Spontaneous Ride on an Absolutely Beautiful Autumn Day

This afternoon I took a little ride up to the closest local grocery store in a village about 7 miles from my house. It was to be an errand ride to get dog food, laundry detergent, salted peanuts, granola bars, bath soap- that kind of stuff.

After I did the shopping and loaded up the scoot's saddle bags and basket I just decided to keep on riding. I headed up a 2 lane back road between villages and hit the next village over to take a look-see at the new local antique shop that opened last month. I wasn't sure where it was so I did a little cruisin' on Scootie to try to locate it.

I stopped at a gorgeous old Victorian style house in the middle of town and thought that this was in fact the new shop. Turns out it wasn't, but the place was decorated in "country motif" and could have easily passed as an antique shop or bed and breakfast. It was neither.

The older lady who came to the door directed me to the real shop up the road "about a mile" and I pulled into a residential driveway that had a sign pointing to the back. There was a tiny little cottage-like structure and it was decorated in this same country style.

Cute little place, barely bigger than a phone booth from my childhood. No one was there and no one came out, so I browsed a bit and then left, feeling awkward with being on their property while they seemingly were away.

After that I headed out of the village via another 2 lane road that winds along a creek and down through hollers and gulleys. Just a beautiful ride. The leaves are just beginning to turn and it is breath-taking. Scootie was cruising along at 30-35 mph but it felt like 70 on a 49cc. A blast!

As I was going down a hill I looked to my right and saw a bay horse standing in this creek, which seemed odd. I stopped and checked him out and realized this horse had no where to go to get out of where he was standing. Or at least I couldn't see it. Sharp ravine and cliff walls leading down the creek and a fence on the road side.

So I figured he somehow got lost or was stuck. I explored the road and found the next house back and went up there and spoke with the Amish lady who lived there.

She was very friendly and was concerned as I told her about this horse and my worry that he was stuck. Turns out it is their horse and he sometimes got stuck down there! So she thanked me and said she would send her husband down to find him as soon as he returned from the field.

I then rode on and passed the horse and wished him well. Got back home and found I'd done about 45 miles. My groceries enjoyed touring the county too! I only wished I'd had my camera along to take some shots, but will do so next time!