Windy ride

Today's ride took us down to the watershed. I was determined to find new trails, and eventually my way around the entire watershed. So far I have seen exactly half of it, the half facing our house.

On our way, I discovered a moss-floored wood, and daydreamed about Bambi lying down in comfort.




It was so windy, and the last time I was on these trails, we had our bridge accident. I knew the weather couldn't control our fate, and I knew that Germany does not allow trees to fall on citizens. I love being out on my horse when the only thing to hear is wind thrashing the trees around. Such power, resisted so effectively by roots of oak.







Back home I feared for my life on rides during windstorms in the foothills. I felt confident that Baasha could speed us to safety if a tree began to fall, but not 100% confident! I rode despite windstorms with my theory that if I get hit by one out of a thousand trees which decides to fall, it is my time to go.

Check out his winter coat. You don't just lose your hand when you pat him, you lose half your arm. Hey, notice anything different about him today? (Not that the wind took his mane to the other side, something else.)






Baasha was good today. I realized he stood still every time I stopped him to take photos. He was in no hurry today, but he was apt to canter when I asked for a jog.

We wandered past a neighbor's raps field (canola), wondering why in November there are raps.










Baasha even started to walk right into the raps field, oops.












We explored this long road (called "Allee" in German, because they have planted trees along each side of it), and not a single car passed us the entire long windy boring time. I had to go down this road, just because it is near our home, and I was always curious what was at its end.







Turns out it just goes down to the watershed and dead ends, but thankfully there is a trail down there for us.









I love the gentle curves of this land.










We made it to the water and saw lots of cormorants and ducks, and three white swans. The wind is tossing his mane, the splashing waterfall below is holding his attention. I love this spot.









Here the swans shy away from us.











There is a geocache nearby.









We wandered up and then down again, each hill that dips down into the water, and finally came to the town near where we had our bridge accident.






Baasha's tracks blended with truck, dog, and human.

It would be getting dark in a couple hours, so I turned back for home.










Not before saying hello to some odd looking sheep, their hair was blowing in the wind!










I got a pic of the spot that worried us so much the other day, where the wild pigs tore up the ground.


On the way back down then up, then down, then up, we heard a familiar Heeaaah!!! and I jumped off Baasha's back so fast, my life depended on it! That sound could only mean one thing, Paulina the donkey is back! I'd missed her the last few days, she was nowhere to be found. She let me rub her nose and then phlemen'd us at the odd scent of my gloves. Baasha was standing braced back on all 4 toes, his legs splayed, ready to leap away. He does not have the nerve to touch noses with a geriatric donkey. I thought what a funny sight we made, me leaning over the fence to touch her soft fur, and Baasha leaning back with all his might, hoping I'd drop the reins so he could flee to the safety of a kilometer or two.

When we got home, I turned Baasha out to pasture, and as I type this he is still out there, in no hurry to come back to his stall and eat his warm mash. My man is in his office working (ok, YouTubing!) and I just made us a healthy dinner of Chicken Ratatouille, cuz he asked if we could eat a healthy dinner. Nothing healthier than fresh broccoli! The wind is pushing on our little house as I type, and our shale shingles are tapping on the wall outside our kitchen. I LOVE the wind!