After picking up Alex’s first fly fishing rod we promptly leave the area where he can fish ready to visit our new friends in Douglas, Wyoming. We met Kari, Sally, Craig and Anna whilst camping near Phillipsburg Montana where we were hunting saphires and Kari and Alex bonded over hunting wildflowers. Kari kindly invited us to visit and we managed to fit in a trip to their beautiful part of the world! It’s a long drive and we arrive about 5.30 in the afternoon, to be greeted by Cooper, Kari & Andy’s son who runs the ranch with Andy. He has kindly stocked their ranger (like a little open air atv) fridge with cold beers and takes us out onto the land for a tour. Alex absolutely loves the ranger and we see tons of wildlife including sawbill cranes, swifts, prairie dogs, antelope and of course cows and horses.
We thought the prairie dogs were cute until we hear how much damage they can cause and that their fleas carry the plague - yuck! Clouds of crickets smack us in the face as we head through the dusty brush. We meet some of the beautiful horses and Alex gets to stroke them and we meet Sally’s (one of Kari’s daughters) favourite cow who is a lovely caramel colour!
They have 25000 acres here so it’s a huge space supporting around 300 cattle. The land is very dry here so you need a lot of space to support each cow! The cows are mostly sold to other ranchers with a few turned into food for the family. The family allows sport antelope hunting on the ranch - they’re beautiful creatures, and cooper tells us about the irrigation system and the beef operation they run.
Upon returning to the farm house Kari and Andy built on the family land amongst beautiful cottonwoods we enjoy a pizza party wih beers and great company of the Gray family and their other guests the Murphy’s who have come to visit.
We’re all up early for a lovely cooked breakfast and off to see the parade for the state fair (so luck we’re here for it!) we have been invited to join the family at Mars’s who has a lovely home facing the street of the parade and is an amazing host laying on lots of yummy food and drink for everyone.
We also get some lovely cuddles with Addison the gorgeous little grand-baby girl.
We’ve got an amazing viewing spot and soon the trucks vehicles and trailers are going past advertising the emergency services, local business and rodeo queens!
It’s very different to parades at home and they all throw out sweets and treats which Alex loves - he even gets a couple of t-shirts, fly swatters and frisbees too.
We’re very proud of him collecting and sharing the treats with the other children but he loves it all! The parade lasts a good hour and afterwards we head down the the fairground.
There are stalls selling various goods, a petting zoo, and most importantly the arena for showing cows and other livestock. There’s even a sheep shearing demo which Alex watches in wonder!
We talk to some of the young people showing to our animals and are amazed by how focused and articulate they are. One young lady lets us pet her calf and goes on to come 3rd in show. We also meet some of the pigs and sheep and find out why despite the heat the sheep are warapped in Blankets and face masks (it’s to protect them from fly strike).
We of course have to indulge in a fruity drink from a cowboy boot shaped glass.
Alex has a go on a bucking cow (well he has to get into the show and rodeo spirit!) and does really well holding on and he also has a bounce on some trampolines with harnesses and beams the whole time!
Alex has a little trip round the petting zoo with Kari and We also have a super quick look in the museum and learn about the jackalope! A mythical creature that is part bunny part antelope and is the town mascot - we keep seeing them around town and Mara even had one on her buffet table to celebrate the parade!
We pop in to see Anna one of Kari’s daughters who is manning her stand for work in a boiling hot tent and encouraging visitors with free ice cold water which we indulge in!
Soon it’s back to the ranch for burgers and brats made by cooper from the ranch cows and they are super delicious! We also meet Jason Kari’s other son who is back in town briefly in between work gigs.
Then it’s bed for us after a brilliant long and hot day. We wake in the morning and after breakfast Andy takes us for a ride on his horses. Alex rides Homer and guy and I are privileged and each have a ride on Benz who is Andy’s horse. They are so beautiful and good with Alex and we all love the experience.
We will definitely get Alex riding when home as he has a real connection with horses. Andy takes us on another ranger tour and we see a bald eagle nest and watch Turkey vultures cruising thermals. Andy teaches Alex to drive the ranger (he needs practice!!) and tells us more about ranch life and about the minerals and food supplements for the cows.
We soon arrive at the old house which was the original ranch house where Andy’s parents lived and sally and Craig now live. This amazing place is now a living museum preserving the family history from when Andy’s ancestors originally travelled to the area from Texas as pioneers and established the ranch. The house is full of family antiques, memorabilia history and stories which sally and Craig have taken on for the next generation and made their home. Sally even has a brooch which one of her ancestors is wearing in an old painting. It’s a labour of love for the family to take care of the history and make a home they can live in.
After exploring the house it’s time to kayak down the river which runs through the ranch, it’s beautiful and a few little rapids add some excitement - Alex has a whale of a time in a kayak with me and we chat to Anna whilst Kari and Guy set the world to rights.
After our river paddle we have a quick fish on the river and see deer and raccoon footprints but sadly catch no fishies!
We pop back to the house and feed Alex and reluctantly say our goodbyes to everyone. It's been such a special visit and the Gray family have treated us like family and we really hope they will come to see us in the Uk one day.
Emma
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