May 4, 2015

** 5/9/15 This post has been edited by reader request to remove the location and many of the photos.**

This weekend I drove up to Pennsylvania to drop Spike off for “camp” with my friend Lindsey.  I decided to bring Simon along and have a sleep over.  Saturday evening we went for a light hack at Lindsey’s farm.  Then we had dinner and hit the hay.  Sunday we met up with Lindsey’s really cool friend, who is now my friend too, Sara and her horse Yoshi, and headed to Some trails.

This is a popular and populated park which is very out of the ordinary for Simon and I.  there was a nice paved and shaded parking area set up near a pool, and running along a pretty stream, surrounded by picnic areas.  We mounted up and headed out a fire road, passing a few fishers and hikers.

There were a lot of “do not belong” things in the woods, like small concrete buildings, painted water hole heads and foot bridges.  I rode Simon across a pretty neat foot bridge.  He is such a trooper.  We also crossed several smaller bridges and enjoyed splashing in several creeks.  Yoshi was splash queen.  Sara also showed her experienced seat several times when Yoshi leaped into creeks from the banks, tripped in her splashing delight, and when she did a crazy deer hop over a fallen log.

There was a nice gallop stretch up a gravel fire road, and Simon really let himself rip, almost keeping up with the other two.  almost.  He was excellent in his usual pony fashion, tromping along happily, with an occasional jog to keep up with the others.

The ride was particularly enjoyable to have such excellent company.  I have gotten used to solo rides, so this was a welcome change.  I think Simon enjoyed making faces at the other ponies too.  It was also a big change for us to be on relatively level ground.  There were no big climbs and only limited grades going down.  I also enjoyed the continuous change in terrain and scenery as we went along.  It was a really nice ride.

Other than missing my Daisy Dog back at home, it was an awesome weekend adventure.

So who is the cutest pony?  Simon!  This is Simon, looking his cutest, ready to hit the trail.

Sara’s pony Yoshi sure liked to make a splash.  

Fallen down cabin.   

This was a neat section of trail.