On Tuesday, I headed out to the barn’s area. It was sunny and nice at home further north. When I stepped out of the truck, I tasted smoke. One more errand, and I headed back to the barn watching a blood-red sun set in the sky. I was in San Francisco during the awful smoke from the Paradise fires two years ago. Tuesday evening I had the same “this is wrong” gut feeling as I did in SF that year. We patted ponies on the nose and headed home, too smoky to ask them to do anything, too anxious to ask us to do anything.

Tuesday night, my friends in Boulder Creek evacuated on not very much notice.

Wednesday morning, I worked on wrapping up work stuff. I’d taken Thursday and Friday off for a mental break; my last vacation was in December. I texted back and forth a bit and offered help. I packed the cat carriers in the truck in case it looked like we needed to evacuate the barn cats.. if we could even catch them.

Wednesday around noon a barn friend texted me that we were evacuating. I quit work seconds later and my partner and I headed down to the barn as I coordinated with my usual riding friend. Her husband would take the first load of ponies.. somewhere. One location sounded full. I sourced another, called, confirmed they could take at least four. Sharpied names and phone numbers on three of four pony butts before the trailer arrived, loaded up my two, sent them off. I loaded a bale of hay in the truck and a bunch of stuff in the back seat, plus the one cat in carrier we’d caught. It was not the most logical packing I’ve ever done.

I helped with the second load of ponies (headed to my friend’s house) and offered help once there. Have truck, will haul. The evacuations were early and out of caution. They weren’t ready to pack up and leave yet. I checked on my two (further away), picked up my partner, headed back to the barn for caught cat #2, and went home. Hindsight: I should have filled the truck with hay. But we were tired and not thinking clearly.

Thursday morning I got the call to come help. My partner met sheep and goats for the first time outside of petting zoos. We loaded everyone up in trailers, crates, water buckets, panels.. hobby farms with critters can’t easily just load up and go. We were out soon after they called for mandatory evac, and settled her farm at a friend’s place. Patted ponies on nose, confirmed they weren’t causing problems, went home.

Apocalypse day three – Friday? Who even knows what day it is anymore. (I woke up today thinking it was Sunday. It’s Saturday.) Roads are closed into town. There’s a bit of smoke at home, but you can see the sky. Checked on friends (coping, mostly have places to go, mostly in shock and despair) and drove out in the evening to groom my two. Grooming bag was a last-minute addition to the truck, and a good one. Lots of normal boarders there when I went, so lots of introductions and social anxiety. Polly contemplated jumping out of the paddock on day one, but didn’t do it. Both are EDPP well. Fetti’s rubbing out her mane. I flagged Polly as a good one if they want to get her out for walks, and reassured that her midday naps are totally normal. Fetti’s done enough random travel that she’s totally fine, and she’s being an excellent role model for Polly.

I am grateful for horses that loaded right up and settled in to a strange place with no drama. I am grateful that we got the barn cats out and they’re settled in my spare bathroom until it’s safe for them to go home. I am grateful my home is out of the evacuation zone and almost certainly not at risk, though anything can happen now.

I moved down to Santa Cruz for school twelve years ago. I stayed afterwards in the mountain town north of the city. It’s home to me still, even as we’re living somewhere else. I’m watching reports and waiting to see if friends lose their homes. My farrier’s property is burned but at last check, the house was standing. Most others I know are still waiting.

The fire is 5% contained as of this morning’s report. This is the worst fire these mountains have dealt with in a very long time, if ever. Usually one spot burns, and we roll with it, it sucks but that’s mountain living. The entire mountain community is evacuated north of the city, multiple towns, all the way out to the coast. We are not prepared for a fire of this magnitude. There are not enough fire crews for the number and size of fires in California right now.

Yesterday I bought a cat tree and pillows for the barn cats, and doubled my food and litter order for the house. I realized I didn’t grab fly spray or braiding supplies. I put in my first “barn evacuees” order. I was going to fix Polly’s mane bags this weekend, and instead I’m going to throw money at a new set. My head is full. My heart hurts.

Lightning started this whole thing last weekend and is back in the forecast this weekend. I’m done with this year. I don’t like it. I don’t like our odds. I’m terrified and heartbroken for my friends with property and houses in the area. I’m mourning the redwoods already burned at Big Basin, though reports are mixed as to how bad it is.

This was a good year to buy a truck.

This is the worst vacation I’ve ever had.