2019 WHS Lake Powell Group at the Ranch

The vote was almost unanimous at Jerry and Vickie's Christmas party at Deer Valley.

"Where do you want to go next June, Lake Powell or Bell Cross Ranch?" Jerry asked.

"The Lake Powell Group" has been going to Jerry's Antelope Crossing at Lake Powell for many years 

to enjoy his hospitality on his houseboats, complete with use of his jet skis, 

fishing boat and speed boat taking us up the channel to Rainbow Bridge.

The Bell Cross Ranch in Montana sits on ten thousand lush acres near Cascade 

and is 28 miles from Great Falls. 

It has ten owners, including Jerry Moyes, Roger's classmate, 

and John Elway of Denver Bronco fame. 
(I guess this sounds like name-dropping, but Reba McEntire was there the week before we arrived.)

 My experience as a "cowgirl" is non-existent, 

with the exception of an overnight adventure I enjoyed with Roger and another Aggie couple 

riding horses on a wilderness trail in Yellowstone in 1967.

As I have indicated in the past, Lake Powell isn't my favorite place to go because of the brutal sun, 
though I have had lots of fun with Roger's classmates at this annual reunion. 
So I was excited to go with Roger this year to the ranch.

Entrance to Bell Cross Ranch

We drove to Ogden a day early, bringing Carol Messerly, a classmate who lives in St. George, with us.

We stopped at Hire's for old-time's sake for dinner, then City Creek for Roger to go to the Apple store.

We enjoyed catching up with Lois and going to lunch at her favorite place on Tuesday, 

then Wednesday morning, we picked up Carol at her friend's home and headed for Montana.

We stopped for lunch in Dillon at this cute place.

Jerry flew 14 classmates in his private jet out of Mesa, also landing in Ogden, then on to Great Falls. 
Carol Gibson, Dan's wife had had surgery a month previous and told Dan to go without her, 
but he wouldn't and she knew how much this gathering means to Dan every year, 
so she sucked it up and went. What a sport! 
Carol and I commiserate every year when I go to Lake Powell and she tells it like it is. I love her!

Carol in Jerry's jet

About a seven hour drive from Ogden, we arrived at Bell Cross Ranch.

Moyes Lake

The main ranch is on the left and the bunkhouse for singles is on the right.

The chef and helpers cooked many delicious meals on the grill and in the deep fryer out here.

Pics of some of the interior rooms

Each of the ten owners have a bedroom and connecting bathroom in the main complex. 
They each have two weeks every year when they have use of the entire complex and can invite guests, 
but the owner must come with his group.

This was our room.

I loved the huge dining table - it accommodated so many!

There were 26 of us there.

The food was gourmet and delicious!

Jerry is the guy with the Just a kid from Plain City shirt on (a gift from one of his kids).







Next morning we drove in the side by sides to the target range.

We first shot skeet, then fired at targets with automatic pistols 
and six-shooters that had to be cocked each time.

Roger is a dead shot, hitting the clay skeet and almost never missing!

Me, not so much!

I was better with the pistols, hitting the target four out of six times with the automatic.
Yikes, I hate guns and never thought I would shoot them!
I think I shot a rifle in my growing up years and I remember it painfully kicking my shoulder.

Roger is the real deal!

Pretty waterfall at Moyes Lake

Lots of deer wandered around the property.

Next day we all headed out in the side by sides to view the ten thousand acres and Roger drove.
It had rained the day before and we sloshed through a lot of mud, but everything was fresh and so green!

We stopped for a break at this fully furnished get-away cabin on the property, 
sometimes used for honeymoons by the owners' friends and families.

Lyle and Chris rode with us.

We took a quick pic of the whole group, the only one we took. 
Dan Gibson and Linda Stettler were taking the pics and not in it.

Tom Grimm brought up two razors and the ones who rode in them were covered in mud!

Ever-resourceful Vickie Moyes and Tom figured out how to make a barrier out of trash bags.

Cute Carol, who rode in the razor because it is a smoother ride to not jostle her shoulder, peeks out, 
snug as a bug!

The scenery was spectacular!

Riding along the ridge - what views!

John Elway put up this sign at this viewpoint, commemorating his #7!

At last we arrived at this meadow, where the staff had come previously to set up lunch for us.
They had even sprayed for insects!

Carol and Dan Gibson

Yummy picnic with cloth napkins!

This panorama gives me a very strange right hand!

That evening after dinner inside, we had a dance on the large patio.
Jerry had a country band drive up to the ranch to entertain us.

Enjoying the grilled prawn appetizers

Vickie and Jerry are amazing hosts!

Linda and Fred Stettler - Roger grew up with Fred and he is one of the Wilson Boys.
We love them both!

Here are the Wilson Boys who attended.

Cute Nancy Sivulich and Carole Beus with Lyle Johnson, the Hooper kids.

Fred and Helen Thompson

Joan Heaps and Carol Messerly grew up in North Ogden.

Nancy lost her husband and Tom lost his wife and they are dating and enjoying each other's company.

Joyce and Jimmy Mann - he is a hoot and she is adorable.
She led us in the Boot Scoot Boogie!
So fun!

Chris and Lyle Johnson - talented hard workers, amazingly kind and fun!

Pam and Larry Maw - she hasn't come for years and was a great sport!

Horse Day - oh, boy, here we go!
They had a race course set up, where you had to shoot balloons with two six-shooters you had to cock each time while riding, trading guns half way through. They shot powder shots.
Carol Gibson did it last year and said it was fun and I would like it. I trust what Carol says!

Here I go - just getting on the horse was a challenge!

Now - the real cowboy!

There were more games with horses in the afternoon, and Roger came in first in all he ran in.
His early days came back to him, like riding a bicycle!

The final night arrives.
It's been so fun chatting and laughing with everyone!

We had buffalo steaks for dinner and this dessert was to die for - some kind of bread pudding with rum sauce.

Val and Liz Taylor - she was a good sport, too, because she had tear duct surgery a week before she came.

Jimmy Smout is the class jokester and was a little more subdued this year, 
but he still had plenty to say!

Brent and Joan Heaps

This couple, Terry and Brad, live on the ranch year round and run everything - 
the food, the horses, housekeeping, etc.
Great people!

Next morning, Joan, Nancy and I waiting to go in for breakfast

Thanks to this couple, Roger's Class of '62 has had many, many get-togethers through the years 
and has stayed so, so close. Many tight friendships. 
What a kind, thoughtful way to spend your money. 
Thank you, Vickie and Jerry, you are loved!

After a delicious breakfast, everyone headed out. There was room in Jerry's jet for Carol, who had ridden with us to the ranch, to ride back to Ogden. 
We headed for Butte, on our way to Boise to tend Missy and Jedd's littles. 
Butte is where my Grandma Erma Gabrielsen was born 
and some dramatic family history took place.
Stay tuned. . .