We did something similar, FH. Went to the matched bronc ride in Philip, SD Friday night. The broncs were excellent and made the cowboys look a little less so. Several were from the Calgary string, and really fired. Some very good cowboys bit the dust a little early and others didn't look as good as they can on other horses. Then we drove the hour and a half to Rapid City to spend what was left of the night. That ended an 18 hour day for us as there had been cows to be moved EARLY before it got too hot. I think we are getting too old for that kind of 'fun'!
But, there was a horse sale at New Castle, WY with some saddle horses that appeared suitable for an 'elderly' cowboy. Driving from Rapid City through Custer to New Castle was pretty dry looking, alright, FH, and all along hiway #16 in WY was too. And the horses went higher than 'we' like to pay. So headed south to Lusk, WY for the night. Mix of dry, and nice green areas on that 80 mile stretch.
Then down the road Sunday morning to Brighton, CO for the 'going out of business' after 40 years for the folks owning the Brighton Feed and Supply store. We have attended the special summer sales for many years after attending the last week-end of Frontier Days Rodeo at Cheyenne, so 'couldn't miss' this one! They are wise folks and carry a lot of really nice things for ranch homes, kids and women, especially the books, music, dishes, art and jewelry..........so I had a pretty good time there, too! Finally found a pair of little kid boots with the lights that flash when they stomp their feet. Perfect for an almost two year old cute little girl! Got a couple of books, as those were down to mostly cook books, and I actually realize I probably have a lot of those, considering I don't even like to cook! Brought home some nice western wall paper and borders for very low cost. Think they may work nicely for crafts and a couple of projects I have in mind. Oh, there is a nice saddle being shipped home, too. Will be part of a collection, but also get some use. All I know is, it's a Hamley. Not new. Maybe more info later on that. Most of the way through WY was a little greener than usual, but we also travelled earlier than 'usual for us', by a month. And east of Brighton (maybe 20 miles north of Denver) nothing but irrigated land was green, along the South Platte, which I-76 follows, turning into, or joining I-80 a few miles west of Oglalla, NE.
At Oglalla, NE (on I-80) we spent the night at an older, but nice motel right next door to a SUPER GOOD Steak House. They cut their own meat, grind the hamburger, and sure do cook it right! Then headed north on (if recall is correct) NE #61 crossing the dam at Lake McConaghey (sp is close, but not right), which was just a few feet from running over the spillway, being on the North Platte river which was higher than we have ever seen it along I-25 south of Orrin Junction, WY. It was really booming out the outlet below the dam in NE!
Just a bit north of Oglalla, we drove through parts of the Haythorn Ranch. Saw quite a few mares and colts, and a very good looking dun stud. Lots of their fence posts are 'hedge', aka Osage Orange, an extremely heavy and hard wood from KS. They are maybe 2 or 3 inch tops, an instead of the barbed wire being stapled on, it has maybe # 12 wire wrapped a couple times around the post, over the wire, on each side, I believe, down at an angle to the second wire, wrapped, and down the opposite side to the next wire, and so on for four or five wires. Looks neat, effective, but beastly to do! We probably would have a revolt on our hands if we brought that system home! But the 'elder partner' sure is tempted! The posts are for sale at Arthur, NE, maybe 150 miles from home, for us.
Through NE, the grass looks great in the Sand Hills, and all those creeks and rivers look so good, but that sand sure takes lots of skill to manage well! I didn't look for that old 'Soapweed" barn we've seen photo's of on here in time, so missed it........this trip!
Over all it was a good trip, even if I did work too hard the day we left, getting plants in the ground or pots to keep them alive while we were gone during the unusually hot weather we have had lately. Still a bit stiff, but that's getting to be 'life as usual' but we did have a good time. Time to get the laundry done and get ready for a family wedding in Pierre this week-end! Also gotta get the yard mowed, or the little grand girls will get lost in it by next week!
mrj