Boulder Meadows Day

We're going to Boulder Meadows this afternoon. While eating dinner and watching the news last night, Bill said, "Every year since we've moved to Selle, we've gone to Boulder Meadows. Do you want to go tomorrow?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation.

Last year we visited Boulder Meadows in late June; the year before, in July. Our visit last year, with our daughter Annie and the Border Collies along, was highlighted by the moment when we almost stepped on a new baby fawn, obediently lying motionless in the deep green grass. We stayed our distance but took photos and then left it alone.

We'll never forget our brief visit two years ago when we took fishing poles, rode our bikes from the parking area and did a little fishing in the stream that runs through the meadows. Suddenly, Bill noted that it looked like a storm was coming. By the time we scurried out of there, rode our bikes a mile through a wild rain, thunder and lightning storm and arrived at the pickup still alive, we figured we'd been on a big life adventure.

Little did we know that we had just finished the first segment of a crazy evening. After sawing through about a dozen fallen trees blocking the road on the way back, we realized that this little storm was pretty major and widespread. Stories abounded of the wild and woolly events that happened from Coeur d'Alene to the Canadian border during that few hours of crazy weather.

I don't think we'll encounter storms today. I can't say if we'll see any baby fawns, but I do know that we can once again be taken aback with the sheer beauty of the spot in the mountains east of Naples that I saw for the first time on the back of my horse Tiny decades ago. We were on a Gold 'n Grouse 4-H Club trail ride, and after coming over the hill into the meadows after a long day's ride, I thought it was one of the prettiest places I'd ever seen.

We spent the night there, and many, many people have done so since. The place has a nice horse set-up and outdoor johns, so it's a favorite spot for horseback riders and for hikers. Plus, there's a geocache there, put out by you know who.

Some day I'd like to ride from Grouse Creek into the meadows and spend another night like we did so long ago with that 4-H group. And, from the looks of this week's experiences with Lily, I'd say that may not be a pipe dream. She's turning out to be a horse beyond my wildest expectations.

I took her out again last night and again came home with a big satisfied smile on my face. Not only was it a beautiful summer night for a ride, but Lily also achieved another milestone in her young life as an all-around horse. Last night's moment came after we'd visited briefly with Mark Plaster who was leading his horse home from Roxane Conrad's place.

After we talked horses and Lily stood quietly the whole time (big change for her), we mosied on down Forest Siding Road. I hadn't thought about the railroad tracks until we were within a few feet of them. Then, I remembered the day Annie took Casey out for his first road trip several years ago.

He had just been shod with his first pair of shoes. The Neher sisters came by, so Annie joined them. A few minutes later, as I watched down the road, I realized that they had not rounded the bend onto Gooby Road where the Nehers kept their horses. I went to the end of our driveway and saw Annie standing with Casey in the middle of the road at the railroad crossing.

I jumped in the car, and as I got closer, I could see that she was crying and Casey wasn't moving. While the young horse crossed the tracks, BOTH of his front feet had slipped into the small space between the rail and the tie. It had to be a freak accident, but in both cases, he could not pull his feet out. He was stuck.

Long story short, the railroad was notified, and they did arrange for trains to stop. A vet came, several other people, including railroad workers, came and eventually with big crowbars and sedatives to calm Casey, they pried him out of his predicament.

That moment came flashing back as I eyed those railroad tracks last night; plus, the thought that Lily had brand-new shoes, just nailed on Friday, added to the drama. Fortunately, however, the railroad has since modified its crossings so that situations like Casey's misfortune would probably be impossible.

It took us some time, but after continued encouragement, turning in a few circles and a few taps on the rear when Lily resisted, she finally felt comfortable enough to walk over the crossing. She received some enthusiastic praise afterward, and when we came back, all it took was a quick sniff and over the crossing she plodded.

These are small victories, but in the grand scheme of things with horseback riding, they signal good times ahead for Lily and me as we become more involved in backwoods trail rides. She has a lot of common sense, and my confidence in her just keeps soaring.

Some day we'll go to Boulder Meadows. I'll ride around the meadows while Bill fishes, and it will be another momentous event in what's becoming an annual tradition.

Happy Sunday.