Hodge Podge 50

[Roberta Jo Lieberman <fineprint@erols.com>]

Just returned from the Hodge Podge 50 in Cassville, PA -- so named
because ride managers Cindy Simcox and Mary Coleman decided to clear out
leftover awards from past rides -- the Hawk Ride, Nittany rides, Frosty
50, Helluva Hurry et al...it was wet, it was cold, it was foggy...and
then there was target practice. 

It turned out to be the ride that almost wasn't. I didn't hear all of
the details, but there were problems with the Forest Service who said,
"If the trail is going in a straight line, then you don't need ribbons
except on the turns." So that's the way much of the trail was marked --
or unmarked. Cindy and Mary bent over backwards to mark the turns well
with ribbons and lime arrows and wrong-way barrier lines and such...
still, the paucity of markers managed to be the undoing of some riders,
and I heard that some folks got way off course at some point. I felt
fortunate to only miss one turn. 

The weather turned rainy and cold (high 40s) after the Weather Channel
had promised sunny skies all week. Still, 46 hardy souls turned up to
ride in whatever mother nature decided to dish out. And dish she did --
it started raining lightly during Saturday's vetting in and picked up
throughout the evening and pretty much all night. Mercifully, it didn't
rain while folks were tacking up but it started up again as soon as we
were out on the first loop. Riders were bundled up in slickers and
Aussie coats while horses were sporting rump rugs. 

Enlightened veterinary control (hats off to Art King of Canada)  kept
things moving at three 30-minute holds -- we didn't have to untack and
risk chilling the horses. Few sponges were ever deployed as the mist and
rain kept the horses cool with instant recoveries. The rain ended a
drought in these parts and other than some slippery spots, the trail and
footing were much kinder to the horses' legs and feet than they might
otherwise have been.

The trails in central PA are fast, not too rocky or hilly, mostly
snowmobile trails through pine forests and some traveling along
pipelines. About midway through the second 17-mile loop we saw flashing
lights approaching us on the pipeline. It was an emergency vehicle
trying to track down a "rider in a yellow slicker" reportedly injured
and walking without his horse. It took them quite a while to find the
rider who apparently was off trail. "Dan" (sorry don't know last name)
was finally found and taken to a hospital where he was said to have a
broken collarbone and some injured ribs. His horse did turn up and
should be okay. 

It was great to hook up with fellow ridecamper Marie MacRae and her
friend Eva, who came down from New York to ride, and their wonderful
crew Chris and her husband Eric who drove in from Williamsport --
another magical ridecamp connection. We met the morning of the ride when
I overheard someone talking about their truck and getting it ready to
crew, so we all combined resources. Marie had a great trip and finished
12th, and Eva got around as well. Chris, who is just getting into
distance riding, did a great job crewing for the three of us all day.

I don't have results -- sorry! -- Cindy is sending results to me and I
will post them.
The finish was interesting. The ridecamp is at a sportsman's club which
is a nice heated facility with good food. But... there would be target
shooting in the afternoon when many were finishing. When we rode in to
the finish Art King came right over with his digital stethoscope and
before I could even think about dismounting, he grabbed the pulse
between shotgun blasts! She was right at 60...I jumped off and was
immediately asked to trot out, which we did. Had to be the fastest
completion exam we've ever had. 

Bobbie and Fine Print in Maryland