Climbin' Up and Outa the Box

(May 2013)

Okay, so I turned 81 years old this month. That doesn't mean I have to give up what young people like to do. When my lawn-mower decided to quit on me it was time to take daughter Sue's advice and ride her quad. According to her, it would be good for both the quad and me, since she wouldn't have to keep the battery trickle charged. My knees suffered damage from my lumber milling days, so walking isn't that great. (Yes, I could have had knee surgery, but I've had enough of surgery and the prospect of having to deal with something else).

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to make the loop where we used to walk and ride our horses. We rode all the way down the hill to the Lava Cap Mine, and everywhere from there. Our horses died from old age many years ago. Now I discovered that the loop has grown much smaller. There are houses and fences where there used to be trails. It felt like being in a box. The other day a teenager caught up with me on his quad and after a brief conversation Sam told me to follow him, and he'd show me the way to get out of the box. It was exhilarating to ride over some of the old territory from the past. Leave it to a teenager to show an ol' codger the way. Sue commented, "Can you imagine the laughs that kid got when he told his friends that he rode his quad with an 81 year old lady."

Here's what it looks like outa the box.

The Nevada Irrigation District Reservoir. 

Lots of blackberries ripening along the dirt road.

This trail is narrow, steep in some places, somewhat over grown with blackberries, downed trees hanging overhead, and finally a deep wash-out on the hill where I had to turn around. At times it occurred to me that I shouldn't be riding on this trail into the unknown. My hunch was correct.

Cousin Dr. Barbara reminded me the other day of how much fun it was to raft down the ditch from our house to the reservoir when we were kids.

The airport beacon for planes that fly in and out of the airport. This is the stretch alongside Tranquility Lane on the left and the reservoir on the right above the airport. Most of the big trees were cut down to make it safer for the airplanes. Lee Lane is straight ahead.

Below is the position of the reservoir, water treatment plant below it and airport runway. When we were kids all that area had meadow, or orchards. There was another small reservoir below and to the left of the big one that was flanked by pear trees mostly gone. Looking from this height you can't see all the homes hiding in the forest.

Found a way to the airport in November.

And then along came the first snow Saturday December 7th.

Our favorite place where we used to ride our horses.

Down the hill I ride past where the remains where someone once lived.

The meadow with fruit trees above the old Lava Cap Mine.

Turning right up the old mine road towards Idaho Maryland Road.

Until I come to the closed gate and turn around.

Heading back up the hill to the ridge. Here's where Midnight would shift into run.

Brrrrrr......

Heading back through the woods to my box.

 

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