Trips to the HFBar: 3rd day - We Go Our Separate Ways

After a long windy night - finally at midnight I got that window over our bed to stop rattling - we awaken to a cloudy, cool day.

After breakfast, most of the gang took off on horse back. Jill and I decided to walk Rose Bud. Cutting thru the pasture and up the grade behind Little Mesa was steeper than we realized or it could be the altitude, we're at 7,000'. Fortunately we quickly dropped down to South Fork Creek with all it's aspen & wild flowers. Jill helped me gather sage - which I'll dry and tie into bundles. It took us about 2 hours to walk the trail - stopping once to move off the path and let the Granville Troop go by - Grandparents riding with 10 grandchildren, ranging from 12 t0 6; the parents were riding Shell Creek.

Interesting lecture this afternoon - a local military historian; with an in depth knowledge of Red Cloud & the Bozeman Trail, plus several of the local battle fields. Didn't think it was possible but he gave me some interesting insight on Custer - a subject I'm usually tired to death of.

Believe it or not - these are pups, both about 10 months old. Drinking coffee on the porch this morning; they ambled up to join us.

Philip & C4, ready to ride

Historian, Chris Morton in Ranch House Library

Cocktail this evening at Steb II & Jills - they have Flora's old cabin. I still miss Flora; she was almost 80 when I met her ... she arrived the end of May and stayed until September. She knew every wildflower on the ranch. She could tell me where to walk to find the most unusual flowers. Before dinner, Ian made a short film of the gang for his folks.

Ian & Kim

Ian, Kim & Philip

Mary Carole

Steb & Lindsy

Charlotte

Steb II, Steb, Kim & Charlotte

Dinner was so-so; not crazy about the veal chop. Went up to the corral to watch riders heading out before sunset - some beautiful cloud formations. Think tomorrow we're heading up to Castle Rocks.