Week 8-10: Our July Adventures

I let time get away from me, but I’m back on the computer to share our July adventures so far.

Arrival Back at the Ranch

I arrived back to the ranch from my trip to visit family in New Brunswick, Canada at 9:30 PM on July 1 after a nerve-wracking, dark and rainy drive from Denver Airport. Waking up the next morning to cloudy but beautiful skies felt great. It’s a joy to be back in the mountains with Mike and the doggies.

Guests and Gorgeous Weather

We had guests at the ranch, so I dove right into helping with meals. They were a gracious group and a delight to have around. The weather has been stunning—sunny and around 70 degrees most days—perfect for making some sun tea!

Fourth of July Adventures

On July 4, after finishing the horse chores, we set out for the day. Little Otis joined us for our adventures, which led us to Twin Lakes.

Then we took a back road along the Arkansas River to Buena Vista (BV).

BV was buzzing with a celebration in the town park called Mcphelemy Park, complete with music and vendors.

We headed home around supper time, well before the fireworks. It was actually refreshing to have a quiet night instead of the constant explosions I’m used to in Vegas.

Weekend Off: Farmers Market and More

The ranch owner’s visit was delayed, giving us the weekend off, which we took full advantage of!

Saturday morning, we went to BV to check out the local farmers market. Although it was small, I found everything I wanted and more: fresh broccoli, kohlrabi, onions, garlic scapes, peaches, honey, and even some fresh vegan pastries.

After the market, we headed to Main Street for breakfast and discovered a car show that had the entire street shut down, with lots of people, old cars, and live music. We enjoyed the lively atmosphere and the beautiful sunny day.

In the afternoon, we headed to one of the ranch ponds to kayak. Milo joined us but quickly got too cold and had to follow us from the shoreline as we paddled.

We also set up the Clam tent again, and I’m happy to report that it’s still standing! This time, we placed it beside the creek but behind the RV to shield it from the wind, used longer stakes, and left the sides off so the wind could blow through it. We enjoyed the tent that night with a fire and no bugs!

Mike’s River Adventures

Mike got on the Arkansas river twice this week: once rafting and once paddle boarding. Rafting was definitely his favorite, and we are so lucky that the manager here is an experienced rafter and took him out. Hopefully, they get time again this summer to go.

Stay tuned for more updates on our mountain adventures!