Cathy, Traci, Mike, Marilyn and I spent a week in Rutledge, GA at
Hard Labor Creek State Park. We've been talking about going for a couple of years and finally got our schedules right and made it happen.
We left early Saturday morning and made the 6 hour journey up I-75 and then through some country roads for a pretty easy trip. We settled our horses in their stalls and then scrounged the last 3 trailer sites for horse campers. (note to self - next time arrive mid week to get the best sites) The sites were very nice - each was pull through with a gravel area containing a fire pit and picnic table. We didn't try to ride that day and allowed our ponies to acclimate to their new home. We ate some yummy fresh fish and grits cooked up by Cathy for dinner. Campfire time and toddies topped off the first evening.
We got to take our first ride on Sunday morning. We had been forewarned that the trails could be rocky and had some good hills to navigate. I will admit that I was a little scared when we climbed our first steep hill. Stylin learned quickly how to dig in and pay attention where she was putting her feet. I couldn't enjoy the wonderful scenery for the first hour or so; I was concentrating on the trail in front of me so intently. The forest with all the fall colors, hills and the picturesque creeks , once I could relax and enjoy them, where absolutely breathtaking to us flatlanders. We wound up riding 4 hours, stopping to enjoy lunch on the trail. Back at camp, we settled in for a relaxing evening and good eats. Marilyn whipped up a 3 course camp meal for us. Drinks and stories by the campfire rounded out the second evening.
Monday morning was sunny and beautiful (although we heard that tropical storm Ida was going to cause some rain pretty soon) and we took off for another set of trails. We rode for 4-1/2 hours and several of us agreed that it was the most beautiful and interesting trail ride that we had ever been on. Our horses did their best to keep up with Marilyn's seasoned trail mule and all did a great job. All of our steeds were either shod and padded or booted up. We really put our Cavallo Simple Boots to the ultimate test and they held up. Another nice lunch on the trail - this time at a lovely setting by the lake. We were all a lot more comfortable and confident navigating the terrain that day and we had no mishaps. I cooked a simple crockpot dinner and we enjoyed another evening around the campfire.
Ida brought some hard rains around 2 am on Tuesday morning and didn't stop for 28 hours. We were told that the area received around 5 inches total. The campsites were set up to allow runoff so we didn't get flooded out, but we did have a soggy day Tuesday. We trudged around with our rain gear on to take care of the horses and spent some time touring the nearby historical town of Rutledge. We had an awesome breakfast at the local cafe and enjoyed bantering with our server, Ronnie. Nice young man - matter of fact, everyone in town was very friendly. There were several eclectic shops on the main street which we checked out as well. I got some reading time in at our rainy camp and later that evening, after another wonderful meal by Marilyn under a group shelter, we gathered at Mike and Traci's trailer to watch a DVD. We missed having our campfire that night.
Wednesday morning dawned grey and damp, but we were so glad the rain had finally stopped. We knew that the trails would be way too wet and dangerous for us Florida folks and ponies, so we spent the day checking out the neighboring towns and took a hike on one of the Park's nature trails. The rivers and creeks had risen and the water was rushing where it had been meandering before. We checked out a famous restaurant called
The Blue Willow Inn in the little town of Social Circle, but didn't wind up eating there. We enjoyed Traci's white chicken chili for dinner and building another campfire.
On Thursday, we knew we had to get another ride in as we would be leaving on Friday. We chose to head back on some of the same trails that rode the first day and hoped to complete the whole loop. Some other riders from Florida joined us on this ride. It was a slippery, slidey, Georgia slick clay mess! The trails were still pretty, but we trooped through some knee deep mud and slippery slopes. The rains had rushed quickly down the hilly trails and made some of them kind of narrow trenches. Our horses would try to walk on the slopey sides of the trail instead of staying directly in the middle which caused Busta to slip and fall twice. Luckily, Cathy didn't get hurt badly, but is sporting a pretty colorful bruise from the second time. Stylin lost her footing on the way down one hill and we almost went all the way down. She scrabbled and caught herself before I had to step off. Whew..... a little nerve racking. We made almost the whole loop and were heading back towards camp when we came up on a washed out bridge! What?? We knew that we were not going to back track, so we followed the creek down a little way until we found a safe place to cross. We all made it back to camp safely and decided what an awesome experience it was. I was so proud of Stylin - she was a champ!
Our last dinner was hamburgers on the grill by Mike and all of our leftovers. We packed up Friday morning and headed home. I'm really glad that we went....... now we'll start thinking of where our big trip will be in 2010.
A side note..... there must have been a grand daddy long legs convention or a wild grand daddy long legs breeding frenzy. We were brushing them off the tables, our ponies, our chairs and ourselves all week !
Here's loads of pictures and a couple of videos taken by me, Traci and Cathy.....
PHOTOS
We left early Saturday morning and made the 6 hour journey up I-75 and then through some country roads for a pretty easy trip. We settled our horses in their stalls and then scrounged the last 3 trailer sites for horse campers. (note to self - next time arrive mid week to get the best sites) The sites were very nice - each was pull through with a gravel area containing a fire pit and picnic table. We didn't try to ride that day and allowed our ponies to acclimate to their new home. We ate some yummy fresh fish and grits cooked up by Cathy for dinner. Campfire time and toddies topped off the first evening.
