One Year Away

   Penny

As we had previously mentioned, we have been away for the past 3 days enjoying some horseback riding and some rustic accommodations.  We joined a guided trail ride that took us into the mountains around Banff and led us to Mystic Lake. 

It all started Friday morning, when we went to the stables and met up with the other 13 people on the tour.  After a few introductions, we were off to meet the other members of our group, our horses.  We were each paired with a horse based on height, weight and riding experience… Oh, important to mention that I have been on a horse only a handful of time in my life!

I was paired with Marshall.  He was smaller than a lot of the other horses but he was one of the most beautiful.  Joe was paired with Moss a larger and very dark colored horse.

We rode for a couple of hours before stopping for lunch.   Burgers were on the menu and were cooked by our guides who carried all the supplies (including our bags) on mules!  Then we were off again for some more riding to get to our ‘camp’ where we would spend 2 nights.  The journey to get there was amazing!  Marshall rode through creeks and walked up some very steep hills.  He was very quick up those hills but careful at the same time.  All of our 4-legged friends were very calm and well behaved.  It seemed like they were on autopilot which gave us the opportunity to take in all the sights, sounds and smells at our leisure.

As we approached the camp, Marshall and I were riding behind Joe and Moss.  All of a sudden the ride came to a halt for some reason or another.  Marshall seemed to have an itchy nose and decided that Moss’s rear-end was a great scratching post… Moss did not agree.  All of a sudden, before I had a chance to make Marshall move out of the way, Moss lifted his back legs and gave us a kick!  Unfortunately, Moss’s right hoof (and metal horse shoe) came in direct contact with my knee!  All I could think of is "Oh no, my knee is broken… That is the end of the trip!"  Once Joe realized that I was hurt, he ran and got me off Marshall.  As I sat by the edge of trail, the guides took a look at my knee that had already started to swell and had a part of Moss’s horse shoe imprinted in it.  Being only 10 to 15 minutes from the camp, they lifted me onto Marshall and I rode with one foot out of the stirrup… 

The pain was incredible.  But being with 13 other people who you barely know makes you ‘suck it up’.  Finally, at the camp, I was helped off Marshall and was able to walk.  Bending my knee was another story… At least the trip would continue and there was no need for a helicopter rescue!  Thanfully, we had come well prepared with a lot of Advil!  Also, an ice cold mountain creek ran by the camp and I was able to dunk my knee in it!

The camp was very very rustic!  Of course this is what we were looking for.  We all settled into our tents but still did not have all of our stuff or the ingredients for dinner as the packer and the 8  to 10 packed mules had yet to arrive.  Only hours after we arrived at the camp, did the  mules arrive and the cook was able to start dinner.  Even in her very rustic and basic kitchen, Morgan our cook was able to make some amazing meals, including chicken, roast beef and french toast!

For the 3 days and 2 nights, we would ride for 5 to 6 hours through amazing forest and then sit by the camp fire drinking beer, wine or rye!  Getting to know everyone on the tour including the guides was great.  There was a lot of taking about horses and other animals including mules and sheep!

The knee is still sore and a little bruised but I will be fine.  Riding for 2 days after being kicked was probably not the best idea but it was worth it!

To our new friends in England, Saskatchewan and Edmonton, thanks for a great time and for the laughs!