It’s our East meets West day. After some cardio to wake the body up, I head off with BW to yoga over in Spa Town. Colorful mats on a stretch of grass. There are only four of us, the instructor. And the big blue sky over fields and hills and mountains. No better yoga than yoga outdoors with sun and soft breezes and those wild and wonderful views. Bumpy grass under the mat just adds a little challenge. A perfect hour for me.
While we salute the sun, Kat’s in one of the tents getting a massage. We end up getting back to the cabin near the same time, all nicely loosened up. A little reading time for me as there’s not a wide enough window for me to sink into writing. I watch a swarm of yellow grasshoppers, nearly translucent, jumping and clicking at the end of the porch, end up making a light lunch and lazing until it’s time to walk down to the wilderness center.
BW and I have an hour’s riding lesson. The equestrian center is a haul away, so Brie, our instructor, drives us over. A huge, impressive ring where they do a couple rodeos and events a year as well as regular lessons.
My horse is Biscuit, who sounds sort of laid back and friendly, and BW will be on a big black named Koli. Brie knows her stuff, sits a horse like she’d been born on one. It’s been awhile for me, even since our pretty trail ride in Ireland last year. I’m to walk Biscuit, then nudge him into a hard walk, back and forth to wake him up. He’s not much interested in waking up, but I persist. He prefers direct reining, and I’m fine with that.
Brie works with both of us, corrects form, has BW turn his mount in circles.
She wants me to move into a trot. Biscuit would rather not, but after some prodding, off we go. It’s much harder, for me anyway, to post decently in a bigger western saddle. Easy trot, hard walk, easy walk and back again. Biscuit objects to the trotting by kicking out his back legs. That’s a sensation I haven’t felt under me in years! Then he falls into it, and I have to remember to keep my shoulders back.
BW’s going well on Koli, and I keep Biscuit out of the way, as best I can, take him around the ring counter-clockwise to mix things up. Trot, trot, sloppy posting on my part.
We’re going to move from trot to canter. Once again, and with some enthusiasm, Biscuit kicks as I urge him to change gaits. As we’re moving pretty well in that hard trot this time, the kick propels me forward in the saddle. BW on the other hand finds Koli takes off in a canter before his rider was fully expecting it. LOL. Both do really well. Biscuit, however, is copping a ‘tude. Brie decides to ride him, see what’s what. He kicks, kicks, but she’s not having it. Takes him around, kick, kick, and he finally decides to go with the program.
We finish up just as Jason and Kat arrive for their lesson. I’m very glad I did this, as I clearly needed the work, and it gave me an extra challenge to work with a horse who wanted to be pissy.
BW and I hang out at the cabin until Jason and Kat return with stories of their adventures in horseback riding. And Kat decides she needs a little trim. BW offers to snip a couple inches off her hair as I sit jaw-dropped. What?
After a search, Kat comes back outside with poultry shears. Seriously? POULTRY shears. But they get right to it, though I did horn in a few times–you missed that strand there–I’m both amazed and impressed–and Kat’s very happy.
A haircut with poultry shears. There’s always a first time.
By the time we clean up, change for dinner, my butt and upper hamstrings are singing: Holy Crap! Those muscles haven’t worked just that way in decades! Good excuse for another massage. I think I have one on Friday.
On the way to dinner we see a half a dozen young stags as they lope across the road. A Stag Party!
Dinner’s out on the deck of the restaurant, on a gorgeous evening after a clear, hot day. There’s ostrich, the kangaroo, wild boor. I get the kids’ menu, and go for chicken strips with bbq sauce, fries, and a lovely little green salad. Some may laugh, but while BW got lamb and Kat bass (Jason opted for kids and the spaghetti marinara), both of them had some of my chicken.
When the sun drops down, so do the temps, so it’s cool when we get back home.
Our East meets West activities have worn me out, apparently, as I’m out again by ten.
Another pretty day. It’s Garnet Ghost Town–Jason and Kat on ATVs, BW and I meeting them there as we’ll drive a pedestrian car. I’ll see what kind of workout my aching butt can handle this morning.
And by popular demand, here’s a picture of the bag from Missoula.
Nora
Thank You! Your descriptions are so vivid, I almost feel I’m there. I can’t help but wonder with so much Montana lifestyle experiences if we will see Eve and Roarke pay a visit to Natalie and Sam Derrick. Perhaps Eve would have a riding lesson as well! Oh, and nice job on the bag. Gorgeous!
