Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Battle Creek- Grace Under Pressure - GoTory

Well, Shelley Nelson had quite a surprise this past weekend when her new 
ride, Battle Creek in HOT Northern CA, suddenly increased significantly in 
participants when the Tour de Washoooo was cancelled.   Must say, she handled 
the 
challenges nicely!!

Things I learned at this ride- the first this horse and I have done 
together......

1)Bring the PortaPotti, even if ride mgt says there will be plenty...ONE in 
camp for approximately 60 or 70 riders was ....interesting.......Glad there was 
high grass and lots of down trees around!!

2)"Moderate grades" do indeed differ in definition by their very 
subjectivity- however, 8 miles of those "moderate grades" is a looong  
climb.........on 
the positive side, it sure helps take the starch out of a very fresh horse 
who's 
looking for the companions who started 5 or 10 minutes before her!

3)"Good footing" also is subjective........

4)One can, indeed, get lost on a trail where it's "impossible to get lost"!!

5)Jackie Floyd is just as fun in person as on RideCamp- and she saved my 
camping buddies from some of my ugliness by providing coffee for me one 
morning!!  
(We ALL thank you, Jackie!!  Hope to see you  again soon!!)

6)HiTies really DO work........first time camping on one and my mare got more 
sleep than I did.........must re-read Karen's suggestions for quieting the 
hay bags.....

7)The Ruprechts' horses really  DO tie out on long lines and are able to 
calmly and carefully extricate themselves when they happen to cross 
over....VERY 
nice!!!
(And Joanie makes terrific coffee, too- THANKS FOR SHARING!!)

8)If you really are a coffee junkie, bring the French Press coffee maker even 
if you think  the Frapuccino's will suffice (they won't).........there's just 
nothing like a good cup of hot coffee in the morning.... even if the 
PortaPotties are limited............................

9)Tennessee Walkers ROCK!!  Congratulations to Philip Kuykendall(sp??) of 
Chico and his new horse who were doing their first ride - and, I believe, may 
have won the LD!!

10)Georgia "peaches" are the best!!  Welcome to California, Mindy!!!

My mare, despite having some rough times in her past, was able to continue on 
and complete- even though it was only the LD and even though we were 
overtime, we did go the distance and finished sound and energetic. There have 
been 
times in the past year when I didn't think we would get there.........Thanks 
April!!

And, Thanks to Shelley, her family and all her volunteers, the vets, "Sarge" 
John Ellery and Craig Brown- We hope this will be the first but not last 
Battle Creek Ride! 
nikki

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=