Monday, November 11, 2013

Was it a dream?

Rough night; up early. My reward? A stunning sunrise, and time to reflect on a dream, a little dream come true.

Ever since our trip with Rick to this magical place, I've campaigned for going back with our horses and riding there . . . without success. My birthday's coming up; I told Rick that getting to go would be my idea of the perfect birthday gift. He checked the weather; it was supposed to rain. But by Saturday night, the forecast had changed, so we put it in our Sunday agenda. I was afraid to get my hopes too high, though, because I know how things go around here. Slow start, other things to be done, early sundown.... And by the time we could actually leave, it was pretty late and we knew we wouldn't have much daylight left. But I was desperate to realize my dream, so we loaded the horses and headed for the coast.

The sun was low by the time we got saddled up and headed down the dike road towards the beach, making the setting pure magic. The wind was calm, the temperature mild; the weather couldn't have been more perfect. My little camera was challenged by the low light and the unsteady position (me atop a horse), and I didn't get any pictures of Lance on his very first beach excursion, but what I did capture is enough to keep the dream vivid in my mind for a long time to come.

Dream a little dream with me, at . . .

15 comments:

thecrazysheeplady said...

WOW!!!! Happy Birthday :-D.

Kelly said...

What a great Birthday gift!!! So glad it worked out, I love the peaceful looking pictures.

Spinners End Farm said...

Oh my.....beautiful! Are you a November or december baby?

Tombstone Livestock said...

Happy Birthday

Mama Pea said...

Happy Birthday! Glad you got to do what you wanted.

P.S. In that last picture, what's that "mound" on the beach?

A :-) said...

Happy Birthday, Michelle :-)

Michelle said...

Thank-you, everyone! (I'm a November baby.)

Mama Pea, it was a dead sea mammal. Rick and Brian thought it was a young orca, but if it was, then death had altered the sharp black and white pattern. I thought it could have been a Pacific white white-sided dolphin....

Sandy Livesay said...

Michelle,

Happy Birthday!!! Now that's what I call a perfect birthday gift. I love all of your pictures. Apparently the dolphin beached it's self. I'm wondering if it was sick.

Maureen said...

Wow, how beautiful... Happy Birthday Michelle! So glad your dream came true!

C-ingspots said...

Glad you got to go!! It is a beautiful section of the beach isn't it? Sad about the baby whale, but it's always fun watching how the horses react to so many different things on the beach, or just the ocean. :) Happy Birthday Michelle!!

Unknown said...

A ride on the beach. Been wanting to do so since forever. I'm sure the mare of my long ago would've loved it. She was an adventurer. Thanks so much for sharing your dream come true. I think I'll put a beach ride back on my wish list.

If the young sea mammal was melon headed, like an Orca, but mostly grey in color, it might have been a grampus, or Risso's dolphin. When young, they are dark grey, but as they get older they get white, mostly around the head. Fully grown, they can reach 12' or more.

Michelle said...

Sandy, it was hard to tell if the damage to the carcass was pre- or post-mortem; it was getting dark and the horses didn't want to get too close. Could have been hit by a ship or a predator I suppose. But I do believe Shelly has identified it correctly; I googled Risso's dolphins with Brian at my side and he agrees that's what we saw.

Thank-you, Maureen and Lorie; it was wonderful!

Come see me, Shelly. ;-)

Laura said...

Looks like fun! I'd love to get Tang to the beach, but my b'day is in January, and I'm pretty sure the pass won't be conducive to travelling with a horse trailer then!! Maybe later...

Sharrie said...

Happy birthday to another November birthday girl. My day was more mundane than yours. The place looks magical like you describe it.

The Dancing Donkey said...

Happy birthday! There couldn't be a better way to spend it.