Alabama beach walk

After college, I spent five years working for a mobile tack shop on the A show hunter/jumper circuit.

Based out of Germantown, Tennessee, our circuit was South, but mostly Mid-South. Alabama was strictly a drive through state. We passed through there on our way to and from the Florida winter circuit, but the only stops we made were for gas diesel and to pick up Farrier's Formula from Life Data Labs.

Last week was the first time I ever went to Alabama to actually spend time in Alabama.

The first and - as it turned out - also, the second. 

Alabama day one was Labor Day. We started the day at an Alligator farm in Moss Point, Mississippi. After feeding the gators and riding an airboat, we left there and drove through rural and then coastal Alabama. 

We went up...

and over a bridge...

and found ourselves on Dolphin Dauphin Island.

The plan was to see the sights,  then take the ferry across the bay and have lunch at an intriguingly named restaurant in Gulf Shores. The plan worked...

until it didn't.

At that point, Carol was ready to drive back to Mississippi, but I wanted to go to the beach.

Then, when we got to the beach, I wanted to walk. 

I live in a landlocked state so walking on the beach is a rare treat. Plus, I was seven days into my walking challenge, and I needed those steps. Carol spread a towel on the beach, sat down and told me to have at it. 

"I might be a while," I warned.

She waved me off, saying, "Take as much time as you need."

She's a good friend.

My initial goal was a barely-visible row of houses way off in the distance.

Despite it being a holiday, the beach was surprisingly uncrowded. 

There were long stretches where it was just me and the seabirds. 

I know a lot of people dislike gulls, but I love them.

I always end up taking way, 

way,

way...

too many pictures of them.

Sorry/not sorry.

After a while, I crossed paths with a couple and their dogs. 

I remembered how much fun I had when we took Piper to the beach. I hope we can do that again someday.

Eventually, I got to the row of houses. 

I stopped, checked my steps and decided I needed more.

So I kept walking.

I walked past the houses and kept on until the beach was wild and lonely again.

As much as I loved all of this trip's big events, I also really enjoyed this long, quiet walk. Thank you, Carol, for giving me the space to do that.

P.S. I ended the day with 21,333 steps. Not bad!

Alabama walk and ride

When I was in college, I spent every weekend with my best friend, Trisha, at her parents' farm in Wellington, Colorado.

We rode horses and talked about our fabulous future horse lives.

That was more than thirty years ago.

Most of her big dreams came true.

Mine mostly did, too, although not in any of the ways I expected.

There is one dream, however, that has so far eluded both of us: the goal of riding a horse in all fifty states.

I'd mostly forgotten about this, at least until it came up a year or two ago, during one of our occasional dinners.

Trisha's list is far more complete than mine. She might actually make it. I definitely will not. I'm fine with that, but also, I plan to go down fighting. When I visit a state I haven't ridden, I make an effort to find a horse.

Last week, I visited three states I haven't ridden in: Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. There wasn't time, money or, frankly, desire to rent a horse in all three of them, so I chose Alabama, mostly because it's the one I'm least likely to go back to.

It was surprisingly difficult to find a stable in the Mobile area that could accommodate us. In fact, it ended up being a choice of one. Fortunately, one was all we needed, so on Tuesday morning we got bright and early and drove to Lake Forest Stables in Daphne, Alabama.

Carol had decided not to ride, so there was only one horse - a cute bay gelding with one blue eye - saddled up when arrived.

Carol took pictures of Outlaw and I while I waited for the guide to tack up her horse.

I don't usually ride with tennis shoes and no helmet, but when I do, you can bet I'm in Alabama.

She never did. 

It turns out this was a walk and ride.

I rode. 

She walked.

It was kind of weird, but not in an unpleasant way.

We rode and walked for about an hour. 

The scenery was gorgeous, and the conversation flowed easily.

You never know what you're going to get when you book a rental ride. Sometimes you're galloping up a rocky hillside in New Mexico. Other times, it's this.

Not was I was expecting, but still a pleasant way to spend a morning.

And now I've added Alabama to my list.

Which will be the next state to go green? Your guess is as good as mine!