Carolina Story (long)

Nina Gibson (nlg@esper.com)
Mon, 02 Dec 1996 14:22:52 -0500

First off, I want to apologize to anyone who came because I said very
little deep sand. Last year there was very little deep sand. This year
they wanted to help out by getting us off of the road more. So there
ended up being TONS of deep sand.
I was somewhat apprehensive about going after reading Samm Bartee's
post (and seeing it myself) on her "Birthday" ride, as my Birthday was
going to be on Friday.
As happens every year, my mother and I (yes that woman is still
alive!) and I were taking entries. It was good to see so many
"netters" there. Those that write in and those that just "lurk".
Everyone that came up asked the standard question. "Is it going to
rain" to which we replied "yes it does every year". No matter what.
One year they even had a drought and we showed up for the ride...and you
guessed it...a gully washer.
Helpful hint one: fix sturrip length Immediately!!!! I didn't and at
the first vet check resembled one of Jerry's kids. They even tried to
hold a telethon on my behalf!
I rode the 100. Someone out on trail asked if I felt any older or
wiser. I told them that obviously not wiser as I was doing the 100, but
ask me later how much older. Of course I have looked in a mirror after
a 100 and can tell It is aging!
Coujur wasn't in the best shape of his life (nothing new!). So I
poked along with my buddy Joe Edwards for the first half of the ride.
Excuse me, paced properly with my buddy Joe Edwards. Coujur was doing
very well on his vet card, so I planned to pick it up more the second
half.
Rode out with several friends (with a pit crew!as I didn't have one
yet). One of them was a Jr rider, Amanda Brumbleue, a wonderful young
lady who put up with Cindy Young and I singing (badly) most of the way.
Amanda's mother met us halfway through the 30 mile loop and we had a
little vet check. A life saver as the horses were starving. She fed
and watered all of our horses (aren't people great!).
I forgot how early it gets dark now, so I didn't have a flashlight.
Nor did anyone with us. But, Coujur is really good in the dark. He
also can remember a trail better than I (which is not saying much). I
let him choose the direction, I choose the speed (he would like it the
other way around). In fact, I saw three people ahead had missed the
turn that Coujur made on his own, and they had lights! We yelled and
told them which way to turn. We booked through the woods. Query: Why
is it that I get pelleted with branches in the daylight, but when Coujur
is flying down the trail in the dark I very seldom get hit?
We came into the 80 mile point together, but Amanda's horse came up
lame :'( On the way into the vet check we caught up with Carlos Crespo,
he and I ended up riding out on the 16 mile loop together. As we had
only 21 miles left, we (Coujur) decided it was time to roll. I have no
idea how many horses we passed, but it was a considerable amount. Both
horses got through the last check with ease, they were tired but still
pulling on us.
There is a two mile stretch on the side of a road that leads to the
finish line. Carlos was back a little bit. Oh my dear mother followed
us on the roads that she could. Did I mention that when she finished
the 50 miler she came out and pitted for me? No? She was still
chastising me for deciding to do the 100, but came out and helped me
anyway. Not only did she finish in the top ten (7th) in the 50 miler,
her wonderful horse Royal Run Amir (if you tell him I gave him a
compliment I'll deny it!) got his 6,000th mile!!!! Wow! Mom finished
about the same time I came in for my halfway point. So I went over with
her to see if he was going to get his completion. When he did, (through
tears of joy) I arranged with someone to go buy some Champagne.
Anyway, Carlos and I are coming in to the finish...we are about 200
yards away and his wife comes running up to me and says that 8th and 9th
place have just crossed the finish line. After disbelief, I thought
great Carlos and I will both finish in the top ten. DIMR (distance
induced mental retardation) had set in. I hate to race! Especially
after 100 miles. But, I let Coujur ease into a gallop, I though Carlos
was to far back to try and catch us, but no. I heard a big whoop and
pounding hooves. So I urged Coujur on. We barely edged them out:').
My mother was in her truck following behind and had no idea what was
going on. She said afterwards that I always chewed her out for racing
for no reason and she was ready to jump on me, until she found out it
was for top ten. Not that I had too much choice as when Carlos and Lynn
Whooped, Coujur was off and running anyway.
It was a rough weekend for others though. Danielle Kanavy and Wendy
Mattingly were on there way into the finish and a guide line from a
power pole caught Wendy and her horse. It broke Wendy's collarbone.
She went on to finish in 2nd place. How is that for tough.
Along with the wonderful year Danielle is having, so is Stephen
Rojek. His incredible horse Hawk finished 3rd and got BC!
Another great weekend! I hate that ride season is over :'( See you
all next year!!

Nina Gibson/Coujur (the wonder horse! Well, after dark anyway)
nlg@esper.com