In which we go socially distant camping and please my inner child

In the Before Times, Jim and I spent a lot of summertime camping

with friends and horses.  We like to explore new places, build

trails, hang out away from work and home, and cook crazy meals

on campstoves to share with our friends.

We still like those things, but with the various quarantines and lockdowns they haven't been happening.

Finally, Catherine sent out a note:  "let's go up to Silver Ridge Ranch mid-week and hang out distantly!"

Oh, hell yes.

Kachess Lake: warm and not-too-deep

Normally we prefer dispersed-camping in wilderness areas, but this isn't the year for that.  Okay then.  I visited this camp in 2010 for a poker ride, fully intending to return and ride there again.  I kinda meant to go back sooner than this, but here we are, 10 years later.

Our new friend Joan knows the trails and showed us the route to the lake.

The trail map isn't as useful as you might think, as all the trail-marking "diamonds" have
faded to a pinkish-orange shade.  Better to rely on a basic GPS, a few landmarks, and 
a bit of nose-following!

With temps in the high 90's and low 100's (!!!!!) we rode in the evenings

Sunset on the powerline trail

Jim shot this sunset photo with his new camera

and the mornings

Joan's mule Buckshot tromped right out into the water

speckled shade on most of the trails

Then, in the afternoons, we left the animals snoozing in the shade of camp

Fiddle is not interested in a nap.  She wants to hang out with Rae (and Rae's hay bag).

The Haiku Farm floofs stayed home, but Sammy tagged along for the trip with Catherine

Fee also thought that Buckshot's hay looked pretty interesting.

...and drove over to the lake to throw ourselves in.

The water felt so good.

Our new friend Alex joined us for a few days.  She grew up riding but doesn't currently own any horses, so Catherine loaned her some saddle time on Taba.

I am envious of people who are comfortable riding bareback.  I started
riding too late in life to get there...also, Fee's shark-fin withers are NOT comfortable!

Fee was very intrigued by Alex

The next morning, we did something I've always wanted to do:

The Mermaids and the Water Dragons.  Jim stayed on shore to shoot pix.

This was truly one of the coolest things I have done in my life.  Fiddle is totally cool with walking into the water, we've been riding into the Stillaguamish River for yonks. 

However, we've never done the thing where we are both swimming.  And she just wasn't sure about that at first.  She kept looking at me, "this is a good idea?"  and then deciding that she would give it a try.  From out in the water, Catherine's mustangs looked like bumboats next to Fiddle the Ocean Liner!

 

I look around myself these days, and I count my blessings:  

I'm living on a farm with a garden that would make my grandfather proud (his vegetable garden was EPIC), with my very own horse in the backyard, a funny little dog at my feet, Santa in the chair opposite, Monica out in the yard building more dragons for a downtown art exhibit, 

my parents are well, my brother is well, I still have a job through the lockdown, and it isn't sn*wing.

my life is good

13-year-old Me would be so pleased with my life choices.