September Wrap-Up + Thoughts + Horses

So in the space of 8 days during September, I logged in 11+ hours of truck and trailer driving (mostly with the horse trailer, but a bit with the flatbed while getting a few loads of hay).

I actually drove the truck a bunch this month...it stayed hitched up to trailers for basically three weeks in a row. But I did have a long road trip as well.

So I just wanted to share a few thoughts.

That space I leave between my truck and the vehicle ahead of me is not free-for-all space. That is so I have extra room to slow my rig when pulling a heavy trailer. If you squeeze into that spot I will personally smash your bumper (okay, so I never actually did this, but I always thought about it when people squeeze into my extra space, because if everyone suddenly slammed on their brakes I would likely end up doing that, intentionally or not).

When there are only two pumps with diesel at a gas station, and you are in a non-diesel vehicle and there are non-diesel pumps open, go to one of those non-diesel pumps so I can take the diesel pump and not have to park in front of the station and wait for you to finish getting gas while there are perfectly good gas-only pumps just hanging out empty for cars like you.

There really needs to be a "pulling heavy trailer with live cargo" tick-box on the gps app on my phone. That way it won't take me from TN to NC over the mountains using one-and-a-half-lane roads.

There also should be a "brakes are shot" tick-box on the gps app as well.

Hi, yes, I know I'm going way under the speed limit, but if you haven't noticed, I'm from out-of-state, I have a live horse in the back and I'd like to keep him that way, this road looks like they had a two-year-old sketch the blueprint plans, and these potholes are so huge you might end up in China if you jump into them. Please don't follow me to my next stop and beat me with a tire iron.

If the gps tells me to turn onto a road that looks like it was made before pavement was a thing and has a rusty gate across it with a sign labeled "no trespassing" then NO I AM NOT TURNING ONTO THAT ROAD.

When you reach one of the trickier sections to navigate, a family member will call to chat.

Backing practice pays off when you put the truck in reverse and whip that trailer into a space between two other horse trailers and an onlooker applauds and says it would have taken him a few more tries to get it in that straight.

Sure you're proud of that 2018 brand-spankin-new truck you got, but it probably will never do half the crazy stuff my old '97 Ford has done. Ever.

I know the running board looks like it's about to fall off, but trust me, it's still attached underneath. Just hangs lower than you would expect.

If I can get over to another lane to help you merge, I will. But otherwise, you're on your own.

I might be able to slow down to help you merge, but you better SPEED UP cuz I can't accelerate quickly at all. You gotta work with me here, mate.

If I end up in the left lane, stop speeding around me. I'm trying to get out of the left lane and back into the right, so if you would slow down for five seconds and let me get over, I'll get out of your way, but does anyone listen to me? Nooooo they just all speed around me until some kind person finally notices my blinky turn signal and waits for me to get over.

Yes, I am a girl driving this big rig. Yes, I weight like, 100 lbs. I can still back this trailer better than you. And yes, that is the avengers theme song blaring through the speakers.

If I perform the most amazing backing job ever with a load of 11 round bales on a flatbed, the only person to witness it will be my hard-to-impress-and-who-also-wanted-me-to-back-beside-the-barn-not-in-front-of-it sister.

Anyway, just a few thoughts. I had a long haul to TN for a race as well as a visit to the vet and then to a specialist farrier. Then had to get two loads of hay on Saturday as well as doing a guided trail ride for a local family.

If anyone is wondering, we got DQ'd at the race because my horse was intermittently lame, took him to the vet and found he has navicular, and got him a new set of corrective shoes. So praying that the shoes will help.

Writing is well. Finished my tenth edit of Words of Bravery. This month I will be reading through Words of Betrayal as well as preparing my NaNo novel.

Is anyone else doing NaNo this year? Any specific goals relating to that? This year I'm just doing the 50K, but I want to get it done asap so I can get back to editing and stuff.

Took the horses to the fair (Pepper and Bree in the picture, Spirit's just to the right of Bree).

Bree and Spirit (the two on the right).

Bree at the Ride and Tie.

Sleeping in the tack compartment...

Somewhere in TN.

Cleaning the pool up for the year...and apparently someone decided to go exploring...

Sweetie is learning to stand tied.

Bonus!  I uploaded a video of Spirit and Bree running around and having a good time.  Check out the link here!!

Have a great October!