A Month on the Move: Tennessee - Part 1

 Our second day on the road started at 5:30am as we traveled over 500 miles.  Even with just three fuel stops it took 10 1/2 hours to reach Christie and Ardicio's place in Southwestern Tennessee from Anita Alta Horse Camp in central North Carolina.   Our trucks took the mountains well, but we weren't trying to win any races. 

Anita Alta Sunday Morning - LOVE that Starlink! Internet where we wouldn't have any phone signal is a huge deal when you're traveling alone!

Rylie was once again my road trip buddy, as we took turns picking whole albums of music to listen to, something this generation doesn't do much. I picked things like Rumors by Fleetwood Mac, she picked thins like Sour by Oliva Rodrigo. She also worked on crocheting infinity scarfs for Christie and her dog Popcorn.

It's hard to believe she's going into middle school. I've noticed a drastic growth in Rylie the last few months, she is no longer a little kid, she's growing up.

 Christie and Ardicio's Privy Moon Acres was just days from having their horse fencing done, so our horses got turned out with their small herd down the road at a generous neighbor's house.  My horses have met most of Christie's herd, and there was no drama in that much space.  

Callie - Maggie - Jasmine

Our dogs love the cabin as much as we do, and going up the hill really looks like something from a storybook.  

It's Tennessee in July, so it's H-O-T outside, but this huge cabin has plenty of room to sprawl out and relax.  Monday morning, it was actually only in the low 80s, so we rode the horses bareback up from the pasture down the road and Christie showed us around their 100 acre paradise.

We rode an hour or so around the open spaces, through the woods...

... and of course down the red dirt roads.

 

Rob took his wheel, and tagged along. Impressing us with his ability to climb the steep stuff right along with the horses.  I was less impressed however, when he crossed a muddy spot in front of Rylie and I, did a burnout, and the muddy tire sprayed us with clay as a dirt bike would have done.  Christie, Cameron and Emma witnessed this from slightly further back, and everyone burst into laughter.

Tuesday, we found a fabulous taco spot, and Christie found the burrito she's been trying to replace since living in Southern California 15 years ago.  

 In addition to many card games being played, we also spent a lot of time traversing the property in their side by side, always a hit with the kids and dogs.

Today was a pretty big deal, their fencing in the big pasture was completed!  We rode and ponied the whole herd of horses up the road and they got to come home! 

View of the pasture entrance from the barn, with many hills and trees and grass around the bend.

I think our three mares are going to be very hard to catch on Friday morning when we head to Arkansas. they are so happy kicking up their heels in all the open space.