AndalusianWorld Magazine Show Edition | Page 13

my name was on it. A canvas tent that I hardly had to bend my head down to get into, and I stood up straight once inside. My gear was in the tent and my cot was made with white sheets and a canvas bedroll. I stretched out on the cot, listening to the horses roam loose outside, the sounds of my new friends laughing, a log thrown on the fire, Pancho ringing the dinner bell softly. For the next week I rode my horse in Alpine Meadows filled with wild flowers. I swam in the mountain lake, sat under waterfalls, fished for trout, and climbed the rocks even higher to look down on our camp. At night the activities at the “Huckleberry Hilton” included sitting around the fire listening to stories, laughing until it hurt, and eating scrumptious food. When we would ride out of camp, or ride in, John would play the Lone Ranger song, or maybe the theme from the Magnificent Seven. This always made me smile so hard I would laugh out loud. At dawn, the morning I had to leave, everyone was standing around with well wishes, hugs and some hidden and not so hidden tears of goodbye. Steve handed me a special rock he had found in the shape of a heart, Chris tipped his cowboy hat and nodded good bye, Pancho handed me a burrito wrapped up for the trip and I headed out of camp. My heart ached in goodbye until I heard the William Tell Overture pounding loud behind me. I turned and waved good bye, laughed out loud at the beauty of new friendships, at the opportunity to spend a week in a place only a few people ever get to see, and most of all, I was taking with me the experience of being in the present where time had stopped and there was not place to be, except there. If You Go..and I recommend you do! Call Stacey at Active Riding Trips 800- 973-3221 activeridingtrips.com Cost: $2,495.00 6 nights accommodation, 5 days of guided trail riding, all meals beginning with dinner on the first night, horse, tack, guide and all taxes. Fly into Reno: Transfers are not included and rental cars are recommended as they are often a less expensive option than hiring a car service. Sorry Bob. 13