Lake Lopez, Arroyo Grande, CA - Aug. 25, 2008
HI EVERYONE,
WE ARRIVED IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO VISIT OUR FRIENDS HERE ON THEIR RANCH LOCATED IN A CANYON 20 MILES INLAND FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
THE WEATHER WAS PLEASANT WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW 80’S AND THE NIGHTS COOLED OFF INTO THE 50’S. YOU LEARNED QUICKLY TO TAKE A LIGHT JACKET WITH YOU IN THE EVENINGS. OUR FRIENDS HAD THEIR OWN CAMPGROUND WITH WATER AND ELECTRIC HOOKUPS IN A SMALLER SIDE CANYON HERE ON THEIR RANCH.
WE AWOKE ONE MORNING TO A BRIGHT CLEAR DAY AND DECIDED TO TRAILER OUR HORSES A SHORT DISTANCE TO LAKE LOPEZ. LAKE LOPEZ SITS NESTLED IN A VALLEY SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS PROVIDING MILES OF RIDING.
WE STARTED OUT IN THE COOL MORNING AIR ON A SANDY TRAIL THAT LED US BY THE HORSE CAMPGROUND. IT HAD 10 CORRALS, WATER AVAILABLE, GRILLS, PICNIC TABLES AND TOILETS. A GREAT CAMPGROUND!
AS WE CONTINUED ON THE TRAIL, WE BEGAN TO SLOWLY CLIMB INTO THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING THE LAKE. THERE WAS SOME SHADE PROVIDED BY COASTAL OAK TREES AS WE RODE ALONG. IN AND OUT OF THESE TREES, THE TRAIL WOULD WIND THRU GOLDEN FIELDS OF WILD OATS AND GRASSES. THESE FIELDS WOULD BE GREEN IN THE WINTER DURING THE RAINY SEASON.
SUDDENLY WE SAW A FLOCK OF TURKEYS WITH THEIR YOUNG ALONG THE TRAIL. THE HORSES SAW THEM BEFORE WE DID AND WERE ON THE ALERT FOR ANY DANGER FROM THESE FEATHERED FOWLS. THE TURKEYS SOON DISAPPEARED INTO THE TALL GRASSES. THIS WAS THEIR PROTECTION FROM THEIR PREDATORS, SUCH AS THE COYOTES THAT INHABITED THE CANYONS.
THE TRAIL, WHICH WAS SOMETIMES ROCKY, CONTINUED ITS UPWARD TREK TO THE TOP. WHEN WE REACHED THE PINNACLE, WE LOOKED DOWN FOR A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF LAKE LOPEZ. WE RODE THE TRAIL AROUND THE MOUNTAINS WITH VIEWS OF THE CANYON THAT WOULD TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY.
THE TRAIL STARTED ITS DOWNWARD PATH, AS WE RODE CLOSE TO THE LAKE AT THE END WHERE THE SHALLOW WATER MET LAND. THIS WAS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THE WOOD DUCKS AND HERONS LIVING HERE TO SWIM AND SEARCH FOR FOOD. AN OSPREY GLIDED IN FOR A PERFECT LANDING ON AN OLD LOG IN THE WATER. HE WAS ALSO FISHING FOR DINNER.
ON OUR WAY BACK TO THE TRAILER OUR HORSES SPOTTED SOME MULE DEER IN THE FIELD WATCHING US AS WE PASSED BY.
BACK AT THE TRAILERS, WE LOADED OUR HORSES AND HEADED HOME. A GREAT RIDE!
STAY WITH US….WE STILL HAVE MORE ADVENTURES!
HOPE YOU HAVE MANY “HAPPY TRAILS”.
BOBBIE AND LARRY