I don’t see the In Death series visiting Montana any time soon, and I’d have to be struck with a story idea that makes sense for me.
The bag is gorgeous! Not at all as I envisioned. I was in a Western saddle almost before I could walk, so my experience with riding English makes me able to relate. Hope you’re not too sore. So glad you’re enjoying visiting our part of the country!
Gorgeous bag. Thanks for posting. And Faith got 4 inches cut off yesterday–by a professional. Next time I’ll send her to BW, with a list of books to get me from TTP. 😀
I love the bag!!! Just my colors! So enjoy reading vacation adventures…..sounds terrific.
Love the bag- the ostrich leather and contrasting colors are beautiful. I enjoyed hearing about your horseback riding. I haven’t been on a horse since my twenties. The last time that I was on one, going downhill on a rocky path, my horse’s rear legs sort of slipped. That spooked me enough, that I haven’t been on one since.I don’t have your guts.
Poultry shears!! That is too funny! As I was reading that, my mind was picturing Eve, cutting her hair with em. lol! I do love the pocketbook!
I’m guessing that Eve’s food preferences reflect yours?
No, not really. Start with coffee, which I don’t like. Eve loves waffles, pancakes, French toast–I don’t. I could go on, but honestly, we’re not much alike in this area, or most others.
Wonder if the hair trimming with poultry scissors will make it into a novel one of these days. LOL Great story.
Your trip sounds so wonderful and so adventures .The hair cut sounds a hoot,can’t picture how that would turn out good. Also the hand bag looks great.My color. Keep us posted.
The bag is gorgeous! Great find!
I am enjoying your daily vacation stories. It is obvious you are a talented writer. It is so descriptive, I can picture myself along for the trip. I want to confess that I, too, am a very picky eater and would definitely pass on these exotic foods. I order off the kids menu often. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with your readers.
I have been to Garnet Ghost Town! What an amazing place. The history and the stories are wonderful. Hope you enjoy!
As always, enjoy your travelogue. I’ll bet you could write for a living. Even when you are sharing a fun day on vacation you make it interesting and enjoyable.
PS – Love the purse.
How about a picture of you on Biscuit?? I haven’t ridden a horse since I was a kid. I was always a little intimidate by their size. I was thrown off a couple times. You know that saying, “When you fall off, get right back on”? Nope. Not for me. Glad you didn’t fall off!
Thank you Nora for sharing your private time….I enjoy this just as much as your books…& thanks for “bag” pic…..love & appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing your adventures in our part of the US. Hope the rest of your stay is wonderful and the smoke and fires stay at bay. Are you going to venture up to the National Bison Range or Glacier National Park? If you don’t want to go quite that far, there is a bison ranch just south of Missoula, where you can see them but in a safe manner! Enjoy your vacation! I really enjoy your books and BW’s photos.
Nora, I’m truly enjoying your “travelogue” and am taking a few notes as to places to shop when I get to Montana next week. And that bag is to die for!
Happy trails.
I am so thrilled you love the bag I made. Marilyn
So loved you talking about your “pissy” horse and BW giving a haircut. . .I agree “WHAT”. Here at the counter with a drink, dogs snoring, laying at my feet. All is good.
Thank you. I am throughly enjoying hearing about your holiday. You should consider a visit to New Zealand sometime. Our scenery is spectacular and BW anyway will enjoy our lovely fresh food ?.
Thanks Nora for sharing, I’m going to Montana next summer, the way you describe everything makes it all so vivid in my mind’s eye. I too would have loved to see a photo of Biscuit and Koli, I’ve never ridden a horse, as a small girl I lived in Wales for a few years and often fed the wild ponies and dreamt of riding ‘American style’, UK style alway looks so unnatural to me…
I’m reading Second Nature at the moment, now there is somewhere I have been and will return to, your writing takes me back to Sedona, and I have to tell you, Hunter is becoming one of my ‘All time’ favourite male leads from your books…
You’re an incredible story teller, never stop!
Where do you purchase the bag? Would love to visit the website. Love your blogs and books.
Elaine I am the artist that made the leather bag. I do not have a website. I hand make every myself. If you are interested you can find some of what I make ono Facebook. Dragonfly Stitches. Marilyn