We only had 3 days to ride but could not have had better weather for it. It was in the 70's Monday and Tuesday and right at 60 on Wednesday and sunny all 3 days. My neighbor Sally happened to have the week off work so she rode with us and Cierra rode her Paso Buckskin gelding Zak. Linda wanted to experience riding a mule so Anthony McAllister was kind enough to loan us the use of one of his mules. A John mule out of a Paso mare named Diablo. I've ridden this mule a number of times and always like him. Diablo and Linda got along very well and she enjoyed him.
Monday we rode from my house. We did not get a super early start as we had to get tack all figured out for Diablo and Lily. Linda ended up using my new Crooked Creek saddle as it looked to be the best fit on Diablo. I used my old Steve Edwards saddle on Lily. After much digging around for extra cruppers, breast collars and girths, we had both of them tacked up and ready to do. We rode over to Double M Campground to have lunch at the restaurant. We headed over there by way of Initial Tree and out along Indian Paint Wall. After Lunch we rode over by the causeway and went across Karber's Ridge Rd. and did the Stone Cabin loop.
2nd day of riding
We rode from my house again. It didn't take us as long to get ready today as we had all the tack for Diablo and Lily set from yesterday. We started out today by dropping right down into Thacker Hollow and then heading out on trail 185-High Country trail. One of my favorite close to my house. We were heading to Dead Horse Canyon. We stopped and took a break at Sand Cave (not THE Sand Cave) and discussed where to go from there. Riding up though Dead Horse Canyon is not for the feint of heart but a very pretty ride. It's tough and steep. There are two ways to go through. The original and harder trail up between two sections of bluff. Or a newer way that is a bit easier and just follows the bluff line up to the top more gradually. Sally had not gone up through either trail but I wasn't worried about her or her horses. Cierra had done it before once with me and was game to do it again. I did not know what Linda would think of it but she is not a timid rider either. So, we headed up through the canyon When I got to the spot to make the turn up the steepest part of the canyon or go the easier way, I made the decision to just go for it. Everyone was doing fine and Diablo, that Linda was riding, has done it multiple times. We made it up through to the top with no problems. From there we rode by Lost Lake. Another rugged but beautiful trail. Then we went along Lower Hurricane Bluff. The entire ride just packed with beautiful scenery.
After we got back and got the mules taken care of, we went to Elizabethtown to eat at the E-Town Floating Restaurant and had great meal of catfish.
Sadly our last day of riding. I had to return Diablo to Anthony so we decided to ride out of High Know so I could show Linda some of the great trails around there. Since we needed to trailer 4 mules and horses and I can only haul 3, Sally volunteered to take us over in her big trailer. It's a monster and she did a great job of handling it. We rode out to Cowboy Hideout, through Rice Hollow then on up to the Big Tee Pee. Then around by Knight's of the Golden Circle and on to Buzzard's Roost and back to High Knob by way of the Silver Mine Trail going by Twin Towers.
I really wanted Linda to see Garden of the Gods. We didn't have time to ride there so I drove us over that evening so we could hike the observation trail.I never get tired of seeing Garden of the Gods. I was just sad their visit had come to an end and I'd have to take them to the airport in the morning.
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