Friday afternoon, we hurried through conference calls and end of week reports to get the boys loaded and down Peach Tree Road by 3:00 for our first ‘away trip’ to a bed and barn in Hancock, Maryland.  Our rush was for not and we hit a major back up that had our first highway drive with the loaded trailer averaging about 15 miles per hour for the first 10 miles.  Those who have had the pleasure of joining me in a car know that I’m Mario Andretti behind the wheel but the most nervous of passengers.  Kurt was driving, so the back-up suited me just fine.  The folks in the cars beside us may not have agreed since Juneau tried to compete with their music the whole time.  Eventually, the traffic eased, and we were able to get a solid 30 miles driven at close to highway speed before we hit a wall of rain.  In all, a 65-mile trip took us two hours.  But, it was worth it.

Now, I admit that I’ve never heard anyone say, “Wow, the Mid-Atlantic states, that’s the place to go to experience the grandeur of nature.”  In my mind, however, grandeur is overrated.  Give me the understated, homey humps of the Appalachian Mountains.  Give me lovely hidden valleys with green grasses waving and dogwoods blooming by the banks of a quiet stream.  Give me old farmhouses with deep porches and steep tin roofs.  Give me Valley Meadows Farms.

Juneau and Guillermo gladly unloaded and deeply appreciated the lush spring grass of the small paddock they had ready for them.  Unfortunately, once the novelty of a good munch faded, the bugling began.  Juneau was making it clear that this is not home.  Home is where Izzy is.  And, if he couldn’t get out of the paddock to get to her – Guillermo had paced the fence enough to assure them both there was no escape -- Juneau was going to scream loud enough for Izzy to find him.  This went on like clockwork every hour of the night.  But again, it was worth it.

Saturday morning, we saddled up and headed out to explore the property – 450 acres of little hay fields nestled in narrow valleys or perched on the knolls that top the steep, wooded slopes.  The Stumpfs, who own the farm, have graded trails winding up those slopes and skirting the edges of the fields.  It’s stunning and makes for some really great riding.

Juneau was jacked, showing off his dressage moves the whole time – canter half pass up a ridiculous hill side, anyone? Piaffe pirouette on a hilltop?  Check.  Two hours of this took the steam out of him.  So, here’s hoping our second night at this idyllic spot will be filled with owl hoots and dove coos, not Juneau serenades.

Check out this amazing bed and barn, Valley Meadow Farms.

P.S. Night two was peaceful and riding on day two was again amazing. Did the same trails in reverse direction and it looked like a whole new place.