Horseback riding

 For our last day in Tahoe we went horseback riding! This was a great way to end the trip, it was very relaxing (for most of us), grounding, we got to see some beautiful views, and the overall experience was amazing. 

I'm not someone who goes horseback riding very often, this was the first time I've done it in a couple of years and whenever I do go horseback riding there is normally a person guiding me, I'm never left on my own to "drive" the horse. 

I was a bit nervous going into this, not because I'm scared of horses but because they can be a bit unpredictable and they're pretty big too and sometimes when they twitch or sneeze it kind of freaks me out. 

My horse Becky ended up being very sweet though, I'm pretty sure she got annoyed at me several times though. She was walking a bit slow and Jake's horse kept getting too close to her and annoying her, so I would try to make her speed up a bit and that's when she would get mad at me. In the end I learned that it was best to just give her her space, let her take her time, in the end she was the one that knew best and the one that walks that trail literally every day. She does things her way and I respect that. 

The trail was absolutely stunning and our guide Tallulah was amazing, she made the experience so much fun and was reassuring us along the way in case the horse was acting a bit weird, she helped keep us grounded and confident in what we were doing. We got to see some insane views of the lake and it was the perfect time when we went because the sun was already starting to slowly set so it gave the scenery a much warmer and radiant look. 

One Scary Moment, One Powerful Reminder

Facing one of my fears today was something that I did not know I would experience till it did. As some may know I am not much of an outdoors person, but I do enjoy trying new adventures and today was horseback riding. I am a person who has a very strong intuition when trying something i'm not familiar with. As me and my fellow peers were on the way to the horseback riding location, we were all so excited and curious on how the experience would treat us since most of us was our first time riding a horse. 

As soon as we get there we get divided into two groups, one of the workers pointed at me and said i'll be the one guiding everyone besides the tour guider, I was a bit nervous but they made me feel safe with describing the rules in depth in what to do and not to do. The route was about 3 to 4 miles long, during the first hour of our ride, we experienced a scary interaction involving two horses. We had stopped along the trail because our guide's horse needed a moment, causing all of the other horses to stand close together. While we were waiting, my horse's tail became tangled in the reins of the horse behind me. The situation quickly escalated, and my horse ended up kicking the other horse. In that moment, I nearly blacked out of how fast the situation was, I was very tense afterwards my body started to shake in fear that the horse would lash out again, but thankfully the guider reassured me through out the rest of the trail, which I am so thankful for due to the amount of fear I had. 

Facing something that could have quickly escalated into a dangerous situation definitely put my body into shock. Through out the rest of the trail ride, I focused on taking deep breaths and grounding myself while admiring the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. As I rode through the forests, I began to reflect on the fact that I had willingly participated in an activity that carried some level of risk. 

It reminded me of the many times I have discouraged myself in trying something new, only to realize afterward that most of my dears existed only in my mind. This experience has raised my confidence being immersed in nature after what I had just gone through made my experience more meaningful. 

Kayak Adventure

This day started off rough to put it lightly. We went to Emerald Bay at 4 a.m. to watch the sunrise and we had the brilliant idea of not going to sleep at all so we wouldn't have a hard time waking up. At the time it sounded like the smartest thing to do and not surprisingly it turned out to be the worst idea ever. I was running on 1 hour of sleep for the rest of the day, but the view and the photos I took made everything worth it in the end. 

After the Emerald Bay adventure in the morning I managed to fit in an hour long nap and then we were off to kayak. The drive there also ended up being an hour long so I managed to nod off every now and then. I’ve been kayaking plenty of times before at beaches in Mexico with my dad and I haven’t been able to kayak again in a while, so I was very excited. I’ve never kayaked on a lake either so it was a new experience for me. 

The actual kayaking experience was very fun. We got a quick demo on how to paddle and then we were loaded on to the boats (I almost fell). I was partnered with Natalie, she was the captain, and we got the hang of it pretty quickly, although we were out of sync at times we managed to beat Austin and Jake in a race. They then proceeded to capsize their kayak; it was a scene straight out of the Titanic. 

Throughout our kayak tour our guide was giving us a bit of history on Lake Tahoe, I ended up learning a lot of new things. We were all exhausted by the end of our adventure. My whole body was very sore and I'm pretty sure I have huge biceps now. 

