So, the day before yesterday (Wednesday) the kids and I went on a trail ride. Great fun, knackered old horses that only walk along the same old paths, but it's fabulous scenery and the trail guide was a very cute cowboy called Trey. We rode for four hours altogether and I stupidly forgot to apply sunblock so I now have a very fetching t-shirt tan....We went off to see the Rodeo in the evening - mainly because the lovely Trey was going to be there - the kids thought he was great and I thought he was very nice and very, very young - I jokingly said I'd buy him a drink if we saw him later (as you do...) and he asked where I was planning to be....Oops, he's keen...Sort of made me feel a little like a dirty old man....only a little though...mostly I felt flattered! And then I remembered - he's a College student - offer any student a free drink and they'll be there no matter what...
The Rodeo was fun and just like watching a film - in fact most of this holiday has been like so many US films which I suppose proves that either their films correctly capture life here or else life really does imitate art....

Yesterday we had a really great day - we got a guide (Jed) and went off into Grand Teton National Park and climbed in the shadow of the Cathedral Peaks. The photo here is one I took.
It was really good climbing - all granite and really easy compared to Southern Sandstone which is all I've climbed on outside so far. However, it was in the high 90s all day, very low humidity and it's over 7,000 feet above sea level, so when I did a couple of harder routes I felt like I was going to die! One particular climb was a really interesting little route - a nice flake to start with and then into a wide crack-like chimney which had a fairly big overhang. I had three goes at completing it but the heat just got to me (climber's excuse #23) it's a real shame that I'll probably never go back there and nail that one....

On the way back we passed loads of people standing taking photos on a bridge and a park ranger standing guard - wildlife! So we pulled over and got out to take a look and were rewarded with the sight of a huge moose sitting in the middle of a shady stream ignoring the stupid overheated humans taking pictures.
Later that evening I could be found attempting to sleep with my eyes open while drinking Purple People Eaters (I'd never tried or heard of them before, but they come in a pint glass....)

Today we slept in until after 9am - all that fresh air and activity finally slowed the kids up (thank god!). After a little light shopping we went back to the ranch where we had taken our trail ride the other day, but this time we went for a shorter ride and had a Cowboy Cook-Out....Sadly Trey didn't join us (well, actually he did show up just as we were about to leave - looking all puppy dog eyed and asking if we were going to the Rodeo tomorrow night as he's doing Bull Riding....and we might go....but only because the kids want to see it!). And this time the ride was a little more eventful - first of all Ashley our cowgirl guide almost got thrown from her horse as it got spooked by something, and then one of my delightful sons lost his (new) cowboy hat to the wind which in turn spooked my horse who spectacularly threw me off....Fortunately I fell with tremendous grace (ha!) and didn't get hurt at all - well, perhaps my pride, but only slightly - I got hold of my horse, calmed him down and climbed back on....then I felt very pleased with myself, particularly as this was only the third time in my life that I've ridden a horse! But don't forget that these very docile horses are very similar to the tired out beach donkeys....so my fall and return to the saddle isn't quite as impressive as I'd like.....

Tomorrow we're planning to go to the local Farmers' Market, the town shoot out (happens daily Monday to Saturday) and then onto the Rodeo. Dear god, I feel like I'm trapped in either a Country and Western song or else a 1950s cowboy film....But hey, next week I'll be in Vegas and I can pretend I'm in either Ocean's Eleven or Casino!

Yellowstone National Park and no Yogi Bear!

I'm here in the USA. I've seen Old Faithful, the Morning Glory pool, a black bear, plenty of geysers and lots and lots of burnt trees. Yellowstone National Park is beautiful and strange too - the hot springs and other geo-thermal features are quite breathtaking (not least of all because of the stink of sulphur!).
Disappointingly there is no mention anywhere of Yogi Bear and Booboo - so anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s watching the Smarter than Average Bear outwit the Ranger won't find them here at the real Jellystone Park.
So, having seen all of that we've moved on and now we're in Jackson Hole, Wyoming - a real (tourist) cowboy town....Tomorrow I'm off with the kids to spend the day horseriding. Thursday we're going climbing in the Tetons (yeah, be jealous!) so it's busy, busy, busy...whitewater rafting later in the week, a rodeo tomorrow night and sometime around the weekend I shall be slumped in a heap somewhere!

One of the things I've really enjoyed since I've been here is French Toast (posh eggy bread) - I would never dream of eating it back home in the UK but here, with maple syrup drizzled over....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And I've been eating ice cream each day, huge ice creams - great flavours and toppings. Yes, I shall return carrying some excess baggage I suspect, in the shape of a few extra pounds...

Going Away....

Later this week I’m off to the States with my parents and the kids – an epic road trip starting in Billings, Montana and ending up in Los Angeles, with a quick stop off with family in Detroit before returning to the UK. I’m hoping that while I’m away I’ll be able to post the occasional blog entry and certainly keep up with friends via email and as I’ve even been able to sort out a cell phone for the US I may be able to phone some of you too…

I have sort of mixed feelings about the trip: on the one hand it’s going to be great to get away, visit a beautiful part of the world, go climbing in some amazing places, spend time with the kids, with my parents, go horse riding, white water rafting and generally be on the go the entire time…But on the other hand I’m going to be spending the entire time with my parents, the kids, all up close and personal and I won’t have the usual outlet of seeing and talking to my closest friends on a daily basis….I know I’m not gone for ever, but I won’t be back until the beginning of August and right now that feels like a very long time….

But life is all about experiences and adventures and I’m about to go on a big one! Added to which, this time I’m in charge – those of you who know me well will also know that being in charge pleases me….Not that I’m bossy or anything you understand…..But in my experience things just tend to be much better organised when I’m in charge….Now please stop rolling your eyes.

For those of you whose addresses I have I shall endeavour to send postcards, otherwise, check back here for an update on the road!