Stuck in the snow...for hours...

Thursday, February 21, 2013.  Forecast is 4 to 7 inches of snow.  No problem, right?  We decided to drive the car to work since it can handle that amount of snow and it will save on gas.  And by the time we get off work, things should start clearing....still slick, but clearing, right?

Nope, not at all!  My work closed at 1:00 p.m. and Brian couldn't leave work because he was on call.  So I stayed at work to get some stuff done.  Brian did get to leave early....he left at 2:00 and when he got to the car, he found this.  Do you think we have a shovel in the car?  Do you think we had a change of clothes for Brian?  Well of course not!  That would have meant we were prepared for the weather man to be wrong.  Ha ha!  It took him 2 hours to dig out and come get me.  Traffic was crazy and it was weird slick stuff so people couldn't move. 

We decided to go the interstate instead of the hilly curvy roads.  Nobody was out at this point...we drove slow and the car did great.

Then we came upon this....






Not long after we hit stopped traffic, this is what was behind us.






I always carry reading material, and I was reading the new rider handbook for the Upper Midwest Endurance & Competitive Rides Assn.  Persevere was on the front of the handbook, and I thought this moment was a good time to take a picture.  Little did I know it would mean more several hours later.  :-)

Come to find out the interstate was closed.  The snow came down so fast that people started to abandon their cars.  In some areas there were so many vehicles parked along the highway and side roads that the plows and maintainers couldn't get around.  So we were told they closed the interstate so they could get a section of highway cleared.  We were out here 3 1/2 hours.  We did have a full tank of gas so I guess we were kinda prepared.

We finally got to our highway to head north.  It was like the interstate.  Cleared off but slick, so we took our time.  We were excited....we would be home by 9:15 at the latest.  Nope, wrong again.  We turned onto our secondary road, there were some vehicles parked and left along the road but it was clear at that point.  We came around the corner and saw tracks in the snow, but it did not look that deep.  Brian slowed down a bit, and by the time we realized it was too deep for the car it was too late.  We were high centered and stuck.  We spent almost an hour trying to dig out so we could back up and head back to town, but every time we would move snow, the car would slide one direction or the other and it would pile up snow under the car again.

I wanted to walk home...it was only about 7 miles.  Brian said "No way!"  It was windy and it started to snow again, and it would take me 6 or 7 hours to get home in this stuff....and it was dark.  No way!  He was right...I just felt helpless, and I was dressed for it.  I called a friend but they did not have a 4x4 truck, but they knew people who did.  Brian and I decided to ride it out.  We had enough gas in the car, I had a leftover apple and orange from lunch that day, and we had a couple bags of shredded cheese and a container of salsa we got from the store before we left town.  We would not starve.  :-)  So we sat and waited for the snow plow.....and waited...and waited....

The funny (Oh, not funny as in funny Ha ha!) thing is we counted 25 plows that came up the exit ramp that was close to us, and back down it again.  We were the only ones out there...we had our lights and flashers on...but they had a job to do.  We quit counting....

This was our view for 6 hours.  The lights are from a trucking company down the highway.






I lightened this picture up a bit.  It is snowing again and I had visions of us being buried by morning.  You can see the area at the front of the car where we were digging to try to get out.






At 2:30 a.m. a plow came by!!!!  He left this track right by us.  Woo hoo!  The pictures do not show how deep the snow really was.  Anyways, we decided to wait for the guy to come back then flag him down.  All we needed to do was get the car in the cleared track.  He did come back and stopped to ask if we were staying warm.  He was a young kid and offered to help push the car.  We got out and headed back to town.  A huge thank you to that young guy...I really didn't expect anybody until daylight.




 We drove back to Brian's work and hung out there.  We arrived there at 3:30 a.m. and drove thru the parking lot.  It still looked just as bad as it did when Brian left.  Brian ended up working until 12:30 Friday afternoon then we headed home.  We were taking a chance on the roads being cleared.  As we were driving in the road we were stuck on for 6 hours, a plow went the opposite direction and said it was clear up to our dirt road.  Woo hoo!

