Malvern or Bust!

 We received a welcome .28 of rain last night, then woke to sunshine & less wind today.  After reading  the trail was dry - I decided to ride.  My goal was Malvern - for the first time this season.

Leaving Silver City~

It's always nice to enjoy the wide-open views.  Soon the fields will be showing the tinge of green I look forward to each spring.  Spring seems to have been so delayed this season.  The ceaseless winds have not contributed to the spring feel! 

Creek crossing~

Having the break from them today was great, but I found the trail very sticky!  Not what I'd hoped for - especially for my first longer ride on the limestone.

Picnic Shelter?

After seeing the nice new structures & picnic tables up at Margeritaville, the poor old, broken down, covered table south of Silver City looked very shabby.  I have no idea how improvements are funded, but I suspect it may be private donations.  The north end of the trail, in Council Bluffs gets much more use than further south & away from the larger city.  I hope to attend the next trail meeting in May.

Turkey's~

Up ahead to dark spots on the trail - drew my attention.  I stopped to try to zoom in & reconized two hen turkeys.  A third was off to the side, still in the brush. Turkey's were re-introduced to the state for hunting.

Beginning of where the fire started~

Over the weekend, both Iowa & Nebraska had several fires burning.  The news reported a fire was in the Malvern area at the intersection of the trail & Keys Road.  I reconized right away this was the area just across from where dirtwork has begun for the new housing development.

Everything around the wetland - burned~

When I arrived in the area, the burn area was even larger than I'd imagined.  It covered both sides of the trail & included the area around the wetland.  What water was there, looked almost silvery against the backdrop of stark black burn.  I rode on to the Depot, before turning back to take my break at the park.

The Pond~

The small pond was even lower than one of my visits late last year.  We just haven't had the rainfall - or snow for that matter - to add to the water volumn.  The Canadian Geese were still in residence.  The six babies had grown over the winter months.  They looked cute swimming all together away from their parents.

Where the fire was stopped~

From the park's north parking area, it was easy to see how close the fire had come to the park.  At least the fire will give the native plants in the area a chance to regrow before being crowded out by invasives.  I doubt the trees that were badly burned will recover & we'll miss the shade they provided.

Northern edge of the fire's path ~

As I left to return to Silver City, I could see how close the fire had come to a large dry pile of slash.  If it had reached across the tiny trickle of water in the small creek & ignited that pile - I'm sure the park would have been next!  More rain is badly needed & forecast to arrive over the weekend - fingers crossed!

The wind picked up as I rode north.  It was far from my fastest ride, but I felt good to have accomplished the distance. 

Into the Wind ~

 At the stable I was asked to keep Farah out all day - so that her run could be scrapped.  No problem at all, since my plan was to see the fall colors at Waubonsie.  Dazzling sunshine - a strong wind - at 20 to 30 mph with 40 mph gusts.   Since rain is forecast for tomorrow, today was the day to get out!

Quiet when we arrived, just as I had bridled Farah, a group of four riders returned to the trailhead.  I had my camera off the saddle & caught the image below.  As the years have gone by & I've watched the gold girl mature, I keep thinking she can't be more beautiful.  I'm biased - yes - but with good cause.

Farah~

 Stately & aristocratic - with so much presence - truly a one-of-a-kind mare.  She's adjusted well to life here in Iowa - the bugs, heat, cold etc.  Certainly, a more extreme climate than the one she was used to.  The wind doesn't even bother her - in the spring & fall we get plenty - she hardly twitches an ear.

To the trails!

 I couldn't believe how colorful things were once we were into the timber!  The golds, rusts, oranges, all on a backdrop of the trees that still held onto green leaves.

Down the Trail~

 I let her go at her own pace - the footing was perfect & having her barefoot is so nice.  The trails were littered with the colorful fallen leaves.  It had been a while since we'd done all the hill work, but Farah attacked them with her usual style & tossed in a buck just to keep me on my toes.

Top Trail~

 We'd just rounded the corner when two hen turkeys came out of the brush & started up the trail in front of us.  I slowed down & a second or so later a big tom took flight right over our heads!

