Blackbird

Black birds, geese, dogs, leaves, little blue flags... everything was out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather today. 15 C with a warm breeze.

After our great ride on Sunday, I was looking forward to hitting the roads again. As it turned out, neighbour Laurie joined us on her lovely mare, Gucci (Arab and Connemara or Welsh cross).

Hand walked/jogged until we met up with our riding date and rode up Phelan to Rideau Valley and back. Total of 8.25 miles for me and Luba in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Luba had a tiny bit of fill in her front fetlocks after our ride on Sunday, so I was glad that we walked most of the way home.



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Despite having two mares with a tendency to kick, all we got were some faces and a little ear pinning. I rode Luba in the side pull on the way out, but decided that the bit was a good plan for the way home. As usual, she is not so willing to lead going away from home. Good advice from Laurie - bring a stick next time! We did have a nice canter (and almost a gallop!) on the way out. At one point, Luba was getting rambunctious and I thought I was going to get another hind end "lifter", but as Laurie pointed out, we were going too fast for bucking. Wise lady! As usual, Luba was on fire on the way home.  Point-to-point rides are easier for her mentally than ones that loop back to base camp.

Basking in the afterglow in the car on the way home listening to CBC Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry (one of my favourite radio shows), I was treated to Sarah McLaughlin's interpretation of the Beatles "Blackbird".

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

In this beautiful song is the theme for today. 

We are all doing the best we can with what we have. 

Right here.  Right now.  Just the way things are.

Perfection, if we can just take these sunken eyes and learn to see.