Waterfalls and Pony Trekking

Today I drove out to Pladda Falls to walk the waterfall and enjoy the day.  The waterfall was stunning to say the least.  They are always my favorite things to see and if you can get right up close to them all the better.  This one has an excellently marked trail system, well laid trails, and excellent view points.  To get right down to the falls required going off the well made trail onto a small muddy trail that hitched around a tree at the edge of a cliff (right at the edge, not even an inch away) and down almost a vertical drop.  Hmm.  Mud.  Vertical drop.  I debated the worst case scenario.  If  I slid on my backside all the way down, would I actually fall in the water or could I slow myself down by clutching at passing trees?  Could I look like I meant to slide down the trail gracefully instead of tumbling like the uncoordinated middle aged woman that I am?  And if I reached the bottom without incident, could I manage to climb back up the slippery slope?  Had I been twenty or so, I would have chanced it.  But being older and wiser and having ungracefully tumbled down far too many muddy trails, I decided caution was the better form of valor and went the other way;  half to save me the embarrassment of having someone of official status come haul me out of the river, half to save myself from mangling myself right before a trail ride.   (I have discovered in my 40 plus years that it is never a good idea to mangle yourself if you have other plans that day.)

The trail around the falls was surrounded by blooming heather and tons of wild blueberries.  Wild flowers spread around and huge trees towered overhead.  I actually saw a few fat bumblebees fly into a hole in the ground right in front of me, and some large mushrooms growing around the mossy tree roots looking all the world like fairy gardens.  It was truly beautiful.

After about an hour or so of walking, climbing, and photographing, I got back into the car and rode to Cougie Lodge for pony trekking.  Sasha and Iain Macintosh have quite the setup.  I arrived a bit early, but no matter, Iain was busy getting the ponies ready for the ride while Sasha was just coming in from a previous ride.  Friendly and knowledgeable, they got everyone ready for a two hour trail ride.
I haven't been on a horse for probably six years, but years of horsemanship lessons at camp kicked right in and I found no difficulty riding an English saddle versus a Western saddle.  If anything, I found the English saddle a bit comfier.  Although truth be told, we just sauntered down the trail, no trotting or running, so I can't attest to falling off in less than favorable conditions.
Sasha was a masterful horse lead, managed the trail ride like the professional she is.  I was able to manage my own horse, and the other two riders, a mother and girl about 10, were happy to allow Sasha to lead their horses on ropes for them.  It was so enjoyable to listen to the girl chatter on joyfully about everything and nothing, squealing and giggling over the pony's antics, and just fully enjoying the experience like children do.  We adults chatted with each other while we drank in the scenery.  Oh to live in such a place.  It reminded me of moving to Wisconsin where it was so quiet and beautiful (icky house and poor company notwithstanding).

www.highlandponytrekking.com