Another Bucket List Item to Check Off - Yee Haw!

Okay. Here's a riddle for you - what are you doing, while sitting for an hour, that turns you into a muscle-sore invalid for two days?

Try horseback riding. I'm not sure how the horse felt after our little adventure, but I'm sure his muscles didn't ache like mine. After all, he wasn't straddled over a 4' wide saddle.

The rain was pouring down in buckets when we left Surrey, but Darcy of  Back In The Saddle Again in Langley called and said it was good there, so off we went in Penny's car. Of course she knew the route - she had directions from the Back In The Saddle webpage, plus from the internet, plus from her son-in-law. So after we were zooming down 88 Avenue for a while, I called Steve and found out how to get there. And we did, after about a 45 minute drive.

The horses, and Darcy, were waiting for us - and it wasn't long before he matched us up with our steeds. Nikkie was first - she got Bonnie ....

Chris got Earor ....

Penny (now known as Butch Cassidy) got Sundance ...

And I got Cub. Cub was very wide. Extremely wide. As in almost doing the splits wide. Oh well, I did manage to crawl up on his poor wide back, and we were off on a trail ride through a beautiful park.

We rode trails in Campbell Valley Regional Park but you'll either have to believe me, or check out the link, when I tell you how beautiful it was. I was too busy hanging onto my hat, my boobs, and the reins to take pictures.

Regarding the hat, since it could have been, as in supposed to have been, a rainy day and I had my hooded jacket left in Mission, I decided to wear Steve's cowboy hat, just so my hair wouldn't get wet. The hat was a bit loose, so Steve made me a wedge out of a strip of cardboard he tore off a box, and it seemed I was all set. For the car ride, anyway.

However the wedge got loose as Cub trotted down the path, stopping only for the occasional mouthful of sweet grass (he wasn't supposed to do that, but we were the ones who got in trouble, not the horses.) However ....

It was fine when he was just walking. But when it was trotting time? Well, just let me warn you - don't wear a Genie bra (or an Ahhhh bra) when you go trotting on a horse. Either wear the strongest tightest bra you  can find, or get someone (probably a husband or boyfriend or girlfriend) to sit behind you and hold onto your boobs. Enough said. 

So, between holding onto the hat, and trying to squeeze some shred of control of my boobs between my elbows, and hanging onto the thingie in front of the saddle and the reins too, I would have found it a tad difficult to take pictures. I hope you all understand.

However, we made it back, safe and sound .... No, that isn't Cub without me, Cub and I are behind these three taking their picture, and wondering how the heck I was going to climb down from the saddle.

I don't know if it's the age thing or what, but I don't remember feeling the hurt of so many muscles after previous horseback rides - but then again, I haven't ridden since way way back - the last time was when I dragged Sheila to the rides at Trinity Loop. I do remember it was a bit bouncy, though. 

However, it was fun ... but I don't think I'll enter the Free 2-Hour Horse Back Ride Draw though. I don't think I could do a 2-hour one. I must be getting old.

Many thanks to Darcy, Bev and Tim for the adventure. Darcy's the one to call if you want to get back in the saddle, and Bev and Tim were our patient guides for the day.

Here's a few more pics ..... and now I'm off for another ride - this time in a Semi to Prince George!