Ridecamp: Re: [RC] nick warhol- tevis 2002 story 5 of 5

Thanks, Nick for such a wonderfully descriptive trip through this year's
Tevis.  As the breeders of Holly, (breeder being defined as the owner of the
mare at time of service), even though she was lodged at Fire Mtn. at the
time, and Holly being half sister on the sire's side to our good gelding
Flying Cloud, I naturally have a keen interest in how Holly is doing.
Having attempted Tevis 8 times, and finished 3, I can relate somewhat to
your experiences.  The trail has changed a lot since I last attempted it,
but I can still remember the heat, rocks and dust.  Thanks for such a great
story.

I would love to see you and Holly at Swanton Pacific on August 24th.  I
haven't seen Holly since she was about 4 months old.

Barbara McCrary
Ride manager, Swanton Pacific 75/100

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 9:40 PM
Subject: [RC] nick warhol- tevis 2002 story 5 of 5


> nick warhol nickw@xxxxxxxxx
> I did learn one thing, though.  Don't ever get pulled at Francisco's.  No
trailers.  I got paired up with a woman who was also pulled, we had to lead
our lame horses "just a little way" up the hill to a waiting trailer.
Yeah, right, as in up and out of the canyon!  She was supposed to follow me,
so we started out on foot, up the climb towards White Oak Flat.  I wasn't
paying enough attention, I guess, after a long climb uphill I looked back in
the dark- she's not there.   Okay, I wait.  Nothing.  Now What?  We are not
on the course, it's 2 am, I can't just leave her out there.  I turn around
and head back down.  I get back to the trail, but can't go back up to the
check, since it is single track with horses coming down.  Another mile or
more all the way around to the front of the check, back in again.  The woman
is nowhere in site.  Oh well- I get a new walking partner, who turns out to
be Jamie Fend, daughter of Gary and Laura.  She is as depressed as I am,
since her horse is lame also.  Jamie had to pull herself here last year
because she was so sick.  This year she is feeling great, and wouldn't you
know, after 88 miles, her horse is lame.   We trudged back up that hill,
climbing almost all the way to the top of the canyon before we got to the
trailer.   We got a lift to the very top and had to change trailers once
more for the ride to the fairgrounds.  By now it was 4:30 am, we were all
quite sleepy.   I arrived at the fairgrounds with Holly and my tack, not
knowing which stall was mine, or where my truck or crew was.   I found a
very cheerful lady at the barn who told me where my stall was located.   I
walked over, hoping that Judy and Jackie had set up the stall with water and
food, 'cause I didn't know where anything was.  I round the corner and see
my cart in front of the stall- great!   I enter the stall and find Judy
there, asleep on the big, fresh pile of shavings.  Awwww.  That was really
cute.  There was food, water, mash, everything all set.  What a crew.
Thanks, sweetie.  I do owe you one now.
>  camper for some sleep while she wrapped Holly's legs and put her to bed.
>
> I woke up about 8 am  and went for breakfast and to walk Holly.  The horse
was still sore, but looked much better than the last night.  We watched the
end of the BC judging for a while.  It was fun to talk to everyone and find
out who had made it.  Quenby had timed out at Michigan bluff by five
minutes, bummer.  Lots of friends completed: Nancy Elliot, 18th!  Way to go.
Bob Spoor, 24th.  The incredible Barbara White, 26th buckle, top twenty, I
think.  Gloria and the amazing Redman finished their first 100!  Great job,
Gloria and Redman.  Gary Fend and his new horse Smokey made it in as well.
Melissa Ribley, Connie Creech, Karen Bottiani, Brenda Benkly, Jim and Jamie
Mitchell, lots more all made it through.  Congratulations to all who did
finish.   I'll just have to go at it again next year, and the next, and the
next.  I am, however, getting tired of being pulled.   I know it is part of
the game, and that even the best can have problems in this ride.  I still
think the Tevis is best described by the big vet Mitch Benson: this ride is
30% rider, 30% horse, and 40% luck.   I agree, but that luck percentage
might be creeping higher.
>
> Nick Warhol
> Hayward, Ca.
>
>
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