Monday, September 28, 2009




Lily was not happy about this segment of the trail. Those small birch logs provided some firm support over a section of muck.

Nonetheless, a skeptical Lily did not want to cross this temporary bridge, but when Bill walked over it in front of her, she decided it was okay.

On the way back, she still didn't like it, but, as she does with every obstacle the second time, she sniffed it out and then LAUNCHED off across it. I was prepared for the jump but some of my accessories weren't.

My sunglasses fell off the top of my hat.

And, I'm almost positive my belt buckle popped from its somewhat loose clasp and probably fell somewhere near the trail.

It's a buckle I've had for more than 30 years. My sister Laurie won it by placing first at the 1978 Idaho State Horse Judging contest, and since she'd won an identical buckle the year before, she gave me one of them. I coached the judging team at the time, so that buckle has meant a lot to me over the years.

We've made up flyers and have alerted the folks at Western Pleasure who use the trail. Bill said he'd hike back through the area after work tonight.

Losing the buckle was the only blemish on an otherwise phenomenal day.

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