Pit Stop 50 <story>

[DreamWeaver <karen@chaton.gardnerville.nv.us>]

This ride drew 64 horses..to the Northern Nevada desert.  Ridecamp was at
the Pit Stop Bar, on Hwy 50 in Silver Springs.  As it turned out the
weather this weekend was the best we've had all year..it was really
gorgeous (and I have a sunburn to prove it!) <G>.  The camp area was plenty
large enough, with nice green grass for the horses to munch on.  The
sunrise on Saturday morning held the promise of a beautiful day ahead!  

My goal on this ride was to go slow, take our time and make sure my horse
is ready for the Washoe 100 in two more weeks.  I took my time at the start
getting the horse ready.  Noticed that one rider (who shall remain
nameless) was nowhere to be seen while the rest of us were getting ready.
Apparently the reason why the camp was so quiet the night before is because
everybody was in the bar.  Said rider (the nameless one) told my husband "I
don't remember last night, but my wallet is empty so I must have had a good
time".  hehe  

They had a controlled start because we had to cross Hwy 50.  I was so busy
visiting with friends that had come to see us that Cliff Lewis had to come
around and kick us out of camp!  I finally got on my horse, dragged him
away from the green grass and walked over to the start of the trail.  On
the way I ran into Pam N. and her granddaughter Shanel.  We all wanted to
go slow so we decided to ride together.  Within the first couple of miles
my horse was already eating - I think this was going to be his 'feed me or
I'll die' ride by the way he acted about wanting to eat so much!  

The first loop was 32 miles.  The footing was mostly excellent on this
entire loop.  I know...all the other ride managers went by there and stole
all the rocks for their rides <g>.  We rode past Fort Churchill (did I get
that right?).  Pam knew the history about it and the remains that still
stand and told me a little bit about it.  I had never been there or ridden
in this area so it was fascinating.  We rode along part of the Carson
River.  Some of the area residents were nice enough to put water out for
us, which was much appreciated.  One of them even had a hose and would cool
down our horses if we do desired...and even offered the use of their
restroom.  We rode off and on a large part of this loop with Jim Porter and
his daughter Lainey and another junior Denali.  All three of them on white
horses.  I don't think those kids ever stopped smiling all day.  :-)  

This loop brought us right up to Piper's Casino...a familiar place since we
had our hour hold vet check there at the Derby Ditch ride two weeks prior.
We didn't go on any of the same trail as the DD ride though.  From there it
was about 4 more miles back to the Pit Stop Bar.  We got off and walked
most of it.  Shanel was doing great.  Her ankle was hurting her but you
never heard her complain about it.  She spent more time thinking and
worrying about her horse and whether or not it was eating and drinking
enough.  Pam and I were having a really good time as well, talking
constantly and laughing most of the way.  It sure made the time go by fast.

We had an hour lunch hold in camp. I changed into a short sleeved
t-shirt...it was plenty warm :-).  The horse vetted thru just fine...and
was so intent on eating that he didn't even move when I sponged him down!
He normally fidgets some when I do his 'sensitive' spots.  While at lunch a
little girl came over and asked my husband which horse was his.  He told
her that our horse was on the other side of trailer, so she bent over,
peered underneath and says "oooooooh, the brown one with the red slippers?"
 Yep that's him.  Then she came over to me and wanted to make sure and let
me know that I better not feed my horse too much grain cuz it could make
him sick.  

The second loop was 18 miles. This time we were going to get to go all the
way to the top of the radio tower.  I'm not sure of the elevation gain, but
the climb to the top was 7 miles.  The views from the top were really
incredible.  We were surrounded by rolling hills, snowcapped mountains and
Nevada desert.  All the way up to the top the footing again was nice....and
plenty of grass for the horses to eat along the way.  Weaver soon devised a
game of trotting ahead and then grazing for a few minutes for the other two
to catch up.  They sent us all the way to the top too---right over it in
fact.  No shortcuts here.  Then....uh-oh....what goes up...well, you know....

The way down wasn't nearly as nice, footing wise.  Well, at least my horse
had his little red slippers on (easyboots).  We walked down most of the
way, and I got to do a little tailing practice.  Once we got down thru all
the rocks were were in a nice sandy riverbed for most of the rest of the
way down.  Then it turned into road.  We jogged alongside the horses for
quite a ways and then got back on once it leveled out a little more.  There
was no water on this loop...not until the trot by a couple of miles from
the finish.  

This ride did take us thru quite a bit of civilization.  Homes, highways
and the like.  Also, quite a menagerie of animals.  We passed goats, sheep,
mules, chickens, peacocks, llamas and some things that we weren't quite
sure what it was!  

Finally made it to the last check, which was supposed to be a trot by.  It
was really a pulse check..just had to meet criteria (60/40).  They had
water and hay there and a hose.  So I got to wet my horse down..and in the
process soaked myself and my saddle pretty thoroughly.  It felt great
though.  

The rest of the way in was nice and easy.  The horses all felt really good
and were wanting to lope and pick up the pace at the end.  They had some of
the nicest grass hay at this ride, and at the finish I grabbed a flake and
my horse inhaled it before we got back into camp.  We got back into camp
about 6 p.m.  Shanel was the 2nd junior, and Pam and I were in the late
30's completion wise...9:36 ride time.   

The vet did a good job of keeping everything going...she was the only vet
for the ride.  She sure had a busy day.  

We stayed for the BBQ hamburgers and awards.  They finished awards about 9
p.m., and we headed home.  I think the camp cleared out pretty quick about
then.  It only took us an hour to get home.  I love that!!!  

Happy Trails,

Karen
in Gardnerville, NV
& Dream Weaver, 1405 miles
& Rocky, 400