Morgan-mania

A couple of weekends ago we headed north to Morgan to visit our

friends/family (I use the slash because they are family but cool enough to make friend status).

When the Carnies were deciding to move to Morgan, Michele claims that when they pulled 

into this beautiful valley, the clouds parted and the sun shined a little brighter that day.

I believe it. When we came around the corner I was ready to pack up shop and move in next door.

For two reasons:

Morgan is beautiful with a great small town feel.

AND

The Carnesecca's rock...can you imagine being neighbors with lady

that signs your husband up for a pie eating contest at the Morgan fair?

My pie eating man and his cousin Chad

It does not end there. 

Trent, are you smarter than

a 5th grader? I hope so, because Michele just signed 

you up with some local competition to see how smart you REALLY are!

Yes, I would love to be this woman's neighbor.

Michele can share this story better than me but

lets just say she was majorly ripped out of not one but TWO

electric scooters at the fair. She asked if I would like to enter the paper clip

contest (I am not gifted when it comes to creativity)...but, I felt special that 

she would even consider asking if I would like to join her in the 90 plus degree

weather to see if we could kick some juvinal bum.

Just for the record, Michele should have won...she is crazy creative.

Fair fun...

Cousin Power!

The Carnies took us to their favorite dining joint in Morgan...Stephs.

Michele posts about Stephs on her blog... I was pretty much

set that we WOULD be getting a picture at Stephs.

If the Carnies take you to Stephs its like saying,

"Congrats- you made it to the celestial kingdom!"

Well, kind of.

 My sister wife.

I wish we were not related because I would be 100% happy if

 Tate married Cate.

Baby Ethan and Trent

Blast from the past!
 What do you get when the Carnies, Greenwoods and Savages
get together?

Too many kids in the foam pit.
ps This is my favorite part of the Carnie pad.

Chad and Michele...bless you and your home!
We have nothing but "deep gratitude, filled with a rich history for your family"
love you guys!

I think the highlight of Michele's day was video taping me climbing out
of their five foot deep foam pit while Tate bounced up and down on my head.
Now, that is a good friend.

We Done.

6th and final day! 

Hallelujah. The babe and I were beat!

Our last two nights we stayed in a bed & breakfast type place in the 

middle of nowhere. With a couple of hippies from Austria as our hosts.

Our last day we had a pretty easy ride.

 The highlight of the day for Trent was racing horses around a track.
My head was pounding at this point, so I cheered on my jockey from

the sidelines. Trent said it was awesome! (Man, I bet I will be sad I missed one day).

 Trent ate this ricotta like cheese with honey drizzled on top.

Not really my kind of dessert but  Buffalo seemed to love it!

Me & Nina

I can't tell who is happier to be done...us or the horses!

 Our bungalow...

One of the best parts of our trip was getting to know other people.

Here are the troopers!

Kristina & Caroline

Angelica & Nina

Andrea & Jacqueline

Martin

Would we do it all again?

Okay, this trip was a kicker. One of those vacations where you 

come home dog tired instead of well rested. but 

Trent and I both vote YES...it was a super cool and memorable experience.

33 Miles

This WAS our longest day of riding...EVER!

At this point, my bum was now in the "numb bum stage"...so no problem.

I told Rudy at breakfast that he would not break the Americans (I might have been a little worried).

11.5 hours from point A to B.  I feel tough just thinking about it!

This might not look steep...it was. 

Sometimes I could feel my horses hind quarters hitting the 

bottom of my boots. We were so impressed with the horses endurance 

and the capacity they have to go and go and go.

 Throughout the day we would gallop, trot and climb and climb some more.

Sometimes I thought poor Paquito was going to have a heart attack right on the trail.

I have a million pics of this day because it truly NEVER ENDED!

Relaxing

A ride through town.

Ice cream break!

5 hour ride to lunch and you better believe

we were all feeling it!

Paquito had a roll in the sand...he made it look GOOD!

Besula

This was the view from our picnic table.

While Rudy took his daily siesta, Trent and I explored Besula!

I loved this place.

Walnut grove.

I am not going to lie...I have never been so happy to get off of a horse 

in my whole entire life. Trent looked pretty happy too!

 I was so happy, that eating more tomatoes

seemed like NO BIG DEAL!