Ashley Family Bonding Trip: Day 3 – OMG PONIES!!!1!!1

Monday, May 26^th

Confused?  Find Day 1 of the trip here and Day 2 of the trip here.*

After our night around the campfire, everyone staggered out of their rooms at a decent time the next morning, and we all decided it was time for some fitness.  Chris and I suited up in running clothes and jogged down the road a bit, then decided to hike near the fence line of the hill behind the Lodge.  Remember how in the Day 2 post, I mentioned that lodge straddles the Montana/Wyoming state line?  Check out the map from our run/hike:

The green arrow is the Lodge, and that's the state line in dotted white.

As we finished our hike/run, we saw the rest of the group heading for the nearby paddock, getting ready to ride some of the tamer horses that belong to the ranch.  Since only four saddles were located, Risa, Dad, Jim, and Leigh rode the horses while Uncle Gene and Aunt Linda followed in the Club Car, opening gates and whatnot.  Chris and I helped** get the group ready to go, then they headed out on their ride.

Leigh on Copper

Jim, about to hop on Tony

Dad with Dexter, not the happiest horse in the world

Uncle Gene moving one of the fence posts out of the way

Our fearless equestrians

The Lodge from the ridge

Aunt Linda, out standing in her field

Watching the group ride off from the Lodge

Relaxing after that "strenuous" two mile run

"I'm the king of the world!"

Chris and I headed back to the Lodge to shower up and change, and we were dressed in time to sit on the porch and read for a bit as the group made their way back from the ride.  We all put together some nosh items in lieu of a formal lunch, then it was time to head out on our daily adventure.

Nomnomnomnomnom

Even the glasses have the brands on them!

Today’s journey took us back toward Billings to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.  I guess the National Park Service changed the name awhile back from “Custer’s Last Stand Monument” to the more PC-friendly current title, although most people in the area still refer to it by the older moniker.  As I mentioned in the Day 2 post, we were back and forth across the MT/WY state line more than once on our trip, and since we had fancy signs on the route this time, we decided to stop and take some photos:

We're in Montana!

But we're in Wyoming!

The Monument was around two hours from the Lodge, so some of us caught up on sleep while others chatted and drove:

Dad’s had a rough day so far, trying to wrangle Dexter

We eventually made it to the turnoff for Little Bighorn; right outside the entrance to the Monument are two amazing touristy roadside shops selling everything from t-shirts to knives to ice cream.***

Chris, talking to his Dad

They also have buffalo hats…

…and tiny teepees…or monster Amy’s!

Eventually, we were ready to progress to the actual history.  In addition to the Visitor’s Center, the Monument site also serves as a veteran’s cemetery.  This being Memorial Day, each marker was accompanied by an American flag, and lots of families were visiting the site.  It was a beautiful location, verdant and grassy, right on a hill overlooking the valley.  Truly, it was a peaceful place.

While at the Visitor’s Center, Risa bought us tickets on the guided bus tour of the Battlefield, which was rich in detail.  I may have dozed through much of it, but I blame this less on the site itself and more on the soothing motion of the bus and the sonorous, slightly Ben Stein-esque manner of our tour guide.****  They did make us disembark a few times to point out the areas where the battle started, where key players in the conflict were located, and where the actual last stand occurred.

After the tour was finished, we headed back to the Lodge for relaxing on the wrap-around porch while steaks were grilled for dinner.  Beer and wine may have been enjoyed as well.  Just maybe.

Chaaaaappppsttttiiiiiick

After dinner, Risa’s sister Trink and one of her dogs***** joined us for dessert and cards, and Leigh and I snuck away awhile to the hot tub for some sisterly bonding.  A rainstorm drove us back inside and after enjoying everyone’s company for a bit longer, it was time for bed for me!

Later!

Amy

* Also – keep up.  Come on, man.  I blog like once or twice a week.  It’s not THAT big of a time commitment.

** By which I mean, I pet the horses while Chris helped with bridles and whatnot.  We know our strengths.

*** It might be a close call between these places and the Wikieup Trading Post, even though I didn’t spy any Yarnicorns in Montana.  Sad, that.

**** Whose name escapes me at this time but whose predilection for wearing brown polyester pants 

will be seared in my memory forever.  In actuality, while we were waiting for the tour to start, we were sitting under a tree, and I kept getting weird itches across my back.  Move forward about four hours, when we make it back to the Lodge, and I realize I have giant welts across my shoulders from something eating me alive.  So.  I blame the sleepiness on histamine overdrive from whatever little mother fraking bug decided I was yummy.  There.  I have a reason to sleep through history. 

***** Which was much appreciated, as I was missing the monkeys by now.