Bow Tie Tour

We were awakened early by the sound of laughter and young archers… 14 cousins were playing together in the early morning light, many of them trying their hand with one’s new bow.

We were summoned to an amazing breakfast a couple of hours later, where we met another one of our hosts families.

See, the “True” family has a “homestead” as they call it, with most of the siblings and their close family all living on property, surrounding a grass field and the big horse barn… The families have 2, 4, 6, and 8 kids respectively and they all homeschool.

Talk about a neat place!

After breakfast we were hurried along by a group of the kids, BACK to the barn where they had horses saddled, bridled and ready for us to have an adventure on “the mountain” behind their homes.

After going through a couple of sets of gates, it was immediately evident that we were REALLY in Wyoming, the sky seemed to open up as we climbed the hillside and the “homestead” shrunk beneath us. Everything is so BIG out West!

Another thing became very apparent too… These kids could ride! I grew up on and around horses, but it seems that I’ve lost a lot of it since these guys could EASILY ride circles around me, BAREBACK even though I was in a saddle.

Really cool to see actually

Here’s a shot of the whole gang, with Ethan (briefly) in the lead.

Ethan’s unique riding style of “oooooh Lordy, I’m gonna go fast!”

Though I didn’t bring any kind of telephoto lens, I was able to capture two of the MANY antelope we saw as we journeyed across their 160 acre play area.

Checking out the neighbors new place…

I handed the camera over to Ethan so he could show off my use of riding boots…. They make for unique tan lines

Hard Lean…

Perspective…

After returning, we spent the rest of the afternoon just lazing around a bit… Ethan spent the majority of it catching up with his lovely fiance on the phone.

I spent my time writing on this blog, working, and drinking far too much Arizona Green Tea (great stuff!)

In the early evening our slothfulness was interrupted by a call to help carry dinner over to the barn where most of the family would be joining us to find out who these crazy motorcyclists were.

What a dinner it was!!

There was so much steak that there was actually LEFTOVERS even with over 20 people eating. I can’t remember a time when I stuffed myself so completely, it was lovely!

The kids table (How cute are they?):

Oh man, I almost forgot to mention… Just before dinner, Ethan and I went out to the store to pick up some drinks. Rather than ride the bikes, we were told to take “The Suburban”

Something odd about that truck, isn’t there?
When we got out at the store, I turned around and started laughing… It was hanging over a parking space and a half and looking completely out of place. But hey, it has enough seats for their 6 kids!
After dinner, we headed out to one of the houses, where we sat on the front porch to watch the sun go down and discuss things like homeschooling, calvinism, family, and business… Great times!
This flag pole sits near the middle of the homestead:

We decided to meet with the two brothers in the morning, and headed off to bed.