Fireworks 50
The Fireworks is an endurance ride held in the Santa Cruz area. There are usually two rides; a 25 mile, "limited distance" ride and a full AERC 50 mile endurance ride.
This year the ride started from the Santa Cruz Horsemen's Association camp grounds, went through Henry Cowell State Park - huge redwoods - through the UC Santa Cruz wilderness border, then looped through Wilder Ranch State Park three times before heading back.
The three loops in Wilder have caused a problem in the past, so my job as a volunteer was to sit at the point that all three loops sort of start at and direct traffic: "First time through? To your left." "Second time through? To your right." etc.
I was there from 7AM until 4 PM. The first picture above is of the sun coming up, the second is of the fog rolling into from the Bay in the afternoon.
Riders started coming through as soon as I got there; they must have been flying through Cowell. That said, everyone looked like they were having a good time. The fellow on the grey horse was leading the ride when he came through my checkpoint for the third time - I don't know how he finished.
I just glanced up to see this pair approaching; one of them looked sort of short. Sure enough, she was short!
Finally, Judy and Debbie, who were riding drag came through and I got on my bike and rode home. A beautiful day; I hope the riders enjoyed it as much as I did.
