Rain gear was the order of the day for the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen 2022 Spring Ride and Auction last weekend.
One thing I know for sure, if you plan an event in the spring, don’t count on a blue sky, windless, perfect temperature day. Spring is full of surprises. Such was the case last Saturday (April 30) when the last day of the month brought the rain showers that have proverbially promised to bring May flowers.
Methow Trails’ 2022 Sunflower Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay were filled to capacity with runners eager to hit the trail. Even with the rain, the participants were treated to spectacular views of the Methow Valley, passing through meadows and fields carpeted with wildflowers including the run’s namesake — arrowleaf balsamroot.
Zumiez’ employees filled Mack Lloyd Park for the beginning of their sales meeting earlier in the week — only to be sent under tent cover with the rain on Saturday. Still, by the sound of the buzz around town, it was apparent the group was having a good time in the valley. We hope to see their ubiquitous white vans again next year.
The Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen 2022 Spring Ride and Auction enjoyed a sunshiny day for setup at Beaver Creek Campground knowing the ominous forecast for rain (did we hear possible snow?) on Saturday. The rain came, finding its way into the edges of the tents, soaking auction bid sheets and merchandise. Riders headed out with rainwear of all kinds and returned with drenched horses and gear, but smiling!
Even with the less-than-perfect day, the ride and auction were successful and the rain abated for barbeque and campfire in the evening. “At least” the wind wasn’t blowing as it did during the last pre-COVID Spring Ride in 2019. That’s spring!
Totally off topic: I grew up listening to classic country music — Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash-type country — on our local radio station, KPRK. The station only played rock and roll for one hour a day from 8-9 p.m. As teenagers, we tuned into KOMA (1520 on the AM dial) from Oklahoma City. With its 50,000-watt signal, KOMA was one of the few stations playing the “Top 40 Rock ‘n’ Roll” music we had come to love. Even though the signal only came in after sunset, it fast became the favorite of teenagers across the western U.S.
After Elvis, the Beatles and all the other bands of the 1960s took over, country music dropped off my radar. Rock and roll stations became abundant, but I still couldn’t resist a Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson or Merle Haggard song.
Then came the new kind of country. A co-worker introduced me to this style that had added some pop to it in the 1990s. I still questioned the lyrics such as “I had a barbecue stain on my white T-shirt,” but came to like the sounds of Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and Alan Jackson.
What I’m getting to here is the news that Naomi Judd tragically passed away on Saturday, just one day before being formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Singing with her daughter Wynona, The Judds had joined my list of new country singers that I liked. Written by Naomi Judd and two others and released in 1990, “Love Can Build a Bridge” was one of their biggest hits. Naomi was candid about her health struggles and her severe depression and anxiety. The words she wrote hold meaning today in a world where “building bridges” is desperately needed.
“I would swim out to save you, in your sea of broken dreams / When all your hopes are sinking, let me show you what love means.” RIP, Naomi, RIP.
