Feb 13 - Starting Line!

We are here...at the staring line! We are camped about 15 miles east of I-75, exit 220, Myakka City. We are camped in a cow pasture (plenty of evidence to trip over) right on Highway 64. Camping at the Kibler Ranch, on the north side of the highway, just opposite Kibler Road and just east of the Fire Tower. If you have ever been to Manatee River State Park, you know the area; we are just east of that. I remember flying kites there with my husband, kids (when they were little) and my parents!

The stars are amazing and the people even more so! We had such great help at check in and set up that we immediately felt like we were among friends! These people are so nice! They have a little trailer store so we succumbed to the desire to get T-shirts and ball caps to commemorate the ride!

We set up camp (the trailer), had a picnic lunch, took the horses out in the pasture to graze, and checked in! It takes a while to de-pressurize from the everyday demands of life but we tried to do that today. We had no schedule, no place to be, when we arrived. It was nice!

We met lots of wonderful people, many of whom are regulars on this ride, but a few who are rookies, like us. One man we met is here for his 27th year! This event has been going on or 28 years!

We also met a horsewoman who reminded me so much of Marty Paulk, my sister-in-law's mom, that I felt like I stepped back in time! I don't remember her name, other than she said she was not a Cracker, but a Conch, who's relatives were from Key West, earning a living as "wreckers" before they turned into respectable lighthouse keepers!

I learned how Cindy discovered this event! The Conch lady
mentioned some previous riders, one who was completing her Masters thesis and found that the average participant on this ride was a woman age 45-55, who owned a horse, a truck, and a trailer! Another character we heard about was the author...how Cindy learned about this ride. This woman rode the trail in order to do research on her mystery novel, published under the title "Momma Rides Shotgun" (author - Deborah Sharp). I have already ordered it from Amazon! The did not have that at the trailer/store! Then again, the Crackers did not have wifi and Amazon, or half of ten other stuff I brought wig men on this ride!

We visited the port-a-potty wagon, 4 brand new spacious blue ones that even have LED lights mounted inside! What luxury! We had a wonderful dinner and spent the evening around the campfire chatting with people from Maine, Ontario, and all over Florida! I got my Night Sky app out on my phone (thanks to Karen Folsom for that!) and showed some of the youngsters the night sky constellations.

We are all tucked into bed now. It's cold out, but not as cold as Maine or Ontario, so I guess the 30's really isn't so bad! At least it's dry! We ride out at 10am tomorrow! Night all!