In which I report on the Cross State Trail : from Easton to Cle Elum

Before things went right on this adventure, they went way wrong.

We took the Reindeer (my truck) into the transmission shop two days before departure for a "routine tranny flush" and the mechanic said "uh-oh."

Crud.

As previously reported, the transmission was covered by warranty, but the fix wouldn't be fast.  So, I needed a ride to the ride!

Darlene's rig in Easton

Darlene's rig is new (only 39,000 miles on the truck, as opposed to the Reindeer's 220,000 miles), so we figured we'd be good to go. 

We reckoned wrong.

Halfway up Snoqualmie Pass, the shiny white truck abruptly informed us that there was a problem (new trucks have all kinds of readouts!) and that it would only proceed forward at 15 mph.

We stopped at the top of the pass, called people, read the manual, called more people, and finally decided to limp forward to the ridecamp, less than 18 miles away.  Once there, Darlene called Triple A to arrange things.

Triple A will NOT tow a trailer with horses inside (US Rider will!), so although the truck could drive itself to the dealership in Ellensburg and the trailer could get a ride to our next camp,

The trailer catches a ride.  Later that day, the tow truck broke! But they fixed it and delivered the trailer.

the two horses needed to follow the trail to Cle Elum. 

Okay, then.

My short Dragonwalker coat doubles as a saddle cover in the rain.  I wore the long coat.

The morning was cold and blustery, and many of the horses were nitwits with excitement--although most people would be riding the trail at a walk, the horses were convinced that a galloping race was about to ensue.  Shades of endurance!

Fee and Lola were a little animated, but calm compared to many of the others.  Finally we got the green light to hit the trail:  since Darlene was coping with the truck, my job was to shepherd both horses.

For the first 3 days of the ride, wagons and carts leave before the riders.  The reasoning is sound:  horses are braver if they are approaching a weird object than they are if they are being "chased".  After three days, everybody is more comfortable and things aren't so weird.

The Dragon has ponied other horses, Lola has been ponied by other horses. 
This was the first time the Dragon ever ponied Lola.  It was fine.

On the trail to Cle Elum

The Dragon is always dubious about bridges.  We got lots of practice on this ride!

Approaching camp near the old Cle Elum depot (which now houses a fabulous BBQ restaurant)

In camp at Cle Elum

Many of the dinners on the trip this year are catered by local restaurants or food trucks.  In Cle Elum, we ate barbeque.  Having food prepped and provided was AWESOME. 

At 4:45 every afternoon, there is a camp meeting to report "tales from the trail" and learn about the next step.  At this stop, we were introduced to some boys from a cool program in Bellevue where they learn to build their own bikes, and then go on adventures with them. 

The Dragon loves meeting kiddos, especially when they bring her treats!

Next stage:  Cle Elum to Thorp