Eatons’ Ranch

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July 1. Peggy, Anne Kash and I drove east from Yellowstone, through Cody, Wy. then the Bighorn mountains with impressive views, including a siting of an antlered moose, to Eatons’ Ranch, with a stop at McGraws Paws in Sheridan. Eatons’ is the oldest continually operating dude ranch and the only one that allows you to ride without a wrangler (we didn’t). At 7,000 acres it sits on the east slope of the Bighorn mountains. After nearly two weeks of camping – setting up, taking down, cooking, cleaning, etc. we could use a few days of everything done for us. There were 3 good meals in the dining hall each day. Lots of kids, lots to do, lots of fun. Rides were every morning, every evening and occasional days offered an all day ride or a breakfast ride. Anne Kash’s horse was Weasley, Noel’s was Call, Colleen’s Oreo, Will’s Bob and mine Jeff. The views on the rides were spectacular, wild flowers abounding. The weather was a little cold and wet, but it hardly mattered. They have a “heated” pool (not that warm), a hot tub, a stream with trout (small), a stocked pond (we caught two bass) and you can do trap shooting if you can find the time. Peggy enjoyed Sheridan while we rode.

First day, waiting on our horses, barn is behind us, we are standing in front of the office
First day ride, south canyon
Second day ride, I think this is on top of “chocolate drop” , the hill is shaped like a Hershey’s kiss, thus the name. Noel looks like a horse riding natural in all the pictures, not just this one.. AK is very cold, the top of chocolate drop is always windy, or so they say. I always have binoculars.
The ranch is below in the trees view from Chocolate drop, I think
Heading back, Gunnison’s Mariposa lillies scattered about the path. The few pink flowers are wild roses.

We spent 4 carefree days there, while Peggy planned our route home and got new front brakes put on the Volvo, in Billings, Mt. I should mention a few people we met: AK made fast friends with Lizzie from Tennessee almost immediately, and we had a wonderful, Eaton experienced couple at our table who patiently answered our many questions, Sam and Faith….

Anne Kash with Lizzie, Lizzies horse and little sister. Notice the cowboy boots on AK, provided by the ranch
Sam and Faith, Chicagoans with whom we shared a table

Finally, so we can remember it some day in the distant future we stayed in Pike 9, Will’s family in Stoner, and here are some pictures of the grounds….

The main house, it had comfortable rooms with couches and easy chairs, the walls were lined with photos of the ranch in days gone by, and there were shelves of books in case you forgot yours. The dining hall is immediately behind it, past that is a short walk to our cabin.
This is Howard Hall, where a dance was held the first night, Saturday 7/1. The lawn in front of it was the site of soccer, frisbee and foam noodle fights, boys vs. girls. The outdoor fireplace on the left side of the picture was a s’mores station.
Inside Howard Hall, where bingo, movie night, and Saturday’s dance was held. Lined by the obligatory heads of bison, pronghorn, deer, etc.

We left Wednesday July 5, and took 4 more days to get home. That’s 5 total, it was 6 days to get to Yellowstone. First night a Rapid City Holiday Inn, second night Sioux City Holiday Inn (after the obligatory stop at Wall Drugs, and a stop by W, C and AK at the corn palace), third night Davenport, Iowa Holiday Inn where we met a 76 yo former marine who was out walking two English setters, a French spaniel and a bischon friese. He told us a story about shooting a pit bull which was attacking his four dogs (he’s always armed) and another about walking the north-south length of Yellowstone, last year! From Davenport we made it to Bloomington by late afternoon on Saturday, July 8.

Published by roses2you

We are a seasoned citizen couple heading out on our first sleeper van trip, with our English setter Samwise (aka Sammy). This blog is mostly to keep interested parties informed of our whereabouts and doings.

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