Our last day here on the ranch has been full of activity. After eating a hearty, home-cooked breakfast, the crew was divided into two groups for the day. One group went hiking while the other group saddled up to ride horses. The horseback ride was led by the ranch hands from the 320 Guest Ranch stables. After brief directions on how to ride and handle a horse, the ranch hands helped the students fit helmets and mount the horses. We had a few students in the group who previously said they were afraid of horses, but even those students looked like natural once they were saddled-up. When all were ready the line of horses followed each other out of the stables, along the pasture, and onto the trail. The ride lasted about two hours; all groups returned just in time for lunch.
After lunch and some time to change, the two groups switched activities. The hiking group headed to the barn, and the horseback riders filled up their water bottles and hit the trail. The hike was about 6 miles round trip to a high meadow called cow flats. Both groups hiked through green meadows, along bubbling brooks, across rocky ridges, and passed lines of horse riders to their destination. After a few pictures, we turned the group around and headed back to the ranch.
Upon returning to the ranch all groups got some free time. Some students spent their time doing laundry or fishing in the pond, but the majority were tuckered out and resorted to relaxing in their cabins.
Dinner consisted of salad, homemade pizza, and fresh made chocolate cake for dessert. Once again we had a lot of clean platers and many who went back for seconds. I have heard a lot of students say the food here has been the best so far. I believe that has something to do with its homecooked flavor that reminds us all of the normal lives we have left behind for these 33 days.
After dinner we were greeted with more free time and an early curfew to pack and rest up from our long day on the ranch. Tomorrow will also be active with whitewater rafting as we continue northwest.
