Nov 19 2005 I had not planned to go riding today, but it was sunny with the promise of reasonable temperatures and the prediction that tomorrow would be cloudy and colder. I cleaned up Rosie and headed for Babler State Park.

You could see the forest for the trees. You could see to the farthermost hills. Way off in the distance were the bluffs on the other side of the Missouri River. Beautiful horse farms and grand houses were clearly visible down in the valleys outside the park. Small ruins off the trail emerged from hiding behind summer brush. There are so many small stone sheds, buildings, rubble all over the park. I always wonder what they were when this was Dr. Babler’s estate.

I started about 10:00 and rode till just before noon. The fall/winter sun is at an angle that the trees cast long shadows. In the first hour, these shadows crossed the trail at right angles to my direction, giving the impression of railroad ties. As the sun arced a bit higher, the shadows were at an angle. With the brown leaves on the ground and the black tree shadows, it was like a rich layer cake.