18+ Hours Around the Masnutten Mountains

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Mary Coleman caf@innernet.net
Decided to write an abbreviated version
(longer one will be in Old D letter)
about Hawk and me finishing Old D 100.
First off no way was I gonna attempt the
100 unless Mother Nature cooperated and
indeed Saturday was morgan riding weather!
Loop one 26 miles was decent going main 
problem was getting onto a "pocket" so he'd
quit pulling so bad. I had blisters he had a
sore nose by the time we arrived. However we
left out of there alone too much of a "pocket"
now. It took 3 hours thought I'd never get to 
Camp Roosevelt the 40 mile hold pulsed thru 
fast and left with 4 New Jersey riders heading
for Hickory little more than 1/2way. Scothorn
was the climb with the highest elevation and 
once again it took 3 hours for this loop. Now 
I was thinking throwing away that paper with
the closing times was not such a great idea.
 We had Taskers Gap rocky as ever and Edinburgh
(only spot on trial where crews were allowed)
before next hold called Little Fort. We were 
averaging 6 miles an hour so basically we were
puslsing with out arab buddies, EDPP and starting 
another climb. Trail to Picketts was raceway
only 11 miles no climbs Hawk led the way and we 
were there in a hour. Now the holds got short 15 
minutes before Shermans in the dark. I stayed longer 
to wait for Diane from New Jersey getting a shoe fixed.
 I clawed my way down Shermans in the dark as I had 
forgot a flashlight. Hawk was breathing down my neck
wondering what was taking so long. McCoys with 12
miles to go and the mighty Shenadoah never looked so good.
 I made Diane cross first as I swim like a rock 
but I didn't think it was near as scary in the dark.
Hawk was now a morgan with a mission! He knew the 
way home and did not need the glo-sticks. We arrived 
at Liberty 5 miles to go around midnight. Art King said Hawk looked great course our slow speed may have been the factor.
By now the trail had taken its toll and it was just Diane
and me onto to 4-H center. We arrived at the finish 18 
hours and 26 minutes later than we had left. The cheering
squad there was great!!! This is a moment I will never
forget. I had the only morgan to complete(not sure but may
have had only equine not padded?) another reason I walked 
all the downhill rocky sections.
 When you see how many good horses and riders fail it
makes you feel really lucky to receive that belt 
buckle Sunday morning. Thanks Old D organization
for an experience of a lifetime!! mary