Okay, so I turned 81 years
old this month. That doesn't mean I have to give up what young people
like to do. When my lawn-mower decided to quit on me it was time to take
daughter Sue's advice and ride her quad. According to her, it would be
good for both the quad and me, since she wouldn't have to keep the
battery trickle charged. My knees suffered damage from my lumber milling
days, so walking isn't that great. (Yes, I could have had knee surgery,
but I've had enough of surgery and the prospect of having to deal with
something else).
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to make the loop
where we used to walk and ride our horses. We rode all the way down the
hill to the Lava Cap Mine, and everywhere from there. Our horses died
from old age many years ago. Now I discovered that the loop has grown
much smaller. There are houses and fences where there used to be trails.
It felt like being in a box. The other day a teenager caught up with me
on his quad and after a brief conversation Sam told me to follow him,
and he'd show me the way to get out of the box. It was exhilarating to
ride over some of the old territory from the past. Leave it to a
teenager to show an ol' codger the way. Sue commented, "Can you imagine
the laughs that kid got when he told his friends that he rode his quad
with an 81 year old lady."
Here's what it looks like outa the box.
The Nevada Irrigation District Reservoir.
Lots of blackberries ripening along the dirt
road.
This trail is narrow, steep in some places,
somewhat over grown with blackberries, downed trees hanging overhead,
and finally a deep wash-out on the hill where I had to turn around. At
times it occurred to me that I shouldn't be riding on this trail into
the unknown. My hunch was correct.
Cousin Dr. Barbara reminded me the other day
of how much fun it was to raft down the ditch from our house to the
reservoir when we were kids.
The airport beacon for planes that fly in and
out of the airport. This is the stretch alongside Tranquility Lane on
the left and the reservoir on the right above the airport. Most of the
big trees were cut down to make it safer for the airplanes. Lee Lane
is straight ahead.
Below is the position of the reservoir, water
treatment plant below it and airport runway. When we were kids all
that area had meadow, or orchards. There was another small reservoir
below and to the left of the big one that was flanked by pear trees
mostly gone. Looking from this height you can't see all the homes
hiding in the forest.
Found a way to the airport in November.
And then along came the first snow Saturday December 7th.
Our favorite place where we used to ride our horses.
Down the hill I ride past where the remains where someone once
lived.
The meadow with fruit trees above the old Lava Cap Mine.
Turning right up the old mine road towards Idaho Maryland
Road.
Until I come to the closed gate and turn around.
Heading back up the hill to the ridge. Here's where Midnight
would shift into run.
Brrrrrr......
Heading back through the woods to my box.
