Looking Back on the Cracker Trail

Warning up front......  lots of pictures follow.

I've been back from the Florida Cracker Trail Ride for 3 weeks now and am taking the time to post some great memories.  The ride was a little less stressful for me this time because I knew what to expect having been once before in 2011.  I had a wonderful group of ladies riding and camping with me and it was an adventure that I'll never forget.  Starting outside of Bradenton, FL and ending up in Ft. Pierce 7 days and 120 miles later is a fantastic way to recreate and honor Florida's history.  To share it with my daughter, Jenny and my friends Cathy, Michelle and Christina made it more special.  Another friend, Marilyn, who has done this ride each year since 2005, was there as well sheparding a newbie to the Cracker Trail.  My pony, Stylin, was awesome!  She carried my big ole butt everyday without complaint and finished up looking and feeling great.  The week started bone chilling cold in the high 20's and ended up in the mid 80's.  I had to pack plenty of clothes for me and Stylin.  I clipped her 2 weeks before the ride because it usually runs pretty warm this time of year.  Started the week with her medium weight blanket, switched to her canvas sheet and she ended up naked at the end of the week.  Her short coat made it much easier to keep her groomed and comfortable during the day.  I did practice my whip cracking skills and can now crack two 8 foot whips at the same time.  :-)

The photos following are in no particular order...........   :-)

 Chilly breakfast at Bar Crescent S Ranch

 Stylin loves to scrub her butt in the sand and play in the water

 Christina and Jenny at Ft Pierce

 Frosty morning window

 Bundled up with hot coffee- Christina, Cathy, Me and Muleman

Me, Cathy and Christina cooling off later in week

Parading for the kids at Cracker Trail Elementary 

 Cathy and Jenny at the school

 Yummy dinner

 Gathering at Hickory Hammock State Park

 Jenny, Lumir and Jen-O at Ft Pierce

 Jenny tries out a real Cracker Horse

 Jenny cracks her whip for the kids

 Marilyn and Elizabeth on their pretty mules

 Jenny and Maybe in shallow lake

 Donald and his mini mule Luna - they led the ride

 The kids loved the mini mule

 Michelle, Christina, Cathy, Me and Jenny

 Riding the historic Cracker Trail

 Mr. Bill hitches a ride with Busta and Cathy....Oh No !

 Through the fragrant orange groves

 Parked the horses to have lunch in Ft Pierce

 Parked at local accomodating bar

 Mobile porta potties followed us

 Road riding

 Ranch riding

Jenny, Michelle and Christina warm their hand

More road riding - Elizabeth on left, me on right 

Working the crowd in Ft Pierce after the parade- Michelle and Stylin's son Ranger next to us

Stylin is a good ambassador!

Stylin and Ranger get ready for the parade through Ft Pierce

Video showing Jenny and Christina cracking their whips in the parade

This one shows me, Michelle and Cathy ...you can hear us whooping.  :-)

And this last one is of me and Michelle messing with the whips at camp.... the sound is much louder and similar to a 22 gun shot in person.         HAPPY TRAILS