We stopped in Longmont to stay the night with Libby and Clayton. Rosie and Moose (the pup cousins) got to play and so did we!
Mom and I came to the ranch the next day. The ranch (Babcocks Hole Ranch, or Hamilton Ranch) is located between Wetmore and Beulah, pretty much in the middle of the San Isabel National Forest. I love it here. The nearest neighbors are at least 3 miles away. We are in the middle of the mountains at 6000 feet with an amazing view of Pikes Peak to the north. Trails cover the ranch and the National Forest, so daily hikes and bike rides are the norm.
The first day, I took the Karate Monkey back out to the highway and rode over to Beulah and back on gravel. I went up the 387 pass, which was basically an hour of climbing to get to the top, 20 minutes of descending down to Beulah, 1 hour back to the top, and 20 minutes back to Mason Gulch Road (to the ranch). The ride pretty much toasted my legs, because I was riding a 33x18 single speed. The climb had prolonged steep sections and the gear was too big to get into a good rhythm. The gearing was fine on the lower sections of the climb, but pretty burly for long sections.
I powered through it, though, and am looking forward to doing it again, and also climbing to the top of the pass toward Westcliffe.
The next day we took a long hike up Mason Gulch, where the big fire five years ago originated. The fire was allowed to burn by the higher ups, but then got out of control and came straight for the ranch house. They were able to stave off the fire, but it was still hectic up here while they tried to move animals, and anything valuable from the house. The mountainside is covered with burned trees. Most of the trails on that side were wiped out as well. Grass is finally growing back on the hillsides, so the land is regenerating itself, like it should. We set off up Mason Gulch in search of an old spring. We finally found it, but it wasn't easy. It turned into a pretty long hike, and we didn't bring food or enough water. Whoops.
Yesterday we went mountain biking at the Pueblo Reservoir, which was a great way to spin out tired legs. The trail was 10-12 miles of swoopy, twisty, turny singletrack on the side of the reservoir. It was pretty similar to the other high desert trails I've ridden. Way, way fun.
When we aren't hiking or biking, we are sitting on the porch, socializing, playing with the dogs, and mostly getting the ranch ready for a wedding! A lot of my jobs have been with the animals. I have worked with horses, donkeys, a baby mule, peacocks, homing pigeons.... More about those peacocks later.
My favorite is moving the baby mule and her Momma every night back to the protective confines of a corral. After we get them into the corral, we talk to the little mule (6 days old) and touch her face, head, ears, back, belly, legs.... Just to get her used to humans. She is so sweet and soft. She is really starting to warm-up to us. I am going to try to get her to walk up to me in the field for a rub. She's been very close, but not allowed me to touch her yet.
We are having way too much fun, I am sure, but we are working hard to get this place ready for the wedding!
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