Spring break was a surprise to Jayden, she didn't even know her college was taking off until the Friday before. Many colleges started the semester late and decided because of the pandemic to skip Spring break. There wasn't a practical way for her to come home with her horses. Since she couldn't come home, Jayden asked me to come out and see her, and I would get to meet Noah's family. I thought it sounded like a good plan, so I moved fast and booked tickets. Airline flights can go up by the day and the hour. Mark was encouraging me to go even though I would be gone over our anniversary. That was tough for both of us, but we celebrated with dinner out before I left. I flew out Friday March 12th from Fort Dodge on a 50 passenger flight to Chicago and then on to Dallas. Flying out of Fort Dodge was a new experience and went well; free parking right out the door, no lines or waiting, no crowd, and a small plane. I arrived in Dallas and the plan was for Jayden to meet by 5:30 someplace I could take an Uber to meet her. She was driving her truck and trailer with Noah and her two horses. Jayden got delayed in construction and traffic and was two hours late. Eventually I caught an Uber and met them at the Salt Grass Steakhouse. It was humid and warm outside and the horses were sweaty in the trailer. They had already been in the trailer 6 hours. After our supper, we had 3 hours left to the ranch. I could sense the long road trip had caused some tension in the air. As we drove and drove, I started to realize just how long and hard it would be to visit Jayden down in Texas. I left home at 9AM and we didn't arrive at the ranch until midnight. 3 hours from the airport was crazy far. It was late and Jayden drove the whole trip from Alva through Dallas and to the ranch. Noah was in the back and hardly said a word. He had a group come in for a hunt on their ranch and he wanted to be there. Jayden drove so fast! I was anxious the whole drive as she would drive between 75 and 80. In Texas, the county roads are speed limit 75, in Iowa they are 55. It felt like we were flying the whole time up hills and around curves and made me very nervous. Around midnight, we finally pulled in, made it through the mechanical door into the ranch and out to the Lodge and shop area to unload the horses. Noah's dad and brother happily greeted us and gave Jayden big hugs. From the shop and lodge, it was a 15 minute drive out and around to get to the house. I met Noah's mother, who kindly greeted me with a hug. Jayden showed me to my room where I was ready for bed. I felt like I just got dropped off at a hotel. Jayden and Noah went back to the Lodge where they had a group of hunters to meet and greet for the weekend. They stay in the lodge, hunt mornings and evenings. They pay according to the animal they shoot and most are in the thousands. The next morning Esther had breakfast ready and I ate with Noah's family. The men had already been out on a morning hunt. Next, Jayden gave me a ride across the ranch to the shop/lodge on the ranger. The path was hilly, rocky, and rugged. We fed her horses before getting ready to haul to the big barrel race in Waco. It was an overcast day with rain on and off. Noah's mom Ester, her good friend, and Cynthia all went to the barrel race with us, it was a girls day. Bale, Noah's dad insisted Jayden take his Dodge Extended cab Longhorn. It was his brand new pickup and he had it washed and ready. I was nervous again with her hauling the new truck and driving so fast. She did slow down a little when we could all feel the hydroplaning. The barrel race was part of a 3 day weekend with 10K added. There were NFR racers competing and over 600 racers in the open. IT was a come and go event that went all day and never much of a crowd. The ladies with us had never been to any barrel races and were taking it all in, from seeing all the horse trailers and horses, watching Jayden saddle and put splint boots on, to watching the runs. They had lots of questions and some funny observations. Jayden realized it was going to be over 3 hours before she ran, so we decided to unhook the trailer and go visit Magnolia. The celebrities Chip and Johanna Gaines are professional decorators that have a television show. They opened a store and a small community complete with shops, food trucks, and a courtyard. Our timing wasn't the best and we no more than ordered pizza from a food truck and it all closed. IT was sunny and beautiful with a good size crowd of people. There were kids running and playing and families enjoying the day mask free. At only 5:00, it all shut down. There was no doubt they could have had lots of business for hours more. We got to enjoy it for only a half hour. It was neat to see and would be fun to spend a whole day there. Back at the barrel race, while sitting on the bleachers, Ester started asking Jayden wedding questions, where she wants to get married, Iowa or TX, big wedding or small, indoor or out. I was shocked that she was talking about a wedding. I know Jayden talks of her future and someday marriage, but I never know if that was 6 months, or 6 years. I figured I would not even bring it up until there was an engagement ring. Ester and I had some good conversations while sitting on the bleachers. The ladies were so excited to watch Jayden and were ready to yell and cheer. Jayden ran Joker and he took the first a little wide and the third really wide. The ladies were yelling and cheering and so excited when she ran. They didn't see anything wrong with her run and were so happy and telling Jayden how great her run was and how good she did. That was really nice, because I know how much she picks apart her runs and how discouraged she gets. 2 1/2 hours to the barrel race and then another 2 1/2 on the way home, made for a long day. Another thing the ladies had to get used to was the crazy barrel racer food schedule, there isn't one. You eat when you are crazy hungry, and usually its from a convenient store. That is where we ate most of the day. I think they were hoping for some good food on our outing. On the road back it was dark, hilly and curvy two lanes. I had to tell Jayden numerous times to slow down. I cant get used to the 75 on the highways, especially with a massive trailer and she goes way fast. When we got back to the ranch the wind picked up and stormy weather was nearby. We got everything unloaded and to bed around midnight.
Sunday I didn't see any of Noah's family until 3:00. It was quiet in the house, the men were all out on the hunt, Noah's mom was rearranging her bedroom , and Jayden slept in. I sat and read until she was up. Eventually Jayden and I got really hungry and Cynthia ended up taking us into town to grab some lunch. I had my Missions zoom class from 1-2:30. Jayden joined Noah for a hog hunt. She invited me, but I said no thank you. Cynthia and Jayden went on the adventure and it sounded crazy. I am glad I did not join. The hunt included dogs and knives. Jayden got herself a wild hog, that is all the details I will give. During her hog hunt, I went on a 3 mile walk. I asked Ester where I could go that I would not get eaten or lost. I had a nice walk around the front gate and house along many paths. The only animals I came across were the cows and a couple calves. They were pretty startled and I was a little afraid they may come at me. They did not seem like calm gentle Iowa cattle. The sun was shinning and it was perfect out. The terrain is rocky, reddish dirt, and lots of prickly pear cactus with big thorns. In the evening, Ester and I cooked dinner. She showed me how to fry tacos, and I fried them all. Her kitchen is amazing, it is huge and beautiful. Jayden says she cooks all the time and great food. The rest of the family came back from the hunt with stories and videos. We ate tacos, corn, and rice for dinner. After dishes, Ester prefers washing and never uses her dishwasher, we went to their shooting range. All of us rode in the ranger out to the range. Everyone shot, Jayden is a really good shot. Even I shot the AR .22. The boys would shoot at random rocks, catcus, pop cans, just about anything. Noah and his family are always laughing and teaching each other. They seem very fun loving and are just plain fun. I envy that. The boys all had their guns on the ride back in the dark, eyes peeled for racoon. Ester spotted one hiding behind a rock. All eyes were on him with guns aimed and ready. Shots were fired, but he got away. Once we got back to the house, everyone piled into the car to head for the bowling alley. It was late and we bowled until it closed at 11. Their family friends also joined us. Everyone had a good time and some good laughs. Noah and Jayden were funny rolling gutter balls and starting off slow. They would roll a random strike followed by gutters. They were so random. I did pretty well for not having bowled in years. I had a few strikes, high score for the girls and second overall. Not too shabby.
Comments