JJJ - Gymkana

Gymkahna Day! This is a day when the kids get to "paint" (literally) their horses and then there are games played in the corral. We did not end up with any rainbow horses or pink horses...rather tame outcome all things considered.

The group is broken into a couple of teams and there was come competition to see how well you controlled your horse after a week of riding - making him walk instead of run, some barrel-weave obstacles, etc. Great time. It was also a good time for me to take a break from the saddle pains (READ: Sores) I had - by now I am quite sure I could do a full split with a gymnastics team. There were no sores, really, but I was certainly sore - like riding a bike after years away. That seat just unnaturally touches you in ways and places that make you uncomfortable....not exactly dinner table talk type of uncomfortable either.

The last game of the Gymkahna games was a scavenger hunt on horseback. into the woods to locate different colored bandanas - a capture the flag type game. Whatever team located their 10 colored bandanas in the branches first, won.

JJJ - High Country & Sing Along

July 30, 2008: More riding. While there is undeniable "pain in the a$$", by the third day, you have largely adapted. The Barkers trailered the horses to an area where we could ride into some high plains with views forever. If you were comfortable, they let you do some cantering & galloping in the open fields. We went to a high plateau at about 6,000 feet where we saw some sea shell fossils in the ground - fascinating. We were allowed some time to get off the horses and just relax and enjoy the views, but only for 15 or 20 minutes. You look around and want an hour or two, and a couple of beers.

On the way down, we stopped in a field of wildflowers for photos. In the evening, we were entertained by some of the wranglers without any shyness issues on their guitars and their singing. That was great. These were interspersed with stories from the family of the history of the ranch provided great entertainment and some stress-free downtime.

While you are there, forget about the cell phone and email. You are in a valley and it just does not work. They do have a wireless web connection, but it is for the ranch and they strongly discouraged us checking into work. At the end of the week, we were thankful for the separation and down time of a real vacation.

JJJ - Arrival at the Ranch

July 27, 2008: We were provided a brief time to get settled in our quiet cabin in the aspens and then fed more food than a family should be allowed to eat. We then had a group meeting where Ernie & Kim introduced us to the ranch hands and the family who would host us for the next week. We also got introduced to the others that were to share the ranch with us for the week - not everything can be perfect, I guess.

Our home this week would be a small cabin in the woods. One bedroom, one bath, big loft, living area and a small wood burning stove. All we needed actually.

Everyone was very excited about what was to come. after dinner, we were introduced to our horse (for the week). I was assigned to Trooper, a large pack horse used to carrying a lot of weight long distances on the back country treks. Good for him as he would have haul my 220lb of dead weight up and down some big hills for the next 6 days. He had an awesome personality - always pushing the horse in front of him with his nose - big hurry to get everywhere. He also had this thing about brushing me close to the trees we walked near as if to drop me, or scratching his behind on a short tree. It was very funny.....