OUCH

I just returned from a two day horse back trip. We spent two days riding through a fire that burned 38,000 acres in 2004. It was awesome to see the recovery that has occurred in the past five years. When we left for home in 2004 the fire area looked like a moon scape. I was surprised at how well it has recovered.

I also cannot believe how sore I am. Everything I've got hurts - even with Advil and Extra Strength Tylenol. It sucks to be in this poor of shape. It is hard to get in shape to ride horses when you don't ever ride horses. I knew better - this is my first horse back trip in two years. Last year when they did this annual ride I was on a fire in Northern California.

I turned down a fire assignment this afternoon to an adjoining forest (first turn down in my career). It was a single resource order and I told them my team was up and I really didn't feel good about bailing out - hope that wasn't a stupid move. But then again I didn't know I was going to be this sore.