Slips Slides and Scary Bits

So a little sad that I am writing this at 0630 on the Sunday that we leave Rainbow Trout Ranch in Colorado after another amazing visit for us with so much crammed in and in which we hope that Rod and Ann have enjoyed their visit as well -- it has been eventful, but more of that later.

So for our last days riding we did a far longer ride that included riding up into the aspen woods to a much higher distance and then back down and through the river , crossing it several times while we came back through the valley to the ranch.

I have had the same horse every day -- Roy Rogers-- and he was brilliant, plus we were colour coordinated as he has a Grey mane as I do, and of course I can remember the Character as well from the 50's/60's so it was a match made in heaven.

Here are a couple of shots of the ride and the ladies but I missed the money shot with ANN.

Ok, so I admit that they could be a bit more dynamic but I have to tell that I missed the money shot --it was one of those moments that you just cannot get the camera out and control the horse at the same time. There had been rain overnight and some of the trails were a little slippery and it is one thing that Ann was concerned about.
Well, we were on the way down the hills and Ann's horse , Redgrave, decided that he was fed up with the slow , careful pace everyone was taking and decided to gallop down about twenty feet of about 1 in 6 hill slope and I am amazed out how she controlled him and got him to stop--Ann was totally concentrated in reigning him in and tell him in a voice that I would have definitely obeyed , to stop.

So no accidents there then and we had a great ride back. I did have our wrangler Colten , telling me that he thought my horse Roy, had ski's on because at one point on a particularly slippery section going down , he kept all four legs rigid and just slid a few yards without moving any of his legs.

When we got back and after lunch we decided to have another shot at the fishing -- well we boys had some catching up to do and below is part of the story-----

Ok so it wasn't a monster but on the Fly I was pleased and big thanks to John who along with James showed me one or two new casting techniques---I could get Hooked--yeah alright poor pun--and along with Rod who caught 2 we were victorious on the day.

but this does not tell the half of it. When wading out into a bit deeper water, Ann slipped on the rocks at the bottom of the river and fell in. The problem was that in the full waders , right up to the chest , if you start to get a whole bunch of water inside it can hold and drag you down and this was happening to her and take her down stream.

Rod tried to get across to her but he had problems due to his broken wrist, so it was left to the Hero of the day James, to get across to her in record time and pull her out and on to shore. Now I did not see any of this and the ladies were taken up to the cabins to get warm and dry off but a real shock to everyone involved.

After this bit of extra excitement, we picked up the ladies and went to see the end of week Rodeo, and got there in time to see the Pony express competition--see below some selected shots--

This is Ann all scrubbed , warmed up and happier although at this time Rod was soaked as was his new camera-- a little tip , if you drop your camera in the water , put it in a bag of rice that soaks up any water in the camera--and watching the Rodeo.

here are the Ladies with their favourite 2 guys in the place--the fishermen, James and John--both good guy's and good luck to them in their future.

So here are shots from the Rodeo---

 This is David , the boss and for the Rodeo , the compare.

 This is the Victorious Green team in Pony Express on one of the handovers.

And this is the other Boss and the captain of the victorious Green Team--the wonderful Jane bringing the team home to victory.

Another great handover.

Below is a shot of me getting the chance to drive the team and cart, something I could not imagine doing in a million years and a real privilege with such an expert as Doug --

We had a cookout in the bar-b-q area by the river but I gotta say that I will never get used to the Smoked steak dressing they put on the steak when cooking them, but it was a really nice final meal location and the chefs did a great job--including Doug of course.

So we came back to the main lodge and they had everyone, including all the wranglers and staff doing a talent show and that was the final scary thing of the day---the thought that we 4 might be asked to get up and do something entertaining---He Shivers at the thought.

I have to say the the sing-alongs were great but some of the individuals were quite amazing --so much talent in such a small group. I think that Charlotte among others would have loved to watch the wrangler men doing line dance in competition against the girls--and finishing doing it all together -- see below--

 

 

 

 

The final picture should be of the Fishing Team and the Boss Doug.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time again, and can only hope that we get the opportunity to come back again if they will have us and we wish the whole RTR family nothing but the best for the future.

 

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