In Wyoming, much of the walking is done by the horses, which means we can go much farther than if we were walking on our own. On this day we took a series of trails, some of which we’d ridden on in other years. But this year we continued on, the trail and then road taking us closer to the mountains of the high country before curling back around toward home.

Eventually the road, suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles, came to Lamburger Rock. If it’s climbing you’re after, this is a spot for you. We, however, just enjoyed the view. I always take my phone with me in a fanny pack so that I can take photos. No phone reception unless you get quite high.

Willow Creek flows rapidly and I imagine it’s quite cold even mid-summer.

All told, our ride took about 3 1/2 hours, a fair distance for the second day of riding. I know I could feel it a bit the next day. But it was a ride full of fantastic views. But then again, every ride is like that.
Here’s a hint for anyone who likes to ride, doesn’t ride often, and then goes on a longer than usual ride: wear a pair of padded bike shorts under your jeans. π Trust me, it works.

Dear Janet,
wow, what a view! The rock and the water.
Give me any car, but horses… they’re way too big for me π
Have a very HAPPY week!
Claudia xo π
If you ever get here and to Wyoming, Claudia, I’ll get you on just the right horse to get to some excellent views while enjoying yourself. In the meantime, I’m happy to share views with you any day. π
You have a happy week as well,
janet
Fab scenery!
That it is, Sue. π
It’s such pretty country. I haven’t been in horseback very often. It looks like a wonderful way to travel.
It’s an excellent way to get into places that would take ages to walk to or that you can’t get on a 4-wheeler. This part of Wyoming is beautiful, although very different from the non-mountainous part of the state. I’ve always loved horses and riding so that adds to the attractiveness of the area for me and spoiled me for riding anywhere else. Besides that, boarding a horse is very expensive. Quite a few people not far from us in Arizona have horses, but riding in this sort of heat doesn’t appeal to me.
Are you riding your horse in Wyoming?
Yes. We, both families, have four horses. There are over forty all together. During the winter most of them run loose on someoneβs ranch. In the spring when thereβs enough grass, theyβre brought up the mountain, usually in a herd with a number of people riding up to keep them all together. Iβve never been there for that part.
That sounds like a wonderful life for them. Of course, I don’t know enough about horses to say that, but…
Itβs a pretty good one.
Gorgeous views and a unique Monday walk via horseback. Nice!
Glad you enjoyed it, Ruth. Going by horseback can get you so much further than just walking. Lots of people use four-wheelers, which will get you much farther, but I prefer the quiet of a horse.
janet
Yes. The thought of the quiet of a horse would be my vote.
Loved the scenery. Would love to travel out west when this pandemic is over. The padded bike shorts sound like a good idea. Your pictures were wonderful. What a nice day trip to venture on.
It was a wonderful ride, Peggy. I hadn’t been that way for many, many years and the girls had never made that entire loop, so we all had fun. Taking photos from horseback is always interesting: hoping the horse doesn’t move while clutching the camera and trying to get just the right shot. π I don’t ever want to drop the camera, that’s for sure.
Had not thought about how hard it would be to take a photo from a horse’s back. You did an excellent job and never fell off the horse. Glad you had such a wonderful ride. So nice to enjoy nature and especially with those you love.
Wyoming looks like a beautiful state. I adore your photos. Sure you didn’t exactly walk, but let’s not quibble over technicalities!
Not all of Wyoming looks this way, Ally. Lots of it is rather empty, but this bit is just wonderful. It’s true the walks are usually on foot (human feet), but you notice that it’s “Jo’s Monday Walk”, not “Jo’s Monday People Walk”, right? π Semantics can be everything and I’m pretty sure no one cares. In fact, when I ride, my goal is to not get off the horse until I get back to the corral, although sometimes there are gates that can’t be opened without dismounting.
janet
So beautiful. Lovely scenery is just the cherry on top to being in the saddle of a good horse.
That’s so true. π Glad you could ride along with me.
janet
That was a beautiful walk for you and the horse! Were you on a bridge over the water shot? Or were and the horse standing in it? It looks deep sort of deep.
When I did that 4 day horseback backpacking trip to find Wild Mustangs several years ago He-man lent me a pair of his biking shorts with a gel pad. Those save my hide! π I was so glad I had them.
We were on a bridge, although we could have crossed there through the water. We started the ride just planning to go where I’d gone a few years earlier on my own and then just kept going and it kept being beautiful. I was pretty sure that if we kept on, we’d eventually get back to the cabin and sure enough, we did. Good thing or it would have been a long ride back!! π
I’m glad your instincts were correct! π
Me, too! π
Fabulous scenery! I love that hint of mountains in the distance, and I quite fancy a paddle π€£. Thanks, Janet! ππ
On another day we stopped along a creek and the girls went wading. The water’s nice and cold even in the middle of summer. π The mountains are the best to me and there are wonderful views of them from many places. π
Beautiful country, great shots and that creek looks refreshing beyond belief!
It’s the place I love to be and when B. retires, we hope to spend half the summer there. We jointly own the cabin with my brother and his family, so we can’t go the entire summer. Otherwise…
Sounds pretty great!!!
It does. π
Gorgeous open space for meditating with nature, lucky you.
A happy Monday to you, Sally. I was blessed to be able to get away, to have our daughters visit for a week, and to have a husband that doesn’t mind if I go on my own and then stay for a time. It was even nicer to get there this year because of everything going on and the lack of travel. I do a lot of porch sitting/thinking, too. π
Hopefully, this time of “sitting/thinking” offers new ways to see others and ourselves.
was that limberger rock ? π
Must not have been, it wasnβt smelly. π³π€
How very beautiful it is there, Janet. Yes, I guess you did feel it the next day. That’s a long ride. π
Especially for the second day. We didnβt just walk the horses either. π
Such gorgeous views and a fantastic tour.
Thanks. I’m glad you could come along.
janet
3 1/2 hours, and I’d need the fire department to get me off that saddle bike shorts or not. π Beautiful scenery.
We could just take the saddle off and you with it, then pry you apart later. π It really is beautiful there and I hope to enjoy that beauty for many more years.
Okay, there’s a plan. π I haven’t ridden since we owned horses in the early 90’s. Gosh, I’m really dating myself here. LOL After the full sized horses, we had two minis for several years. Oh, how, I loved those minis following me around while I did outside work. Yes, I love horses, and always enjoy your Wyoming trips and memories.
I’m glad you (and apparently others) enjoy the Wyoming trips as with only about two exceptions in many, many years I’ve been going every summer and plan to keep it that way. π
Great photos! What a cool adventure, Janet. π
It’s always an adventure there (in a good way.) π
It looks so lovely I might almost be tempted to get back on a horse (having not ridden since I was a teenager). Or maybe not!
Iβd start you out slowly and there are some wonderful views not far away. π₯°
Sounds like a plan!
Padded bike shorts, thanks for the tip. I’d definitely need the “leg up.”
π There’s also a mounting block near the corral for those with tall horses or needed a bit of help to get on.
“Leg up” was my double pun, the bike shorts helping and horsey lingo. ; )
I did get that, but added the real leg-up on top of it. π Just horsin’ around.
I thought as much, but hard to read deadpan by text π
That it is.
[…] Monday walk… for the horses […]
Beautiful place, hope to visit Wyoming someday
There are many lovely and unusual places there, Alice. I hope you get there.
janet
Me too, my husbands grandfather was a locomotive engineer out of Laramie for the Union Pacific about 1890, so we interested in researching him
That sounds really interesting!
Bike shorts is a great idea! I started riding a few months ago and hurt afterwards
They worked well; that or take it easier when I start. π
janet