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| Castle Rock after the hail storm |
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| Gang members heading to Castle Rock to pay our respects. I gave them pebbles I gathered. |
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| Iconic scene on top Little Mesa |
Saturday, August 10, 2019
More Pics
Lots of Pics
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| Coming in from Rosebud |
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| New entrance is from the side |
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Into each life a little rain (and hail)will fall               |
Day 4, 5 and onward
There's a certain amount of sameness and repetition to our days; as well as the years. We come for the companionship of friends, to reminisce 30+ years. There have been marriages, hard times, babies born, illness, divorce ... we talk, laugh, sympathize and always make plans for when we meet again. The rule is we never say Goodbye.
Ranch life is changing; I'd say the under 40 with 2-3 children, under 10 dominates. The ranch issues radios to mom's and kids. There are few parties and no ranch gatherings so it's hard for new people to meet. This week only the Chandors and Basses gave parties. In the past, the ranch would sponsor a cocktail hour. M.C and I would keep an eagle eye out for newcomers who seemed lost. We met so many nice people.
An aspect i like about the HFBar is that it's a working ranch. They have over 100 head of horses and impressive herd of cattle and do lots of haying. This is a busy place even when it's not full of dudes.
Margie and I spent quite a bit of time talking yesterday. I expressed my concerns about not being the right person to help her with the museum. Encouraged her to continue working with Western Washington U. Later I talked to Pam Platt (she and Landy Eastland) are the driving force behind this fledgling museum) She said the Little Big Horn Museum was showing some interest. I agreed to help review and add my thoughts 'specifically about native women in today's world.
We'll see where this goes.
Always interesting talking to Margie ... the Lexington group booked to come back next year; all 30. 90% of the dudes come from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. And then there is the phrase "they shoot horses don't they?" Bronco was sitting with us when we started talking about the most humane way to end a horses life. I've never seen him look so uncomfortable; given his once held role as head of one of the world's largest banks ... you'd think nothing would surprise him. We did.
Thursday, we had an unbelievable hail storm. It lasted a good 30-45 mins. And then it poured. It wrecked our ride to Castle Rock ... or at least mine. I didn't want to take a chance of the horse slipping. I'm too close to my Santa Fe Sister and Cave Painting adventures. However the girls rode up and added stones to our cairn, remebering TC and Others who aren't with us. I appreciated they remembered and paused.
Ok time for breakfast. Will post pics later and then start packing. Philip went to down yesterday and did laundry. Hooray!
Ranch life is changing; I'd say the under 40 with 2-3 children, under 10 dominates. The ranch issues radios to mom's and kids. There are few parties and no ranch gatherings so it's hard for new people to meet. This week only the Chandors and Basses gave parties. In the past, the ranch would sponsor a cocktail hour. M.C and I would keep an eagle eye out for newcomers who seemed lost. We met so many nice people.
An aspect i like about the HFBar is that it's a working ranch. They have over 100 head of horses and impressive herd of cattle and do lots of haying. This is a busy place even when it's not full of dudes.
Margie and I spent quite a bit of time talking yesterday. I expressed my concerns about not being the right person to help her with the museum. Encouraged her to continue working with Western Washington U. Later I talked to Pam Platt (she and Landy Eastland) are the driving force behind this fledgling museum) She said the Little Big Horn Museum was showing some interest. I agreed to help review and add my thoughts 'specifically about native women in today's world.
We'll see where this goes.
Always interesting talking to Margie ... the Lexington group booked to come back next year; all 30. 90% of the dudes come from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. And then there is the phrase "they shoot horses don't they?" Bronco was sitting with us when we started talking about the most humane way to end a horses life. I've never seen him look so uncomfortable; given his once held role as head of one of the world's largest banks ... you'd think nothing would surprise him. We did.
Thursday, we had an unbelievable hail storm. It lasted a good 30-45 mins. And then it poured. It wrecked our ride to Castle Rock ... or at least mine. I didn't want to take a chance of the horse slipping. I'm too close to my Santa Fe Sister and Cave Painting adventures. However the girls rode up and added stones to our cairn, remebering TC and Others who aren't with us. I appreciated they remembered and paused.
Ok time for breakfast. Will post pics later and then start packing. Philip went to down yesterday and did laundry. Hooray!
