Gutierrez Canyon Super Bowl Sunday Ride

Another amazing winter ride!! This is how we spent Super Bowl Sunday!

Apache all saddled up, ready to go.






 This time we headed out into Gutierrez Canyon with Sandy, Abby and Bob. Bob was riding his mountain bike, but would be hanging out with us for most of the ride.
Here he is holding Cisco, the donkey, whom Sandy would be ponying behind her horse.

Apache and I led the ride for most of the day.

Between the ears of a beautiful trail.

Abby, Sandy and Bob...we had ourselves a little parade!

 

I love the way the sun filters through the trees.

Trail Selfie...yes, it was a bit cold and windy! But my ears and neck were especially toasty.

Bringing up the rear with the beautiful Sandia Mountains as their backdrop.

The scrub oak provided a bit of rusty color.

Abby is such a little horse girl...she smiles all day!

Such gorgeous and interesting trails at Gutierrez Canyon Open Space.

My Happy Trail Selfie!

Here comes the parade!

Sandy with Abby bringing up the rear on their handsome gaited horses.

I will never tire of this lovely view!

Heading back towards the trailhead, you know you're close when you can smell BBQ. Ribs Restaurant is right beside the trailhead parking area!

Abby took this wonderful photo of Apache and I post-ride. I love it!

What a great way to spend Super Bowl Sunday!

Life is Good!!

Gutierrez Canyon January Ride

My riding companion Judith and I decided to ride at Gutierrez Canyon on a January Day. It had snowed a few days earlier, so there was still some left over snow in the shade of trees on the trail.

Apache and I out in front.

Judith and Bucket out in front with the Sandia Mountains in the distance.

It was a cold and windy day, but in the sunshine it was warmer and among the trees, less windy. We wore quite a few layers to stay warm.

I was wearing five layers, along with my fleece ear wrap to keep my ears protected from the cold wind.

Apache was amazing as usual, paying attention to my right leg on her blind side, as we rode the narrow trails with steep drop-offs.

She and I still love to stop to take in the beautiful views.

Judith and Bucket riding across the stone bridge.

Judith managed to capture one of my joyful moments while riding that day. Even though it was a cold and windy day, we were very grateful to have had the opportunity to be out in nature with our wonderful horses.




Life is Good!!

Guiterrez Canyon Ride

One fine Fall day I invited two riding companions to join me on a ride at Gutierrez Canyon.

My shadow was photo-bombing with a hello in this photo!

My riding companions, Dana and Renee.

A good sign at the trail head.

Gutierrez Canyon is always one of my favorite local places to ride. The trails are so diverse and beautiful.

I love to ride among the trees.

Happy trail selfie!

The trails were built to take full advantage of the terrain, views, nature and beauty.

My buddy Dana and her boy Blaze.

As you ride up to the ridge, the trail opens up and provides peeks of the Sandia Mountains.

And there are several sections that give you a breathtaking, expansive view of the east side of the Sandia Mountains.

I love riding at Gutierrez Canyon!

Riding back to the trail head parking area.

Life is Good!

Gutierrez Canyon Micro-Brewery Ride

I invited two of my riding companions to join me on a ride at one of my favorite local riding locales, Gutierrez Canyon.

Judith and Bucket, Me and Apache, Yvonne and Etta Bay.

The Three Caballeros getting ready to head out onto the trail.

Every year, the Albuquerque Open Space and it's volunteers, build new trails in Guiterrez Canyon, so it's always so fun to head out and discover a new section of trail. The trails have been designed so thoughtfully and are always beautiful with pretty scenery.

The vistas are often spectacular!

And the trails are never flat and boring.

Climbing up to the top of the ridge, Apache and I in the lead.

We took turns leading. I always enjoyed the view of Bucket's spotted bum when Judith led.

Gorgeous New Mexico skies!

Cedro Peak in the distance.

Judith likes to take pictures as much as I do.

We stopped for lunch beneath the tall Ponderosas.

Yvonne.

Judith.

Bucket enjoying some affection.

Apache and I waiting to head out on the trails after lunch.

Breathtaking vistas!

Both sides of the Sandia Mountains are beautiful in their own way. But I love the eastern green side the best.

Riding 'round the bend.

Apache and I just moseying down the trail.

Judith and Bucket across the ravine.

Yvonne and Etta Bay bringing up the rear.

My favorite views! Between the Ears!

And I've got to sneak in a trail selfie, of course!

Here we come!

Lovely trail meandering through the trees.

Riding down into the new trail diversion just built this past summer.

It can look a bit intimidating, but if my One Eye Wonder Horse can do it...so can you!

I even took a photo of Yvonne from halfway down.

Apache enjoying a cool drink of water post-ride beside the trailer.

After unsaddling and watering our horses, we walked over to the micro-brewery next door to the parking area to enjoy some cold beers.

Cheers! To a Great Ride!!

Apache and Etta Bay, BFFs, hanging out beside my trailer.

Notice the micro-brewery in the background. How cool is it to have a micro-brewery right beside the trailhead?!

Life is Good!!