Beach Sleeping

At 9am we left for San Harbor Beach. When we arrived it was a little bit chilly but spacious. I desperately needed shade because I was so burnt from the previous couple of days. I was so sleepy so all I wanted to do was lay down and nap. And I did. 

After waking up I started to read Frankenstein, I didn't make it too far in because I was distracted from conversations and the beautiful view. We all walked down the trail to grab some food, I got fish tacos and soft serve ice cream. I was seriously some good ice cream. The beach was so peaceful. I listened to the beach waves, the conversations. I felt the sand everywhere and continuously dug my feet into the sand. I love beaches and especially when its a lake beach. The sand here is more coarse and doesn't stick everywhere, I love it here. 

Connie's Cool Thrift Store

    After not finding much at the local goodwill we decided to stop by another thrift store that we found on maps and was recommended to us by a stranger. As soon as I stepped in I knew this would be a unique store. It was crowded but organized and everything felt in place while still be cluttered- that's how a good thrift store looks. 

    While Natalie did her interview, I got to walk around and shop while overhearing their conversation. Connie was super sweet and her vibe matched the store perfectly. She was excited and passionate and she loved her clothes. She wore a blue braided wig with puffballs, it reminded me of Thing 1 and 2. After admiring her collection I spent $75 on clothes and a bag. I got 2 striped shirts, a large crossbody bag, a skirt and festival short cover up. 

There was a corner of the store with only purple and cheetah print. I had never thought of putting these 2 together but it worked perfectly for what she was trying to do. Another cool aspect was the floating hats all above her shop. She had about 30 hats hanging from clear lines over the entirety of the store. I've never seen a store like that, it actually gave me inspiration for decorating my room. Speaking to Connie and supporting her business was the highlight of my day, I love fashion, shopping, small businesses and cool women like Connie. 

. 

A Ride To Remember

Between the views, trails, and my horse's personality, our ride today was anything but boring. When we waited in line to get our horse, the whole time I was thinking that it was going to be a simple horseback ride and everything was going to go as expected. After getting on my horse, Baddie, I quickly realized that I was wrong. The guides explained exactly how to make the horse move or stop and go left or right. I thought that would be easy. The issue is, Baddie did not want to listen to a word I said. 

I would pull on him to stop, and he would not. Sometimes, out of nowhere, he would start running. There was one point he went to lie down on the trail while I was on him, and I genuinely started freaking out. However, once we got more comfortable together, he started to listen (unless it involved going up to Jake's horse to sniff its butt, then baddie would not listen). 

The views on the trail were absolutely stunning, and there were even points where you could see Lake Tahoe from the midst of the mountains, and that was definitely one of my favorite views yet. 

Eventually, our ride ended, and once we got back, I realized that even though Baddie was difficult to work with, the experience was unforgettable and one of my favorites from the trip. I can’t believe today was our last day! I had an amazing time and met so many people that I hope will stay in my life for years to come! I wish we could stay for so much longer, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end eventually.

Beautiful Water and Even Better Company - Day 5

Dale Dog Counter: 7

Today we visited one of the most beautiful places I have seen during our trip, Sand Harbor. From the moment we arrived, it was easy to see why so many people talk about its incredible views. The water was a brilliant shade of teal, so clear that you could see beneath the surface perfectly, and the surrounding mountains created an absolutely gorgeous surrounding view.One thing that surprised me was the sand. Unlike the soft, powdery sand I expected, it was much harder and different from most beaches I have visited before. While it took some getting used to, it didn't take away from the experience at all. The beauty of the beach more than made up for it.

Although I was dealing with some pretty painful sunburns, I was determined not to let them ruin the day. Instead, I spent much of my time under the shade of the umbrella we brought, trying my best to give my skin a break from the insane sun(with a UV of 11 today, geeeeeez). Even with that challenge, I still had an amazing time. The best part of the afternoon was spending it with my friends. Whether we were talking, laughing, exploring the shoreline, or simply enjoying the view together, every moment felt special. There is something about being surrounded by beautiful scenery and good company that makes even the simplest activities memorable. By the end of the visit, I was tired, a little more sunburned than I would have liked, but incredibly happy. As we began to go home Morgan and I were talking and she said something along the lines of “Everyday is so good, I don’t think I could just pick one favorite” and I completely agree. This trip has been one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in my life and I am so thankful I went a little out of my comfort zone and decided to apply to go on it!!