Our Vermont Beach Ride :)

With the last post by Susan- and she announced her beach ride I have been overcome with jealous envy !! I have always wanted to ride along the sandy beach and trot in and out of the salty waves... what fun.

Zoe and I had the opportunity Monday (yesterday) to somewhat duplicate a beach ride -- the kind one would have in hills of Vermont. I took SO many photo's - if you want to see more of that ride.. you can read on my farm blog.

It was not our intention to get anywhere near a river when we set out in the morning... but one thing led to another -- we ended up trotting down the Williams Road- where we were going to cross the Worrall Covered Bridge and head home after trekking over the mountain. We saw two signs (very small signs) announcing that the bridge was closed for repairs-- but we did not want to turn back... so we thought, either we can still cross the bridge on horseback or we can find a way to cross the river. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it" was our thinking :)

This was quite a bigger repair than I imagined.. no crossing the bridge - I asked one of the workmen if we could get down the side, but he said- no way.. there is silt fence on both sides for quite a distance. Not to be thwarted.. we turned into some very thick woods and brush.. searching for a spot to cross.

We ended up having to slide down the bank on our haunches, through a barrier of weed type trees which completely curtained off any view of the river... sliding down that bank was a kind of slide of faith.. not sure where we were going to end up. But-- beautiful-- we are in the river ! No way to get out on the other side though- banks are too steep so Zoe had the idea to walk and trot upstream to the Bartonsville Covered Bridge - and probably we can get up out of the river and trot home on that road.

Here's our stony 'beach'

we walk upstream back and forth through the deep water and the shallow... No waves here, but we do have cornfields ! :)

The water was clear and COLD !
The rocks were a bit slippery and the horses did really well.

Several miles in the river and we finally spot the bridge up ahead !

You can just about see that white line spanning the river. This bridge was built by the same man who built the one being repaired. The Bartonsville covered bridge is longer- 151 feet.

There is a nice grassy slope- we can get back up onto the road. We've trotted through this bridge-- but never under it :)

Once on firm ground- the horses canter nearly all the way back home !

We completed a huge loop.. and had loads of fun. I have been wanting to walk in the Williams River with my horse for years-- Also, this ride has inspired our next one... can't wait !!

Now- Susan-- post your ocean ride photo's !! We can compare Maine coastline with Vermont coastline :)