The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
[Gilbert K. Chesterton]
I’m sure it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how little time I’ve spent at home this summer, but I have felt the need to get away (and give myself room to breathe). A friend of mine had plans to go to Colorado for a few weeks to spend some dedicated time training a few of her horses, so I decided to tag along and go on a road trip with my friend, three horses and a dog.
Going on the road with her sometime and seeing what it’s like to travel with horses is something I’ve always had an interest in doing, so I was excited for the opportunity. We had some touristy plans and only one of our ideas panned out, but I still had a lot of fun living on a ranch for a few weeks. I also had plenty of time to get some work done and it felt nice to have some dedicated work time. When I’ve been home there’s been so much activity that I was starting to feel like I was behind on some things. (Like this post on essential oils, in which most of the photos were taken in the living quarters of the horse trailer while we were in Colorado.)
I’ll definitely share about what we did soon, but for now, here are some of the everyday moments during our trip. (Also, be sure to stick around for an exciting giveaway at the end!)
Ever since I first saw this in my friend’s truck, I’ve loved it and thought it was beautiful. And then I heard the story behind it. It was created by a woman named Roxine. She had breast cancer and as a result of treatment, had trouble sleeping. She started to create these horses at night from a single strand of wire. As the daughter and granddaughter of breast cancer survivors, stories like this always touch my heart. Her website is called Nightmares, if you’re interested in taking a look.
On our way to Colorado we spent the night at a horse hotel in Nebraska. The next morning I stepped out of the trailer to get my water bottle from the truck and when I opened the door I saw this. I went back in for my phone.
Our first night in Colorado we stopped at Johnson’s Corner for dinner, which is a well-known truck stop, apparently. I’ll say I wasn’t incredibly impressed by what I ordered, but the cookie we shared after dinner was fantastic (and HUGE!) and I’m kind of disappointed we didn’t get back to grab a donut.
In Colorado Minnie graciously welcomed some guests into her midst for a few weeks and tolerated Sophie.
My phone is always filled with pictures of the sky, whether I’m in Ottawa, on the road to Colorado, or at home.
An old fashioned to celebrate my friend’s birthday.
Some of you might remember Taz from my Instagram and Snapchat. This is his brother Pip.
This was right before we hopped in the truck to leave Iowa (our stop for the night when we returned) and head home.
One travels to run away from routine, that dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm.
[Ella Maillart]
Why do you travel? I’d love to know, so let me know in the comments below.
AND…. I have a giveaway for you!
I’m so happy to be able to team up with Kristin from The Peculiar Treasure and some other fabulous ladies for an awesome giveaway in honor of The Peculiar Treasure turning 3! Go read Kristin’s post about her blog’s birthday and enter the giveaway below!
The giveaway is open to those who live in the US and Canada only.
Such beautiful pictures, from the skyline to that gorgeous pup! I love it!
Thanks, Beth! The skyline was so pretty! And so is Miss Sophie. š
I love these photos!! They’re so gorgeous and so crisp! Also, your dog is adorable <3
Thank you! I enjoyed having some time to play around with my camera again.
And thanks! The dog in these photos is my friend’s dog. She’s a cutie! She’s such a character, too.
Looks like a fun trip– and at least your dog isn’t terrified of cameras. I would love to win!
~ http://viabella-thebeautifullife.blogspot.com/
It was! And no, she isn’t! The dog in these photos was my friend’s dog and she totally didn’t mind being in front of a camera! š
I am loving all of your photos–sounds like it was a great trip away! I’d love to travel with animals, too! didn’t know horse hotels existed… Now I want to find one š Thanks so much for sharing and hope you enjoyed some change of scenery (PS: i take sky pics all the time, too. They are some of my favorites!)
Thanks Charlotte! It really was a great trip! So much fun and so cool to see what goes into traveling with horses. Haha, they do! I’m not sure if that’s the official term for them, but it was really cool. They have stables for the horses and places to hook up your horse trailer so that you can live comfortably for the night.
Great snaps! I love CO but I’ve actually never been any other time but winter to ski. Bucket list…
Thank you! You should definitely go back sometime! It was so gorgeous!
Your photos are so beautiful! My boyfriend and I are doing a roadtrip from Vancouver to California soon, and I’m so excited!
Thank you Chelsea! Your road trip sounds like it’ll be amazing and the scenery should be absolutely gorgeous! Have a great time!
Beautiful photos! And omg, is that your dog? So cute! I’m glad you had a nice time. I travel for different reasons – to explore an area, to relax and just get away, etc.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Thank you Lauren! No, this is my friend’s dog Sophie. My pup probably would have gone a little crazy on a long road trip like this with another (bigger) dog and three horses! š Those are all great reasons to travel!
Such beautiful photos! Colorado is amazing to drive through! I did it last year and the scenery was insanely beautiful!
