Owyhee Fandango Day 3

Sunday May 27 2012

Despite the poor weather (in not everybody's opinion!) on Day 1 and Day 2 of the Owyhee Fandango, Day 3 turned out just about perfect for the 30, 60, 80, and 100 mile rides for 37 riders, about 58 degrees and a breeze with intermittent showers.


Steph wore the helmet cam on Batman and rode the 80 (with plans to possibly elevate to the 100) with Connie and Carol on the 100.


There were some technical difficulties with the helmet cam (and with iMovie later!) - Steph tried the camera harness which appeared to be a fine invention, but on viewing the raw videos there was too much movement. I didn't want to make everybody seasick, so I used more still shots from the video than videos themselves! In the case of seasickness, take a dramamine and come back to watch the video again in 30 minutes. : )


13 of 17 riders finished the 100. Sue Summers and Suzy Hayes tied for first in a ride time of 9:54. If you'd been at the out vet check at the Sierra del Rio Ranch, you'd have seen Sue nailing a front shoe on Suzy's horse, after the shoe was lost in the boulder field. It took a team to get the shoe on - shoes and nails from the ranch manager dug out of boxes in several barns, nippers from Robert the vet, and a hammer from somewhere else. Sue and Suzy rode the entire ride together, and Sue's horse Mags Motivator got Best Condition.


Connie and Carol finished the 100 (Connie's first, and hers and Carol's horses' first 100s), and Steph opted to not do another 20 miles. It was also Nanette Young's first 100; Karen Chaton was her tour guide on the trail. Kathleen Edman, riding her Rocky Mountain horse Pierce the Veil elevated from the 80 to the 100 and finished.

Five started and finished the 80 miler, with Debbie Euker and Dennis Summers tying for first. Dennis' horse WMA Radiance got Best Condition.

Bev Gray and Jolly Sickle won the 60 (and got Best Condition) among the 14 that started and finished. Karen Steenhof and Rusty were the only LD riders who hauled out to the Sierra Del Rio Ranch for their start, their loop around the petroglyphs, and their finish.

The trails were near perfect after 2 days' rain, and the scenery and wildlife (and petroglyphs) fabulous along the Snake River. The Owyhee Fandango is an 'easy' 100 - if one dares call any 100 easy - it's too bad the attendance was so low this year.

But all had fun despite the weather and empty seats at dinner and awards. More wine to go around for those there, anyway!

Here's the video from Day 3: