SATURDAY

Mom was up and out early again to watch the wrangling. We met again in the lodge for a breakfast of biscuits with gravy, eggs, bacon, fruit salad and cereal.

Then we all went fishing-Christina caught one this time.

At 10:00 we went to the barn for our morning ride. It was intermediate for everybody, and someone else got Sam first so Mom had to ride Zorro. She did OK even though she was scared at first because of his name. She got really attached to Sam and used to him and was not looking forward to trying out a new horse at this late date

Dad went on a more advanced ride - the most rugged trails taken all week. It was well worth the trip as he saw beautiful scenery and a really peacefull waterfall.

After the ride we relaxed before lunch. It was burritos, Spanish rice, guacomole, chips, dips and salad. Afterwards Dad took us kids to the pool so Mom could start packing up our room and then go out on the final intermediate trail ride all by herself.

When Mom got back us kids stayed in the lodge to play while Dad went skeet shooting. He got a few of them.

When we were all back together we had our final dinner of pork chops, cabbage, sweet potatoes, rolls, salad and peach cobbler.

Then it was time for the arena games! Us kids each rode a sheep bareback and fell off of it.

Then Dad, Nick and Christina put their horses through some paces and we watched other families do the same. Some wranglers raced their horses around the arena and Carlos gave each of the kids a ride on Champ.

For the finale they brought out Clementine-a wild mule. The mule does not like riders and runs full speed until the rider falls off.

Dad volunteered to ride 'The Mighty' Clementine. He did really well, staying on for the length of the area. The hard part was getting off, and he hit the ground really hard. (Note: we never actually got a picture of this, so here is an appropriate substitute.)

It took him a few minutes to get up and stand too-we were worried there for a bit.

On the way back to the cabin we came to Diablo and his herd of cows. They were split on either side of the road and none of us wanted to walk between them so the wranglers had to drive up in their jeep to shoo them up the canyon for us. It was kind of an exciting end to a wonderful week!

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