A little bit of this way...






A little bit of that way...

 




And last but not least, the big hill!  Yay!  On the other side we go straight across...totally within walking distance if we need to!

 




We hopped across the road to see how far it had been cleared.  (This is where Brian ended up parking the car because part of the dirt road had not been cleared)





We made it this far with no problem, but we were being very cautious.  It was hard to see where the edges of the road and snow were...it all blended together.

 


We got to the turn and it looked rough.  I hopped out to check around the corner and it had been cleared, so I told Brian to get momentum thru the corner mess and don't stop!  :-)





We made it up the hill....and that was it.  A local person had cleared up to their driveway and a friends driveway.  Brian turned around and headed back to park the car, and I walked to the house.  It was only about a mile or so, and I was happy to get out and burn some energy.





I made it to our road and all of a sudden heard this heavy panting and thumping sound around me.  I was so zoned out I was not paying attention.  The dog that lives at the corner came to visit and escort me home.





The dog is showing me the way...





"Hurry up lady!  It is not far now!"




"Do I need to come back to get you?  Are you lost?"





"Here I am lady!  Not to worry!"




"AAAHHHH, we are almost there!  I checked, nobody is in this vehicle.  Now let's go!"





I made it to the driveway!  Yay!  Home Sweet Home!!!!  Now to feed the dogs, dig out the truck and go get Brian.





My escort dog went all the way up to the gate to say hello.  Also, I decided I wanted to ride in snow this weekend, but not enough to dig the trailer out. I was tired of digging.




Hemi was so happy to see me!  My biggest worry thru all of this was the critters.  I did not plan for an extra day away from home so didn't put out extra food, and I was worried about Tandee, my older horse.  Everyone fared well and was glad to see me.




Misty said she wasn't scared.  She was dressed for the weather too.




Nakita doesn't have time to visit...she is hungry.





 Tandee was cussing me like crazy...that made me so happy!  She was fine.  Whew!





Tandee and Tripplette on their way to the barn for brunch.





Batman says he missed me.  "I love you Girl."

The llama was making faces at Red...

The snow was so pretty on all the trees.

It was pretty on everything else too.

Snow hanging off the edge of the roof.

"Oh there you are!  Treats?"

There is 14 inches of snow on this table.  The dogs had already been back and forth on the front porch so they had it flattened out.

Wyoming says he took care of everyone while we were gone. 

Wyoming wanted a picture of how he looked while he was keeping watch...he is handsome.

It was quite an adventure!  I know God was with us...Brian and I did not bicker, get snippy, we laughed a lot, we talked, we were quiet with our own thoughts...and it was all okay.  We both felt okay inside during all of this.

On the other hand, yesterday we shared our scary thoughts...there was only one 4x4 truck that came by and he stopped...we both had those crazy thoughts that he was some crazed murder.  Yep, we watch too many crime shows. EEK!  He never asked how far down the road we lived...nothing.  All he said is "I hate to leave you, but I don't think I can pull you out.  See ya."  And he walked away...

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is glad he missed out on this adventure.  :-)

Lots of riders with the same great idea...

Sunday was supposed to be in the 50's, sun shining, and just plain beautiful!  I pulled in after 12 noon and was surprised nobody else was parked out there...then it happened.  I was not there 10 minutes when two big rigs pulled in.  Oh my....one was a huge trailer with living quarters...my dream trailer!  Actually, my wants and needs are more simple, so a nice little 3 horse slant stall with living quarters would do me just fine.  :-)

It looked like the whole family was going on a ride...grand parents, kids, and grand kids.  It made me smile.  They headed the direction of the lake; I was going the other direction.








Tripp seems to like the short loop for some reason, so we headed that way first.  The plan was to do the short loop, head over to big parking lot/camping area by the shooting range, then ride the trails over the hill behind the parking lot, come back up, then ride around the lake.  I was going to play the last part by ear...

Away we went...to the short loop first.  We saw a lot of turkeys on this ride!  Wow, they were everywhere!






