strong
and I was feeling good so I knew we'd finish. Karen had also told me that
Sunday was easier than Saturday, so I knew we could do it.
Then, 3 miles out, at the first water trough, Elly drank! I couldn't
believe it. I think she knew what was coming and decided to finally take
care of herself. The day before she hadn't drank until the lunch check at
31 miles!!! I was so proud of her! Plus, she was staying with me (being
"MY date" as I heard someone put it), she was okay with horses passing and
okay passing horses. It was going to be a good day.
Then disaster! We were going down a ravine we'd crossed the day before
from the opposite direction. At the bottom is a small stream with two
really nice places to cross. Elly knows that if she gets her feet wet
before its really hot outside, she'll melt, so I knew that she would jump
this little stream before heading up the other side. What I forgot was
that Elly's female and subject to change her mind--mid jump! She jumped
one way, I was expecting the other, and the ground bit me!! IT HURT!! (A
word for helmets--I slammed my head and back into the ground. My head is
fine, or as fine as it ever was, because of the helmet! My back wasn't
wearing one and its a bruised mess!)
As Chris left me in his dust, waiving goodbye and laughing maniacally (just
kidding Chris), another rider came by, asked if I was okay, and then went
to get Elly, only to come back and tell me that she had taken off at a dead
run across the desert--not following the other horses. That panicked me,
so although I was aching, I set off on foot to find her before common sense
prevailed and I turned around to call for help.
My fall had only been yards away from the stop for the first vet check and
I had only walked about a 1/2 mile looking for Elly, so was able to return
and luckily Judge Gamble's wife was home, so was able to use the phone and
finally reach Karen. Imagine her surprise when she found out it was me
that was horseless and Elly running around in the desert.
To make a long (boring) story shorter--Everyone came to set up for the vet
check, Chris' nice wife gave me ice for my low back, another friend
supplied me with 800 milligrams of ibuprofen, and then, although I could
barely walk, Karen made me vet secretary!!! What a gal!!
Elly was found by David Jewkes on his dirt bike--he rode right up to her
and she didn't move. He started walking her back, then decided to ride
her, then ran into Otis who walked her back the rest of the way. He told me
that the whole time they were headed back, she'd stop and look over her
shoulder. Then when she finally saw me at camp, she quit looking back.
When she got to camp and had been thoroughly checked out and none the worse
for the wear, I was told that I could finish if I wanted to. So, up in the
saddle I went to see how it felt. The cantle pressed into my back in the
same place where my back was protruding out--so that was a no go. Now the
dilemma--how to get down. One of the volunteers brought up a chair for me
to climb down on halfway. The truly amazing thing about all of this is that
Elly was right in the middle of all the commotion while I was climbing
around and she didn't move. She stood perfectly still while I climbed up,
rested and then climbed down. For those of you who've see me mount this
moving target, you'll appreciate what a treat this was.
Finally, after 8 hours at this check waiting to see if any other horses
would be needing a ride, we were ready to head back to camp. That's when I
discovered that sitting in a vehicle with a knot on your small back isn't
very comfortable--especially over rutted dirt roads! By the time we
arrived, I realized that I was hurt a lot worse than I'd originally
thought.
I found Dave (Karen's husband) who found Otis (Pat's husband) who drove
Elly and I home. When I got into the truck for the ride, I couldn't move
enough to reach out and close the door (I know, this is dangerously close
to whining). Then Otis took me to ER and they gave me a shot of Demerol--I
hurt, but I didn't care!! ;0)
The upside to all of this was that I then got the Most Bruised Ego award.
See, it pays to be last and wounded!!
I will do this ride next year and this time, not only will I finish both
days, but I'll enter it as a 2-day 100--no bet hedging this time!!
For everyone that went by, checking to be sure I was okay, thanks. It
really makes a difference to know that you all care! I truly do love that
aspect of this sport. In fact, the first person by who checked me and then
went to retrieve Elly, finished in the top 10 for the 100. She could have
easily screwed that up for herself, but put my welfare first. Another lady
wanted to give me her water bottle; however, I knew she would need it much
more than I, so I declined. Almost everyone who passed asked if I was
okay.
The ride was very well organized, and the trail was quite visibly marked.
The people volunteering were truly great!
Thanks Karen & Gary for a great ride and a memorable (not to mention
colorful) memento.
dorothy & elly (hang on mom!!!)
taylorsville, ca
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