This year, my daughter and I have been using our Sundays as strictly PLEASURE.. planning for long rides with enjoyment as our main goal. No lessons, no training-- just a good long scenic ride. As all of you know-- we have been formulating these rides during the week.. putting together our road trips- driving them in the car to make sure they are the length we are seeking. Sometimes we'll come up with a plan and discover-- it's only 4 or 5 miles... while that might do for a weekday ride-- that's just not enough Sunday pleasure for us!! This past Sunday, we rode a route we had not done in years-- and part of it we have never ridden on horseback, although we have driven it a few times when we took Teena and cart to the local store and back for fun. This Sunday was not the beautiful sunny day it had been forecast to be-- overcast and the sky spitting some hail and rain every now and again.

Lilly and Keri were the mounts for this trip. It started as most of our rides do.. turning right out the driveway toward Chester- toward that old "hole in the wall". Along the way, we pass the beaver pond- I don't think there are any beavers in it anymore, but traditionally-- there are many potential "obstacles" like great blue heron flying up suddenly. Quiet in the winter though. I mentioned Uncle Reino's water garden which is further up the road-- this beaver pond was hayed as well by Grandfather Erland Raitanen. Years ago obviously it was not under water. Interesting how the land changes. My neighbor has stone wall boundaries that are well under water now here in this pond/swamp.

When we arrived at the hole in the wall, we took a left, past Tuff's tree-- and headed out toward Crow hill. The dirt road changes

over to tar - and normally this road is used as a short cut of sorts to travel between Chester and Springfield. Not many people out this morning. I think that is Flamstead Mountain in the distance. On the left are pastures of Crow Hill Farm.. beautiful farm set on the hill with wonderful views-- but today is not the best for Vermont post card type scenic vistas. We pass the barn of Crow Hill Farm.

And continue past more Crow Hill Farm pastures. Gorgeous in the summer.

Head down the hill, to cross the wooden bridge that heads into Chester. We did not actually go into town today.. but wanted to cross the bridge anyway.. quick backtrack to head out Green Mountain Turnpike. I don't know why it's called a turnpike-- it's a short washboardy dirt road that's always tough and dusty to drive in the car. Cornfields and pasture on either side pretty much the whole way. Uh-oh... road closed sign... no problem if you're on horseback.

Looking across at Chester Town Hall.

At the end, we turn left onto Route 11 to head home.

Right here, it appears there is no traffic.

There was actually quite a bit and we quickly tired of the swish of cars speeding by, so after a few miles, we took advantage of a short detour which comes back out onto the highway up the way. A quick reprieve-

Ahhh.. this is nicer- a lot more peaceful--

3 miles of highway is enough for me!

There are a few of these little roads along Route 11, that veer off the highway and then come back into it. They used to be part of the "highway" until the need for progress and a straighter, faster road. We still had to travel another mile or so of highway-- then back onto my road and home. All in all, it was a great ride-- the girls were tired- we were satisfied :) But along the way we were planning the next voyage.. better and longer.

Enjoy your day ~