Life: Idiotropic

The drive from Ellensburg here is 40 minutes snaking along a deep blue river that cuts its way through the valley.  An old aquaduct parallels its twists and turns - the aluminum colored half pipe supported by wooden crosses all along the mountain - rustic compared to the Roman waterways I've seen in Europe, but rustic and really amazing to see how much of it still remains.

Bright white windmills stand tall on the rocky hills.  The trees are green.  The red barns add yet another color to the landscape of primaries.  It's a beautiful day and it's about to get better.

We arrive at Michelle's house a little late, but that's ok.  Michelle is relaxed as can be today.  It's her day off before another long outing into the mountains.  Here, she and her family lead tourists on horseback into the mountains for camping excursions.  They supply everything and even do some amazing cooking.  The traveler enjoys a true vacation riding, enjoying the company of these amazing people, and soaking up the central Washington outdoors.  This is now on our ever growing list of things to do.

Today was just a taste.

We walked past the supply barn brimming with blankets and saddles, bridles and reins, horseshoes, and all the bits and bobbles that you could ever need for a horse or its rider.  Michelle saddled up Sweetie Pie for the little girls to ride, the only female of the herd and her daughter's horse, then we walked together into the field where their 60 horses grazed to pick one for Tiara to ride.  She spotted Goliath, a dark muscular boy, and fell in love.  We saddled him up and she rode him first.

These are trail horses.  They are used to walking in a line following the tail in front of them.  Goliath didn't have a tail in front of him.  Tiara did a great job controlling him, but he saw the tails in the field, his friends grazing, and each time he got just a bit too close to the gate,  he'd try to walk over to it and wait for the gate to magically open and release him.  It didn't take long to give up on Goliath and go again into the field to find Valdez - a horse that is equally as beautiful and much more cooperative. 

My favorites here aren't ridden though they could be.  The brothers, a Friesan/Paint mix are used to pull the wagons.  They are big and strong and absolutely gorgeous, but gentle as lambs.  One followed at my heals all the way into the field where his brother found us as well and there we were with these gentle giants standing at each shoulder nibbling our sweaters and begging for attention.

The three little girls all got turns on Sweetie Pie.  Arianna rode, enjoyed it, but wanted to swim and play with Michelle's daughters, so she was on and off and away to play.  Luci was the least apprehensive, getting on, controlling the horse immediately by herself, and enjoying quite a bit of time before hopping off to play.  Elise was nervous riding at first with Auntie Liesl leading Sweetie Pie by the reins, but when Luci and Arianna were both finished, Elise rode again and rode along controlling her horse on her own and staying on longer than the other two combined.

Tiara rode all three horses:  Goliath, Valdez, and Sweetie Pie.  Kirk and I both had turns on Valdez which renewed our love for horses and reminded us that we might like to have a couple of our own one day... another dream...

We finished up the day with a bbq on the deck.  Fresh fruit salad with blueberries and the most delicious grilled chicken I've ever eaten.  We sat back and gazed at the view in front of us - the field of grazing horses, the blue sky, and the mountain silhouettes.  The chickens ran free with the rooster around the yard, under the deck, and onto the deck.  Arianna decided that while she loves chicken, that she can't eat chicken in front of a chicken, so she didn't eat as much as usual.  But all the girls played, and it was good.

Good people.  Good food.  Beautiful place.  Life is good.  We'll be back.