This week has been crap for riding.

On Monday, we had thunder and grossness.  On Tuesday, I had a gym date with my husband.  Wednesday, a fucking deluge threatened to wipe out roads.  Last night, I had yoga.  But!  Tonight, I will ride!  (Hopefully.)

All Wheel Drive at its best.  Right side of the road was starting to meet with the creek. (Safe driver award for the year.)

Dirt road I often ride on.

This has given me time to do some much-needed (and husband-despised) cleaning of saddle pads and my fleece girth.  I didn't have good results when I took my stuff to the laundromat last time.  Ten dollars, an hour of my life, poorly cleaned, and shame at leaving a dirty washer all coupled together to make me prefer to wash my crap at home.  I'll probably still take the blankets to the laundromat, but pads et al can be done at home.

Tomorrow, my husband has consented to drive me the two hours to Charleston.  I don't think my ancient, decrepit and adorable Subie would make it there and back in one piece.  Maybe she would.

The point of the day trip?

I recently discovered that Charleston is a boon of equestrian activity.  Not only do they have a Tractor Supply, which we don't, they've got multiple tack stores, barns and trainers.  There's even a website detailing all this stuff.

One of the tack stores, the Island Tack Shack (adorbs, right?), even does consignment.  I'm going to take an old pair of tall boots to see if they meet their standards.

Things I hope to acquire:

• extra bell boots
• consignment clothes (breeches, show shirt, etc.  I might even go through my crap tonight and see what I can get rid of.)
• front boots
• possible boots for me (this is on the bottom of the list, as I really like my synthetic stuff)
• a new halter and lead rope for the Kid

After all of that shopping, we're going to eat lunch at a little Mexican restaurant I yelped.  And wander the Ikea (which we don't have) and the Trader Joe's (which we also don't have).  Annnnnd maybe go by the Apple store to see if I actually like the newest iPod Nano (...do I even need to say that we don't have an Apple store, either?).