Ride: County Line Trail
Trail Boss: Juleen
Date: August 24, 2024
The August 24, 2024 Birthday Ride was very unique for a variety of reasons.
- Birthday Rides are usually on the 1st Saturday of the Month?
- Staged at Mesa Top Trailhead but rode The County Line Trails?
- Rode in Heavy Cloud Cover instead of the Sunshine?
- Sunshine during the Potluck instead of rain (reverse of 2023)
- Riders/Horses have improved, it’s no longer scary to ride in the back!
Originally 21 members and a few guest had signed up to ride. Most of the weather forecasts looked dreadful, except for the one forecast that seems often to be most accurate for the GRAND MESA! The Trail Boss was getting pressure to reschedule the event. “Bring a Rain Slicker and Dress Warm” was her advice.
11 riders showed up to ride. 2 decided it was to cold for them. They were kind enough to leave their Potluck items for us, thanks B&B. We headed out @ the 10am Ready to Ride Time, from Mesa Top in heavy cloud cover. Certainly a few of the riders were probably thinking, “have we really lost our minds”. We crossed safely over Highway 65 and headed into the forrest. Something magical was happening. The air was so fresh, the riders chatter, the horses very calm. The ride took on a magical feeling. We were all having so much fun, feeling like kids again. Enjoying riding our horses when smarter members stayed in the warmth and safety of their homes.
The Grand Mesa is an amazing mountain. Even with all the recent rain, the trails don’t get slick or muddy. Yes, there were a few low lying places with standing water but the the horses never slipped.
The wind was brisk as we rode across the open meadows or across the dam on Scales Lake #2. However, most of the trail was in the tress and we were unaffected by the wind for the most part. The overlook was dramatic with the heavy cloud cover and a few members dismounted to “stretch their legs”.
When we arrived back at Mesa Top, the SUN came out and the Sky turned BLUE! Out came the table, table cloths (of course) and more sugar filled delights than normal. Happy Birthday was sang to Brandy, AGAIN!!! B&B’s chicken and pasta salad gave us some much need protein!
Who needs the SUNSHINE to have fun when you are riding on the Grand Mesa with your 2 legged and 4 legged friends.