Tripp loves coming up to this part of the trail because he knows we get to go off the trail and weave thru the trees.  He truly seems to enjoy that.





He still looks at stumps and fallen trees like they are up to something.  This big partially burned tree always makes him look twice.






Mmmmm, mystery manure!





Just up from here is where I personally counted 50 turkeys as they took flight!  Oh my gosh, they were about 30 feet from us and they started to take flight about Tripp's flank area.  Then it was like the wave at a baseball game....the turkeys kept coming and coming and coming....from the rear to the front of him!  All that flapping and fwapping noise they made was loud and enough to make Tripp wonder what the heck was coming to get us.  He really did do great considering how loud they were...he was all tight and it was like he was trying to decide to go or stay.  If he hurried up to go, and I 'accidentally' rolled off his back side, that would mean he was safe and 'they' would feed off the Girl!  Ha ha!  Thankfully it did not come to that.  :-)






Whew, we survived the herd of turkeys...life is good again.  Not far from here we met an older woman on the trail.  She was walking her dog, and we talked for a good 45 minutes if not longer.  She said she rides too but her husband doesn't like her to ride alone.  She invited me to ride with her sometime.  She told me where she lived (it was close) so I plan on stopping by sometime to ride with her.  She has gaited horses so Tripp and I might be left behind....either that or he will get the lead out and not let a girl get the best of him.  Ha!  I was so proud of Tripp.  We stood there a long time and he was a gem!  She mentioned how good he was and she was impressed...especially since he came to me wild in 2008.  We talked a lot about horsenality...Tripp just has a really great horsenality, and that is what makes him so great.  I just happen to be one of the ingredients.  :-)






We are now on the trail that we explored only one time.  This time I didn't have to walk him by the 'scary' stuff.  I love this lane with the big trees.  I would love to go hiking around here to see if I can find an old homestead.  It was such a pretty day.









And here is that creek crossing with the gray brick road.  :-)  Last time I walked him across the first time, and he rode across on the way back.  This time he did not even hesitate!  I was a proud mustang Mom!  He tip toed across the bricks and away we went.

 Across the field and up the hill is one of the other parking lots.  It goes by Hwy T.  I was hoping someone would drive by so I could wave.  :-)  I took a picture of the 'Welcome to Rudolf Bennitt' sign instead.  I know I know...wild and crazy me!  On our way up to the parking lot we met a girl we saw last time we came this direction.  Today she was on her foxtrotter and we never did catch her on the way back down. 

 



Going back down the hill from the parking lot...where did that girl and her horse go?  

 





Still no girl and her horse...hmmmmm....we are almost back to the brick creek crossing.


 





The entry point was a bit muddy, but Tripp didn't even slow down for it.  I don't know if that is good or bad.  He never did slip so I choose to believe he knew what he was doing.

One thing I don't like is he will not drink on the trail.  He dips in his nose, licks his lips, but doesn't actually drink.  When we get home he drinks a lot.  That won't be a good thing if he decides he wants to do limited distance riding (25 - 35 miles).

TRIPP:  "OH MY!  THERE IS THAT GIRL AND HER HORSE!  HEY YOU GUYS, WHERE DID YOU GO?"

TRIPP'S GIRL:  "Tripp, you don't have to yell, she is coming to us.  Tripp, don't be startled, but there are two guys walking down the hillside on your left."

TRIPP:  "I saw them...they are not important to me.  Who is that horse?  ..... oh, it is a boy...never mind.  Are my cheeks red from embarrassment?"    

Me and the gal chatted a couple minutes, then she was on her way.  Her little foxtrotter was covering some territory!  No wonder we didn't catch up with them.

The shooting range was very active and I was hoping this time would be different.  It was great!  No horses running by on the trail (even tho that was lots of fun) so we could  concentrate on the shooters and the noise.  It was family day here too.  Love it!  They were firing .22's on the left, and they had something with a big BIG boom on the right.  Tripp did great!  Another proud mustang Mom moment.  :-)

I wish we had time to take this loop again, but we didn't.  I never did make it around the lake like I planned.  Too much chatting and not enough riding.  Ha ha!  That is okay, we still had a 10 1/2 mile day and it was great.




