I did manage to get most of the things on my list done yesterday, including get all the horses out. Some tack didn’t get cleaned, but most actually did. And for this reason I believed that we’d be able to get out of here at 9 a.m. this morning.

As it turned out, I was so very wrong. We got out of here at 9:45 a.m., far later than expected. There were little things that had to be done; for example, we had to fill up water buckets for the trip, and sprinkle sawdust in the rear of the trailer. And I had to knock the big chunks of dirt off the horses.

The drive north was long, even in the new truck. I contented myself by alternating reading Beautiful Jim Keys, which is about the life and times of “the world’s most intelligent horse,” and staring out the window at the passing scenery. Many roadside attractions, including the abandoned Igloo hotel, Wall-Mikes, and the Nenana tripod. I really liked the Bread and Maybe Breakfast sign. Made me laugh.

Stopped at the Chulitna Rest area for lunch—all trashed out because the DOT isn’t tending to it. Why don’t people clean up behind themselves? This really is such an easy thing to do. I found myself suppressing the urge to get a few garbage bags and start cleaning up. Obviously, a Sissyphean task.

Some road construction. Big heavy equipment – dwarfed even our Ford F 350. Amazing what humans do, always in the name of progress.

Finally, at 7 p.m., we arrived at our destination, Wild Rose Performance Horses stable, owned by Laurie Knuuita. She greeted us warmly, and we set up camp before heading over to Two Rivers Inn for dinner. Dinner wasn’t that great, but the company, three other clinic attendees, made up for this.

So here we are. The bugs are bad here. They came out at quasi-dusk. The horses are enduring this, in their usual stoic way. I tried using some of our “green” spray, but it did no good at all. The best stuff out there is Off – better living through chemistry – this is what Pete says. And once again, he’s right.

Next: 152: 6/1/13: In Fairbanks, First day the CTR clinic