Thank you Trish! Yes, it has the most beautiful scenery! Love those mountains in the distance and up close! š
Great pictures! To travel with horses must be an amazing experience. The view from there looks amazing!
It was! When we got the horses off the trailer to walk give them a chance to walk around at a rest stop I was thinking, “Never thought I’d be doing this!” But it was so cool!
Old fashioned are one of my favorites! Don’t you love the sky in Colorado. I’ve lived in Colorado for 3 years now and I still can’t get over the sun sitting over the mountains. Love!!
They’re one of my faves too!
I do! I loved seeing how the sky looked every night and, like you said, the sun sitting over the mountains! So, so, so, so beautiful!!
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! My husband and I are heading on a road trip next week and I can’t wait! š
Thanks Christine! Where are you going on your road trip? Have a wonderful time!
Wellington, New Zealand! Thank you. š
Love the photos! Looks like you had an amazing time!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Thanks, Belle! It was a lot of fun!
Beautiful photos! Isn’t Colorado gorgeous? Heading there soon myself!
Thanks Becca! It is! I loved it! I hope you have a great time!
LOVE ALL THE PHOTOS! Looks like y’all had a great time! I want to travel with my pup soon! I haven’t been to Colorado yet but it’s on my list! Looks super beautiful and calm. I need a tranquil trip soon. Haha
Thank you, Anali! We had a great time! I hope you get to Colorado one day soon! It’s such a cool place to visit. I’d LOVE to go back soon and see more! And if your pup is anything like Miss Sophie, it’ll be an experience! She definitely livened things up! š
Looks like a great trip! I am dying for our Labor Day weekend getaway. Your pup is adorable.
It was! I hope you have a great time over Labor Day! Where are you going? And thanks! The one in this post isn’t mine, but she’s so cute and sweet! I do think I have a pretty cute dog, too. She probably would’ve gone a little crazy on a long trip like this with another (bigger) dog and a few horses!
Awe how fun! All these pups are adorable! Love the photos!
Thank you, Rachel! I always love taking photos of all the cute pups when they sit still long enough for me to do so. šš
We went on a road trip to Colorado last Summer. Since we live in Arizona, it only takes us a couple of days to get there. I would love to go back!
That’s awesome! I bet you had a blast! I’d like to explore Arizona more, too. I have family that used to live there so I spent some time in Phoenix and Sedona when I was younger, but I’d like to go back.
This looks like it was a beautiful trip. I love all your photos. They’re gorgeous! We are hoping to go to Colorado next year.
Thank you, Rachel! It was a lot of fun! I hope you’re able to get back! I’d like to go back soon and get some more sightseeing in.
Omg I have a corgi named Minnie too! How cute! Looks like you had a great trip!
That’s so cool! Popular name! š
All the pictures look amazing! I love CO! I used to live in Denver and I miss it everyday! ThereĀ“s so many great landscapes through the mountains!
Thanks, Gabriela! Denver seems like such a cool place to live! I’d love to be close to the mountains!
Looks like you had a great time! Your dog is the cutest!!
– Viridianna | http://www.lifestyleinstyle.com
We did! And thank you! The one in this post isn’t mine, but she’s adorable. I do think I have a pretty cute dog, though! š
Looks like you had a great time! Why do I travel? My fav quote explains it all ” we travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
I love that quote! That’s definitely one of the reasons I travel. There are so many beautiful things to see in this world and I want to see as many as I can.
Love all the animal photos and what a beautiful drive! I definitely need to check out your post on essential oils. I have some and never know how to use them.
Thank you Katelyn! Which oils do you have? If you have any questions after you read the post, let me know!
GIRL. Your photography is GORGEOUS! Also that story of Roxanne’s wire horses is so neat. I love that she was able to create something so beautiful from a not-so-fun situation.
Thank you Erica! Me too! What a great way to turn that kind of experience into a beautiful business! I love seeing that horse in my friend’s truck and I love it even more now that I know the story behind it!
All of your pictures are GORGEOUS, girl. The sweeping views of all the mountains, the cats, the dogs. Beautiful. š Sounds like this would be my kind of trip as well, it must’ve been nice to tag along for a few weeks and get away.
Thank you Lindsay! Such a compliment coming from you with all your gorgeous scenic photos! š You would have LOVED all the animals and the views! It was nice to sneak away for a few weeks and be surrounded by mountains and animals. š
Likewise, girl. Thank you for such lovely comments alllllll the time. I’d love to live near mountains someday, away from the city. And if not near mountains, out in the country amongst green space and tranquillity. When I was younger I used to love going downtown, but now, I can’t stand it. I crave the stillness and beauty of green and wide open spaces. I’m so happy you got to get away, it looks and sounds like it was just the kind of thing you needed. š