Kingston 5 Ranch Coeur d'Alene

... br> Leaving Saturday for L.A. where I'll meet up with Terry Chamorro and stay at her place Saturday night. Sunday morning we have a 7:45am flight out of LAX which means going to the airport at 5:45am. Ungodly time. We are flying on Mexicana Airlines via Mexico City to Guatemala City. <br>Not exactly sure yet where we'll meet up with Rose and Jim....probably at LAX before the flight.<br><br><br>

Finally got the truck back, all fixed and running beautifully. Decided to get on the road, though it was already 2 pm. Headed south along Flathead Lake through green forests and valleys to I-90, then west, west, west. All uphill, what a climb, to Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, then downhill into Washington State. Spent almost two hours trying to find Riverside State Park in the city of Spokane, finally set up the camper and tried to settle down for the night.

... Elizabeth keen to hack down there asap and Tim ready to take a leisurely ride).  Stetsons on and the Greens were off in their luxury RV.  Lily, Edie and Fynn were sad to say bye to Emily, Andrew, Katie and Rachel and also to their horses and the staff who had been brilliant with them all.  <br><br> <br><br>We decided to take a look at the North Idaho Country Fair and Rodeo at Coeur D'Alene.  First impression is was just like a UK county fair with farming equipment, stalls ...

... actually Ian in a dreadful wig) put us through our paces.  Everyone in the group &#8211; myself, Nancy, Sig, Elizabeth, Fred and Travis (the wrangler at the rear) went for about four amazing long loping runs.  We went up and down the steepest of treks, which you had to rely (hope) that the horses knew what they were doing.  We finished at a meadow for a barbecue and then rode the horses back to the ranch.  <br><br>While this ride took place the boys (Tim ...

... at home and this was a Ford Focus but that didn&#8217;t stop him breaking the world record rally course time and nearly giving Steve a heart attack on the way! We got there in one piece and off we went to the clubhouse to sign in. Here I found that we were playing a top 50 US course famous for one particular hole "The floating green at Coeur d&#8217;Alene!" &#8211; the ...

Most of the adults participated in the adult test &#8211; to see whether we could go on the adult horse ride.  We all failed &#8211; it was hysterical.  Ian and I were cantering English style on a western horse and it was utterly wrong.  We couldn't understand the reaction of the horse and realised that the moves we were told to do in the UK gave out a different message.  Additionally these horses are trail horses and hated being in the ring so ...

... gmacht sond**n händ eifach kilomet**wiis em b**g nah däruf baut.<br><br>Churz vorem idunkle hämm** hööch üb**eme see en bär entdeckt wo det go fische isch. Er hät sini büüti as uf** bracht und gnüsslich v**schlunge. Eus hät ** üb**haupt nöd beachtet, sind v**muetlich zwiit weg gsi und drum hämm** eus mittel steiwurf (kei angscht, nöd diräkt uf ihn) für äs foti vo vorne bem**kbar gmacht. Nachh** isch ** abzottlet ...

We were up early to see the horses being driven from the mountain to the valley.  It was a great sight with the horses galloping by (loping is the word over her) being herded by the wranglers, then off for breakfast.<br><br>The first thing to do this morning was to get the boots and chaps sorted out.  Kids first and Edie was given a fantastic pair of sparkly pink riding boots (not quite boy but she loved them).  The kids looked really cute with their ...

... our fellow guests and identified that one family (the RV drivers) were from the UK "where from" (always the first question) &#8220;London&#8221; &#8220;oh where&#8221; (second question if familiar or connected to London), &#8220;Wandsworth&#8221; &#8220;never, where do you live&#8221;  and then we find out that we are with Tim and Elizabeth Green who used to live on Frewin Road and whose children went to Finton House.  They were here with Elizabeth's mother ...

... Friday, staying in the log cabin on the beach which I have been looking forward to all the way across America.  <br><br>Only 485 miles to go &#8211; should be a doddle!<br><br>RnH x<br><br> <br><br>P.S I&#8217;m posting this a day late because I&#8217;m too scared of the old trout to go and ask for an internet access code.  If she figures I&#8217;ve left Harry alone in the room for even a second she will take great satisfaction in chucking us out!