This post is a collection of photos and anecdotes from a terrific week of horse riding on a dude ranch with my wife’s family.

Arrival at Lazy L&B Ranch in Dubois, WY (Sunday)

After a spectacular drive past Grand Teton National Park and along the Wind River valley we arrived at Lazy L&B Ranch, our home for the week.

We were greeted with homemade cookies and hot tea, which bode well for the week ahead. The setting was idyllic. There was no cellphone reception and the only wifi was in the main lodge, so we were freed from our digital shackles for the week. Perfect!

Day 1 (Monday 8/7): Stunning scenery, sore bums, and storms

We awoke to mixed weather for our first day of riding. Hot one minute, cold the next. Dry and wet. Calm and windy. It changed every 30 minutes.

It was time to don our new cowboy boots, mount our horses and head off into the wilderness!

There’s no gentle introduction. Immediately after leaving the ranch we cross Spear Creek. Hang on tight, here we go!

I didn’t have any expectations coming into the week — and honestly, was apprehensive about riding horses again after a break of probably 30+ years — so I was pleasantly surprised how rugged and adventurous the rides were.

The scenery was spectacular. Just wild in every direction. Most of the time we couldn’t see anything human-made, other than the trail we were on. It was magnificent.

After two rides on the first day (morning and afternoon), totaling some 5 hours of riding, I was done in!

I hobbled back from the horse corral to the cabin, with a sore bum and sore knees. It took about an hour to straighten my legs out again!

What a great feeling though, exploring new countryside in a different and adventurous way.

Day 2 (Tuesday 8/8): Fly fishing and resting the sore bums

I woke up with sore knees (curse of the Collins knees! And an old running injury) so I decided, along with some other folks here, to skip the ride today.

Instead, I went to a fly fishing 101 clinic, which was super interesting. The act of casting in a beautiful setting is very zen. I can totally see why it appeals to people. I’m tucking it away in my back pocket as a hobby for the future, when I have more time.

Day 3 (Wednesday 8/9): Mighty views from the plateau

Lexi and I and our group explored the plateau close to the ranch, visiting the ruins of an old travelers resting post. Our guide told us that Butch Cassidy was reputed to hide out in the mountains in the distance, the Owl Creek range.

Back at the ranch we chilled out for the afternoon and enjoyed the continued break from digital screens.

The most notable event of the evening was when a chair collapsed underneath me as I sat down. No harm done, it all happened in slow motion. Shame we didn’t catch it on video as it would have been a great contender for the America’s Funniest Home Videos show.

Day 4 (Thursday 8/10): Family ride and lasso lessons

The food was exquisite, all week. This morning, eggs and corn beef hash for breakfast. Lexi and the boys had homemade crumb cake with a layer of chocolate running through the middle. Delicious!

Today was the family ride day, so we rode with the boys. It was really fun to experience an adventure together. For most of the week, all the kids did rides and activities together but without the parents (with a guide of course).

We stayed in the valley and explored Spear Creek, crossing it back-and-forth numerous times. Owen was amazingly relaxed on his horse, casually sitting half to the side and only holding the reins, not holding on with his other hand. Just his style!

In the afternoon, we had a lasso clinic. Yeehaw!

Day 5 (Friday 8/11): Canyons & plateau ride and cowboy campfire

My favorite ride was on the Friday morning. We rode about 8 miles in 3 hours, up a spectacular gulch (canyon) and onto the plateau. We returned via a steep ridge line. It was a superb ride with incredible views of the Wind River mountain range.

That afternoon a group of us went for a hike up a side canyon, adjacent to the ranch. It was fun to explore on foot and needle our way up a narrow, rocky old stream bed, clambering over the rocks.

That evening — our final evening at the ranch — we all sat around the camp fire for a night of BBQ food and cowboy poetry. There were poems, stories, and songs, and much merriment.

We definitely all felt sad to say goodbye and head home. A great week with memories to last a lifetime.

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For a sense of what the riding was like, here’s a compilation of short clips I took on my phone throughout the week:

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For part I of this trip — when we went hiking in Grand Teton National Park — click here.