Horses, beaches and crustaceans

Yesterday we did something else I’ve wanted to do for years: went swimming on horseback, by which I mean the horses went swimming and we, er, sat on their backs. Or, in the case of Terry, the horse went swimming but dumped Terry in the water first, so he got to go swimming too. (He wasn’t hurt – one of the advantages of riding in the water, I guess…)

No photos of this, of course, because:

a) we were on horseback

b) in the water

c) as we rode along the beach prior to our swim, I noticed a little crab scuttling along the sand, and it took me most of the rest of the day to calm down after this sighting of one of my mortal enemies. Later that day I saw another small, crab-like creature ON A FENCE. Climbing. OH MY HOLY HELL THEY CAN FLY. On later reflection, I was persuaded by my parents and Terry that this was not actually a crab I’d seen, but, well, I will leave it to you to imagine how freaked out I was. GOD.

Anyway, after the horse riding, we went to Caladesi Island, which was voted the best beach in the US in 2008. Something else must’ve won this year, but we don’t talk about that. It’s the most perfect beach, though, with gorgeous warm, turquoise water and miles and miles of white sand, which you get to by boat even although it’s no longer technically an island:

caladesi

Because it’s a state park, they only allow a limited number of people to be there at any given time, and there are miles of beach, so you feel like you have the place more or less to yourself. Which allows you to do stuff like this:

caladesi-beach

And then we came home and I slipped into something a little less comfortable to drink WINE:

wine

(Yes, I am wearing a hoodie. Because the air con here is always absolutely freezing. It’s actually been a little better this year than on previous trips, but it’s still cold enough indoors to make me have to wrap up, especially in restaurants, where I’m convinced they make it freezing on purpose to get you in and out faster.)

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COMMENTS
  • That beach looks amazing! I'll have to check it out whenever I go to FL next.

    I hope your dreams stayed crab-free that night. And/or that you don't have nightmares now from me just putting the idea into your head. Sorry.
    .-= Hayley´s last blog ..It's a Bittersweet Symphony…wait, no, just sweet right now. =-.

    June 30, 2009
  • Kirsty

    REPLY

    I feel your pain about the crabs, spiders of the sea! I was on holiday in Kenya a few years ago and the crabs on the beach were a kinda white/see thru colour so it was hard to see them but once you saw one the rest came into focus! Needless to say I spent all of 10 minutes on the beach during that holiday. I can't even watch people cooking them on cookery programmes they freak me out so much!

    I realise I have probably succeeded in freaking you out even more so apologies for that!

    June 30, 2009
  • I've never heard of horse swimming before – sounds interesting!
    .-= Amanda Nicole´s last blog ..a mid-summer night's play =-.

    June 30, 2009
  • Amy

    REPLY

    I dislike air conditioning and I always have a cardigan stuffed in my purse whenever I go anywhere in the summer. It's awful at work, where it's cooler inside in the summer than it is in the winter, and sitting still at a desk all day doesn't exactly keep the blood moving.

    June 30, 2009
  • You probably could have worn the shoes to go horse riding. Except for the danger of getting them wet, of course.
    .-= Tracey´s last blog ..An Update =-.

    June 30, 2009
  • Sophie

    REPLY

    Horse swimming sounds epic 🙂 I hate crustaceans too – the other day, I was told they are related to cockroaches or something. Ew!

    July 1, 2009
  • Brigid

    REPLY

    I just found your blog randomly and I love it! You have such amazing clothes and your so funny!

    July 1, 2009
  • I LOVE the shoes – very jealous!!

    July 3, 2009
  • Melissa

    REPLY

    Love the shoes, and as a fellow pale person, wow, you’re looking pretty tan! A/C is always freezing to me. I had to shut the vents in my office at work so I don’t have to wrap up all summer.

    July 6, 2009
  • Juliet

    REPLY

    Awesome leggage on that last pic girl!

    love the shorts too

    hugs

    July 7, 2009
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