(this applies to all the pics posted below - as it sucks typing on an iPhone i had to wait until I was computered up to write this)
yesterday we went on a day trip up the mountain - the longest ride I did while at the ranch. we left the ranch at about 9:30 in the morning and didn't get back until about 5:30, exhausted but happy. I really liked being on the horse all day and lo and behold I could walk when I got off!
Six of us set off - Lola, myself, Diana, Sue, Saralee and Dwight. Diana, Sue Saralee and dwight deserve a post all their own, so I'll save that for later. Lola and I had packs on our horses (you can see it on the photo of me sitting on Rufigi) which carried food, water and wine.
As you can guess, the first half of the ride was going up, the second half of the ride was going down. The photo of Lola leading us up the mountain was partway through a particularly steep incline (we would periodically stop on that ascent and let the horses rest) but it was by no means the rockiest. There were parts of the trail that were just pure craggy rock, jutting at every angle and the horses took those passages in stride. It was amazing.
Partway up the mountain we stopped and visited a Serrano (native) family. Their family has lived in the same house for generations and generations and the house is way up the mountains with access only by foot or horse. Every morning the boys of the family hike 2 hours down the mountain to go to school and then two hours back up at night. The grandmother lives in the valley so they keep their nice school shoes there and trade their mountain shoes for them when they hit the valley, and then again in reverse on the way up later that afternoon - very Mister Rogers.
Immediately the woman of the house (the one who was afraid of me in town - see below) brought out a Mate tea to do the welcome ritual. She brings out a small cup of tea with a silver straw and presents it to a guest. You're not supposed to stir the tea, just drink, until finished. But it's rude to slurp! No slurping. When done you hand it back to the hostess and she makes a serving for the next person. She'll keep going around the circle, visiting each person again and again until when you hand it back to her you say "gracias". then she knows you're down and to skip you on the next round.
The family was wonderful and very welcoming, but the day was quite hot so we had to keep moving. We ascended for a bit longer and then hit the main stream where we watered and tied the horses, loosened their saddles and removed their bits and let them rest. Then we had lunch and after Lola, Saralee and I hiked around a bit. Saralee is very into plants and birds so Lola was showing her some specific specimens and I went along for kicks. It was really cool.
Then the descent. The sun was blazing by this time but it didn't seem to affect the horses at all - I think it bothered us more than them! Again, they were amazing at navigating the trail. I think the best part is when you're home and take all the tack off the horses, water them down and then drink a beer on the patio while the horses roll in the lawn 20 feet away from you.
It was a really cool day.
