Great Falls Ride: Member Event

Just a quick report to tell those who were not able to come to the Great Falls Ride on 11/10/02 that you missed a great afternoon. This was the second FIRC organized ride. It was perfect weather -- sunny and much warmer than one could hope for well into November. Also, the fall colors were near their peak.

We had 10 FIRC members in attendance: Sverrir Bjartmarz, Terri Malec, Rich & Pat Moore, Eric & Nancy Nystrom, Tony & Laura Colicchio, Mary Knipmeyer, and Barbara Sollner-Webb. [This includes the entire Virginia contingent of the
FIRC!!] We also had 5 guests: Arthur Scott (Turi, Sverrir's friend), Manya Wysolmerski (Terri's friend),  Megan (Rich & Pat's granddaughter), Denis Webb (Barbara's spouse), and Susay Gray (Barbara's friend), all but the last two also on Iceys. Marcia Newman and friends came by to wish us off and evidently ended up wishing they all had Iceys.
 
We started with a very nice social/lunch. Thanks especially to Pat for that enormous plate of yummy chocolate on chocolate cupcakes (Pat, I have your plate) and to Terri for the delicious cookies. We then headed upriver, from Great Falls Park through the adjoining Riverbend Park, alternately tolting and then walking to give the horses a rest. The ride is through beautiful woods, much along the shore of the Potomac; the colors of the leaves were spectacular. Of course, the horses were delightful. There is nothing as charming as 13 Iceys in a row, all tolting along, with both horses and riders beaming! My husband and friend brought up the rear of the group and made comments about looking down from their higher perches and seeing a procession of "wind-up toys" taking off at a tolt --a clear case of jealousy I would say!
 
After 1 or 1 1/2 hours, we stopped for a while to water the horses on the shoreline. Rich and Megan decided to head back while the rest continued upriver. At the end of the park, when the trail became impassable, the group headed back downriver and explored more of the Potomac shores of Riverbend Park.  Unfortunately, during Rich and Megan's return, Megan and her horse took a brief swim the the Potomac. Fortunately, they emerged unhurt, although Megan returned rather frozen; they were great sports about this incident. Ironically, everyone had signed a waiver form before setting off, making one wonder if this have happened had we not all read about the inherent dangers of riding. [Several had asked for copies of the form, which is attached.] Next year, I suggest we endeavor to make this outing a ride only, or if we include swimming to have it a good bit earlier in the year.
 
We ended the afternoon with another nice visit over the food table.
 
What a nice group of people the FIRC members are!
 
yours,
Barbara

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