Over Labor Day weekend I flew with Julia out to Salt Lake to take her out to the university at BYU-Idaho. But first we drove our rental car down about 4 hours to Rockin R Ranch in Antimony, Utah. Almost 40 years ago, my Uncle Bob was one of the owners of the Ranch and I came to work there several summers. This was the first Reunion of the old gang who were either workers or kids who came to the dude ranch from California to horseback ride, water ski, and have a great, relaxing summer. My mom came from California and met us there.
Here are a couple old friends I caught up with at dinner. It was so fun to talk to them and see where life has taken them, and also how our friendships and experiences at the ranch had shaped them.
A group leaves for a ride. This is the corral where I occasionally took kids out on rides--though most of the time I worked in the kitchen and laundry.
Some of us went on a little hayride--which broke down and we walked back. :)
Otter Creek--where we used to go water skiing each morning, and often had the lake to ourselves. I learned to ski here, and sometimes drove the boat for the campers.
My friend Camille. We were friends at age 14, and were the breakfast crew. People often confused us for one another. Even at the reunion people thought we looked so alike, which we both found amusing.
My cousin Paula competed in the barrel races while most of us sat on the sidelines and cheered. She did a great job! (Sometimes the horses knocked down barrels, or just walked--or even stopped to drink water from the barrels. :) )
At the indoor campfire Saturday night Julia and I listened to Burns, whose family now runs the ranch. He sang and yodeled for us like the old days--the definite favorite being "I'm a long, tall Texan." I also played the guitar and sang a request.
Uncle Bob also spoke that night--reminding us of his great oratory when he told ghost stories and other tall tales at our campfires.
Here's a group shot of everyone--similar to one many of us treasure taken in 1972. Both Paula and I kept the original photo in our laundry rooms for many years--as a reminder of all the camp laundry we did with her mother on a washboard type washer.
Church on Sunday was such a good meeting. This is just some of the people I knew there. Two men pictured here converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints (Mormon) from their exposure to the church at the ranch. I loved seeing old friends who still held on to the same values and principles that I do.
