High up ride

 

When I pulled in the parking lot at the Sun Mountain riding stable, I expected the usual scene of people milling around and the row of tied saddled horses waiting to go. 

Instead, only two horses in sight (Belle, above for me) and the wrangler's own horse. So I was lucky yesterday and got a private trail ride for the price of the group ride. Mid-week and early in the tourist season is the way to go.

Sun Mountain Lodge is located high on a mountain outside of Winthrop. It was a nice day but windy at times, so I was glad for my parka. 

I've done the Sun Mountain ride several times with the girls, so I expected the same old trail. Instead the wrangler took a different route though aspen groves out to a old homestead, where the hotel stages cowboy dinners and other events. 

Ash was very personable, here from Montana and working for the summer at the Lodge. We enjoyed chatting about horses and everything under the sun, as women do. Since I know something about horses, I was probably a novelty to her, especially showing up alone like that.

Well, when you have not sat on a horse for long time, an hour and a half in the saddle is enough!  I expected to be sore, but I slept long and hard with deep dreams. 

I was so tired I forgot to put water in the coffee pot, then staggered out half awake this morning and pushed the on button. Have you ever done that? It makes an awful mess.

The irrigation guy comes this afternoon to replace and adjust the sprinkler heads. If all goes well, I'm headed back to Seattle tomorrow. 

This has certainly been one of the more eventful visits.