2024/10/20 Alive-Alive-O at Live Oak

 

A panoramic view of Lake Cachuma, looking across the water, over Arrowhead Island to the coastal mountains to the West.

In this aerial view you can see the island easily, and orient that the first photo was taken from the lake edge on the center right.

We are SO fortunate that this man-made lake was created in 1953 with Bradbury Dam placed on the Santa Ynez River. It provides water security for the city, and a fine equestrian recreational spot.

Today's track was a leisurely walk, just a stroll on one of our favorite places.

To access the trails requires driving up into the mountains from Santa Barbara, on the 154, a road that is becoming increasingly dangerous.

But no matter the angry speeders behind me, my mule and I drive the legal speed and periodically use lay-bys to let them careen past. I don't drive faster than my Guardian Angel can fly.

Last winter the river so far exceeded its banks that giant sink-holes appeared in the parking lot. Even now the width of the area it expanded across is enormous.

All this gravel was washed down from the mountains above.

But now, in the early Fall, it has shrunk back down to an easy to cross shallow stream. My companions and I let our animals cool their hooves and get a drink in preparation for today's walk.

As soon as you hit the trail the mountains stretch away. After spending weeks in the downtown corridor, it is a restful sight to look to a distant horizon with minimal human presence.

Today tres caballeros came along for the ride, happy to be out in this jewel of a landscape. Jose on borrowed Pistolas, Graviel on El Capitan, and Arturo on Hurache.

Plus my constant riding companion Jamie on Mosca.

 

And Tobe Mule and I.

It might seem odd to call these former ranch roads trails, they are kept wide enough to permit access by emergency vehicles should that be necessary.

There are are other more challenging single-track trails, we'll leave those for another day.

As the trail winds back and forth, the sight of the lake on the horizon makes this trail special, like no other mountain trail experience in this area.

And although the trail never goes to the water's edge, it is a sparkling delight.

We went a little over 3 miles and that was enough for me today, so this was our last viewpoint, where I took the panoramic.

Then it was back across the plateau, that always feels to me like we are traversing the African veld. 

Today we saw no cows, bucking horses or deer. We are used to seeing many of each, so it felt strangely silent and empty without a glimpse of the locals.

But with a trusty Kentucky mule and competent riding companions on their assorted horses, 

a fine way to spend an afternoon.

Back across the river we go, and then to return to civilization.

On the bumper of my SubUrban.

I encourage every reader to find their dream and make it happen.

#####  <")#)>< #####

Mule Trail Blog by Pat Fish

2024/10/16 The Lake Fire Aftermath at Midland School

 

It had been 30 months since Tobe Mule and I last rode the trails at the vast Midland School property, and the Lake Fire three months ago took a devastating toll. I wanted to see the changes.

So when I was invited to join a group of riders meeting under the auspices of the Santa Barbara County Trails Council I leapt at the chance.

The school was on a break, so we knew the trails would not be crowded.

Weather was perfect.

Midland School is set on 2,860 acres in the mountains at the edge of the Los Padres Wilderness.

It is an exclusive nature-based boarding school for the children of the elite.

This map will serve to orient where it is. 

Before the ride began Mark Wilkinson of the Trails Council gave us a pep talk and described the work the organization does, and Supervisor Joan Hartman spoke of her work to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of trails in the area. Then Otis Calef of the Council described how he and Ray Ford over decades have turned cow paths into a trail system.

We set off to ride the Lovers' Loop trail, and notice the dominant triangular shape of Grass Mountain top right on the map. It will appear in the background of many of the following photos.

2024/6/5/24 Pismo Beach Dune & Surf Clam Quest

A fine June Gloom summer day inspires us to drive 100 miles North, to walk three miles on dune and beach. Interior valleys are already heating up, but out on the coast it was a monochromatic hazy day.

 

We were happy to have a reason to get out to ride in a place we hadn't been in years. Such beautiful nature, lovely at any time of year but especially now with the dune flora changing colors.

We started at the Grover Beach dune entrance, but chose to walk North towards Pismo alongside the Municipal Golf Course, then out on the seaside and turned South on the strand until we came to the inside dune trail to lead us back to our parking area.

I am genuinely impressed with this boardwalk that allows people in wheelchairs or with babystrollers to get up onto the dunes and see the sea. This is how I'd like to see municipal money spent for accessibility.

