Bloggers on horseback

This has been quite the year for blogger meet-ups and the tradition continued in Wyoming not many weeks ago. During the course of a conversation with Deborah of Circadianreflections about my upcoming trip to Wyoming, I mentioned that my husband wouldn’t be coming. She said, “So you have to go alone”, (which is something I don’t mind at all although it’s better when my husband can come too) and I replied, “Yes, unless you want to come out.” And that’s what happened.p, setting up another in-person first meeting with a fellow blogger.

Deborah seems to know almost every flower, bird, and butterfly as well as a LOT about photography. I struggled to learn a bit more about getting off Auto on my camera even though she tried hard to teach me. We even went out one of the last nights to get some shots of the Milky Way. Imagine us with our little headlamps (red so we can see a bit but not destroy our night vision, white for problem situations), trudging around on a somewhat steep bit of land not far below one of the cabins carrying our cameras on tripods, Hopi g not to meet any moose. I told her that if the occupants looked out, they might think aliens had landed. But we survived and once I upload my camera photos, I’ll see if my shots are good enough to share. Yes, Deborah, I still haven’t gotten that done but to be fair, I’ve been doing a lot of work on house, yard, and my Dad’s estate since I got back, and his memorial service was just this last Saturday.

My sole expertise was horseback riding so thankfully I was able not to feel completely incompetent. 🙂 We had some excellent rides, saw and photographed lots of wildlife and flowers, and had fun exploring Sheridan, having coffee and lunch and doing some buying. Here we are, ready to ride, yours truly on the left, Deborah on the right.

Lens-Artists Challenge #163 — Keep Walking…three states of walking

Walking. It’s what I do. But I’m not the only one walking as you’ll see from my responses to Amy’s challenge to “Keep Walking.” Here are three states of walking…or walking in three states.

Walking on tiptoe in Arizona…

Walking warily with your mouth full in Illinois…

And how we (that would be the royal “we) walk in Wyoming (with the sounds of a running stream for accompaniment)…

Trust me, even though I’m not doing the walking in that video, it’s not easy to keep get my phone out of my waist pack, get it ready to shoot, start the video while holding the phone both tightly enough not to drop it and as straight as possible…all while holding the reins with my left hand!! I feel I did my share. 🙂

Monday walk…for the horses

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.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge : Cooling

While much of the US was sweltering, in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming there was quite a lot of snow on the peaks that top out at just over 13,000′. Several mornings the outdoor temperature was just under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, absolutely lovely for riding. On this day, there was quite a lot of fog, but when I’d ridden for well over an hour, the sun shone and this cool view met my eyes. Taking a photo with a phone while on a horse that’s ready to head home at speed can be a challenge, but I was happy with the result.

Here are the guidelines for this new photo challenge:

• Lens-Artists Photo Challenges are published every Saturday at 12 noon EST by one of our moderators. Post your reply any time before the next challenge is announced.
• Tag your post with lens-artists  so others can easily find it in the WordPress Reader.
• Remember to create a link to this post.
• Subscribe to all 4 moderator blogs to receive the challenge each week.

Week 1 – Patti of https://pilotfishblog.com/

Week 2 – Ann-Christine aka Leya of https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/

Week 3 – Amy of https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

Week 4 – Tina of https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/

Let’s all go for a ride.

​Ok, the sun’s out. Let’s go for a ride. I’ll ride Lacy and I’ll put you on Cookie. She’s a sweetheart, goes well (and smoothly), and won’t do anything crazy. I’ll give you tips as we go, but if we’re in front, you’ll be fine. Horses always like to be the second or third in line. That way, if any monsters come, they’ll get the first horse and give the others time to get away. 🙂 Anyway, there are so many places to go that are difficult to get to otherwise, unless you have a four-wheel drive vehicle and walk after you can’t drive any farther.  Yes, I know the video appears to be sideways (for some unknown reason), but when you click on the arrow, it will show correctly.  Mine is not to wonder why.​

(Just changed my post title so I can join Six-Word Saturday. Glad you could come along for the ride.)

A river runs through it…Wyoming water

Water is necessary for life.  Water can be relaxing and refreshing.  Water can be annoying (as in a drip) or devastating when it gets in where it shouldn’t.  Water can hold life in it or destroy life.  Water can grant life to living things.  Lack of water can stunt growth or kill plants, animals or humans.  Water can be beautiful or terrible.  But we must all have it.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts about our time in Wyoming this year, there’s been plenty of water…in the form of winter snow, without which life here suffers, and in rain.  Consequently the grass is green and the flowers abundant and when we ride on certain trails, the sound of water is a thing of joy, whether in the chuckling and burbling of a stream or the louder music of river over rocks.

One of our favorite rides is through cow camp, where 21st century cowboys use old methods of herding cattle.  Cow camp is at the bottom of a very long, steep road and filled with things the seem specifically made to produce fear in a horse–tents, doors that might swing open, a chuck wagon, a fire pit; all sorts of “things.”  But starting at cow camp and running for some distance along the trail is Little Goose River, this year swelled by the abundant snow and rain.  We don’t take many photos there because in many places there’s not much room to dismount or mount again.  But we pause now and then to take what pictures we’re able to get on horseback while reveling in the sound of the water tumbling over rocks and laughing as it goes.

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.
~Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

To do or not to do, that is the question

The first thing to do is ride.  That, at least, is my theory, and today it worked perfectly.  I’ve loved horses my entire life and to have virtually unlimited places to ride without being near “civilization” is one of the primary joys of vacation in the Big Horns.  During the winter, the saddles and bridles are stored in the cabin, so the first order of business is to get them out, loaded into the van and driven to the corral to deposit in the tack room, “tack” being the term the equipment used for riding.

I have no idea how many hours or days I’ve spent just hanging around at the corral, watching the horses interact, or talking with people.  Horses are very much like teens.  They have cliques, bullies and bullied, like to sleep and prefer to be doing nothing but eating.  But to be on one, on a trail surrounded by nature, on the lookout for deer, moose or other wildlife and to feel free is a glorious feeling.  Today we went out at just the right time, getting back as the rain began to fall.  Which left us with a variety of pleasant post-lunch choices:  nap, read, sit on the porch listening to the rain on the porch roof, work a puzzle, think about meals (NO!!) or something else.  Normally hiking or, in the case of Bill, biking, would be one the agenda but it’s raining.  Since my internet connection is working well now, my choice (after reading for a bit on the porch listening to the rain) is to get my post done and scheduled. Then it’s back to a), b), c), d), or all of the above).  No wrong answers on this test.

Taking it easy in the corral...

View from horseback…

More views from the saddle, views of which I never tire…

Aha!  I’ve done it and with only one loss of internet connection.  I’ll schedule this quickly and then back to my regular program of reading, alternating with watching wildlife/flowers/scenery and drinking tea.  See you again tomorrow.

Day trippin’…Riding in Costa Rica

This vacation is unusual in more than just being in a new country. It’s also the one of the very few times we’ve done a tour of any kind, other than our own. Yesterday, we did two.

Since we love to ride, the horseback riding tour grabbed our attention immediately. The man at the desk, when told we were good riders, recommended a new tour, Cowboy Tours, run by a friend. He asked, “You like to gallop?” When we said yes, he booked the tour.