HORSEBACK RIDING AND BEAR LAKE

Before we went to Colorado, we had planned to ride horses while we were there.  Everyone wanted to do the 3 hour ride.  We reserved our time for Thursday morning at 9:00, paid our money, and anxiously awaited.  Thursday morning arrived and we got to the stables.

When we arrived, the girl (one of the managers) told us that with kids, we didn’t want to do the 3 hour ride.  We wanted to do the 2 hour ride.  They agreed to refund the difference in the rides and took us to the horses and assigned us to one of the horses.  We were all a little bummed about only having 2 hours but we hauled our city butts on those horses and were ready to go.  There were 2 female wranglers that took us on the ride.  The 5 kids were at the front.  I was next because I had a tempermental horse named Sugar.  Sugar has to have a lot of personal space from the other horses.  If other horses got too close to her, she would kick the horse.  Of course, if she kicked, it would not be a good experience for me or for the other rider of the other horse.  Barb was right behind me so she made sure her horses kept its distance from Sugar.

The kids in front of me

Some shots as we rode along

My big kids were having as much fun as my little kids.

 

The kids did great.  Squeaky’s horse decided to start down a hill which scared her, but the wrangler got the horse back in line and Squeaky was a real trooper and kept right on going.  Popcorn’s horse kept wanting to get out of line to eat.  She kept trying to work the reins to keep her horse in line.  She knew what to do and how to do it but being as little as she is, the horse would win most of the battles.  That is until the wrangler got there.  Then the horse would straighten up.

Curly and Squeaky on their horses.  They had to ride right by each other.

 

Let me just say that when our 2 hours was up, we were all very glad that we had only been on a 2 hour ride!

That afternoon we drove into the National Park to go see Bear Lake.  I think Bear Lake is one of the prettiest lakes ever.  Many years ago, I fell into Bear Lake, sort of.  I fell enough that my feet and bottom part of my pants were wet and COLD.  It was June but there was snow all around the lake.  I had on slick shoes.  My camera fell into the water.  It wasn’t a good day.

Bear Lake

Family Picture

 Anyway, Son’s family, DWW and Barb went with us and we were going to hike over to Alberta Falls once we saw Bear Lake.

We only walked around part of Bear Lake and took a few pics.  It really is pretty.

The hike to Alberta Falls was a little longer.  On the path to Alberta Falls, there was a herd of elk that had made their home right off the path.  You and I know that when animals are spotted in national parks, everyone is going to stop to look.  There was a big “people jam” on the path and sure enough we were able to see and get pics of a lot of the elk. 



On our hike to Alberta Falls

When we got to Alberta Falls, there were some rocks you could climb up and see the back side of the falls. I just sat on some rocks and watched and listened to the front side of the falls.  Son and kids climbed the rocks and took a few pics on the back side before climbing down.

Alberta Falls

DWW and Barb were hiking with us.  They were walking a little slower than we were.  So, about the time they got there and were ready to rest, we were rested and ready to go.  I think that was the hike where they drew the line and said they were not hiking anymore. I can laugh about it because I wasn’t the one that it happened to……this time.  I think the horse ride and the hike were just a little overwhelming. They were good sports and laughed about it……after they were able to get some oxygen back in their lungs.  J

A really hard thunderstorm and hailstorm hit later that evening.  It was just about time for us to have dinner.  We were headed to town when the bottom fell out of the sky.  It turned much cooler after the rain and we finally were able to make it to a restaurant.  After dinner we walked the streets of downtown and found the salt water taffy shop where they actually make the taffy.  Yummy!  We were all very tired and called it a night early.  Well, maybe not early, but maybe earlier.