Montana II

Today was a day I've waited for all my life. Lynn and I on a unbelievable float trip down the Big Blackfoot River. Amazing scenery, and a true "River Runs Through It" moment.
Picked a target, settled in the dry fly, saw this big shape come out of the green clear depths, and just roll over it. Fifteen to twenty minutes later of up the rapid, down the rapids, left, right, under the raft, finally got him in. Beautiful Blackfoot River Cut-Bow. What a battle.
Lynn did great, caught several as well, including a nice size Cut-Bow as well.
Thank You Girls for an unforgettable experience!
Tomorrow is a full day ride to some high mountain lakes. Maybe we'll fly fish, maybe not. It'll be just us two and a wrangler to show the way.
Love, Dad/UR

W.P.

We had a great day yesterday, rented bikes from Winter Park town and rode down to Frazier, back up through Winter Park all the way to the ski area, then back down to the town center again, all along the Frazier River trail. Everyone had a good time, even though one little tiny mishap! Addison forgot about the brakes, missed a turn, head over heels down an embankment! Luckily she landed in a nice soft spot about 30 ft into the woods! After a little TLC by mom and a cursory exam by Grandpa, we were back on the trail!
Today Lynn and I leave :-( to head home, stopping off overnight to stay with a good friend in Snowmass and see Aspen for a day. Thursday plan is to fire up Droughtbuster and head south for the ranch, clean up, then Tucson, then Missoula!
Later, Love to all, Dad/UR

W.P.

Nice little hike into the Vasquez Wilderness area, high up near Berthoif Pass. Fun day, now got some pizza!
The youngster on the rock says he was born to be a cowboy...

Colorado Trip

Annual trek to Winter Park!
Smooth flight from ranch to Rifle, en route stop at Vail. Gorgeous in the summer time too.

Updates:

Howdy family, updates:

First: a huge thank you to my Sweetheart Lynn; what an amazing surprise birthday party at our home last week-end. The daughters all came down, and was a great mixture of old "East" side friends with good friends from the "west". Me, I just kind of wanted to saddle up old Justice and go to the top of Escudilla Mountain at the ranch, and poor Lynn was pulling her hair out unbeknownst to me. Ashley furthered the threat by allowing me to go to the movies with the Grandkids (finding Dory or something of the other..). So, how could I refuse but to come on down? And, what a great party! Lynn and the daughters had a caterer and a DJ. The pool was busy with the kids and an (occasional) "grown-up", some voluntary, some not. But, No shots were fired, no cars over-turned, only casualty one cell phone. And then, a wonderful brunch the next day at the near by Ritz Carlton. A great way to turn the big 7-0 for sure. Today was not so hot though.....just got my left shoulder plunked for the Third time for an attempt at some pain control.. However:

 Now, from here:

Thursday I'm flying to ranch, Lynn drives Jeep up Friday. All horses shoed Fri afternoon, then we will head for Winter Park for a few days either by DroughtBuster or Jeep...home to ranch in time to get to Tucson then Phoenix for Saturday night to catch a plane Sunday am early for Missoula MT! We will spend a week on Rich Ranch fishing, rafting, bush-whacking on horses into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

  Home to Tucson for a week, then heading for Orlando for a week to see Diane and the local sights with EJ and Jeff and Megan! In August. Whew.

 Then home, and that will take us to early September.

  Maybe TMI, but that's the schedule,

Love to All, UR/Dad

Happy Fourth!

 Just an update: after several blistering hot days in Tucson/Phoenix, this morning's coffee sipped in about 55 deg and a wonderful light rain. The rains have come early this year and as always heartily welcome! The pasture will shortly green up fine, and the lawn, then the mowing starts! Justice looks lonely out there by himself as he's the only horse up here these days w a couple more to come up later perhaps.

 Since the Fourth is actually on a Monday, and work schedules,  this year is proving to be a little quieter than usual! Nice to see the hummingbirds back in their attack mode but w the rain they look a little bedraggled.

Happy Fourth of July weekend everyone, be safe!

Prayers for AD and UR! Hang tough, we love you!

Love to all, UR