It travels quite a ways, and celebrates the ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) that does such an effective job stabilizing the dunes and at this season is a carpet of yellow and pink flowers.

The golf course is planted with Monterey Pines (Piunus radiata) that take on their characteristic wind-blown appearance from the onshore breezes.

Always amusing to watch golfers beetling across the grass in little carts, or concentrating on their shots.

Several of the huge pines seem to have succumbed to the rains of the last two winters, and have been left toppled over in place with root balls raised.

And soon we come to a sign that shows a human and canine on this trail.

Humans and equines proceed toward the sea.

Following a ridge above a slough, tracking through multiple trails, we come out to the sea which in this photo is relatively indistinguishable from the sky.

Now for the ultimate in relaxing riding. So lovely to be allowed onto the beach, stepping outside urban life and onto the simple ebb and flow of the waves.

Combined shot of the slough, and a tiny life guard tower in the distance, no doubt empty today.

Time to introduce the riding krewe. 

Kris Parton, riding Miguel, a tiny BLM mustang. He likes to walk slow, and so do we, so that made for a nice ride for Kris who says on a lot of rides people nag at her to keep up.

I say going slowly you see the flowers and notice details.

And here is Jamie Buse, on the forever racehorse thoroughbred Mosca.

Jamie grew up riding the beaches of Goleta so this is a flashback of her girlhood.

And of course, the blog narrator and all around MeetUp organizer Pat Fish on Tobe Mule, a Rocky Mountain Pleasure Horse and Mammoth Donkey hybrid.

Not that I would ever say Tobe Mule is anything but perfect, however, truth is, in Kentucky lakes do not behave like surf and he harbors deep suspicions.

The weird and unusual thing about this beach is that people are allowed to drive right down onto the sand, spread out the kids and have a picnic.

We saw one car and trailer being dug out, a big money-maker for local tow trucks.

Nice local tradition.

I specifically scheduled this MeetUp on a Wednesday to be here when there would be less vehicular traffic. 

But astonishingly large travel trailers did come roaring along. On weekends you have rented dune buggies to contend with, putting an equine's "bombproofing" to the test.

A group was tossing a Frisbee, another family had a kite, many had dogs with different levels of control over their enthusiasm seeing horses walking by.

A very holiday vibe.

A beach is there for everyone. Co-ed athlete or tie-dyed throwback. And even a clam digger, a pastime this beach is known for, searching for the delicious Pismo Clam.

This fellow was digging a series of holes looking to pull up clams.

If the clams get tossed up on the sand by the surf they can't rebury themselves, so they are frequently visible.

Last year a woman came with her kids from Fresno and the were delighted to collect what they thought were "seashells" on the beach. Oops, they had living clams in them that were below harvest size.

That'll teach ya.

Really? Tricky?

I saw her interviewed and she said she was going to get a clam tattoo to remember this expensive error. I sent her a postcard offering to do it for her, thought it would make a good story to tell.

Well, unfortunately she didn't come to me and, oh, tricky!!! She ended up with a scallop shell instead of a clam. I guess the gasoline logo is the only shell that tattooist knew.

But enough of making fun of other people. Silly us, we are so simple minded just going for a walk on the beach is making us very happy.

We are all three ladies of a certain age, and deeply appreciative that for this sporting event we have four good strong legs beneath us.

And what a nice way to leave politics and impending world war and pandemics behind us, even for just a few hours.

With every MeetUp ride the attendees are slightly different, but always the goal is to have a chance to get back to nature and relax in beauty.

And now it was time to ride up the inside of the dunes to return to our staging area.

Bushy masses of Indian Paintbrush (Castelleja miniata) flash hot pink rising from the ice plant, with California sage (Salvia apiana) and a carpet of others in full Spring flower display.

The trail meanders back and forth, soft sand weaving between all the plants.

It was a still day,

but I've ridden out here on a windy day when all these grasses move and give the impression of being on a ship at sea.

Way up on the Northern horizon is the city of Pismo.

But we are only going as far as the Grover Beach parking lot, our starting point.

And there they are, our metal machines so vital to this exploration by hoof. Load 'em up, move 'em out, and good-natured critters that they are, they oblige our curiosities and take us on our adventures.

Until next time, and the next Mule Trail.

##### FIN #####

### PAT FISH ###