Day 75: Gritty Good - 32km

Grit's at Sunset Farms in Stittsville to Karen's in Kinburn

Today was a good one. Waking up lazily and repeatedly in Grits large comfy bed. Continuously taking 5 more minutes because I knew I could. We had a nice breakfast, the conversations with Grits and Brian always interesting and stimulating. Two coffees later and after a lot of laughs we went to get the horses ready. It was so nice to take our time like that, and really enjoy the company. Uncle Brent came with Catherina and Cecilia and Joseph. We said our goodbyes and the girls walked down the long drive way with us.

It was a hot one, but beautiful. We were expecting rain and packed accordingly, but the sky said otherwise. After being on a stressful bit of highway for 3km we were on quiet country roads and trails the rest of the way. It was beautiful. We saw a snapping turtle, and had to duck some obstacles but all was well. We moved quickly and enjoyed the amazing sandwiches Grits packed for us, with special cheese from Whales from Brian. Mmmhm aged cheddar.

Joseph joined up with us and we had a fun time talking and catching up. He told me about the Tom Petty concert in Ottawa the night before, and we reminisced about our nights in Montreal. The dep we used to always go to, and that crazy night we partied a little too hard and I shattered my elbow. I can't believe that was two years ago. Seems like that almost happened to a different person in a different life. Haven't partied like that in a while. I miss it, but it's okay. I'm discovering new ways of having fun, more rewarding ways.

Like right now, I'm watching my horse roll in a huge long-grassy pasture with the orange sky behind him. It's too magical, and I feel so special I get to witness these moments. Just have this life in this place for one night, and then move on. Watch them flick their tails and wander the weeds and wonder what my life could be like here. What it is here, right now. It's peaceful.

The day passed decently fast, and we were at Karen's just after 5, doing 32km in under 7 hours is good for us. We stopped for fudgsicles and watermelon with some kind strangers. Mostly we were just having fun and singing on the hot road. It felt like a hot summer day, and I felt like a kid with nothing to do but ride my horse and squirt water at my sister.

Simple pleasures. The more you find them, the more there is to enjoy. They pop up anywhere and everywhere if I'm open enough to catch them, be apart of them. It isn't riding across 4 provinces that's amazing, it's the moments, the specific days and conversations that make up this trip. It's how I can feel myself changing and shifting. Learning and realizing things about myself by moving from place to place. Each person we meet is like a mirror in someway. I like to think I'm special but I'm sure that's what makes us all the same. In the mirrors of other people, I see the things I like or dislike, things I aspire to be, or want to avoid. It's like an accelerated way to learn who I want to be and don't want to be, what kind of life I want to live.

One things for sure, watching the horses at dusk in a grassy field will never get old. Swishing their tails and the birds singing their evening songs, crickets warming up their symphony and my eyes growing tired. La vie t'es Bella.