DoraMac: Fw: Taal Volcano # 2

We arrived safe, sound, and only slightly damp from our banca trip to find a rather dusty, makeshift, but bustling little ranch with lots of mini-horses and some adorable small foals. The man in charge pointed at me and then at a mini-horse and said get on. The mounting block was made of empty talapia fish food pellet bags filled with sand. I got on "Gabi" the mini-horse and put my feet in the stirrups. My knees made a 90 degree angle, which if you ride, you know is not good. Stirrup way too short. But since the stirrups consisted of two small metal stirrups tide on either end of a rope, there was no way to adjust them. No helmet, no reins, awful stirrups and guides ready to run: I had my doubts. I don't know boats, but I do know riding. In my younger days I would have loved this all, but now I believe it's possible to break parts of yourself falling from even a mini-horse.

Sad but true, this is how I started my trek up to the volcano being

led by a barefoot kid while I rode a tiny horse. The saddle had pretend stirrups that made me ride with my knees bent way too much for good balance. The saddle horn was way too tiny to use for balance. I had no reins and the makeshift halter was held by this kid who just wanted to GO! My poor young guide had actually gotten onto another pony and was set to speed off leading me after him. I yelled, WALK! So he did; he got off and walked which I hadn’t meant at all. Actually it really wasn’t such a bad walk, but I did keep asking if he wanted to ride on back since his and my weight were less than lots of other pairs. But he refused. (On the way down he did ride with me!)

Since I felt a little too unbalanced to risk unearthing my camera from by backpack while riding, this is the best photo to show our route from the boat to the volcano. We came from the shore and followed the path in the center of the photo. A small observation tower is off to Carol's left.