June 10, 2020

I have been on quite a few trail rides lately, mostly with Carol Ann. And I have not been efficient at recording them here. You might wonder why I do record them here, and I do have a reason. I use them later when I can’t remember something about a trail, and I can look back and find be reminded. Stuff like “where was that loop?” Or “what was the footing like” or “was the parking efficient for two rigs?” I actually look back a lot.

Most of these rides have been at Slate Lick so I’m not as worried about recording them. But there was a fun Sunday ride at Laurel Run, which I could not remember well as it was. Luckily I reached out to some amazing STRHA friends and they helped me out. I do need to try to record that ride in its own post.

There was also a STRHA ride at Uncle Tom’s. Again it was a pretty basic loop that be documented on here previously so we will leave that I t his mash up as well.

Otherwise, this post commemorates quite a few lovely rides at Slate Lick over the recent weeks.

May 29, 2020

I drove up to Sky Meadow near Paris, Virginia, and met Jenny and her horse King for a ride.

We did what appeared to be a nice big loop but it turned out to be shorter than we anticipated. It was a nice ride through well marked fields and mountain-like trails.

We went to the left onto the loop, but we think going right would have been better. There was a lot of down hill compared to the up hill. Or so it seemed.

It was right about $11 to get in and park. The park provides a money drop box and self serve envelopes with hang tags at the entrance. There were quite a few trailers there and plenty of cars. We ran into tons of hikers and all stepped off trail to allow us to pass.

It was a good ride with a variety of terrain and lots of directions to go and explore.

May 4, 2020

Continuing our Friday afternoon trail rides, Carol Ann and I hit up Slate Lick with Puck and Simon. It was a quite day there, only one other trailer and limited sightings of other people coming in and out.

We headed left on hogpen fire road and did the loop at the end of the fire road. It is such a nice ride with plenty of creek crossings and varying trail.

Simon was strong on our past few rides so I put a bit in for this ride. I am glad I did too. He was again, strong, and cracking to move out. At one point we were trotting along a trail in the woods and I am not sure if he got stung by something or what because he leaped forward and sideways and let out several furious bucks before trying to bolt forward through Carol Ann and Puck. I did not find any marks on him later to indicate.

It was an excellent ride. I do like this loop quite a bit. I’m looking forward to meeting Carol Ann next week for another ride. I think we have a standing date now.

May 3, 2020

Last weekend Carol Ann and I rode out on Friday and it was too short. So we went again on Saturday. This one was too long.

I want to remember that this ride sucks. I hate the long slow down hill on the back fire road that’s all shall and rocky and in the sun. Last time I did this loop I thought the same thing. But clearly I forgot. The rest of the ride is nice but the one section is so crappy it makes the loop not worth it.

We started off taking the left branch of hogpen fire road back and through the closed fire gate. At the Four way intersection at the top of the hill we went right and followed that along and eventually back into the woods. So far it’s lovely. It rides through a formally burned area that is pretty neat and has a few views.

Eventually it pops out at a fire road, where you bare right. The gate here has always been open previously but was closed on this day and had no ride around. So we had to manage around it a bit tediously. Then down the horrible long steep shaley fire road. Luckily it wasn’t hot or the sun would have baked us. The constant steep down hill killed my knees and Simon was frustrated with its tediousness by the end.

It does finally reach the bottom and then wraps through the woods, over some creeks and it very lovely. After that it pops back into the woods and eventually rides out at slate lick lake and back to the parking.

The lake area was packed with day trippers walking around. The camping areas were also packed. We literally cantered through all of it and back to our rigs with haste. It was just staring to rain and we hit the road out quickly.

Carol Ann was on Dash and I was on Simon.

May 2, 2020

I usually leave work early on Friday’s so Carol Ann and I have been meeting for a weekly trail ride. Woo. Here is a review of our Friday rides in April.

Ride: 4/17/20

Carol Ann and I took our PONIES out Friday afternoon for a spin at Slate Lick in National Forest. We took the left hand turn for Hogpen from the parking area, took the fire road out and looped to the right. This is an excellent ride with altering terrain, some climb, a bit of downhill, a lot of creek crossings, and all types of trees.

It was an excellent ride with Carol Ann on Puck and me on Simon.

Ride 2: 04/24/2020

I forgot to track this ride so no map. We did the basic loop, staying straight on the fire road in and past the lake. Then wound through the woods, up the hill and back down along the ridge.

Carol Ann rose Puck and I rode Simon. It was a nice ride but too short.