ridecamp@endurance.net: Pinjarra 120km ride-long

Pinjarra 120km ride-long

McClements Darryl (dmcclement@infotech.agric.wa.gov.au)
Thu, 04 Sep 97 12:55:00 PDT

Hello again, just thought I'd share my account of the recent 120km ride at
Pinjarra in Western Australia. The base camp for this ride is at the Pinjarra
Racecourse on the outskirts of the town, combining grassy camping, albeit a
little wet this year, with the luxury of proper toilets and HOT showers:) We
were really only about a kilometre away from the railway tracks and terminal,
and as I rose in the predawn darkness, the presence of a steam train choofing
up great puffs of foggy smoke created an eerie sight, along with the
everpresent whistle! We were to hear this sound on many occasions along the
trail. The excitement was palpable, with the horses breathing misty vapour
and fog rising off a nearby valley, as we began our first 40km leg. The
trail took us along the train tracks for the first 10km's, which were
under water and quite slippery at times, one horse went AoverT but was OK,
as was the rider who remounted covered in more mud and water than the horse!
The trail then took us up into the 'hills', the first one being quite
steep and rocky, (Pan's favourite), so we tore up that one to some strange
looks from the front runners, but these are Pandora's home country type
hills and her forte'. Besides, at that stage I had not much control and
wasn't eager to risk anyone's wrath if I used them for brakes! Further on we
traversed some more steep hill's and ravines, and were treated to some
lovely panorama's and beautiful tall gum tree's of various types. One that
sticks in my memory was coming down a particularly long, steep hill lined
with tall, limbless silverbarked gums, with the early morning sunshine coming
through the trunks in soft fingers-reminded me of a Cathedral. Quite ironic
really, when you consider it was that very morning that Princess Diana was
killed:( This was to be a moving checkpoint, with our arrival at the
Dwellingup Oval, then back again on the second leg, and finally back to
Pinjarra racecourse for the third leg of our ride. A strapper's nightmare, we
came into our first vetcheck after 40km's at the oval, ahead of my trusty
strapper who was just arriving as we weighed in!!! My fault entirely, I'd
told him the game plan was to take 3 hours but I must have forgotten to tell
Pandora that, as she made it in 10 mins under 2 hours! The look of panic on
Anthony's face was actually quite funny if I hadn't also been panicking about
having no water buckets to strap with etc. We managed to fumble through and
head out again on the next leg, with Pan still feeling very sprightly and me
thanking my good sense that I'd used her hackamore and not a halter as I
usually do on the second leg, as we hooned off on several occasions! This leg
was also through lovely forest tracks and some steep inclines, all about
myriads of wildflowers of all types and colours and the scent of yellow
wattle pervaded your senses. My riding partner and I were lucky enough to see
some brilliant blue Splendid Wrens, bandicoots and kangaroo mice. We crossed
quite a few creeks and streams, the water on course being plentiful. It was
unfortunately on this leg that the accident our friend Ann Barnes commented
on, happened. I am thankful that it happened behind us, as I don't think I'd
have gone on if I'd seen it, quite traumatic by all accounts. Our thoughts
are with the lady concerned, unfortunately hearts mend slower than the body.
Back at the oval, my strapper got us through the vet check and we were off
again on the last leg of 40km's back to Pinjarra. Pan's heartrates had been
in the low 40's, but she was feeling tired now, and not sure why I was
putting a saddle on her-don't we stop at 80km's, Mum? At about 20km's out,
she rallied and off we went, even having some canters up the hills, I was so
wrapt in her attitude, as it was both her and my first 120km's. Back along
the railway tracks, I knew we weren't far from home and Pan was eating and
drinking well. All I could think about was how she seemed fitter than I felt,
with every bit aching and rubbing! It was about then I swore to my riding
companion that I would never do that again! There was the finish line and the
smiling face of my strapper, I don't know who was more proud, me or him!? and
we vetted through for second place in L/W at a riding time of 8hours and
16min's. My wonderful honest little mare who everyone said was too old for
endurance vetted in with a heartrate of 46bpm's after 2 years off and this
her first season back. She's trotting around the paddock fit as a fiddle, and
3 days later I'm still hobbling about with calves and thighs of iron!! Sorry
this is long, hope you got the mental picture of the ride.
Happy Trails,
Carol and Tipperary Pandora (Hey Mum, I want to do that again, can we, can
we?) Aaaagh!

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