Sprucedale Ranch - LOTS of pics!

We had a great opportunity this week to visit Sprucedale Ranch. It's located in a quiet valley about an hour outside of Eager, near Big Lake, which was a 5 hour drive for us from the valley. We went with Megan and her kids (Justin came up late Thursday night after work). We didn't get out of town until noon on Wed afternoon, so we arrived before dinner that evening.


Each family had a small cabin with several beds and a bathroom. Yummy homemade meals were served in the main lodge as well as some games and activities. Every morning and most afternoons was a trail ride for adults and kids over age 6. The kids were able to run around with their cousins and explore the playground, basketball and volleyball courts and in the open meadows. They also had lots of puppies and kitties to snuggle.

On Thursday morning, after eggs, fresh cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast, Kenny and the 4 oldest kids went out for a 4 hour trail ride to the river. They had lunch and played in the very cold river, jumping off the rocks. They had a blast, but were a little sunburned and sore afterward. Megan and I stayed at the ranch with the younger kids and played cards.
After the ride, we were all resting in our cabins when I heard a car pull up. I looked out the window and saw a gold Acura, and in the window were Kenny's parents! They heard where we were going and decided to surprise us for a visit and check it out! Grandpa brought gifts for all the grand kids from his trip to Pennsylvania. After visiting for a couple hours (and Emmie falling asleep on the porch), they headed home to Thatcher. It was such a funny surprise!

That evening, Megan and I signed up for the adult ride right after dinner, while the kids went on a hayride, then with Kenny to play in our cabin. The horse wrangler was needing to take the rest of the horses up to the pasture to graze for the night, and decided to include it at the beginning of our ride. As soon as he opened the gate, all the horses went running, including the horses we were riding! Most of the other riders were experienced and happy for the excitement, but I haven't been on a horse since I was about 12, so I had to hold on tight and try to remember to pull back on the reigns. It was a little wild.

After dropping off the other horses we crossed the meadow for our ride. Megan and my horses kept stopping to graze. Then we had to try to catch up with the group. We couldn't help but laugh about it each time. The wrangler took us into the trees towards an amazing lookout. (I only had room for my cell phone in my pocket, so none of the pics are very good.) As soon as we entered the trees, I started sneezing, and my nose started to run. Before long, I was coughing a bit too. I've had hay-fever before, but never had many problems with allergies. Once we got to the lookout, we took a much needed potty break and admired the view overlooking the canyon with the river Kenny and the kids had been to earlier that day. While we were off our horses, the group started noticing my eyes looked a little puffy and I was having some trouble with my allergies. It was difficult to take deep breaths. Since it was getting late, we needed to head back to the ranch before dark.

The wrangler said it would take about a 1/2 hour. Along the way home, I could feel my eyes and face swelling as well as itching hands and arms and neck (but I thought it was mosquitoes). Once we got to camp, everyone could see I needed some allergy medicine. As soon as I walked into our cabin, Kenny said "Wow, what happened to you?" When I looked in the mirror, it was WAY worse than I thought! I looked like Quasimodo in hunchback, or Will Smith in Hitch! It was UGLY!
I only had children's benedryl, so I took 4 teaspoons and a shower and went to bed. By morning my eyes were still swollen, but not like before! I have NO idea what it was, I have NEVER had a reaction like this before, but we thought it would be best for me not to go on anymore rides. :)

Friday morning, Justin had arrived around midnight the night before, so he was at breakfast (yummy strawberry crepes!) and went on the morning ride with his 2 oldest kids. My boys were all sunburned and sore and wanted to stay and play at the ranch. The little kids also got to ride on the pony around the ranch. After the ride, they had a mini-rodeo. Michelle and Eli were the only ones that wanted to ride in the rodeo, and they both did great!

After lunch, Kenny played some basketball and I read my book and took a nap. Later the kids watched a movie on the laptop while we started a game of Settlers, which was put on hold for a huge steak and baked potato dinner, followed by some skits and a dance (we skipped out on the dance to finish our game and movie where all the kids crashed before lights out at 10:30).

Saturday morning, Megan, little Michelle and I left early at 6 am to meet Monica and her girls and Mom, at Broadway Palms for lunch and HSM3. After breakfast, Kenny and Justin packed up all the boys and after a search for Kenny's keys (packed in a bag with the games from the previous night) made their way home. (Lucky Kenny also got to deal with Tyler getting carsick several times -for the first time EVER- on the drive through the canyon.)

Despite a few setbacks, it was a fun quick trip for all of us!