The Girls from Snowy River

Posted on by Miriam

Did you know that a horse can see almost 360 degrees around his head. Wouldn’t that be a handy skill to have? They can also run soon after birth, which is pretty cool, at least for a horse.

Personally, I think it’s good to be able to walk before we can run.

For most writers, starting a blog is a bit like that. Baby steps in the beginning, learning the ropes, the etiquette and the ins and outs of the blogging world.

For me, blogging was another way for me to journal my family’s adventures. These days, four years on, the kids are grown up and mostly doing their own thing. Times are changing.

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Connecting and disconnecting while camping. It’s a fine balance.

After last weekend, I couldn’t help reminiscing on one of the first posts I ever wrote on this blog.

The post was titled The Man from Snowy River, through my Daughter’s eyes. and I wrote it when OutanAbout was still in its bare bottomed infancy. At the time my daughter, Tash, was still at school and working weekends for a trail riding company. Fast forward to today and (at nearly 21) she’s still following her dreams.

The three amigos: Hannah, Tash & Kyle

When she invited us camping with her, her boyfriend and her friend last weekend we jumped at the chance. The catch? Could we babysit their dogs whilst they went riding?

We also invited a couple of longtime camping friends. It was a weekend of both relaxation and adventure, filled with all of our four legged friends and, of course, lots of good food and wine.

Roast lamb anyone?
Eggs sunny side up
Dinner and an open fire
Now before you think all we did was eat and drink, think again. On the Saturday whilst our horse riding trio rode off into the sunset we had our own adventure.

Admittedly it was hardly strenuous as we drove the steep and corrugated 17kms track to Craig’s Hut. At the top the views are far reaching and I can only imagine how exhilarating it would be to do it on horseback.

As I wrote in a recent Instagram post, “with a backdrop of mountain ranges and endless horizons it’s no wonder this area was chosen as the setting for The Man From Snowy River …”

Legendary country
A bird’s eye view
Craig’s Hut
Even the clouds and grey skies couldn’t dim the splendour of this landscape. We watched as a helicopter took off, giving some lucky tourists a birds eye view of the landscape.

Hours later, back at camp, the skies opened. Our horse riders still weren’t back but eventually made it, drenched to the bone. Despite the rain they were all in high spirits. Tash’s new horse, Wyatt, proved himself steadfast in difficult conditions and as for Tash, I was super proud of her resilient, positive attitude.

Tash and Kyle at Craig’s Hut, creating their own story

Time ticks by, whether we have a blog or not. Our kids grow up, circumstances change, our dreams change and so do we.

Adventures come and go, exciting weekends fill our memory banks and challenging days blend into lessons.

Lessons from the weekend

My focus has been scattered these past couple of weeks. It’s been up and down. Even though I’m not a horse rider myself, I understand the challenges involved and I think it applies to every day life too, the need to be prepared, sure-footed, of looking ahead while taking one step at a time.

Following our dreams doesn’t have to come with a deadline or time period, but it’s good to set ourselves some small goals and have projects to work towards.

When you’re faced with an obstacle, look up, hold on and get over it. Easier said than done perhaps but sometimes it’s what we have to do to reach our goal.img_6770

Look at the big picture and visualise your dream in your mind. Stay focused on what you want and follow that trail, even if it deviates, there’s always a way. The important thing is to keep moving.

Trust in yourself. And believe.

Just do it! Apparently Tom Burlinson who played the lead role of Jim Craig in the movie was an inexperienced horse rider. He did all his own stunts including the epic scene of him galloping down the cliff after the brumbies, which was apparently done in one take.

There’s something to be said for just going for it.

Love your life, live your dreams.

Keep enjoying the journey.

In light and love

Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride.

“A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart. And wins with his character.” Tesio

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110 thoughts on “The Girls from Snowy River”

  8. I’m so excited to be going to the Man From Snowy River Festival in a couple of weeks😎 It’s been on my bucket list for a few years and the timing is right this year. Your post has really wet (whet?) my appetite for it now. 🐎🐎🐎

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  12. I love the title of your post Miriam. You have again shown your beautiful land with
    such stunning photos and stories about all around you. It must have been special to
    be with your pretty daughter and friends.
    As always you astound me with the fantastic picnics laid on.

