David and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few days with our friends, Laurie and Lynn Barnson at their beautiful Straight Arrow Ranch in Circleville, Utah. Friends and neighbors Cari and Nick Larsen met us there (we took their horses down.) We had a great time at the ranch laughing and talking.
But the main event was horseback riding. You know me and riding. I'm a slug. I don't do horses...or at least whenever I can get out of "doing horses."
But I try to be a good sport. And this was one of those times.
We went on a trail in Bryce National Forest. It was a 3- hour ride.
Here is a look at the posse.
My horse is a new one (to me) that we bought from homeless brother in law, Larry. His name is Dollar and I loved him. As much as I can love a horse. Actually, I can love horses as long as I don't have to ride them.
But did I say I was a good sport?
The first 1 1/2 hours was heaven. It was beautiful and I didn't fall off the horse or started crying or some of the other things I've been known to do.
Yep (that's cowgirl talk)- the ride started off just great.
Look how happy we are!
That's because all those pictures were taken before the 1-1/2 hour mark. At the 1-1/2 hour mark, we turned around to head back.
You know how you kind of bounce a bit when the horse starts moving a little faster to catch up. Do you remember when I broke my back playing pickleball a few years ago? Do you know how this body likes to be a slug and NOT bounce up and down AT ALL especially when my back went crash!
Can I just say, 1-1/2 hours is a long time to ride a horse when you are dying of a smashed back. It seemed like 5 hours. But I did it. I only whimpered once or twice and no flat out crying. But I wanted to. Peer pressure is real and I had to look good for the posse.....
Needless to say, the next day when they all went on another long ride to see Butch Cassidy's hideout, I stayed back at the ranch with an ice pack on my backside. I wish I had a full body ice bag because my bum was sore and chaffed, the back killed, even the jiggle under my arms ached. Every part of my body hurt. That's a lot of hurt. Thank goodness I love my husband and our fun friends. We had great meals. Fun laughter.
I'd do it again. Maybe.
Here's the wonderful Italian Sausage Spinach Pie Laurie made for breakfast one morning. Recipe on the cooking blog.
