We could only spare 4 days, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Friday the kids had a course, that had been set up for months, and Wednesday our chicks were coming and we needed to be home for that. It's a 12 hour drive from our house so Saturday and Tuesday were driving days and Sunday and Monday were mountain and visiting days.
Saturday we left early, for us, at 6:30am, in the POURING rain. The rain drops were so big they made puddles on the windshield and the ruts in the roads were full of running water. At one point we even hydroplaned in the van!!
Pic of the weather system we drove thru.
We were all in high spirits though and the first 6 hours pasted fairly quickly. We stopped at their nearest largest city to pick up a grocery order for them. Mrs.B was very concerned it wouldn't fit in the van. It did.
With room to spare. We teased her that was only a small order and she could have doubled it. I think there were 12 boxes. We also picked up some food in the city before driving on.
The next 6 hours we drove in snow, rain and fog. We could tell we were heading up and down and around and around but could see very little else. We did see several bears, lots of deer, a few elk, a couple of moose and a lot of statues and waterfalls.
We did see a stone sheep at one point. E spotted it. We pulled over and it took the rest of us awhile to see him. 
Mr. B told us about the metal bridges so we counted them and rivers and waited to find the Racing River. Turns out it's hard to miss :) It's got flashing lights and slow signs as the road turns sharply before it hits the bridge. The river is rocky and had a bit of water in it and so beautiful. Right after the bridge is their road sign and driveway. The driveway is quite long and the shouts of HORSES echoed thru the van. Then we were there. Honking lol. We didn't really know where to go you see. The buildings are amazing.
That night we ate spaghetti and laughed. The two littlest boys eyed each other up. The big kids talked constantly. It was late when everyone went to bed. But morning came soon enough and it brought
Their dogs name is Malone. When we arrived he got so excited that he actually tripped over his own back legs and did a summersalt a top speed. He LOVES kids and after he settled a little they had a blast with him. The kids now play a game called Malone. It involves S being Malone and all the kids yelling at him while he jumps around, goes between their legs or their pretend horses legs/belly while they try to walk and generally makes trouble.
SNOW!! The thing we dreaded the whole ride up, our Transits tires are not made for snow!, but we were all settled in by a warm fire with friends so it didn't matter any more. It did mean the days plans would have to be put off and we actually never did get to help worm and trim horses. The kids did get to ride horses though, and feed them. We had a hot dog roast for lunch and as the snow was pretty much gone by late that afternoon and Mr. B and Papa took the oldest 5 kids and 3 horses for a walk up the ridge behind their house.
B&B's house and the ridge behind it.
Kids and horses, always a fun combo!
They actually forgot the phone but it just so happened that I ended up going there later on so this is one of the pics I took. There is a lot more to that story but your going to have to wait for it. :) This is part of their place, the fields are their hay fields, when the elk don't eat it all. The big white building is their shop. Horse corrals and storage buildings, summer housing area is all between the road and the shop. That's the Racing River on the other side of the houses there. If you look close you can see the lodge, house and our Transit. But, do you see any mountains? They keep telling us there are beautiful mountains up there somewhere but we haven't seen any yet!
Mrs.B and I walked a bit and talked a lot and generally enjoyed one another's company while taking care of the younger crew. :) That night for supper we had elk steak, with potatoes and salad. The elk steak was fantastic. A few days of eating elk and at least four of us Griggs were plotting on how to get a regular supply. Steps are being taken :)
Part two coming soon!
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