    As life moves on I wish you many more such happy and contented days.

    miriam

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    1. Hi Miriam, I’m always so happy to share stories of places I love and I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Yes, it was a very special time away. Thank you for your lovely comment. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. 💙

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  13. What a great family time and an interesting mix ❤

    Finally bought the most recent "On the Road", gypsy wagon looks fun. Main thing is to have goals but be flexible enough when things change 🙂

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  14. When I was much younger an older man, Chuck, taught me to think of goals as optics, lenses. Chuck believed that if you memorized a goal deeply enough, you would soon begin seeing in things how they were opportunities for reaching and/or exceeding your goal.

    I did something strange for me as a young man. I took advice. Chuck’s advice. As it turned out, Chuck was right.

    Lovely post. I want to go camping now. Still winter here, and I want to go camping.

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    1. Chuck sounds like s very wise man. Good advice and words that I’ll keep in mind. I like the idea of optics lenses being a portal to possibilities.
      Have a great weekend ahead Paul. 🙂

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  15. Miriam, a precious weekend with your daughter and her boyfriend! She looks wonderful, a most open and free smile and so pretty! Well done to her for following her dream and congratulations to you for raising such a great daughter! I remember your posts when she still lived at home, as she moved away … memories merge with present and create the future! Your close bond is a testament to the love between you, and you have an even deeper friendship with your daughter to look forward to now!

    Today is another occasion my son (18) is slowly finding his independence…this morning flying to Scotland for a weeknd with his friends! I’m so happy and excited for him and it feels ‘right’! Also, good for me to slowly become acclimatised to a house without him before uni in September!

    A delightful and thought-provoking post that resonates deep within me … even with the challenges of the past few weeks. Hope yours are sorted and settled soon, hugs xx

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    1. As always Annika, your comments spark a deep and special chord in me. I love what you wrote about my daughter, it’s all so poignant and true, and you certainly have a good memory. Thank you so much.
      As for your son, wow, the ties are loosening. Special and exciting times are ahead for you both as he finds his own feet outside the home and you find more time for yourself. My 18yo son is in his last year of school but is still at home. Enjoy this time Annika. Big hugs back xx

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    1. Hi PC, you’re right, it’s been a while since she’s been in my posts, though I have written a few about her in the past. And yes, it was a fabulous weekend, it’s always special creating new memories. Have a great weekend.

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  21. I love the photos of your daughter and her friends and their horses! What a gift to be able to go camping with them all, even if it did rain a bit. And yes, I do believe that horses can teach us so much about life in general and how important it is to keep our focus, even amidst the setbacks that life sometimes throws at us. You are a very talented writer, Miriam, and photographer too. I’m so glad you took up blogging, and hope you will be doing it for a long, long time.

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    1. What a lovely thing to say Ann. Thank you so much and yes, it was such a nice weekend and so good to be all together doing what we love. Always happy to share our adventures, and yes, I think I’ll be doing it for a while yet. Wishing you a happy weekend my friend.

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  23. Great advice Miriam.
    You are definitely living the dream! …
    but, oh dear, now you have made me want to add another “to do” on my own wish list.
    Riding horses in Snowy River. 😀
    Cheers to new and wonder full adventures xo

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  24. Hi Miriam,
    I liked reading about how blogging is like learning to crawl, then walk…I think of myself as a wobbly toddler in the blogging world. I look forward to when, like you, I can go back and read my early post and see how they (and I) have changed and evolved.
    I also like all the analogies you made between riding and navigating life. I did a similar thing with sailing…overcoming obstacles (storms) and moving forward. And just do it!
    Thanks for the lovely post – and now I know where “The Man from Snowy River” was filmed!

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    1. I think sailing and navigating life is a wonderful analogy. So many lessons to be learnt in whatever we’re doing. Thanks for a lovely comment Nancy and happy blogging to you. You may consider yourself a wobbly toddler now but trust me, it won’t be long before you’re up and running like a pro.

