Tadpole rehoming and watershed trespassing

Today we had a mission. My tadpoles can't live in a bucket forever. Today we'd set them free in the big world, hopefully in a tranquil place which would cater to my dear ones. They have become dear to me, I studied them intently while they were nothing but eggs, and got all excited the first day an egg moved. They look up at me and think I'm their God. Who else has a face as big as the entire world (scary thought to live in a bucket and see my face looking down every day).

I had to interrupt Baasha who had just discovered new blackberry shoots from the unkillable root system. Good boy! But do that later!

I put the tadpoles in a tupperware container, and put them in a big bag and hooked it on my saddle.











I found it ironic that this sign greeted me as I entered the woods. It translates "Dumping biological waste forbidden" (Probably " No dumping yard waste" is a better translation, but they probably mean tadpoles in either case....)








Here's the pond I found for them. A big brown eagle flew away from us as we approached. Louisiana!










I wish I could say Baasha stood politely tied to that tree the entire time I said goodbye to my tadpoles, but *sigh* no. He fretted and wound himself around, and pawed the air, and tried in all ways possible to communicate to me that we really must be going, being stationary is no good.








My tadpoles hung around the shore next to my feet, reluctant to venture out. Like kids at daycare who don't want their mom to leave them there? Pah. They're tadpoles, they can't be attached to their God! They nibbled on the floating algae and jumped up on floating sticks. I could have hung out there a long time, but Baasha was urgent to go. How can he make me feel guilty for leaving him tied for 10 minutes of his life?



He says, "Oh dear, I really feel we should be going. I think I heard something."











"Yes, it's BEHIND US!"












"There's some sort of predatory bird flying overhead. I could be wrong."












"HOLYCRAP it's a Pteradactyl! Quick, LEAVE THE TADPOLES and LET'S GO!"












"Will you quit staring at me with that thing and untie me? Look at my rope, look what you did, it's ridiculous. I could get a hoof caught."

"Yes Baasha, that's my fault. I should know you fuss and never leave you tied so sloppily. OK let's go."

How sad that some people don't know the thrill of a horse who happily tosses his head down as he leaps into a canter up a hill. (Even when that horse thinks he's going home.)



We live near the watershed, a pretty manmade feature. One of the fields in this google earth shot is ours, not sure which one. You can see why I'm drawn to it - is it possible to ride a horse all the way around it? That is my goal!








Some of the trails remind me of home.










Most of the trails look like this. Note the absence of ground cover.











Look, MOSS! Let's pretend we're in western Washington.











What's that? The watershed! oooooooooooooh...We're not supposed to go in there. But look how tempting that serene water is!

Sadly, I had to ride on several "No Horses" trails to just stay near the water, and even then, the trails are not continuous, they end at roads and I had to pass through tiny towns to find another trail. However, I did see hoofprints and manure all over the place on the No Horses trails, so I'm starting to believe the people who tell me it's not enforced. Also, I only saw 2 other trail users in 3 hours, so that's also good.

One town had the happiest garden I've seen. Look how happy! Baasha was not impressed.










We finally caught our first real glimpse of the water. We must go on! Big gate, no trespassing, but maybe we can find a hole in the fence?











I kept imagining the real trouble we'd be in if we were caught, no one is allowed in there. It's just like the watershed back home. "KEEP OUT - SOURCE OF SEATTLE'S WATER" signs everywhere. Trip wires and cameras. (Or so I imagined.) Hard to hide a white horse.










Look, your veins are showing! That's good, right? Hold still for a picture.












See the water?













After following a deer trail down, we suddenly arrived at the water's edge. It was gorgeous. Pristine, and oddly, green. I was thrilled. That was so worth it.










Baasha said, "Big boring body of water. Let's go home."











I found two very old jars of meat. Perhaps another trespasser made a lunch break here.









On the way home we passed the property I'd visited Monday where the unhappy old man lives. You can barely see the shape of the pretty grey Arab in front of the boat. Boat? That big white/green striped tarp is covering the upside down hull of a boat. Some guy, I call him Noah, is expecting a flood, and works on it every weekday. (You might have to click the photo to see the tarp/boat.)

Actually, our house is in the very middle of this photo, but the landscape drops away so sharply, you cannot see it. You can see the tops of the big oak trees behind our yard, though. Fascinating. Oh! I can see sheep in the far right! That's why I've been hearing Baaing again!

I tried to get some video of me riding for the first time. In the middle of the film Baasha broke into a canter, and I thought "If I fall off and die, we'll have video of my last moments!" Later Baasha let a canter become a mad gallop up a hill, and I kept yelling, "COKE IN THE SADDLE BAG! COKE IN THE SADDLE BAG!" and laughing cuz I don't think he knows what carbonation is. I'll try to post the video later.

I tried to take some self photos but I need to work on that. This was supposed to be a photo of me approaching the camera. Oops.








Gotta work on this self photography thing.

Thanks for coming along with us on our mission today!