Friday, August 9, 2019
Day 3
Lovely ride up thru China Wall. The horses were poky but the day was so nice; it didn't matter. Charlotte and i led ... the gang would be appalled how many times we came to a "Y" and basically she and I flipped a coin. It's lucky for everyone we didn't end up in Greybull. The gang did mention the ride seemed to take longer then usual 2 hrs.
Butch goes on every ride. At 86, coping with physical infirmities and increasing dementia; I'm astounded. He's the most gracious person i know. At dinner he asked me if i remembered a specific ride. I told him i did and he asked me to give him the details. I did. Later he said "that's how i remember it, now that i hear you. But mostly I don't remember; so you're going to have to do the heavy lifting for me."
Philip went shooting with Trip, Emily, Brooke and Matty. Guess he did good.
Cocktails at Seniors, full bar and hors d'oeuvres ... ranch life is so rugged. There were about 30. I mostly visited with Botsy; she wants to bring Bronco to Portugal.
The Rave is tonight; former ees have been arriving all day. The dance is tomorrow night; the G&T is Friday ... there will be no service the rest of the week.
Our own ee, Pauline, arrived from Chicago. Only Pauline could start a training job, 3 weeks later convince her boss to give her 2 days off.
Butch goes on every ride. At 86, coping with physical infirmities and increasing dementia; I'm astounded. He's the most gracious person i know. At dinner he asked me if i remembered a specific ride. I told him i did and he asked me to give him the details. I did. Later he said "that's how i remember it, now that i hear you. But mostly I don't remember; so you're going to have to do the heavy lifting for me."
Philip went shooting with Trip, Emily, Brooke and Matty. Guess he did good.
Cocktails at Seniors, full bar and hors d'oeuvres ... ranch life is so rugged. There were about 30. I mostly visited with Botsy; she wants to bring Bronco to Portugal.
The Rave is tonight; former ees have been arriving all day. The dance is tomorrow night; the G&T is Friday ... there will be no service the rest of the week.
Our own ee, Pauline, arrived from Chicago. Only Pauline could start a training job, 3 weeks later convince her boss to give her 2 days off.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Day 3
The gang split up today. The younger, agile members (those who easily leap on and off their horses to open and close gates) went to Shell Creek. The rest of the gang went to Red Canyon - only one gate which a wrangler agreed to leave open.
We're thinking we may need to change our name from The China Wall Gang to The Riding Over the Hill Gang.
I didn't ride; instead tested out my new trekking sticks, walked to middle ranch. Did pretty well; given the altitude.
Cocktails were on our porch. We're a gang of 14. George told the most hilarious story how he hitch hiked from the ranch to school, Lawrenceville Prep, NJ in 1951. He was 16.
I stopped in the office to take a better look at the fledgling museum. There's emphasis on the Crow woman's role. Margie came by and ask me what i thought. Why-can't-i-smile-and-make-nice? Why do i morph into my sister? Which would be ok if i had her knowledge; but i don't.
Well, it's a nice start; the historical descriptions are accurate but there's no sense that the 10,000+ strong Crow still exist. Women still live communal family lives ... just as women all over the world do. Blah, blah, blah
Becky, I've been thinking the same thing. Can you write something up to give me a start?
Me? Duh? Actually, I've lots of ideas but i don't feel comfortable as a S&F speaking for Crow women. To my knowledge, I don't know any Crow. Have to talk to Lizbeth.
We visited with the Lexington Chapman and Nichols families; they leave Wednesday. Turns out MC's college friend lives in Lexington and everyone knows everyone else; belong to the same church. Again, small world.
MC aka Lil
Botsy
We're thinking we may need to change our name from The China Wall Gang to The Riding Over the Hill Gang.
I didn't ride; instead tested out my new trekking sticks, walked to middle ranch. Did pretty well; given the altitude.
Cocktails were on our porch. We're a gang of 14. George told the most hilarious story how he hitch hiked from the ranch to school, Lawrenceville Prep, NJ in 1951. He was 16.
I stopped in the office to take a better look at the fledgling museum. There's emphasis on the Crow woman's role. Margie came by and ask me what i thought. Why-can't-i-smile-and-make-nice? Why do i morph into my sister? Which would be ok if i had her knowledge; but i don't.
