THIS WEEKEND WE HEADED UP TO POPPLE RIDGE WHICH IS BY TOWNSEND FOR CAMPING. SICK AND ALL I NEEDED TO RIDE MY HORSE AND BE SURROUNDED BY NATURE, IT ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. AND IT DID. CLOSE TO 20 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO RIDE WHICH SHOWS ALOT OF DEDICATION BECAUSE IT WAS COOOLD, BUT THE RIDE WENT VERY WELL ON SATURDAY WITH ALL OF US, IN FACT, REBEL AND I GOT TO SCOUT A TRAIL BECAUSE WE WERE MISPLACED. NOTHING REALLY UNUSUAL. LOL. OF COURSE I VOLUNTEERED TO CHECK OUT THE GRAVEL ROAD AHEAD AND AS I STARTED OUT PUSHING REBEL FORWARD AT A TROT HE STARTED TO WHINNEY AND GET A LITTLE SQUIRMISH BUT CONTINUED TO GO. AT THAT POINT I WAS SAYING OH SHIT WE NEVER DID THIS BEFORE. WILL WE BE ABLE TO? PRAYING TO MYSELF THAT REBEL WAS NOT GOING TO TURN INTO GUMBY AND LEAVE ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD PICKING GRAVEL OUT OF MY TEETH WHILE HE RUNS BACK TO THE 17 HORSES HE LEFT BEHIND, INCLUDING HIS GIRLFRIEND!!! WELL WE KEPT ON GOING THAN WE BROKE INTO A LOPE AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT, IT WAS LIKE I WAS FLYING WELL ALMOST. THAN I REALIZED WE HAD TO TURN AROUND I BECAME I LITTLE HESITANT NOT KNOWING IF I COULD HOLD HIM BACK IF HE STARTED TO HAUL THE MAIL. I WAS VERY CONFIDENT THAT I HAVE PREPARED HIM FOR THIS BUT U REALLY DO NOT KNOW UNTIL IT HAPPENS. SO WE DID IT RUNNING LIKE THE WIND NEVER SKIPPING A BEAT UNTIL WE GOT BACK TO THE HERD. IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!!! THE FEELING TRULY IS INDESCRIBABLE. HAPPY TRAILS TO EVERYONE NEXT WEEKEND NINE MILE AGAIN.