A great trot out with an unusual Sighting

Friday's trot out must have cleared Keri's head out for sure- because Saturday she was more than ready to move out. Also, she saw Teasel was her partner of the day.. that always makes her happy. Zoe and I discussed-- where to go today-- and trying to match time with distance, decided on Rhonda's Trail and Mythical Street. It's been at least a year since we have traveled that route.

The horses actually cantered side by side out the driveway and down the road they were so pleased and peppy. We turned up my little mountain road- and Keri decided she wanted to canter up that as well-- bounded up and over all the water bars.. up into the pine woods until we came out onto the road where Zoe lives.

Here, we turn into the driveway on the right- This little cabin house was a 'cellar hole' for years.. something a lot of Vermonters do. They build the cellar on their property and live in that until they can afford to build their house. It did not become a 'house' until the property sold to out of staters recently. Up until that point, this was a trail start that was full of obstacles- as the former owners were true homesteaders.. geese, ducks, chickens, cows and 2 fairly obnoxious collie dogs with very few manners. The driveway turns into what we have always called Rhonda's Trail because an avid horse woman (by the name of Rhonda) used this trail as part of her endurance conditioning. She rode many miles nearly daily, so her routes were quite well worn.

These people keep the part of the trail on their property groomed so their children can ride their ATV's.

When we cross the property line, however- you can see Rhonda (nor anyone else) never rides this trail much anymore.

No cantering here! as we make our way through leaves, brush and lots of getting off the trail to avoid all the downed trees.

We either have to climb the steep ridge to the left of us and pick our way back down, or cross the stone wall to the right and peck our way through the lower swampier ground to get around the trail blockers.

At the end of the trail, it opens up into what used to be an old farm many many years ago-- the Watkins Homestead.
Here's a picture I snapped of the old house the last time we were on this trail together. When we first moved here to Vermont, the house was still half standing-- nothing much left now.

It's a fun old road, with a few 'rustic' homes along the way.

At the very end of Watkins Road-- also known locally as Mythical Street - we come upon an unusual sight for trail riding-- a parrot !

The parrot's owner invited us into her yard for a closer look.. so Keri and I rode over to get some photo's.

This is a Military Macaw, so we found out-- who likes to sit on the lawn chair for a few hours on a sunny day. Too bad the Obstacle Month is already over :)

After the tedious overgrown trail, ducking under branches and pecking our way up and around- once we got back out onto the road-- the horses were ready to canter and gallop again and we made it home in no time flat.

Today- we plan to head out again on a trail we have not traveled on in years... and hopefully onto a trail we've seen, but never tried out. We'll see where it ends up :)

Enjoy your day ~