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Day 6 Horseshoe bend and Bryce Canyon National Park

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“Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit.”

– Edward Abbey

The hotel we stayed at was the nicest yet.  We had a ground floor walk out slider to this view.  I worked for about an hour in the with this view. Not too shabby if I say so myself.

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This morning’s driving stats and where we are at:

So our first stop was horseshoe bend. We parked in the lot and walked about 1.5 miles to see this:

Next off to Bryce Canyon.  The drive there was amazing the landscape changes so much it is really breath taking.

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We made it to Utah!  The first time we stopped at the state line sign.

Travis has become quite the photographer and getting used to the facebook checkins.  This was him the whole drive to Bryce Canyon.

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Next Stop Bryce Canyon!  Seriously each wonder of the world is better than the next.

So many people stopped us to pet and ask about Riley;  Most of them from Europe.  We found out that Flat-Coated Retrievers are very common over there.  Spoke to one couple who had 4 of them.  Riley was just soaking it all in.  We spoke to another couple who used to have a Golden named Riley.  So they got their Riley fix by loving on him.

As we were walking out of Bryce Canyon we stopped at the general store for water. Ended up getting a slice of Pizza and an ice cream sandwich.  It was starting to get chilly so move to a bench in the sun.  Ahh perfect.  Walked back to the truck we started talking about selfies and selfie sticks (which I refuse to buy).  Then Travis told me about the selfie song.  When we got back to the truck and were driving out of the park he played it for me.  So funny! {Video to come when I have better internet}

We started heading to Zion Nation Park, only like an hour away.  Stayed at a motel about 15 minutes away.

Not our best motel but it was convenient.

Across the street was a restaurant where they advertise their Ho’made pies. The Thunderbird restaurant did not let me down I had a strawberry Rhubarb pie.

IMG_1989It was amazing! So the story is that back in the 30’s when this restaurant was first started they ran out of wood for the word HOME, so they shortened it to HO.  And it stuck..

Day 5 Grand Canyon

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This morning driving stats.

Last check we were around 14 hours from Lafayette. So it’s time to see some sights.

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We  drove to the Grand Canyon today.

img_1823Our first stop was at the Grand Canyon Visitor center. Parking lot was so full we had to make our own parking spot but it appears we were trend setters as bikes followed our cue.

IMG_1847Wow it was crowded. It was the perfect day for it and tourists from all over the world were there experiencing it with us. There were many tour buses full of international tourists. It kinda took away from the experience, but it was still spectacular

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So beautiful, I was in awe.You could spend hours just staring at it.  Can you imagine being a traveler back in the days of horse pulled wagons traveling across country and come across great big hole in the ground? And you think yourself well how my going to get over there.

Riley again did great. He is such a poser. Many people asked to give him some love; which he gladly accepted. We could not help but laugh when some of the Asian Tourists were scared of him.  They quickly moved out of the one one girl jumped behind her guy so he would act as a shield against the ferocious Riley. But he was not the only wildlife. We saw squirrels, which despite the signs, we saw this one tourist giving nuts. This little guy was taking it right from his hands.

The next stop in the Grand Canyon National Park was the Desert View visitor center. It has an awesome look out tower built in 1932. There is also a memorial to one of the first commercial plane crashes in the US. It happened near by in 1956.

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As we were leaving we noticed a mule deer on the edge of the parking lot.  They are so used to seeing visitors that he didn’t even move as I approached him.

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Next we are heading to Horseshoe bend in Page, AZ. Located very close to the Utah boarder.

 

Just Cutting Grass

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Earlier this week I cut the back pastures.  Really it is so boring going up and down.  Keeping the wheel in the track of the last run. Piper came out to join me for a bit.  Which was surprising as she hasn’t done that in as while.  It is like she is taking over some of Shadow’s jobs.  The sun-setting was beautiful and the finished product is even nicer.  I guess it is an okay way to spend your evening.

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Day 1 Nash arrives at New Bolton Center

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Pre-Surgical work up day

I got to the barn early and fed him his two cups of grain. He was such a good boy this morning. I told him the plan and about going in the trailer. He followed me right in to the trailer. He was definitely nervous and shaking a little, but is so trusting. When we got on the road the anxiety started and my stomach was in knots.

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It took us about 2 hours to get to the hospital.  20131118_101304Look at that face, he was so upset and confused.  Poor guy.

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After going to admissions someone meet us at the trailer and escorted Nash to his stall.  He we so good; but very nervous and looking around, taking it all in  and trying to figure it out.    I led him into the stall that was filled with straw bedding.  I guess he has not seen that before as he wasn’t sure about walking into it.

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Then they put a muzzle on him due to this dietary restrictions (only a little bit of grain).  He didn’t like that at all.  And thought is was very unfair that there was hay in the hay rack and straw on the ground.

20131118_103624 20131118_103627 2013-11-18_10-29-36_885 2013-11-18_10-37-06_25 It was time to go and leave him there.  I left feeling so bad for him, but knowing it is for the best and the surgery will give him a long life with no worries of the hernia getting bigger.

Dr Parente called me this afternoon.  He had a look at him and said we are all set for surgery tomorrow.  The hernia is of a good size and shape for the operation.  He is going to have the ultrasound done to have a look at the margins and determine the procedure for anchoring the mesh.  The surgery will be done tomorrow afternoon and he will call me after.  So now we wait.

Thank you to all the Facebook friends who have already sent us positive thoughts, prayers and wished Nash good luck.

Sunset Trail Ride

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What a great way to end a long Saturday of lessons.

Lessons outside of the box

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I still can’t believe and am very grateful for how strong the lesson program is going even though the temperatures are dropping my students are still hanging in there and I am starting new ones almost every week.  With it getting dark at 5 pm I am even contemplating having lights installed around the riding arena.  BUT lets find out how much it costs first. 

I have started doing Gymkhana exercises with some of my lesson girls.  They love it!  I get on Apple and do it with them.  Then I discovered how much Apple loves to do it too.  It is a lot of fun and teaches them balance, quick reactions and confidence.

Sometimes at the end of lessons we go on “trail rides”.  It is just a walk around the front pasture but the kids love it.  They can relax.  Not have to go in constant circles and enjoy a bit of nature from the back of a horse.  The parents and dogs enjoy the walk as well.

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Another week. Another post

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Fall Riding

This is the only season we can see those 2 words in a statement with out thinking: Oh No!

It sure is beautiful though.  The fresh crisp air, the beautiful colors all around you.  Even the horses like it and have a spring in their step.
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Yes another shot of me while riding. Trying to capture my trial mate and myself.
2013-10-20_11-06-57_408I can’t believe I am still gaining new lessons.  This is our first mother daughter team!

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Falling for Fall

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Autumn is truly beautiful here.   I am trying to enjoy it with out thinking of the impending doom of winter.

It was a great weekend for road rides.  Since it is hunting season we are back to using the roads for our rides but my horses are “bomb proof”.  Nothing seems to bother or spook them, well except for the falling leaves.

It was surprisingly warm on Saturday but Sunday evening was cool.  Well, cold when we got caught in the passing rain shower.

Nature’s Pace

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Never give up….

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