Coquina Beach

After a good night's sleep in Rachel's comfortable guest quarters, I woke up Monday morning ready to ride.

We ate breakfast and headed outside to load up the horses.

Once that was done, we drove over one bridge to North Carolina's famed Outer Banks. We unloaded the horses and saddled up.

This time, I was riding Emma's sweet mare, Ember.

Rachel rode Pebbles,

and we were joined by Rachel's friend, Beth, who was mounted on her handsome young Quarter Horse, Hooey.

Next stop, the beach!

We rode up a little hill,

and there it was.

Of course, I had to ride right up to the ocean.

I stopped where the sand was wet, and let the water come to me.

This never gets old.

Located eight miles south of Nags Head, Coquina Beach is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

As a result, the beach is completely free of commercial development. It's just sand and surf, hedged by dunes and seagrasses.

Both cars and horses are allowed, and we did pass by a few vehicles.

Mostly, however, we had the place to ourselves.

We rode along, sometimes in a group...

and sometimes spaced out.

We dipped into the waves...

and rode up next to the dunes.

We talked...

and we were quiet.

I took lots of photos.

So many.

Basically, this was a perfect ride.

The skies were threatening when we turned back, but no rain fell. 

Truly, it was perfect.

As we neared the parking lot, I stopped Ember...

and took one last "between the ears" photo of the ocean.

Then we rode up and over the little hill...

and back to the trailer.

Uwharrie was wonderful, but this is why I came to North Carolina. Thank you, thank you, Rachel and Ember! That was such a perfect ride.