Sunday, September 18, 2011

Day 33 Horse and quad bike riding.

We were picked up at 7 and driven to meet our host's bus near Cairns.  Then back up to the tablelands 1000 feet above sea level to Billabong Horseback Adventures and Down & Dirty Quad Bike Tours.  The property is located in the middle of the World Heritage Rain Forest, near a town called Kuranda, which was the inspiration for the location of Avatar.  

Bill and an Irish kid took the bike tour; after a safety briefing and a helmet fitting, we took off in a cloud of dust.  We covered nearly 10 miles of trails, up and down 800 feet of elevation three times, across streams, thru muddy ruts and down a creek bed only to turn around and do it again.  We have a CD of pictures we will post later when we can access it.  The iPad can't.
 
Chris had signed up for a 2 hour trail ride, and got 3 hours, mostly up and down.  We had a guide-in-training leading 2 non-riders and the owner on a ex-racehorse leading me and 2 people he knew.  Many times we let the others walk far ahead so we could canter (really gallop) up a hill after them.  One time Tom said he needed to let his horse loose and we should just follow at our own horses' pace.  What a surprise when my horse kept up!  It was more adventure than I planned, but I did well.  Of course, I could barely walk on jelly legs when we got off.  But it was worth the pain I'll have the next 2 days.
 
 

Trail ends, and still smiling:

1 comment:

  1. Can't wait to see the CD of photos from Dad's part of this day's trip. Glad you got to have some fun Mom, and really glad you are good enough rider to keep up with the owner :)

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