My dreams have come true!

Big news everyone...I WENT HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE BEACH IN NEW ZEALAND!!!!!

The other weekend I went with some family friends (family friends of my family friends haha) to Muriwai beach on the west coast of the north island.  It was only about a 45 min drive away, during which I got to see baby sheep, and a two hour trail ride.

I stayed in the back to take some pictures so this was our first view of the beach! In front of me is Linda and then her daughter Sara and in the very front our guide.  It was only the three of us on the ride which was perfect.  You can't see it well in the pictures but the sand was black and at times when the sun would hit it right it was blue.

All of a sudden we were in the water! Just after this the guide let me go on my own, meaning I got to trot and canter along the beach!! It was just like in the movies, absolutely perfect! 

After the beach we went through some fields and woods. The guide kept telling me to go trot up ahead and enjoy myself, it felt so so good to be back on a horse! And yes I sadly was sore after I got off haha.

After a nice picnic Linda, Sara, and I made our way to the next cove over, just picture perfect!

We looked at the Gannet's nest for a while- these are big while birds that only stay on that little island and the edge of the coast.  It was so bizarre watching them sit on their individual little mounds of dirt and they never came more inland.

We then took a scenic route to Bethells Beach and we saw another girl just cantering along the beach.   It's very easy to ride on the beach here since there are designated beaches to horses, dogs, and off roading.  

As you can see the weather was starting to turn a bit so we didn't stay long here just look a peek and ran around!

So in the end my dreams of riding on the beach have come true! I had such a great time!

Lately, I haven't been traveling but instead saving my money for my south island trip and Europe.  I leave for the south island Oct 1 but that weekend before I am going to the Bay of Islands (a bit north of Auckland) with a big group of friends.  School work and planning seems to be all I have been up to last week, I guess it's not all fun and games while you study abroad!

Hope all is well with you!

Love,

Michele