Well, it's a nice start; the historical descriptions are accurate but there's no sense that the 10,000+ strong Crow still exist. Women still live communal family lives ... just as women all over the world do. Blah, blah, blah
Becky, I've been thinking the same thing. Can you write something up to give me a start?
Me? Duh? Actually, I've lots of ideas but i don't feel comfortable as a S&F speaking for Crow women. To my knowledge, I don't know any Crow. Have to talk to Lizbeth.
We visited with the Lexington Chapman and Nichols families; they leave Wednesday. Turns out MC's college friend lives in Lexington and everyone knows everyone else; belong to the same church. Again, small world.
Philip aka Sundance
Steb Sr aka Butch
MC aka Lil
Botsy
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Day 2
Hey Phil; there's a group from Lexington, there at the table with all the kids.
Phil: I saw them at the corral; a couple looked familiar. Thought it was my imagination.
Scene changes to the dining hall … yup, there are the Carpenters … about 30 of them. It's a meet and greet time as word gets out that Phil's at the ranch. He's not a Lexington Phil double.
This is their 1st time here - lots of riding, shooting, fishing and kid activities. Believe they told Phil the Clay's recommended the ranch. It's a small world.
Mystery solved of the wild man who terrorized the kids picnic, way back in the day, Rolph Bass. His son was one of the kids. Rolph brought a wig, wore some rabbit skins over a bathing suit and rode his horse to the picnic grounds, hid in the bushes. Just as the kids were eating he rode thru camp whooping. He comes back to the ranch, changes clothes and the kids return in pandemonium. Everyone, even the kids knew it was a dude, just not sure which dude.
Michael and Charlotte arrive; he was badly hurt riding in a pelaton Sunday, spent the night in the hospital but still managed to get on a plane. No one wants to miss Lil & Butch's 60th anniversary celebration.
Seriously, we're starting to resemble an old people's home. Walking out to the porch, Rolph says "don't go out there; it's an Assisted Living convention - there were 6 golf carts parked by the porch.
My evening ended with a squirrel landing on my head … terrorizing both of us.
Creek view from our porch
My horse Buffalo Hump or Buff
Jill and Emily
Buff is a pretty pinto
Lil
Monday, August 5, 2019
Day 1
Lots of Meet and Greet. Lily was on the porch and saw us arrive; the hugging started. Margie was next. The office is completely remodeled; new entrance; now includes museum space. Margie found the French sign-in card from 1959.
Margie quickly filled me in on who's here, who's coming and who didn't make it ... i.e. Landy and Mary. Suzanne and Ralph arrived from Belgium; she's on a broken leg. Bronco and Botsy, he's not riding. I've a feeling we're part of the geriatric ward. We got up to the corral in time to see Chandors ride out. Greeted George and Jo White ... hadn't seen them in 10-12 years.
Interesting, the head wrangler is a young woman. All the wranglers but 2 are women. I'll be riding Buffalo Hump and Philip's on Ted.
Our hasher is Kendra, a recent econ grad from BC, small world.
Michael and Charlotte arrive Monday; Pauline comes Wednesday. Paulini graduated and is working on Chicago. Steb Ii, Jill, Tripp (Mattie) and Brooke (Emily) are here as well as the seniors. Our table is rockin'.
We had an afternoon visitor; a great horned owl. He was on the branch just off the porch for an hour. Magnificent.
Day was warm, i unpacked our boxes which are stored here. Saves the trouble of hauling riding gear back and forth. Cocktails on seniors porch. Excellent prime rib for dinner. We spent the evening on the porch, talking, listening to the creek noises ... we're both positive we hear TR in the cabin. But maybe not ... Those hunting trophies are gone. I hated them, used to hang bandanas over the antlers.
Ahh, this is the life - good company, creekside and mountain air.
Interesting, the head wrangler is a young woman. All the wranglers but 2 are women. I'll be riding Buffalo Hump and Philip's on Ted.
Our hasher is Kendra, a recent econ grad from BC, small world.
Michael and Charlotte arrive Monday; Pauline comes Wednesday. Paulini graduated and is working on Chicago. Steb Ii, Jill, Tripp (Mattie) and Brooke (Emily) are here as well as the seniors. Our table is rockin'.
We had an afternoon visitor; a great horned owl. He was on the branch just off the porch for an hour. Magnificent.
Ahh, this is the life - good company, creekside and mountain air.
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