Getting Away Again ...

Hi Friends,

We are on the road to Gold Beach, Oregon for a 4th of July type vacation.

Check back from time to time as we will brighten your day by telling you what a great time we are having. Okay maybe that is stretching the truth a bit, but we will be updating this site along the way. You may not be as thrilled as we think you will be .. but it gives us joy.

Peace & Love from the road!

Brenda & Don

Our First Trail Trials Event

Hi Friends,

We have been having so much fun with the horses this Spring and are really looking forward to Summer should it ever get here. Pete and Dually are out with us all the time and Lady is getting better feet every day, so it is just a matter of time until she is out with us too.

We did something we had never done before by entering the TB Friends Trail Trials at the Washoe Lake Equestrian Center. Both of us had spent some time looking at You Tube videos trying to get a idea of what we would be doing, and with so some feeling about what we would be able to do with our horses.

Brenda rode Dually and I rode Pete. We did not have to trailer the horses because the Trail Trials were so close. We got up early and fed, then rode the horses to the sign up area. After paying our entry fee, we got a map and instructions for each of the 10 different challenges.

I thought I would be able to do many of the trials because Pete is a pretty smart horse and he works well with me on the trails. Of course you have to ride the horse that shows up the day you are riding, and this day Pete was a bit un coopertive. We did a few of the trials really well, and then there were the others. Pete and I finished dead last ... but we had a great time and want to try it again. We will be playing some of the games that were in the Trail Trials so we can do better next time.

Brenda really didn't thing she and Dually were going to do well. Or maybe she was just throwing up a smoke screen in case she did poorly. In the end she was amazing, working really well with Dually and getting through even the toughest challenges with flying colors. Did I mention she got a 6th place in our class after all was said and done? Like I said she was amazing!

We have a bunch of pictures to share on our Picasa Photo page, just click here.

Can't wait to do this again, or maybe some other challenge that people and horses do together.

Happy Trails!

Don & Brenda

Sunday Horseback Riding Adventure

Hi Friends,

We took the horses out for some fun at the Washoe Lake Equestrian Park on Sunday. It was a blast, with warm sun and light breezes making it really comfortable. I took the video camera with me to see what we could capture on tape. Well one thing we found out is that it is really difficult to kep the camera steady when you are galloping along. Oh well, maybe we can get some better video next time.

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

It's Official, "We Are Cutest Couple"

Hi Friends,

It was bound to happen as we get closer to our 27th Anniversary that we were named cutest couple by TruLove Magazine. Wow 27 years as a married couple and maybe 4 or 5 more a a couple total. This trip is a blast!

Lots of Love and Peace!

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

Spring Adventure Travel Vlog

Hi Friends...

Wanted to try something new this trip, so I put my camera to work recording a short travel vlog. Had a great time and wanted to share it with you.



Peace to You,

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

Enjoying Waterfalls Peaceful Adventure

Hi Friends,

While Brenda visited with family today, I took a ride along the Rouge River to check out some waterfalls and the beautiful scenery. The loop that is home to 15 waterfalls is 172 miles and starts in Medford, ending in Roseburg. I knew I was not going to be able to finish the loop (but still wanted to complete the whole run) so I started this trip and will return on future visits, when I have the time.

Getting on the road, I found plenty of chances and well marked areas that needed to be checked out for waterfalls. The first sign to catch my eye was for Butte Falls. Because it was so close to Medford, I decided to catch this one on a future adventure, maybe with Brenda so she can enjoy it too.

Up the road a piece was Prospect, Oregon a quiet little town with quiet roads and few people. There I found a place to explore called "The Avenue of the Giant Boulders" and The "Old Mill Falls.' I stopped and enjoyed all that God had created here, took some pictures and meditated on this place of beauty.

Up the road a couple of mile I came to Pearsoney Waterfalls and the 'Mill Creek" bridge. Again I contemplated the beauty while soaking up the huge sound of the falls. The rushing of the falls greets you when you park your car and gets louder as you get closer on the trail. When you finally arrive, it greets you with power and fills your senses.

Today did not allow enough time to continue up the river any further, but I have vowed to continue my adventure along the Rouge next time I have a free day and charged batteries in the cameras.

I came across this quote by Anne Frank that fit my mood and the temper of the day with the waterfalls.

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

I posted some pictures here on our Picasa page.

Until next time....

Peace to You,

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

Checking Out History, Steam Train

Hi Friends,

Before we got away from the hustle & bustle for vacation, I had the opportunity to check out a 1944 steam train.

Union Pacific brought the steam train UP 844 to Sparks as part of the 'Western Heritage' tour 2009. Residents were allowed to check out and peek inside this historic locomotive and take pictures. I took my share of the train as it sat in the Sparks rail yard, then I found a spot on Friday morning as it took off to cross Donner Pass headed for California.

I was impressed with the size and beauty of this old workhorse and wished I could make the trip over Donner with them, to share in the Spring scenery and beauty that surrounds us in the Sierras.

My camera snapped away as the old train made it's way out of town. You can check them out on our Picasa page here.

If you want to learn more about this piece of history or want to try to catch up with it along it's Western tour you can keep up with it on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/up_steam or on their website at http://www.upsteam.com/844history.html#844history .

Take the time if you can to share this experience with your friends and family, it will leave you with memories that will last a life time.

Peace

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com