The Hide Out

After a week of making sure the ranch was safe from Federales; the gang decided it was time to mount up and head to the hide out - China Wall. Good thing ... we discovered some encroachers; who had to be driven away. Got a little confusing at times when we thought we heard some 2 footed Federales ... turned out to be the last 2 members of the gang; still coming around a turn below us. Awkward! Not good to shoot gang members ... this shooting thing ... what with? Think we'll rely on our fearsome presence to keep the Big Horns safe. Either that or watch Federales collapse from laughing. Both could work.

Ice Bucket is a brave addition to the gang. This woman is afraid of heights ... that poses a problem...just leaving the corral. There's sorta no where to go but up. I'm working on a story for the Ice Bucket name. Both Pauline and I protested that gang names come while riding ... not during the cocktail hour. However, Sundance declared "the name sticks" and I'm to make up a story to fit it. So far we've got: riding up to Ginger Meadow, with Bronco, forgot the ice for his gin and tonic; ice bucket wades into a high mountain stream ... story sort of falls apart at this point, definitely needs more work.

Even tho it didn't rain yesterday, China Wall was a little slippery. I didn't mind it as i'm now riding Pine Tree - my favorite - and we take the grades with ease. Interesting both Brooke and Pauline rode Pecan ... a little horse. Keep in mind these girls are all gorgeous legs from their toes to their chins ... but one is 5'4" and the other is close to 6'. Had to laugh when Pauline was ask whether or not she could get off the horse to open the gates; she just hopped on and off about 4 times in 30 seconds. Brooke just puts a foot down and swings a leg over.

Keep you headdown; maybe they won't notice us

Paul - noticing

Burro Buddy

MC & Topper

Skirting a grove of Aspen - MC & Brooke

Sneaky Federale

Those rocks are the China Wall; we're headed up behind them

CWG heading to CW

Made it, China Wall is behind us

Ice Bucket praising Little Joe for bringing her safely to the top

On top of Speedway, looking out towards the east

Beauty aka Sakebomb

Beauty and her dad

Brooke and Trip arrived last night ... minor celebrities in the dining hall. Both worked here the past couple of summers so lots of workers and dudes wanted to visit with them. We're getting the inside scoop about the ranch ... general consensus, little rocky now ... but it will probably turn around. Trip told a story about a couple who complained of mice in their cabin ... about an hour later; one of the employees showed up at the cabin door ... with a cat. No more mice. Philip and Steb II were laughing so hard, i thought we'd have to resuscitate them.

Cod fish for supper ... causing a major stampede to the kiddie bar. Jill and I braved the fish dinner ... surprisingly good. Our hasher, Chris, is beyond hopeless. I ordered spinach, cheese, mushroom omlet. Philip ordered cheese & mushroom omlet. I got ham & cheese omlet. Philip got spinach & cheese omlet. And we were the only 2 orders at the table ... how can this be so confusing.

Lovely sunny day this am; clouds and some sprinkles this pm. This morning was seriously cold; we had a fire going - thank you for dynomite!