FRIDAY FUN AT MULE DAYS

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This was a full day at the Fairgrounds in Bishop watching and photographing mule activities. We were at the stalls by 0745 with Amy up at 0800 for English Drassage. Tina was to call out the commands while Amy rode in the ring. In case you are not familiar with Dressage, around the ring are various letters. The rider is to ride to a letter doing a specific gait and on the correct lead. For us not really into the finer points, we just watch and photograph and hope that the mule and rider do the right thing. Prior to that I was able to watch briefly the steer roping going on the main arena.

A great class was the Farm Class. There were about a dozen to 15 mule drawn farming tools shown and then there were explanations of the tools and their approximate ages. They all dated to the EARLY 20^th Century, with a few going back to the late 1800’s. Some of the people

had never fully demonstrated or knew how to adjust working parts but the Judge was quite knowledgeable and got them all working. There were mowers, seeders, as well as disc machines used for making furrows, and digging up the earth.

During the mid-day lull in activities, we walked down to Schat's Bakery to fill several orders from neighbors for loaves of bread. We also treated ourselves to one of their delicious chocolate croissant which we will eat tomorrow morning. Right across the street in the Municipal Park we wandered about at the craft fair. There are always wonderful things to look at, and perhaps buy. We did not succumb to the

temptations this year.

This is the end of our Mule Days adventures for this year. It was lots of fun and enjoyable time. The weather was most cooperative with the highs only into the mid-80’s. It was quite windy at times but it was bearable. 

Calf Roping >>>

Western Reining >>

Barrel Racing >>>

Farm Class>>>

Western Pleasure Class >>

Tina, Amy, and Support Staff >>>

 Driving Class >>

 

ROCK CREEK LAKE - Thursdsay 23 May

Things were slow this morning and then there would be an even quieter afternoon so we slept in a bit. Then we had breakfast at the Country Kitchen in Big Pine. It was a typical roadside cafe and we just had the two egg breakfast which did include hash browns and toast. Afterwards we talked with another guest at the Big Pine Motel who was in the area to photograph butterflies in the Owen Valley area. He had photographed a couple of butterflies that frequent this area, but also got photos of a butterfly that he believes has never  been seen in this area.

We drove up to Rock Creek Lake and parked at a hiking trail head. The wind was very strong so we opted to take a trail that would take us to Diane Lake and Kenneth Lake. We started at 9000 ft. and climbed to a little over 10K ft. It was good to get out and get a hike in. I did feel the altitude a bit at times. George did not seem to have any issues with the altitude which was a good sign in preparation for his hiking the North Kaibab Trail starting next month. After our hike we were going to have lunch at the Rock Creek Lake Store which is known for its pies, and Hungarian mushroom soup.. Regrettably we werea day early, so no lunch there. Lunch was at Tom's Place Cafe at the junction of the Rock Creek Road, and U.S. 395. We split a BLT and had plenty to eat. Tom's Place has been in existance since 1917.

The afternoon was spent relaxing in the shade of the cottonwoods by our tack room/stall.  The wind picked up in the afternoon and it remained comfortably cool until about 1830. That is when the sun began its decent behind the Sierras. As we were only wearing shorts we noticed the drop in temperature. We did bundle up with a jacket and vest while eating Indian Frybread Tacos. I was shivering as I ate. It was well worth it as the tacos were DDDelicious.

Wednesday, May 22

Today we were off early as Tina had a class at 0800. We arrived about 0745 to learn that she had "scratched" from the class because her mule, IMA, had
come up lame early in the morning. Hoping that it is only a transient situation, they passed on today's class and gave her treatment to reduce swelling, etc.
We did support Amy in her dressage class as well as her various hunter classes which are English jumping classes.

In the afternoon there were driving classes which I did not watch as I knew only slightly some of the competitors. These classes can be fun but a little does go a long way when sitting on metal bleachers in the full sunlight.

It was a pleasant day in Bishop though the wind picked up in the afternoon which made for times of blowing dust, etc. Temperature wise it was very pleasant
sitting in the shade of the cottonwood trees that are around the barn area.

Following are pictures of dressage riding classes and the jumping classes.