Francis says I’ve been off this blog for 3 weeks now and it is time to get back in the saddle.  My excuse? I was side tracked by a REALLY fun girls weekend on the California coast.  Not just a girls trip but a cowgirl trip.  You cannot get much funner.  It justifiable put me off track. 14 girls in total, staying in “The Bunkhouse” at Chanslor Ranch, Bodega Bay, Ca.We rode on the ocean. Me and GQ.  What a perfect partner he was on the trip. He acted as his name implies.Galloping in the sand and photographing at the same time has it’s challenges.  But GQ was steady Freddy.GQ ended up being a loner in his vacation pasture even though there were 6 other horses to keep him company.  Poor boy, all the others paired up so GQ decided to hang by the barn and the other rental horses at the ranch.  He fell in love with a gray one eyed pony on the other side of the fence but it got taken away from him when a new rescue horse arrived and bonded with it with in a few hours.This is Marisa after catching Leo and Highlander. They were being naughty and ran away to the OTHER end of the pasture when called.  Marisa was determined to go for a ride even on a very windy afternoon.  Leo and Highlander have been paired up for almost their whole lives so GQ did not stand a chance to be friends with them.  Here is Kelly the black and white paint in the lead and Easter following.  They too were brats and ran away from their human instead of coming when called. Jodi finally catches Easter and takes her from her Kelly and the rest of  the herd.   Jodi was crazy enough to go for that windy afternoon ride.  Kelly the Paint grazes in the grassy shadows acting like she does not care if Easter, her other half, leaves.  There is Danika the black mare and Smokey the grey gelding to hang with. Unfortunately for Kelly,  Danika and Smokey quickly blow her off and take off together for their own little patch of paradise. So Kelly bolts to the gate to see were Easter went and quickly realizes her only one to pair up with now is GQ.  GQ was in luck!  Finally he got his break. Here he is following behind Kelly like a big puppy dog.  Eyes and ears all bugging out like he does when he is excited.  Jill (Danika’s human) kicks back while the crazies get saddled up.

Caution HOT HORSES.I’m ready when you are.Once the crazies are gone….GQ and Kelly get right down to business. Unfortunately it did not last long.  As soon as Easter returned Kelly and Easter were glued together again.

GQ came to terms with being alone again.  He being a aloof horse to begin with handles rejection well.  As you can see by this photo we are both feeling happy.  This is the meaning of “Life is Good”Partying at the barn started before the sun went down after riding of course.

Starting to feel confident!

The trail boss insisted on butting in with the girls and showing us some of his fancy dance steps.  I had to document, no dancing for me.Later on when the sun went down is when we really got started.And more than started.And more than started.

And ended.
We know how to ride but we also know how to tour and see the sights.  There were oysters to die for.And fine wine to taste.Thank you Joseph Phelps.  Black, red and white.  Bodega Bay Baby T-shirts 🙂And what trip to Bodega Bay would be complete without a trip to the infamous “Bodega Bay School”  “The Birds” were gone but we did met up with another character.And we had characters in our group.

And of course let’s not forget shopping at “The Tides”  for souvenirs and smoked salmon.

Just hanging out at the bunkhouse was fun.By the end of the trip the horses were feeling the pain too.  But Leo takes it all in stride here.  He has the really cool CLEAN blanket.

Is it time to go home yet?

Until next year…….BYE BYE BODEGA BAY BABY!!!