Saturday November 3 2014
I like a good cold rain while riding on a horse who possibly has a stick of lit dynamite up his butt as much as the next person (oh - wait - I am the only person I know who likes the good cold rain while riding, though I could do without the stick-of-lit-dynamite-up-his-butt part), but the thought of waking up before dawn with the cold rain already falling, and going out and saddling up in the rain for a 90%-chance-of-rain-and-45*-and-wind day is a bit daunting, even for me.
But when my alarm went off for the Owyhee Hallowed Weenies, the last ride of the season, and it wasn't raining yet, I was pretty happy. And when Carol and August, and Dudley and I found a bubble at the start (and in fact, the entire day - it was like we were the only ones out on a 50-mile training ride), with no riders in sight ahead of us or behind us, all day, and Dudley never had a stick of dynamite in him, it turned into an awesome ride.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JhujluG0KCzjAG-estrL12TF7tvx8VDpRYVomFBEpX1Vlw_0SzfCzvkW0u4GlOXNUkHc_l0Iq6u56pEfeOreR5aWhrTRePK2x32AyrXVqWAO6uKWB-M6BHmLcZeeZaslk2nk5qLPeOGB/s1600/PB010176.jpg)
It was an awesome ride, even when, middle of the first 15-mile loop, I decided to put on my rain jacket right before the rain started coming down, and I reached in my saddle bag and pulled out… my rain pants.
Hmm.
I tried sticking my arms in the pant legs - no go. So I knotted the pants around my neck like an unfashionable rubber scarf for a while, till Carol remembered she had an extra raincoat with her. (Note to self: spray paint your black rain pants bright orange, so you don't get them confused with your black raincoat).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH1xUI5XmdIQfqlEmhGtZTdCdS_WFqQ284M8qjxEuQH0VmU2vf9b1WkF2z6wNUaqSP2fmKA1q9-AaYfhs6fCtD7SQqvDvyf9bAVBaoDUv0dEj3ptRQgYJyH0Ijer1QNr-xQU-XPPi70lh/s1600/PB010174.jpg)
It was an awesome ride, even in the rain, that continued all day, and the cold, which was only mild at 44*, and the wind, which you were shielded against with your proper raincoat. It was an awesome weather day for a horse and rider who don't do so well riding in hot weather (Dudley and me).
It was an awesome ride, because the Raven, dressed as a cardinal for Halloween, rode along as usual!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3MIOYr6IiMTeUd7Y4CSDSVHGKUGia1CFWmiyfQNZjh3KYmgZmXC_zMQaa4QnbBtGTnU54jg0gss4e_H3P98EkqBrhpGbltaoq_blnaaovjkqZZnC1CzwU3HGL2yKJWCdSVNAvyX1uE1E/s1600/PB010194.jpg)
It was an awesome ride, because it was Dudley's fourth 50-mile ride of the year, an awesome accomplishment for the big beast I fondly call, among other things, a Recovering Obesaholic. He's come a long way and accomplished a lot this year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UyKWYTtO3w2hv6uGh3CMknZtyG-wqTo1eCSAUF_l2QxYSihnN8E7gk-RFQ5wlYWIpHXjOi9Qo7KNb-hnqgwpPK1bOKGA8yAnxkAGDi2HaUIVlZ5rxVcMK6QvhQxXQnnbSSfgZIQF7rD4/s1600/PB010177.jpg)
He'll keep up the diet and the exercise this winter (in between his Trick Training) and aim for an even better endurance season next year!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yJ09hgZum_blNXgtVa9T2mx6FQgBAiuiovmo-ANVmBaFs_H3da9TDXq0Fp5wfeXBjMsEwOQyC2e9_bSt9fMvX9ui6W8d1m_MQjseNkruQY3A1tN_c02hpum9hi1GUhGD4enkW9h0U79z/s1600/PB010193.jpg)
For a ride recap, and results and more photos, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2014OwyheeHallowedWeenies/
That is my kind of weather too.
ReplyDeleteThat raven as Cardinal cracked me up!
The Raven is thinking he'd like to be a bluebird next year! ;)
Deleteway to go Dudley!! and i love the Raven's costume lol
ReplyDeleteI love the wide open landscape and distant mountains. I like cool weather, but I could skip the rain. Good news that someone had an extra raincoat! I laughed about the rain pants packed my mistake. Sounds like something I would do.
ReplyDeleteThe Raven's costume is amazing. I would never recognize him in disguise like that. Hope he got some candy.
ReplyDeleteI don't like riding in the rain, but the cool weather can be a joy. Glad you had such a great time on a fabulous horse.