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  26. Miriam, I loved your narration throughout this, Seeing your children happy and following their own dreams is wonderful. And yes our dreams often change as we lose focus. But as you said in your wonderful conclusion in your Lessons from the weekend when we ‘trust in ourselves and believe’ we are capable of achieving anything..
    Just so, so love horses, and had a few riding lessons when younger, but would mostly follow my farming friends out on the hills on their horses, in the hopes they would allow me five minutes in the saddle, lol.. Which they often did.. 🙂

    Enjoyed reading this so much and so Loved the photo’s wonderful memories to treasure.. ❤
    Much love to you Miriam… Stay Blessed my friend ❤

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    1. Hi Sue, you’re quite right, as a parent one of the most rewarding things is seeing our children happy and doing what they love. I’ve always encouraged them to follow their passion. So lovely to hear of your own experiences with horses. Must admit although I grew up in the country I had very little exposure to them so this is new territory for me. Thank you for your lovely comments ❤️ xx

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  31. Hi Miriam I love this post and you and I are so in sync with our thinking. I’m a great one for saying ‘just go for it’. I also thought you were spot on with ‘Following our dreams doesn’t have to come with a deadline or time period’, I’ve not visited the High Country but would love to one day. Have a beautiful week! x

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    1. Thanks Sue. I’m in the throes of a huge head cold today so”just go for it” has gone out the window, but only temporarily. Glad we’re otherwise in sync. Have a fabulous and meaningful week. xx

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  33. Happy memories. Happy 4 yrs of blogging

    360 and horse, well i never!

    Yeah life get us scatty at times and i have been there.

    Great photos you have such adventures.

    Just do it…honestly sometimes is the only way

    I like how you said about following dreams with no deadline. I dont know how many times i have derailed .. but still i try.

    Great post as always

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    1. Oh Bella, we all derail. I do it all the time but we just have to keep picking ourselves up and continuing don’t we.
      Thanks for your lovely comment. Hope you’re well and you have a happy week. xx

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  34. I had no idea that a horse can see almost 360 degrees!! I think that are such gorgeous animals. Your photos are so lovely Miriam. I like these lessons. I need to heed some of them. Especially the one about just going for it! It is interesting the journey of a blog. I feel like so much has changed in my life, in my photography style, in my writing, in the look of the blog over the course of three short years. I hope that you are having a wonderful week! xx

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    1. It’s good to look back isn’t it Amy. Sometimes I think the actual look of my blog has remained staid yet so much in my life has changed. Have a great week Amy. I’m in the throes of a heavy head cold so taking it nice and easy. xx

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  36. Loved your post Miriam. We too have visited the high country, with others going off riding, while we explored the huts. What a magic experience, and one I’d love to do again. And I also related to the comparisons you make between horse riding and following your dreams. Hold on, get back on, trust yourself resonate. Oh, and I love all your pics.

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  38. Hey Miriam,
    Beautiful imagery that has been captured to perfection through your lens…and your words simply add to their beauty! It feels awesome to come back to the blogging world and see that you’re doing great!
    Rashmi

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  40. Pingback: The Girls from Snowy River – Vijayagiri views

  41. What a fantastic weekend, your stunning pictures remind me so much of living and exploring up country here in British Columbia (ranch country!), your posts never fail to leave me smiling, Miriam (they’re often exhilarating!) and your daughter is lovely!

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  42. Isn’t it amazing when our kids “suddenly” grow old and start their own stories! But we are still partly part it, as you and your family in this little endeavour. And I totally agree with you that we should all trust in ourselves.

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  47. It’s always lovely to look back and be there in the good old memory. Loved your camp site and the food looks so colorful. I don’t remember riding horses but surely love them….nice post. Love from India.

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  48. How fun and wonderful to go on a camping trip with your daughter, her boyfriend, and friends! I’m always grateful that our daughters in their 20s love to spend time with my husband and me. Special memories! And what great food!😋

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