Trips to the HFBar: July 2016

We arrive at the ranch on a beautiful Wyoming day. Starting from Shell Creek Rd; we start looking for Queen Vicky's thumb, then Castle Rock comes into view. Philip and I are naming our favorites ... China Wall, Big Mesa, North Fork, Little Mesa, Frog Rock, Red Canyon, Speedway. Matt's on his 24 hr of being a good sport ... listening to old stories and nodding with seeming interest. Makes us feel good. What Matt really wants to do is go to the corral, be assigned his horse and take off riding. But this is Saturday, no riding in the evening. Our 1st ride will be tomorrow morning.

Yesterday was long and tiring. I started in Lexington, 2 planes later I meet Matt and Philip in Denver ... they came from Boston. Then there's a final plane ride to Billings, Mt. This countryside is so different from any in Matt's experience. It's interesting his observations and questions. Montana is Big Sky country ... it's aptly named.

MC and Steb, arriving from Santa Barbara are on our Billings flight ... so Meet and Greet starts early. Lots of hugs and laughing...they also immediately start telling Matt some of our 30+ years of history at the ranch. Seriously, Matt is a good sport!!! Charlotte & Michael arrive in Billings about 5 mins after us.

We're anxious to get our rental car and go ... trying to get the Little Bighorn before the last tour. And we make it! Our tour guide is a young Crow student from the local JC. His great-great grandmother observed the battle. She was at the creek with her two small daughters when they saw the soldiers. As her daughters ran to escape; they slipped and fell ... soldiers were riding down the ravine, firing. The grandmother could choose to get away or stay and try to save her daughters. She stayed and they lived. This kid was good! He also got our attention when he told us not to leave the walkway because there are rattlesnakes in the grass. I was on tiptoes and Philip was trying to do an imitation of walking on water. We saw no rattlesnakes.

We ate at the Crow run restaurant. Matt and I had the Bear Claw Taco - a huge piece of fry bread; stuffed with meat, beans and cheese.

Spent the night in Sheridan ... think we were all falling asleep between 8-9.

This morning we went boot shopping for Matt ... three stores before success. Perfect fit for the right price.

Arriving at the ranch; there's immediately more Meet and Greet ... Edgar and Tina (NYC) and their daughters and grandkids are checking in at the same time. Margie, Lilly & Kara are at desk ... so it's a busy 5-10 mins hugging and talking.

Steb, StebII & MC are just coming in from their ride ... we're invited for Porch Time before lunch. We're joined by Bronco, Botsy, Mary, John, Peter and Susan.

I have some pic's I'll post once I find a paper clip and can move my SD card from the phone to the computer.

Little Big Horn