Seven Miles South of Nowhere ~ Part 1

In preparation for my journey to The 7MSN I baked a batch of Fudge Mocha Brownies to take with me.And I created a little sketch of Wynonna, the Porcine Princess, to give to Rancher Woman.I also bundled up a dozen of our fresh farm eggs, compliments of the Laughing Orca Ranch chickens, and tossed in some carrots to give to Rancher Woman's equine critters.
And then I hit the road, heading south to nowhere, seven miles south of nowhere....to be exact.

On the way there I passed one of the burned areas from this past spring's Trigo Fires, allegedly caused by some hunters. This burned area was near the Fourth of July Canyon Campground, which has always been a gorgeous place to vist in the Fall. Sadly, it looks like it won't be as popular for a Fall Leaf trek this year, though.After about an hour drive, I finally found nowhere and only had to drive a bit longer to find The 7MSN. Along the way, we passed by the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad. This photo is for Ranch Man John, who is a train hobbyist/collector.(Click photo for larger view)Rancher Woman was kind enough to meet us where the paved road ended and became.....an adventure.The only traffic or pedestrians we experienced were of the bovine type.My truck is large and even requires a step-up, but these cattle were huge. I didn't even consider rolling down my window for this photo. gah!When traveling behind Rancher Woman it's a good idea to keep your windows closed, unless you like grit in your face.After I got settled in and was finished pinching myself (Am I really here?), Rancher Woman took me out for a tour of the 7MSN in her Ranger. Whooooeeee!!!
When we returned it was time to visit the famous 7MSN critters. First up was the Porcine Princess herself, Wynonna. Can everyone say "Awwwww!"Then some snuggling of Willie the goat.And then.....Smooch. I have to admit that I've never been a dog person, but somehow Smooch changed all that. She touched my heart in a way that no other canine ever has. Smooch and I became "Best Friends Forever" (BFF ~ in internet lingo, as I've recently learned). Smooch is a beautiful soul, sweet to the core and one of the best things about The 7MSN.As the day turned into evening, it was time for the equine crew to come in for their meds, minerals and a check-in by Rancher Woman. She takes mighty fine care of all her animal family, checking on them throughout the day and making sure they are all healthy and happy.
Here comes Hank~aka~The General

A little comedy relief provided by the Burro Buddies, George and Alan.
Followed by the handsome Lyle.
"Who are you? And why are you standing by our stall door?"
Now everbody, say, "Aaawwwww!" Isn't Alan adorable?!
Lyle is like a toddler and likes to play with toys and put things into his mouth.
After all the animals were fed, tucked in for the night or let out to graze, we humans prepared for some sustenance in the form of pulled BBQ and Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potato Recipe.Rancher Woman is a great cook.Mmmmm! Good! And we had homemade fresh peach pie for dessert, too.After drinking some wine and watching the beautiful sunset, it was time for bed. I had a little company.
Stay Tuned for Part 2 ~ The morning Porcine Tribe Serenade, Horse Clinic, and Petroglyphs!