ovando and more

well, the ovando farmhouse is done!! finally. now i need to find some vacation renters. for more info, look it up on VRBO or take a look at www.sunsetfarmhouse.com

we were able to spend a long weekend in ovando for Labor Day. and labor it was for me for the first two days. but it is finally over and by saturday afternoon, i was relaxing with multiple friends, swimming and playing ball at Browns Lake. but the real highlight, was as always on Sunday.

Sunday of Labor Day weekend is the Helmville Rodeo, for 41 years now. This is a true rodeo, with some pros, lots of families and family events, and no hype or fanfare. Just old fashioned cowboys and real people drinking cold beer, eating hot dogs and hamburgers, sitting in the sun (or shade for those that got there early enough to get into the Grand Stands. Next year!) The people are friendly and it just seems like a step back in time.

This weekend was the 2 Bear Marathon. MA was the race director, so of course, I had to help out. Even if I wanted to run, I could not. But what a great excuse not to anyway. The race went off without a hitch, there was a nice moment of silence for those who passed away ten years ago in that horrific incident in NYC, and for the firemen who bravely charged in while others desperately ran out. Man, have you ever asked yourself, if that were you, could you have done that? I am just not sure myself.

Since I was on the race section that is on the new Whitefish Trail, my group of marshalls and I got to ride to our posts, and when the last of the runners had passed, well, what else could we do but ride our bikes a bit more. It made the early hours and loss of a valuable Sunday morning sleep in worth it, and by noon we were drinking well deserved beer.

So now the sun is fading each day a bit earlier, days are sure to get cooler, and the last of the summer garden crops will have to be harvested. And when all that is done, and the wood is put up, it just might be time for Winter!!!!

I for one, am ready to ski.