Evening pasture

A few more Sespe Creek crossings and quite a few meadows later, here we were. Willit Hot Springs is about a mile from camp, but camp benefits by a natural spring of its own. Water pressure is so good that the tap for the watering trough must be left on a little so it won't blow its hose connection. The pasture for the horses is about 5 acres.

Low hills between us and the Topa Topa range show in the foreground. We scanned them for signs of larger wildlife, but didn't see so much as a deer. This view is looking southeast toward Santa Paula. Our tents are just off camera to the left.

What a lovely restful scene at the end of a long day.

Scarlet Bugler? Bridges' Penstemon?

Those are the possible names for this enchanting red flagged wildflower which was growing everywhere we looked. It seems without closer inspection one can't tell the difference. The first is common in dry places, California coastal to Baja. The second shares the range. Eaton's Firecracker is another, but usually occurs further south, toward San Bernadino. In this picture you can also see some round purple flower clusters which I'll also try to identify. The (for want of real knowledge) Scarlet Bugler seemed always to occur in tandom with the large burned-out bushes left over from the devastating Day Fire a few years ago.

I actually saw the beginning of the Day Fire from the air. I was flying back from my friends' the Gists on Memorial Day (from which it gets its name). Two remarkable sights from that flight are still visible in my mind's eye. The first was a huge collection of thunder clouds over Las Vegas, with magnificent lightening bolts, all the more beautiful because it was night. The second, as we flew over the wilderness, was too large to be a campfire, illuminating a mountainside with furious flames. I remember worrying about it, especially since it had all night to spread before the borate bombers could hit it. The following day we began hearing reports of the Day Fire.

Most of the area through which we rode had been burned over by the Day Fire. You could see areas of trees that had black branches and new growth; and areas of trees that were more robustly green. It's all recovering, but the house at Willet Hot Springs is no more. A few ramshackle outbuildings survive, and are used infrequently by backpackers and the Forest Service. Chris Smith, whose "Big Wakoo" organization runs these horseback adventures, has used Willet Hot Springs as a camp for many years, and remembers visiting the former ranchers as a teenager. So now this blog will ride on, crossing Sespe Creek a few more times, and settle in for the windy night at Willet Hot Springs.

Topa Topa Range

What a pleasure it was to ride along, cross, or look down on, Sespe Creek. From this angle you can't see the water, but it was rushing right along, and at least waist deep in places. Clouds made the sky look like a postcard. In the distance, just above the cloud shadow, you can see the cliffs behind the Topa Topa Range north of Santa Paula. The clouds were traveling much faster than we were. There was quite a gusty wind blowing along the creek bed.

Lupine & Lunch

I simply could not take my eyes off this gorgeous display while we were eating. Afterwards, I walked over and got my camera-fill of the lovliness. Why ruin it with mere words! (but DO biggify it, because the sight was utterly wondrous)

As you see, the trail goes on, through the lupine, between the trees, and further into the wilderness. Another river crossing was just beyond this scene.

Dudes

When we stopped for lunch we lined up for a photo op. I think we were all giddy with the views, the enjoyment of riding, and the trip in general. Because I had "costumed" my helmet (bicycle, not riding!) with a sunshade, the ladies decided it looked like Saturn with its rings! But it did the job: protect my head from any possible falls, and my face from sunburn. Worked for me.

Our lunch stop was so lovely we were a wee bit reluctant to ride on. We spent a bit of time there, lined up on the log, eating Shannon's delicious wraps (jalapeno tortillas filled with yummies). I was entranced by some lupine blooming nearby, but it was so lovely I will accord it its own post.

This stop: about 1.5 hours in, which is approximately halfway to Willet Hot Spring.

Imagine some happy dogs here!

No, really.  There were three, count'em, three, very cheerful dogs along for the trip: Maya, Bear, and Cheyenne (large black, medium black, and brown/white). Running ahead, around, and everywhere, they were romping in this field of fiddlenecks and blue dicks-- but wouldn't stay put! So my shot of three happy dogs is minus the dogs. They had made it out of range by the time I took the photo. I think the dogs put in at least twice the milage the horses did, loving every minute of it, as I did.

As always, click to biggify. Especially here. The flowers were amazing.

Behind a pack mule

This was my view for much of the ride in. Chris, the wrangler/leader on his horse Ghost. The pack animal behind the large white pack is Kelly Lopez, the mule, who's half Arab and has an attitude!
But what scenery. What clouds! My neck was on a swivel. I quickly found out that my camera skills while one-handed are not the greatest. Many of my "on the hoof" shots are blurry, despite admirable image stabilization on my camera.

Still. The sky really was that color. The clouds puffy and white. The hills green, and the air smelled so wonderful with sage and chaparrel. . .

Why No Printing Got Done by May 1

A couple of reasons: one, printing my cousin's wedding invitations (yay! completion!).

But preparing for, and then going, on a vacation took up the rest of April. I spent time on a four (yes four) day trail ride. Horses! Sespe Wilderness! Hot springs! Wildflowers! What's not to like! Hence, a series of short entries about the pictures.

Number One: the trailhead. Called Piedras Blancas (white rocks), it's east of Ojai, California. The trail follows the Sespe Creek on a forest service road. Lots of river crossings were in store for us, and fields of yellow, purple, and red wildflowers. Sunny, but breezy weather, which by Thursday had changed to huge gusts of wind by mid-afternoon. I felt as giddy as the breezes. I've always loved horses and camping, and this bid fair to be my adventure of a lifetime. Stay tuned.

Please. . . click to biggify. The views were spectacular.

The Boys Are Ready to Go Home

Yesterday, May 3rd, I picked the "boys" up after my 4-day trail ride adventure, about which more later. This was a new kennel for me- where they could share a run, something the Humane Society kennel did not allow.

I am sure they heard my car pull up next to the window where the boarding area is. Both Cicero and Phidian were staring at me from their window. It's a four-level run so they had plenty of room for play.

My next essay will have to be "what I did on my spring vacation," and why I have almost no printing done!

The boys were all over velcro last night. Life is sweet with two furrypurries.