Ride Date - 21 November, 1999Ride Date - 21 November, 1999This ride is the next stage in Taylor's and my goal to reach the East Peak of Mt. Tam from Marin Stables.
We worked with Jimbo McDermott, the manager of Marin Stables, to tune the bridle implementation from the day before. We changed the way I attached the mecate reins to the slobber straps so that they were symmetrical. Then Jimbo tweaked the chin strap. Made it a lot easier to get the bit in Taylor's mouth.
We set out around 11:40 am on a sunny, breezy Fall day. We went down Canyon Trail (0.1 mi), cut up Moore Trail (0.4 mi). We took the Deer Park Fireroad (0.4 mi). We got a chance to talk with Hope on Snowman Sam until we split at Five Corners.
At noon we turned off on Shaver Grade (1.1 mi) headed toward Phoenix Junction. We passed a lot of nice folks. One had a big black dog on a leash. I said "nice looking puppy!." The owner replied "this is a full grown dog, not a puppy." Whatever! I took Taylor down to the stream to see if he would drink. No dice. The last time he surprised me and charged up the hillside to get out. This time I backed up out up the trail. Much more environment friendly!
We noticed that Filter Gulch trail is signed as No Horses, a recent change. We turned on to Eldridge Grade somewhere around 12:10 and did a brisk extended trot up for 0.8 mi until we hit the intersection of Filter Plant Road (or Marin Plant Line) around 12:20. I love seeing the bikers expression when we ask to pass on the left! We walked the next 1.2 miles. Some really pretty views. We blew 5 minutes "fighting" with the local water trough that he actually accepted last trip. Go figure! We passed Tucker Trail (signed No Horses) at 12:35 and hit Lakeview Fire Road at 12:50. We did a reasonable trot for the last 1.1 miles until we hit Indian Fire Road at 1.00. Taking a cue from Jimbo, I listened to his breathing. Jimbo said if he blows once for every trot beat he's OK. If more than that, he's not. On the second leg he was slower, but breathing just fine. Can a stethoscope be far behind?
At the top we looked at the dynomite views of the Bay and of southern Marin. I got down, had some lunch and chatted with some folks on dirt bikes. I then aimed Taylor for and got on. The @#$%^&! forgot his training and started a slow trot. I got on, but I was p***ed! I'll have to remember to aim him away from home, and up hill when I do that again! And turn his head toward me as well. It would have been a long walk home!
On the 2.3 mile walk down hill we had super views of the Bay and "Mt. Baldy" (Bald Hill). It's just a little scary because bikes don't understand they need to "signal" that they're coming up behind you on a horse. We also saw a number of Turkey Vultures riding the thermals.
Junction with Filter Plant Road
(8.4 mi)We turned on to Filter Plant Road at 1:50 and trotted on the gravel portion for a few minutes, and stopped when the trail turned to macadam. Taylor was well behaved, but nervous, around the actual filter plant. I was treated to a view of Phoenix Lake that I hadn't seen before. I found some dead grass to see if Taylor wanted to "decaffinate" but he passed. Maybe because it was wet? We walked (and sometimes jigged!) for a mile and hit Fish Grade about 2:15. We passed the entrance to Fish Gulch Trail wistfully, thinking that the trail was closed, but that this end was not signed yet. As luck would have it, we bumped into a ranger on an ATV (a first!) and he told us that only the last section was closed, but that it was open down to Concrete Pipeline. Hooray! We walked, jigged, backed up, did "take the hind end away" exercises and generally fought all the way down the 0.4 miles to Concrete Pipeline, getting there at 2:20.
We did a very extended trot the whole 1.5 miles of Concrete Pipe and even snuck in a brief collected canter up on Shaver getting to Five Corners around 2:30. Flat roads make it possible for Taylor to really boogie. In fact at the end I posting so fast that I lost a stirrup. He's really good about listening to a little "seat" and dropping down to a collected sitting trot on the blind corners, and bookin' again when the coast is clear.
From here we walked down Deer Park Fire Road (0.4 mi), Moore Trail (0.4 mi) and Canyon Trail (0.1). I have no idea what time we actually got back to the barn. 2:40? 2:50?
Marin Stables (12.2 mi)
Roughly a three hour ride. Very nice. Taylor rolled himself silly, as usual. After I put the cooler on him, I kicked back for half an hour, had a beer, and chilled. Friend Stacy helped me measure the pony for a blanket. Just shy of 70 inches.
I'd value your comments. Email me at mike@thoma.com.