Okay! Cruiser and I are ready for the BIG first Limited Distance Ride this
weekend at Sunriver, Or.
Now for those of you long time endurance riders, "I know, I know" I should
not have done a ride this long so close to race day. But I haven't been on a
real ride for over three weeks and the last ride last week didn't go well, as I
suspected that the preload of elytes caused his stomach to cramp up.
So I am wondering if this horse can do this and today is the only day I
have to see how he is.
One of my mentors, Janet Hunter already hit me with the wet crop. so I
learned my lesson.
Okay, we started out at 8:44am, almost three hours later than I wanted to
leave. It was 102 yesterday and mid 90's today.
We went on the dreaded "Janet and Rachel Hunter China Gulch Challenge" I
hate this ride, as some of you already have heard me whine about it last year.
This ride is TOUGH, Janet just confirmed that I am not imagining it nor am
I too old and outta shape, She will tell you, this ride ain't for sissie.
she said this the kind of terrain that would be conditioning for the TEVIS.
Phew! her words were like an angel's voice to me. I came home after this ride
today and thought if this is knocking the wind out of me, how am I ever
going to do 25 miles,,.yea,yea for you 50 &100milers I hear you
laughing.
We did 17 miles in 90+ heat with very little shade. This ride takes you
from about 1600ft el. to 4000ft el. It is nothing but climbs and drops, climbs
and drops. Motorcycles use this trail and it is not even smooth, it is banked
and rutted, which adds for more thrills. There is very little trail for trotting
out.
Cruiser's Heart Rate and Pulse down were amazing! We took it slow, well you
can't take this one any other way. We did a lot of stopping to eat and just
rest. First we climbed up the mountains and then down the other side to the
dirtbike whoop-de-doo's and then to the spring. Cruiser ate and drank tons at
the spring, yahoo!
I got off and walked for a few miles on the steep uphills and the really
steep downhills. I was dog tired when I got home. Cruiser was tired as well. He
sweated a lot, but never lathered, sometimes he would dry out and then sweat
again.
He took a nice roll in the soft roundpen when we got home and peed a bright
yellow which Janet said was fine. I felt that I should now elyte him after such
a toughie. so I gave him a half dose with shredded carrots and apples. Gave him
a flake of grass/alfalfa and later gave him a nice bubble bath and
conditioned his silky locks.He be stylin' at Sunriver.
I downed a Corona like I used to in my younger days, wanted another but
stuck with my one per diem like a good ol girl. Howard, see it can be
limited??
I came in, took a cool shower and went to bed. I was thinking this whole
endurance thingy is not going to be for me. I was really beat. And I kept
thinking I ONLY did 17 miles, I would still have another 8 to go if this were
for real.
After my nap, I got the nerve to call Janet Hunter. Now for those of you
that don't know her, she is BIG TIME endurance. ROC, nothing ever less than a
50. In fact she remembers riding the ROC with Truman coming up behind her on his
BIG BLACK BITCH with ez boots making this godawful sound. Truman was that you on
the TWH? She was glad when she finally ditched him.
:~)))
Anyhoo, I wanted to ask Janet if the China Gulch Challenge is anything like
what I will be facing at Sun River. She almost wet her pants in shock. That is
when she became my heavenly angel. She said we condition on some of the toughest
terrain of anyone. (well I will drink to that, but thought it was just me being
a newbie puss) When she said she HATES that ride as well, I got my spirit
back and knew if I can do that ride, I can do almost anything. (except Limestone
and Tevis)
My adrenaline is back up. My house is still a fright from the flooding last
week, my retarded sister's hand is in bad need of me giving her therapy after
she broke it. I haven't packed my rig, bought any food to take, laundry is clean
and piled in a mountain in one of the bedrooms with the door shut and I don't
even care. I am ready to rock and roll.
I also was extremely pleased that in the few spots that I could get Cruiser
to move out, I maintained a slow but steady running walk. Before I always put
him into a 14mph rack. We are getting there! What a good horse he is. I am still
stuffing him with carrots and begging forgiveness to ever have thought of
selling him.
Okay, you 25 milers, the old bag and the young gelding are gonna be in the
ride, Watch out! I may come in last, but by God, we will complete. How's that?
WOO HOO!!!! (shoot I ain't even upset that Cruiser took me into the buck brush
and ripped the knee out of my new tights. I didn't like the color anyway.
Oooohhhhh, I am so excited! gotta love us greenheads!
amber and Cruiser
