Cherokee National Forest (WARNING: Pics!)

[AirmensMom]

MissHoneychurch and I went horseback riding in the Cherokee National Forest yesterday. We rode the same horses we had the first time when we rode at the ranch (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7707563&mesg_id=7707563).

The forest was just beautiful. So I just had to share some pics.

Here's my horse, Belle, before we loaded her. (No, she's not my horse, but I called her mine while I was riding her. :D)


This is Cherokee National Forest.








I never saw so many butterflies! Most of the time, they were gathered around the horse poop, but they must have eaten this pile up. :shrug:




MissHC with Dooley and Nugget (the guide's horse).


The guide took pictures of us while we were riding. :rofl:


Yep! That was fun! :woohoo:

[BarenakedLady]

1. How beautiful.

That looks like an awesome day.

[AirmensMom]

3. Hey there!

:hi:

It was awesome. A bit challenging for this beginner rider, but still awesome. :thumbsup:

[MissHoneychurch]

2. Everytime again

... once my back stops hurting ....

I had a great time. :bounce:

[AirmensMom]

4. I hope

it stops hurting soon. :hug:


I'm fine today ... just know my leg muscles got worked, but they're not really sore. I.LOVED.IT!!!1!!1!! :bounce:


:yourock:

[MissHoneychurch]

11. It is pretty much only my back

and my right knee a bit. But no soreness in other parts of my body. And I can't say I feel sore. Just old ...

[AirmensMom]

18. YOU feel old?

:scared:


I actually don't feel old ... more like I'm glad to know I still have SOME muscles! :rofl:

[Haole Girl]

5. Oh.. how beautiful!!

I had to laugh, too, because I was just imagining the smell of that...just when I read your remark about the butterflies! lol :hi:

[AirmensMom]

8. LOL!

:rofl: It wasn't too bad, actually. But I've decided that I do NOT want to be a butterfly in my next life. :rofl:


:hi:

[Inchworm]

6. Lost will love these!

Horsies! :woohoo:

Looks like you guys are having a blast :)

:yourock:

[AirmensMom]

9. Nice horsies, too!

:bounce: :woohoo:

We've really been having a great time. MissHC is a lot of fun! :loveya:


:yourock: too!

[Callalily]

7. Nice hat AirmensMom!

;) Looks like the two of you are becoming quite accomplished horsewomen!

It is so peaceful riding through the woods. I'm green with envy! :)

:hi: :hug: :loveya: <<<<<<< for both of you!

p.s. I'm home sick today. Still in my jammies! But needed a break from resting

[AirmensMom]

10. Oh, thank you!

I bought it in Gatlinburg 2 years ago and actually never wore it before. :D


We've been riding THREE times already ... might go again tomorrow if MissHC is up to it. It's a blast! Wish you could be here with us. :hug:


:hi: :hug: :loveya: back atcha!


Hey, get well, OK? I'm sorry you're sick. :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

13. As long as I got someone else

BUT Dooley ..... even though I have to admit he behaved yesterday and gave me only trouble the one time at the first creek.

[AirmensMom]

14. You could have George.

He's good for the hourly rides, and you liked him. :D

[MissHoneychurch]

15. There is an idea

I only need a saddle that fits me. The last one wasn't right for me but OK for an hour ride.

[AirmensMom]

17. We'll get it right ...

before you leave! :rofl:

[lost-in-nj]

12. Oh that looks like so much fun!!!!

the butterflies are beautiful!!!!
the scenery looks fantastic.

I'm jealous!!!!!


:)


:hi:


lost

[AirmensMom]

16. You know it!

And it's really close to home. :woohoo:

You'll have to come down and try it. :bounce:


:hi: :hug:

[XemaSab]

19. Pipevine Swallowtails!

They go to puddles and poo to get trace minerals.

(There's also some sort of little skipper in the photo that we're not going to talk about :P )

[AirmensMom]

20. Oh, thank you!

There were some yellow butterflies in some of the piles, but I didn't get any pictures of them.

OK, we don't need to talk about the little skipper. He's a party crasher, isn't he? :P

[XemaSab]

21. Skippers are mostly pretty dull colored and hard to identify

Yellow butterflies?

Were they big, medium sized, or small, and did they have a lot of black, a little, none, or some other color? :shrug:

[AirmensMom]

23. Bright yellow.

About the same size as the other Swallowtails. They did not have a lot of black on them and I didn't notice any other colors. I'll look through my pics again and see if I can see any of them flying around.

[XemaSab]

26. Like this?

[AirmensMom]

28. No,

More like this:


http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1439&chosen_state=47*Tennessee


But I'm not sure if it was exactly that. The color is close, though.

[XemaSab]

31. There are a lot of sulphurs and related species

I'm not familiar enough with eastern butterflies to pin it down for you. :(

[AirmensMom]

32. Well, next time ...

I'll get a pic of them. We only saw them while we were riding and I didn't get a chance to take pictures.

But thanks for trying! :hug:

[XemaSab]

35. Thanks for posting the pictures!

The only thing that can give the Western US a run for its money, scenery-wise... is the Eastern US! :P

[YankeyMCC]

22. Excellent pix of the butterflies

I thought they ate milk weed not horse poo :)

[AirmensMom]

24. Perhaps ...

the horse poo is for dessert. :P

See XemaSab's reply above. That would explain it, I suppose ... although there aren't enough trace minerals in the world that would get me to eat horse poo. :rofl:

[Flaxbee]

25. along the TN/NC border?

Were you near Smokemont?

We live about 45 minutes away from Cherokee Nat'l Forest in NC...

Looks like so much fun!

[AirmensMom]

29. Yes,

but we were in TN, near Greeneville, when we started out. I don't think we were near Smokemont.

I think I could get there again. We're about 45 minutes away in the opposite direction. I'll definitely go again. It was a blast!

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

27. How serene! Book me for next year

I am coming too. :hi: I LOVE horseback riding, just need to find a place here to do it. :D

[AirmensMom]

30. Yes!

:bounce: Do come next year ... or sooner! :hug:

You could do it here. We're getting to know the owner of the horses pretty well. She invited us to ride for free tonight, but we have other plans. And MissHC needs to take it easy on her back for a day or so.

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

39. Oh come on, I had a tooth drilled out theday I left

tell her to stop being a woosie and go riding until you take her to the airport!

:rofl:

[AirmensMom]

41. OK, I'll tell her.

:rofl: Actually, we might go today if it doesn't rain. It will be our last chance.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[YDogg]

34. Wonderful pictures!

Thanks for sharing.

[AirmensMom]

37. Thank you.

And you're welcome. I enjoy sharing them. :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

36. Nice pictures!! Thanks for sharing them.

Looks like you guys had a good time. :hi:

[AirmensMom]

38. Hey!

:hi: :hug:

We had a great time ... and are still having a great time for a few more days. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

40. Yeah,

I keep looking at the calendar and wishing ....and hoping... and then reality hits x(

hugs to all :grouphug:

[AirmensMom]

42. Awww ...

:cry: We were wishing and hoping too.

You're always welcome, you know. :hug: