Friday Night in Pisgah National Forest..

We all settled in . It was around 10:30PM…..

I had hung light sticks around the horses on the tie lines so in the dark we could at least look in the right direction of the horses if there was a problem.

A couple times I got up and checked on things, mainly the moon! It was full and barely showing through the leaves on the trees at first. What a site the moon light made streaming through the leaves of the trees where it could get through latter in the night! Then there was music! Some of the sweetest sounding I have ever heard ! It was a beautiful tune played by rushing, swirling, tumbling, spraying water! That was about 20 feet from my hammock. Oddly no birds. The occasional soft whinny and a horse moving about.

I quickly drifted back to a lovely peaceful sleep each time  (I even dreamed I was sleeping good!) …Abilene was curled up and snoozing so good she would not even notice me as I moved around. I am sure she had her eye on me though…She was tired too!

About 4:00 AM I heard a horse tromping round in place. In a few minutes I heard a whinny all in the same place and right beside where my horse Cheyanne was tied. This went on for 15 minutes or so and became more insistent. Well I better get up and see what was going on.

Yeah, One of the horses was gone! Slipped the halter over its head!  A couple of the lady campers woke up and were searching. I went back to my hammock and put my boots on (I was barefoot!) Abilene raised her head and I told her to go back to sleep which she did! I took my flash light and shinned it behind the ladies tents and there stood the horse! I knew it had not gone far because they do not usually leave the other horses when they are buddies. Turns out the horse just wanted to graze! He was caught retied and we all slept the rest of the night! I made it to 8:30 AM!

The rest of the trip tomorrow!!!