Mom was up before
6AM so she decided to go down to watch the wrangling by herself in peace
and quiet.
After breakfast
we took a van ride to Mystic Caverns to go into 2 caves. Mom felt sick
from the winding 30 minute ride to get there so Dad got some Tylenol
from the cavern's gift shop for her. Christina got a cowgirl hat and
a flag pin, Doug got an onyx crucifix, and Nick got some stones and
silver shavings.
The caves were
really neat. We saw two different caves and saw a lot of formations.
We got back just
in time for lunch. Then we relaxed and visited with other families until
it was time to go to the barn for our 3-hour ride to Busby Hollow.
It started out
easy but got steadily harder. At one point none of our horses wanted
to enter the fenced area that got steep and rocky-so we all knew that
it woul be a tough course!
Our wranglers Taylor
and Beau got us all pointed in the right direction again and we were
on our way. When we finally reached the bottom there was a beautiful
babbling brook, so we had to stop and just look and listen for a bit
while the horses rested.
Going back uphill
seemed easier and the trip actually went faster.
We were really
glad to get back! It only took 2 ½ hours but it was a ride that was
plenty of hard work for the riders as well as the horses.
We all headed back
to the lodge for an hour before the cowboy cookout. This time us 3 kids
rode the wagon and Mom and Dad rode on Sam and Pete to get there. Dad
and Doug kept in touch with walkie talkies which was kind of neat. The
kids got there 1st since Mom and Dad were in the 2nd group of riders
to take off.
We all got in line
for food together to wait for the wranglers to fill our plates with
hotdogs, beans, potatoes, texas toast and steak. It was all really good!
Later we roasted
marshmallows and assembled them into smores and sang songs around the
campfire.
It was pitch black
when it was time to head back to the ranch. The wranglers assured Mom
and Dad that the horses could see in the dark. They were both skeptical
but had no choice since the wagon was already full with the children.
(We all made it back safely.) Christina let Dad know on the walkie talkie
when us kids made it to the lodge-we had to wait for Mom and Dad to
get back to the barn and dismount and then trek up the hill to the lodge.
The 5 of us had the lodge to ourselves so we had cupcakes, hot chocolate
and coffee before heading to our cabin for showers.
