Jompies

 First of all, thank you for all the wonderful comments on my last post! I'm still beaming about that day almost a month later, and it's really cool to have so many of you cheering us on at home. How fun!

The day after the CTR was the time change (hopefully the last one...?) That means I've been riding in the dark pretty much every day since. In a lot of ways, I enjoy this time of year. I like riding under the moon and stars (though I do occasionally dream of an indoor or arena lights). I also enjoy the winding down of the year as the world goes to sleep for the winter. 

On Wednesday, however, my boss sent us a lovely email thanking us for our hard work and dismissing us for the holiday weekend at 3pm. I promptly threw on my riding close and sprinted out the door. It just so happened that we had a beautiful sunny day and I had just dragged the ring. I also had a little course set up, though it was mostly for decoration at this point. Coincidentally, Mike had just picked up a Canon 7D Mark II for a steal. He got it specifically because of the fast shutter speed with jumping photos in mind. 

We couldn't resist a little photo shoot, and I am not complaining about the results.

Booger's First CTR

This photo says it all. 

Sandy Visits

 When Sandy and I ran into each other at the hunter pace, we both agreed that we were overdue to ride. Despite the fact that I saw Sandy almost every week as a horse trainer, we haven't actually gone on a trail ride together in nearly two years. It just so happened that Eryca wasn't available the last weekend of October, so I asked Sandy if she had any interest in coming down to ride. Unfortunately, Fina had hurt herself getting off the trailer after the hunter pace.

"Well, you can always come down and borrow Lucy," I offered. 

I really needed to get Booger out for a longer trail ride because... reasons. It would actually help me out to get both mares ridden in one day. 

Sandy seemed eager enough to borrow a pony. After checking our schedules, we agreed to meet on Sunday morning once the trails opened. 

We ended up having a lovely ten mile ride.

We had a beautiful day for it.

The Palisades: Giant Stairs Hike

 One of my favorite ways to pick hikes is to zoom out a few clicks on the AllTrails app and see what pops up. At this point, Mike and I have done many of the top hikes within a two hour drive of home, some of them repeatedly. One place we have never been is the Palisades. 

These iconic cliffs were formed during a volcanic event about 200 million years, which coincided with one of the major extinctions. These days, the cliffs are a national landmark and there is nothing else quite like them in New Jersey. This park is on every list of things you must see while in NJ. 

On the last weekend of October, Mike and I knocked this hike off our list.

Covered Bridge Trail Pace

 On the 23rd, Eryca and I took Lucy and Lilly to the Covered Bridge Trail Association fall pace. I had never managed to make it to this pace despite the fact that it's super local to us. After riding it, I may explore a membership for next year. 

Photo by Carlie Johnson, used with purchase.

Hiking Harriman: Pine Meadow Lake

 Every time Mike and I take 287 to the New York thruway, I comment, "We should really check out Harriman State Park one of these days." So, a few weekends ago, that's exactly what we did. The park is over 47,000 acres, has 32 lakes, and over two hundred miles of hiking trails. Picking which hike to do took some time, but we decided to check out Pine Meadow Lake via the Diamond Mountain loop.

Time Change

 An orange moon rises

Over inky hills, barren fields

My mare follows a ribbon of gravel

Ears swiveling, eyes bright

Her crushed velvet coat warms me

Her blaze a beacon, leading the way

Revisiting Pulpit Rock and The Pinnacle

 The last several weekends have been jam packed. Not only have I been getting out and doing a bunch of riding. Mike and I have also gotten in some stellar hikes. The day after I took Booger to Colliers Mills, Mike and I revisited Pulpit Rock and The Pinnacle on the AT in Pennsylvania.

Colliers Mills Conditioning Ride

 Right after Booger's first hunter pace, Geneva made a post on FB asking, "Does anyone want to do a conditioning ride down in the Pine Barrens this weekend? I'd like to do about fifteen miles. Mostly trot. Some canter."

I was like, "Wait. Me. I want to do this." I left a waving emoji in the comments.

Geneva reached out right away, and I warned her that I would want to bring Booger and that I wasn't sure if we'd be able to keep up with her and Hopper. Her response was, "That's ok. If we have to walk the whole thing, that's fine."

That Saturday, Booger loaded up for her first solo trip off the property with me. It was AMAZING.

Never thought I would see this view through these ears.

The Tenth Month

 October was super busy in all the best ways and I still have several posts to go before I'm caught up, but in the meantime, here is my monthly photo purge.

October is my favorite and Mike and I got some great hiking in.