One last adventure

June 10
Jeff picked me up at 10am. He happened to also work for a horseback riding company so he offered to go horseback riding. First, I needed some coffee and food. Appropriately nourished we traveled to another part of the island and world I had yet to see, Hell.

'nough said

This small little hut located over the some patch of rock was given the affectionate name of hell by accident and it stuck. Now a tourist trap complete with photo op with the devil, postcards that can be stamped from hell, and even a passport stamp from hell.

It's official!

Making friends with Devil :)

From here we drove up to a horse stable he worked at to meet our hosts for the day, First Lady and Summer. We were going horseback riding on the beach and were going to take the horses swimming. I’ve ridden horses a lot but swimming was a whole new thing. I wasn’t sure how I felt about being on the back of a very large animal out in the ocean. Jeff assured me it was safe and well worth the trip.

Off we went trotting down the beach getting to see areas of the island that few people do. We passed a couple of other horse tour groups, but it was fantastic having my own personal guide. We went through mangrove forests, over to areas looking for stingrays, and even saw a second shoe tree. There are apparently three on the island. I felt my love of the shoe tree diminish when I found out it was being franchised all over the island.

Riding through the mangroves.

On the way back we stopped, took off the saddles and got the horses ready for their ocean dip. My guide, First Lady, was eager to get into the water and cool off. Without a moments hesitation, more on her part than mine, we were diving into the Carribbean waters. The water level rising around us, I could feel her bouyancy start to build and how the waves jostled her and me on her back. I had no saddle, was holding onto her mane for balance, trying not to hold onto too tight to the reigns, and giving my abs and thighs a workout gripping to hold on.

Enjoying my ride down the beach

A small but forceful wave hit us and I was almost knocked off as she dipped to the side. I had visions of this huge horse tumbling over onto me in the shallow water. She could feel me stiffen and pull back on the reigns as I was fighting to keep my balance when she started to make all sorts of noises at me. She stopped, waited for me to get comfortable and made some perfect horse noise, that seemed to me to say, “you ready now?” Taking a deep breath and deciding to go with the flow I loosened the death grip of my thighs and let my legs drift in the current she was creating. I let go of her mane and loosened the reigns. Off we went swimming. I looked behind us and the shore seemed like a mile away with coral reefs spotting the sandy floor. Swimming with a horse in the Carribbean was never on my bucket list but I’m so glad I got to do it. This was fantastic!

Our view from the beach

A successful return to shore and then a gallop back to the stables I thanked First Lady for my guided tour of the island and the ocean. It was the perfect way to spend my last day of vacation on the island.

I had just enough time to shower, pack, and head to the airport. Jeff picked me up and took me for one last tourist spot, the Tower, to see the view from the highest place on the island. A gorgeous view! Now I was ready. I was ready and excited to return to life and creating my future.

One last view before heading back to my life!