We got to take our first ride on Sunday morning. We had been forewarned that the trails could be rocky and had some good hills to navigate. I will admit that I was a little scared when we climbed our first steep hill. Stylin learned quickly how to dig in and pay attention where she was putting her feet. I couldn't enjoy the wonderful scenery for the first hour or so; I was concentrating on the trail in front of me so intently. The forest with all the fall colors, hills and the picturesque creeks , once I could relax and enjoy them, where absolutely breathtaking to us flatlanders. We wound up riding 4 hours, stopping to enjoy lunch on the trail. Back at camp, we settled in for a relaxing evening and good eats. Marilyn whipped up a 3 course camp meal for us. Drinks and stories by the campfire rounded out the second evening.
Monday morning was sunny and beautiful (although we heard that tropical storm Ida was going to cause some rain pretty soon) and we took off for another set of trails. We rode for 4-1/2 hours and several of us agreed that it was the most beautiful and interesting trail ride that we had ever been on. Our horses did their best to keep up with Marilyn's seasoned trail mule and all did a great job. All of our steeds were either shod and padded or booted up. We really put our Cavallo Simple Boots to the ultimate test and they held up. Another nice lunch on the trail - this time at a lovely setting by the lake. We were all a lot more comfortable and confident navigating the terrain that day and we had no mishaps. I cooked a simple crockpot dinner and we enjoyed another evening around the campfire.
Ida brought some hard rains around 2 am on Tuesday morning and didn't stop for 28 hours. We were told that the area received around 5 inches total. The campsites were set up to allow runoff so we didn't get flooded out, but we did have a soggy day Tuesday. We trudged around with our rain gear on to take care of the horses and spent some time touring the nearby historical town of Rutledge. We had an awesome breakfast at the local cafe and enjoyed bantering with our server, Ronnie. Nice young man - matter of fact, everyone in town was very friendly. There were several eclectic shops on the main street which we checked out as well. I got some reading time in at our rainy camp and later that evening, after another wonderful meal by Marilyn under a group shelter, we gathered at Mike and Traci's trailer to watch a DVD. We missed having our campfire that night.
Wednesday morning dawned grey and damp, but we were so glad the rain had finally stopped. We knew that the trails would be way too wet and dangerous for us Florida folks and ponies, so we spent the day checking out the neighboring towns and took a hike on one of the Park's nature trails. The rivers and creeks had risen and the water was rushing where it had been meandering before. We checked out a famous restaurant called The Blue Willow Inn in the little town of Social Circle, but didn't wind up eating there. We enjoyed Traci's white chicken chili for dinner and building another campfire.
On Thursday, we knew we had to get another ride in as we would be leaving on Friday. We chose to head back on some of the same trails that rode the first day and hoped to complete the whole loop. Some other riders from Florida joined us on this ride. It was a slippery, slidey, Georgia slick clay mess! The trails were still pretty, but we trooped through some knee deep mud and slippery slopes. The rains had rushed quickly down the hilly trails and made some of them kind of narrow trenches. Our horses would try to walk on the slopey sides of the trail instead of staying directly in the middle which caused Busta to slip and fall twice. Luckily, Cathy didn't get hurt badly, but is sporting a pretty colorful bruise from the second time. Stylin lost her footing on the way down one hill and we almost went all the way down. She scrabbled and caught herself before I had to step off. Whew..... a little nerve racking. We made almost the whole loop and were heading back towards camp when we came up on a washed out bridge! What?? We knew that we were not going to back track, so we followed the creek down a little way until we found a safe place to cross. We all made it back to camp safely and decided what an awesome experience it was. I was so proud of Stylin - she was a champ!
Our last dinner was hamburgers on the grill by Mike and all of our leftovers. We packed up Friday morning and headed home. I'm really glad that we went....... now we'll start thinking of where our big trip will be in 2010.
A side note..... there must have been a grand daddy long legs convention or a wild grand daddy long legs breeding frenzy. We were brushing them off the tables, our ponies, our chairs and ourselves all week !
Here's loads of pictures and a couple of videos taken by me, Traci and Cathy..... PHOTOS
Today, Bobby, Mom and I drove to Gainesville to celebrate my Mother in law's 78th birthday. We had a great visit and a yummy lunch. We stopped by my daughter's place in Melrose on the way home.
I got graphics put on my trailer to match our brand while I was there and I really like it. We joined their long guided ride on Saturday with 32 other riders and enjoyed a 4-5 hour ride along the river and sinks. We stopped at a spring along the way for a catered lunch....yum, yum!
Several different groups met up for lunch and then continued on their separate ways to meet back up at the ranch for a tack/yard sale. I was able to sell my Australian saddle in less than 5 minutes of setting it out! It paid for my weekend and my graphics - what a deal!
The McCulleys have a wonderful place and are very gracious hosts - if you ever get a chance, join them for one of their special rides or you can camp quietly any other weekend during the year. There are plenty of trails and you can camp with electricity or primitive.
