Tag: parrsboro

Single Older Woman – Canadian Vacations – In the saddle: Part 2

July 2022

I mentioned in a previous post, about the strain to my right MCL in September 2021. This injury and the subsequent diminished strength of the joint will play into my adventure at Spirit Reins Ranch in Parrsboro.

I knew that if I wanted to get back into the saddle, at least once, while away, I had to do all the exercises, the stretches, the swimming etc to strengthen my knee before my marathon 2.5 week vacation. On the advice of my chiropractor, also a horse enthusiast, she suggested I spend time sitting on a stability ball, as the positioning of my legs would mimic that of sitting in a saddle for an hour. Great advice! which I heeded.

I found the ranch online, figured I could make it a day trip to Parrsboro, visit some lighthouses and have lunch locally. My suitcase was packed with a pair of long pants, and I had the perfect set of boots with a good solid 2 inch heel that would hold in the stirrups quite nicely and they were high enough that they came up to my knee.

The day beamed bright, sunny and blue skies all around. I arrived in Parrsboro early afternoon, had lunch and visited the Fundy Geological Museum.

At 3:30, I made the 5 minute drive to the ranch. I met the owner and she introduced me to Chester. Karen led Chester into the corral, I made my way to the stoop, mounted it and attempted to throw my right leg up and over Chester’s wide girth. I froze…….I couldn’t do it…….Karen stood there for a minute or two and gave me time to sort it out…..I couldn’t summon the strength to lift my leg that high, without worrying I would fall off the stoop and land in the grass. So, I asked if we could move the stoop to the other side, so that I could mount Chester with my left leg…..Success. My right leg was strong enough to support my weight to lift my left leg but not the other way around…

Off we went, Karen and her horse, the junior guide and hers and me, on gentle gentle Chester. Flat terrain, asphalt roads and open fields, lots of grass, that Chester was determined to chomp his way through. Karen asked if I’d like to extend the hour’s trail to 2 hours – no thank you. I could already feel the ache in my knee.

We returned to the corral at the end of our ride. Now to dismount……mmmmm.. just as much a concern, as the mount…..Karen was not strong enough to support me to help me off Chester. Now what……

Miracles of miracles – Chester seemed to sense my anxiety and very quietly, walked out of the corral and towards the barn, where there was a post used for looping the reins over. He knew…..He knew. Using the post as support, I was able to dismount, but not before Karen took a few pics for me.

Chester – Spirit Reins Ranch, Parrsboro, NS

Almost 40 years after my first trail ride, I think this was my last. I’m glad I got to have one more ride while enjoying the beauty of our other provinces. I’ll be storing those long black boots away.

I thanked Karen, paid my bill and made me way off the ranch. I did it!

Thank you for reading and for letting me share.

Joye

Single Older Woman – Cdn Vacations – East Coast 2022 – planning, part 2

May 2022

The duration of this adventure would be 17 days – starting on the Sunday with the overnight train ride to Truro, NS and ending in Kingston on Wed. Aug 3 before heading home on the train and the bus. Within the 17 days, I would take a trip on a ferry, that I had never done before, I would get up in the saddle again, after 30 years, I would conquer one more beach and I would explore more of the beauty and natural sites in these 2 provinces. Instead of flying back to Ontario, I once again would board the Via for the return trip to Ottawa.

All in all, these short 8 days would be filled with a host of interesting activities and excursions and swimming, eating, driving, wine consumption and sleeping etc.

Following are some of the activities I planned for, based on the myriad of options from all my travel/tourist brochures:

Day 1 – arrival late afternoon, in Truro, check in at hotel, dinner, swim in the pool,

Day 2 – travel day from one province, Nova Scotia to another, Prince Edward Island, by way of rental car and ferry across the Northumberland Strait (a mere 90 minute sailing ). Then an hours long drive to my motel, Lighthouse Beach and Motel, in Souris. My home for 3 days.

Day 3 – While here, I planned to have lunch at Dalvay by the Sea, a National Historic Site recognized by Parks Canada, perhaps a visit or two to some local Lighthouses, a stroll through Greenwich Park, PEI National Park, #PARKSCANADA,

Day 4 -a local touristy day in Souris and a swim or two, at Sheep Pond Beach, a 5 minute drive from the motel.

Day 5 – travel day back to Nova Scotia by way of Ferry, with a stop in to New Glasgow, NS to check out the Roseland Theatre, #ViolaDesmond.

Day 6 – I booked a horse trail ride in Parrsboro and would stop in to the Fundy Geological Museum, there too.

Day 7 – a day spent on Cape Breton Island, to visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and maybe a few waterfalls, that I found from my brochure research.

Day 8 – today would be the day to swim at Martinique Beach! Followed by dinner at a local sit down restaurant.

Day 9 – my final day in Nova Scotia – a day to play the local tourist and explore all the beauty and sights in Truro.

Day 10 – cab ride to the train station for the overnight trip to Ottawa and the next part of my adventure- a 6 day river cruise along the St. Lawrence River from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario.

Thank you for reading and for letting me share.

Come back again, would you? More stories to follow on all my experiences from this fabulous 3 week adventure.

Joye