Just a Nice Long Ride in the Saddle

Wednesday, Zoe and I and Keri and Elektra had ourselves trucked over to our planned starting point for the day. We have wanted to do this route since last fall, but so far - the weather and the depth of the snow have both prevented this trek.   Wednesday was still cold - but half sunny. We had until 3:00 to wind around Lovers Lane, follow the snowmobile trails to Wymans Falls and then home.   By the way.. my old computer is on the fritz once again so I am using a lap top which is having issues with photo placement here ! quite annoying :)   As we trotted up Lovers Lane.. we were accompanied by the stream gurgling full with melting snow.

This is different - someone pulled out two trees and set them in as gate posts upside down leaving the roots :)   Lovers Lane is a town road - but in the winter, only a portion of the road is maintained.  

the plowed section of the road ends here and turns into snowmobile trail.    Snowmobile season is now at an end, so anytime the snowmobile trail crosses a landowner's private property, the gates are closed. Our horses are so great about stepping through the deep unknown around the posts and squeezing through trees. 

Fork in the road ... we are trying to remember which way we want to go. You can see the roads here are not very well traveled :)  But there are street signs !

A warning for a somewhat different type of obstacle on the trail.    We did not run into any skiers today.

We had to stick to the high trail... scarey steep sides here. Last time we came through the Wymans Falls area, we rode way down there. The snow was too deep and the water too high -- next time. If you are curious to see our last ride to Wymans Falls - you can visit the farm blog here.   Some of the photo's there are the same as a few here.. only today - there's still snow. I love this place so much I have also hiked in on foot .. I love a series of wooded ledgy waterfalls as much as a mountain view. 

Here's the man responsible for most all of the snowmobile trail maintenance in Chester. He came up behind us on this narrow high spot and we had to step to the side for him to pass. he's the person who is skooting around closing all those gates on us !

 Snow highway -- I know there is a turn off to the right we need to take.





And we find it right where it is supposed to be -- after the totem pole






Wind through the woods and lots of wet spots.










And we trot past this adorable old abandoned house on the side of a steep hill. Not sure how the previous occupants got in here, as there is not much evidence of an old road -- but they might have come in by horseback :)

I love this old house with its cute porch.











Canter through a nice big open field that leads back to a snowmobile trail following along the railroad tracks. We found some blue sky -- but don't let that beautiful sky fool you.. it's cold :)

silly old hobo shack        





Located quite conveniently close to the railroad tracks.





We crossed the tracks a couple of times today.  Last time we were here, we had to stop and wait for the train to pass. We did hear the whistle after we were 20 minutes on down the road -- too bad we missed the train today.


  

Here is a view of that lonesome hobo's life --                  










Well, head down into Chester now. Same railway -- yet another crossing.

out of the woods, onto Keri's favorite !!      
Sidewalk ~

          


And I have posted photo's of this house before in Stone Village. I just love this house -- and cannot believe someone can't find some funding to restore it.

The entire second floor is a floating ballroom !!

After trotting on through the Village, down Route 103 for a bit.. we head up Flamstead Road toward homebase.  About 4 miles from home, we meet up with what has potential for a tricky obstacle... now we have to ride in between a stroller and a woman walking her dog.



Today it was rather a ho-hum sight..




We had a fun day out and about.... I am still digging some obstacles out of the snow but today is quite warm so while Zoe is off at the big State Wrestling tournament.. I am going to try to get a bunch of them set up for the next few days.

I know this was not an obstacle month post per say -- but too much fun not to talk about !!

Enjoy ~

Betsy and Keri in Vermont.