Riding the Pacific coast

We started our adventure before dawn (not unusual for us horse-y types) with our suitcases full of riding tights, 2 pairs of boots (wouldn't want one pair to break a zipper and be stuck), and a plethora of tops chosen for varied weather conditions - we were going riding!!

We arrived in San Francisco, had a great dinner and good night's rest, and then took off for the 3+ hour drive to Fort Bragg to begin the adventure. After meeting the incomparable Lari Shea (winner of the 100 mile endurance Tevis Cup) we set out for the beach on our mounts. Lynda rode Gamay (we were in wine country after all) and Sue was on the palomino, Citron. After some discussion about putting blonde Sue on a blonde horse….(if we got lost, who would they blame?)…. we walked that first day on the beautiful Pacific Coast. But let me assure you, as the week went on we found out our girls (both were mares) were plenty fast and plenty strong, trustworthy horses.

We arrived each morning at the starting barn, made our own lunches from a delicious spread, packed our saddle bags and left. Beach rides left straight from the barn. Field and hill rides started and sometimes ended with trailering. The gallops up the hill were exhilarating, (let me emphasize that these horses were fit) and the views were incredible. Everywhere you turned was breathtaking. Hilltop vistas of the Pacific were below us; the sun was peeking through the Giant Redwoods in the forest; and seals were basking on the rocks at the beach. We covered 20 to 30 miles a day and there were many choices for trails. Lynda and I always chose the long, fast ones….Except for an hour lunch, we literally rode all day.

Ricochet Ridge Ranch Owner Lari Shea

Dinners with the group in different restaurants were relaxing and the food and conversation were great! But the best were Lari's stories. She told stories about how Ricochet Ridge was started and how she met Harvey, her husband, in a bar in Nairobi. One of the women on the ride had been back to ride five times, all the way from England. I asked her if she'd heard the stories all before and she said no, actually some were new to her.

It was Lynda's 4th horse vacation and my first. I fear that I started with the best. We had a great time, great weather and a terrific tour hostess and guide.