Friday, March 19, 2010

Me, Of Little Faith

Tomorrow, I leave on my dream vacation. Earlier today, I was whining to Betty and the Garden Faerie about how it will most likely be less of a dream and more of a nightmare.

Imagine! A 5 day trail ride in the mountains of northern Arizona.

Away from the snow and the cold... Atop my beloved horse. Trotting through red rock canyons and pristine wilderness...

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

But... what of my butt? 
5 days in a saddle?? 
Do they even make Advil capsules that strong??
And, then there's this.

As my regular readers, oops, reader (Hi, Rod!) knows, I'm still trying to get over iron deficiency anemia. I'm no Energizer Bunny, right now.
Though that's the least of my concerns. I'll just be sitting on my arse. Atop a hard working horsie, hollering ooch, eech, ouch!

* To quote a favorite movie, "I'm '98% excited and 2% scared. Or, maybe it's the other way around."

Wish me luck. :)

24 comments:

OmegaMom said...

I am horribly envious. Not of the sore butt, of course! Be sure to bring layers; it will be cold at night.

Sunflower Ranch said...

Kate!! Fantastic photos!!!! It looks like so much fun!! Those animals are so sweet and the weather looks perfect!! Will stretching at every stop and a nice hot tub at the end do the trick and help your "bottom line" feel ok??? Have a blast & keep taking photos and report back when you return!!! :D

thismngardener said...

Hi-
You have 2 readers now! lol
Have a wonderful time on the trip!!
I love the quote-I may lift for FB if that's alright. Truth is, I probably won't wait for your OK on that.
xox
Jane

The Redneck Rosarian said...

Hope you have a great trip

Iron Needles said...

Good luck! But you will have a great time! I know you will.

(And I am jealous, as I sit here watching the snow.)

Melospiza said...

Oh, good luck! That trip still sounds delightful, Advil and all!

Christine B. said...

You'll need one of those donut thing-eys that you sit on for afterwards. Great for hurting bums. Hope the weather cooperates for you.

Christine in Alaska

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Omega;
I could make you more horribly envious... we're within trotting distance of Prescott. Perhaps I can talk you into joining me next year. That is, if I survive this year. :D

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Sunflower!
Hot tubs? From now on I'm traveling with you! We'z camping. Because riding the horse 8 hours per day isn't nearly enough torture for my hard core cowgirl friends.

Susan said...

That sounds so great! Lucky you! I do feel bad for you. Dont they make a gel saddle? If there is no such thing you should invent one.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hee Haw, Jane! 2 readers is a 100% increase.. if you do math the way I do. :)

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Redneck. It should be quite the adventure...

It's supposed to snow here, too, Iron. Which makes getting out of town all the more exciting.

Thx, Melospiza. I bought a giant bottle of advil for me and the horse equivalent of advil for Megan. (I'm not the only one who's out of shape. :)

Christine that's a fab idea. I'll pick one up along the way. ;D

sweetbay said...

Yeah, that could get a little dicey. Have fun!

Wendy said...

ooh, that's sounds so nice and fun! guess it's hard (literally!)on on the butt though, huh?

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Susan;
I like your thinking! I'm always up for a get rich quick scheme. :)

Thx, Sweet Bay and Wendy!
I imagine I'll be very tired and sore but I'm still kind of excited to give it a go. :))

Melanie J Watts said...

What a great trip ! I agree with christine your sore bum will thank you if you give it a donut thing-ey to sit on at the end of the day. Have a wonderful time.

jan said...

Hope you have a great time! (Maybe the camping will make the rest of you so sore, you will forget about your butt! Just kidding, Advil is magic!)

Noelle Johnson said...

I hope you have a great trip and that your "behind" fares well after 5 days on a horse. Northern Arizona is one of my favorite places to stay during our hot summer :-)

Granny J said...

Do enjoy God's country!

Johnny Nutcase said...

5 day trail ride in Northern AZ - whaaat? that's awesome! I hope it's a great time (i'm sure it will be!). it does sound pretty perfect. Where exactly are you headed? I used to live in Flagstaff and have spent some time doing field work in the Vermilion Cliffs area- i LOVE it so much (trying to convince my husband to do a Phd there...) Have a great time!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

There, there, the Garden Faerie understands. Not about horses, I've never ridden one (and they collectively breathe a sigh of relief), but I have been riding my bike a lot lately, and, um, erm, it's not so much my butt that hurts but the personal regions where the seat makes contact. Owie!

Hope you are having fun!

I'm sure an Energizer Bunny would have drummed its ass immediately off the horse, so it's all good!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate~~ You're going to have a fabulous time. I hope you're keeping your camera close at hand. Recall of your painful arse will fade much quicker than the lifelong memory you'll have of the sights and sounds and smells of the back country.

I hope your anemia won't be an issue.

Betty said...

Oooh, Kate. I feel for your arse. Wait, that didn't come out right.

I have very happy, albeit slightly sore, memories of trail riding in Santa Domingo. Trotting is the worst. Try to post. It helps, and is great for the abs. :-)

Hope your trip is/was wonderful.

Rose said...

I hope by now, Kate, that you've had a great time and aren't too sore. I just got back from Arizona myself, including a day trip to the Grand Canyon. I'm glad I didn't spoil your trip before you went, but if you thought you were escaping the snow...well, I saw more snow around Flagstaff than I'd seen all winter in Illinois!

Hope you are having a wonderful time!