Sunday's ride was the first one that I noticed Tripp is getting more fit.  I read an entry on conditioning endurance horses, and they said to walk them the first 6 weeks.  Up and down hills both...this strengthens their muscles and prepares them slowly.  Since I have been riding Tripp a little bit, I did all my hill work at a walk and did some trotting on the flats...but not a lot of trotting.  I finally got to the point of trotting so I would trot up the smaller hills, and he would get about half way up then run out of steam and start walking.  Yesterday we went up a hill and just as I thought he was running out of steam I felt his hind end kick into gear, he dug into that hill, and his gave me the most powerful trot he has ever had!  He stayed with it and we made it to the top of the hill and kept going across the flats on top!  Oh my gosh, it felt AMAZING!!!!!   I was so excited!  Here is the site I got this from.  This is what works for them and has worked for them for many years...endurance is their life.  http://perseveranceendurancehorses.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/endurance-training/

What a beautiful day...my rump was a little bit sore but not as bad as I thought it would be.  Tripp seemed to feel good when we were done too.  I am wondering if doing shorter miles on Saturday and my long day on Sunday made a difference.  Or he is just getting better...I don't know.  Either way, I will keep an eye on him because I don't ever want him to resent going out to ride.

Until later...Karen and Tripp who has some powerful junk in the trunk to get him up those hills!  ;-)

Brian's funny night watching Ace play ball...

While I was out riding Brian was out doing chores.  I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND!!!  He said Rico came running under the canopy then turned around to look.  About that time Ace came running under the canopy after him....shaking a ball at him!!!  HA HA!  Brian said Ace was flapping that flat ball all over the place, and he chased Rico with it.










Brian thought Rico was going to take it from Ace, but he never did.  Rico would nose it then Ace would shake it.

Brian and his kids got a good laugh out of this one.  Sorry I missed it!

Until later...Karen and Tripp who is trying to take all the credit and says he is the one who showed Ace how to play ball...

Short ride...priceless...

The days are getting longer and I was going to take a quick ride behind the barn after work a couple nights ago.  The plan was a great one, but there are still areas of mud that have ice under it.  There also isn't much flat area to work on so it got a little jiggy out there.  I got .7 of a mile on this ride...and I had to fight for it!  Ha ha!  I was glad to get to do it, but I think I will just work on my patience and wait next time.  :-)

Fast forward to tonite...the 16th.
I took a short ride this evening and it was just what the doctor ordered.  It was chilly most of the day and I just couldn't get myself to feel warm enough to get out there.  It finally hit the mid 30's and that was good enough...I was outta here!

Today was going to be something different.  I already knew it would be a short ride, so I decided to take the bareback pad with me.  I put a couple things under it to cushion Tripp's back more, and away we went.

Us and our shadow...

TRIPP:  "Okay Girl, there are only so many pictures you can take that you have not seen before.  Be a good girl, put the camera down and let's go."







TRIPP:  "This is more like it...the wind between my ears....by the way, I know you have the camera out again...I can feel it....that girl....what is a mustang to do?"

TRIPP:  "I love sunsets.  They relax me..."

I set the camera timer to see what we ended up with.  There is a 10 second delay, and sometimes that is too long for Tripp.  He has already lost interest by 5 seconds and thinks this is stupid, and his face says so.  I gave him an alfalfa cube as a treat so he would be occupied with something good for a few seconds longer.  At least he doesn't look irritated.  :-)




This ride was a short one but one of the best wildlife rides I have had out here.  In addition to the regular birds and squirrels, I saw a lot of deer and turkeys tonite.  When the first herd of turkeys took off, the flapping of their wings was loud and crazy!  Tripp just watched...good boy!  And the ride on the bareback pad was great!  I think he enjoyed it too...he was traveling about 40 to 45 lbs less thanks to the saddle staying in the truck.  :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp who wants to learn to fly like a turkey...