Day's Like These... Pierce Creek~

Are rare indeed...  The calendar page is still on the month of December - and yet - we continue to have the best weather of the entire year.  Day after day of sunshine, blue skies & moderate temperatures.  It is bone dry, the dirt in Farah's run is the consistency of talcum powder.  When Margie messaged me that she & John planned to ride at Pierce Creek, I had to tag along.

View east~

 As I pulled in to pick up Farah, she galloped up the hill of her run to meet me.  First to arrive, the wind was howling & it felt darn cold!  I had my thermal shirt & polar fleece on under my lighter weight Carhartt jacket.  The wind was cutting right through both.

Following Margie & John

 Soon, Margie & John pulled in & we were heading out - wind & all!  I'd had a little discussion with Farah & told her that I was too cold to put up with any shenanigans - windy or not!

Stunning View from the SE corner~

 It just seems amazing to me - but without much history to go by - to see temperatures in the 40's & 50's in December.  It can't be anyone's idea of normal...

Margie, Coco, John & Posey~

 I think the horses in this state, used to nice quiet winters - are as surprised as any of us - that they're still under saddle.  As we rode the perimeter, with so many deer in the park, we yelled when coming up on brushy areas.

Farah~

 I saw the exact spot where Farah had bolted our last visit here & could see why - heavy brush along the fence where the buck had been laying.  I'm still learning this country & plan to be more careful, when we're near these areas.

Trail into the Timber~

With the days so short & the sun so low in the southern sky - it's like riding in the late afternoon even when it's still early.  The quality of the light has that thin, golden glow.

Wounded Buck~

As we wound our way along on the new trail, John saw movement off to our left & we watched as a large Buck came to his feet.  He'd been laying in the brush, almost impossible to see.  As he started to walk away - a limp was obvious.  One of his horns was hanging crooked...  Just so sad & sickening to see such a magnificent creature in obvious pain.  I don't know what kind of hunter would let a wounded animal get away.  Butch mentioned that of course hunting isn't allowed in the park, but I would think tracking a animal wounded elsewhere would be permitted?

Margie & John

It was really fun to watch these two horses gait while their riders enjoy that Cadillac smooth ride.  Farah's trot has always been smooth - but I do post :-)

Purple vines~

The color doesn't show up very well in the photo, but the bare vines were florescent purple!  I stopped & asked Margie, thinking I was seeing things - but she agreed! We eventually left the Timber & moved along the eastern shore of the lake.

Eagle on the west shore~

Two Eagles had flown over us while we were in the Timber.  The pair of owls that I've seen before were in the trees too & flew out above us as we passed by.

Lunch!

 As we rode to the west side of the lake, we could see the Eagle out on a sand bar, totally unconcerned that we were anywhere near.  His attention was on the very large fish he was having for lunch.  We watched for quite a while, feeling lucky to witness this bit of nature.

Our route

We did a little gallop up Farah's running hill. Margie found that Coco has a competitive streak & was not going to be left behind! :-) It was so nice to have such good company on the trails. By the time we returned to our trailers, two more had pulled in. Great to see other riders out enjoying such a nice day & place to ride.