[RC] The Cougar Prowl story part I - firedancefarms
Well Cougar Prowl was an adventure this
year! Here is a brief story...
On Friday the refuge was on fire.
Bruce, being the manager of the area, was busy all day with the fire. He
came in early in the evening and said he was going to set a backfire so the
trail will be clear in the am. We were sitting around at camp and watching
this fire...just across the road from our campground. The flames were very
impressive and the fire just kept getting bigger. The wind was blowing the
opposite direction and we weren't worried. After all, we knew Bruce was
setting the backfire and if things got out of hand, the firetrucks from Beggs
would come down. I guess in retrospect no one COULD leave, as the fire was
right next to the road on the way out!
Well, Bruce got home about 2am, and
when we woke up at 5am I said "well, I guess you'll have to remark the trail, as
all of the ribbons have burned up!" WHAT? he says. WHAT
FIRE??? OMG, HE didn't backfire that blaze! He was on a fire further
up on the ridge! An arson had come by Friday night and set the entire
thing on fire right across from camp! If he had set the other side of the
road.....
Well, anyway, here we are, it's 7am and
we have NO TRAIL. It is too smokey to ride down by the river, and besides,
the place is still on fire!! So, I think, heck, we'll just ride to the
winery...25 miles of dirt road, but by then the smoke will be cleared and we can
do the trail in the pm. I call the winery and ask if we can have a vet
check there. Luckily I had met them last fall and told them about our
endurance ride, but he seemed to not remember. I know they must have
thought we were out of our minds. But, just the day before, a cement truck
had tried to cross the bridge and the bridge had caved in....so that way was
out! Yikes, what do we do? 55 people standing in camp, horses
saddled, and ready to ride! (endurance riders are the
greatest)
So, Richard Crowe, our newfound friend
and message therapist, was helping and suggested we ride to his house...10 miles
away. I would grab my mare (I NEVER bring a spare horse to my ride.this
was the first time) and go mark another four mile trail...some beautiful trail
on the waterfowl levies, and Richard and my son Jesse would flag to Richard's
house. Problem solved, for now....
