Hi ridecampers. I just got back from a road trip to Oregon. Unfortunately we didn't get to go through to Oregon caves and on to Applegate territory ![]()
because of the massive , massive fire in that area. Unbelievable smoke for miles and miles. I had been reading a book about pioneer women, and the Oregon trail and how they tried to take the Applegate route , partly to avoid crossing the Columbia River. (You seen that river, you know) I was reading Barbara's post about historic trails and thinking that ...yes it would be so much fun to ride along that trail, and ponder the hardships of people taking wooden wagons, families, all their belongings in the world, over them.
We did get to finally ride some in Oregon. Now nobody laugh, we rented a couple of horses. This being , because I wanted my 8 year old daughter to experience riding on the dunes and the beach. When we got there I was kinda close mouthed about my riding experience, but the wrangler had my number when he saw I brought my own helmet. Hey! The kids use them on the bikes too, and besides, who wants to share hair cooties? Funny thing though, we were probably about the most experienced horse people there, other than one other lady, and everyone else signed a liability release and did not wear helmets. I thought it was kinda funny, me with my experience the only "fraidy cat" with a helmet. But then I've probably seen some ugly wrecks too, and I like mine anyway, keeps the sun from burning my skin cancer spot on my noggin. So he put me on what looked like a half Arab pinto, who actually could turn on the forehand and sidepass! And my daughter got on the slowest ole babysitter quarter horse . Very cute. The horses looked healt
hy and I shut my mouth and stayed in the back of the line at a 3 mph pace, so I could watch her. And we went on the most beautiful trail through the forest and blackberries, over the dunes and along the beach. The horses did trot a little on the beach. I don't care, I trot plenty, and besides, it was like the cost of a riding lesson for the kid. Or two. Now my girl has got "trail riding fever". It was fun. Interesting to note, they have a terrible weed on the dunes, called "Gork " or something like that, it was introduced to control dune erosion and now, with 2 inch thorns, it has become an allergenic nuisance on trails and into pastures. What a mess. They were advising riders to wash the horses hooves after rides so as not to bring the seeds home. We also saw that in northern Calif, where they have sudden death Oak fungus. They were going so far as to tell people to wash their shoes, and car tires, so as not to bring the fungus home to their own oaks.
One last question...anyone on ridecamp live in the Lake County/Clearlake area? Any rides up there? That is very nice country too, and we have family close by there. You can email me privately if you want to chat about it.
Thanks
Beth Glover