Far Views~

 Now, the views are opening up & you get more of the feeling of being up on the higher ridges of the park.  Not really territorial - but pretty none the less.

Trails edge~

 The day went from sunshine, to partly cloudy later in the afternoon.  The filtered light turning the colors of the leaves almost a neon against the gray backdrop.

Ms. Farah~

 We made as many miles as we could, doing each loop twice in both directions & the pretty section I call Tall Trees to finish up the ride.  It was warm, probably upper 70's.  Farah worked up a decent sweat with her newly thickened coat.

A typical yawn~

She asked to stop once & spent a few minutes yawning - something she's done forever.   Back at the trailhead there was only one other rig parked at the far side.  Since the Asian Beetles have hatched out this week & they'd been thick here last year - I was surprised they weren't bad today.  Farah got a bath & dried dry almost faster than I could get her wet!

Farah & Nika~

I made the drive home & turned her out in the yard.  Nika actually laid down nearby for the first time!  Usually, she moves further away.  Back at the stable, the run had not been scraped - with rain tonight - I can only hope it will get done next week.  Another gorgeous ride, I'm hoping to go to Indian Caves before all the color is gone.

Zero G's~

Since our forecast is one of temperatures warming into the 90's by weeks end, mid-80's would have to do.  The air is full of what I think is the dust from all the gravel roads.  This has been about the longest period this summer that we've not had rain.

Carrying a mouthful~

It was nice to pull into Waubonsie & have everything quiet.  Everything except the bugs!  They were out in full force.  Small flies - that were at the stable too, big horse fly's, something that did a lot of buzzing...  Even with spray slathered on us both - we were both bitten more than once.

My Stonewall~

My Stonewall is finally broken in.  It's been almost two-years now & we've had no issues with it - which is a saddle blessing that was a long time coming.  I still wish the seat were a little deeper & the twist a little narrower.  Jackie has reminded me that Farah is not a small bodied mare & requires a medium tree.

Honeysuckle~

Someone was full of energy today - a surprise with the heat.  She attacked the first of the hills with a vengeance.  I'm still not sure just how she accomplished it, but one minute I was in the saddle & the next I was in the air.  Both feet came up in the stirrups, my seat left the saddle & for a long instant I was suspended.  A millisecond later - I reconnected with the saddle - as we crested the top.

Beautiful trails~

It's so nice to have a place to ride that seems so changeable & where almost all the trails are totally in the shade of the deciduous timber.  We weren't out too far when I heard a huge rustle of feather & Farah went sideways.  A turkey had flown up just a foot or two off the trail!  He perched about 40 feet up in a tree as we went by.  The first I've seen here.

Vine on the hitching rail post~

It's been fun too, to play games.  Once the stats are downloaded, it's interesting comparing our time from one ride to the next - doing an identical pattern - or changing it up.

White blooming Nettles?

I'm pretty sure that these plants are Stinging Nettles, or their cousins.  The white blooms on both sides of the trail were beautiful - even if they're not flowers in the true sense of the word.

Ah  Shade~

The photo above is of one of Farah's favorite places to take a break.  Mine too, as it's up on a ridge & there's usually a little breeze that keeps the bugs away.

Young Coyote~

As we turned out on our final loop, I saw something up ahead on the trail.  I got out the camera & got one shot of this young Coyote before he turned into the brush.  He was looking a little skinny - so hope he found a rodent or two for his dinner.

After her bath~

Farah really enjoys her baths on hot days - our new hose & nozzle works great & gets the job done much faster than a sponge.  She gets just enough time to dry - before the bugs find her again & the spray goes back on.

We headed for home & pulled in to wait for Butch.  Farah loves grazing in the yard & walks away when Butch goes to gather her up for the trip back to the stable.  Nika was even OK with it & had the gumption to circle Farah at a run!  :-)  She'd still like to herd her - but is smart enough to know better.

My Red Geranium's & Farah~

My germaniums have done well this summer - they grow much bushier than they did in Washington, but have about the same amount of blooms.  It wont' be long before I have to get them back into pots for the long months of the winter season.