Gas tanks full, car and truck maintenance were all up-to-date, goats received thiamine shots to help their rumens with stress, hay bag hanging in the cargo trailer, wifi camera working to monitor goats on the iPad in the front seat, Leo the livestock guardian dog loaded into the car back seat, goat and dog feed in the back of the SUV, everything in the RV closed or tied, RV fridge full. With a stomach full of butterflies and already missing family and friends, we headed eastward to Ramsay. The plan was to take it real easy for the whole trip but especially for the first day. A four-hour day did not seem like a lot of driving – although it did take longer than that.

The folks at Rocking H Ranch train, breed, and sell Quarter Horses. We never got very close to the horses, but they were beautiful out in the field. Although the ranch is located fairly close to the interstate, it was definitely off the beaten track – dirt road off of not clearly marked dirt road off of a narrow country road. All we knew about our destination was to look for a large red barn. Once we saw it, we just kept heading in that direction. The terrain was very flat with a few little hillocks. The host was welcoming and helpful. The barn was large with box stalls. There were water and electric hookup for the RV. The views across the plains and to the far mountains was stunning. We spent some relaxing time just watching the sun cross the sky and set in spectacular colors. Paying for the RV hookup and two box stalls cost less than a standard campground would have. Leo was used to a large, fenced goat yard and a barn with an automatic dog door allowing him to come and go at will. He was definitely not keen on the idea of joining us in the little RV. Each end of this barn was open. There was no way to contain him or keep him from roaming and patrolling. He had never been restrained in a box stall before but we were out of options other than tying him. He shared a stall with his pal Sugar, the Nigerian Dwarf. She was just a little shorter but much broader than he and they liked to hang out together. The three large goats stayed in another stall.

So, our first day went very well. All the animals were coping and neither hubby Bill nor I had collapsed from stress or had an emotional meltdown. Yet, anyway.

Next stop: 550 miles from Ramsay MT to the Happy Horse Haus, Rapid City SD