Fun in the woods!

Anyone who got within shouting distance of Matt over the last couple of weeks has been aware that Matt and Sharon had a vacation planned for a couple of days last week. Matt was just a bit excited and ready for a few days away from the office. Instead of the usual Branson vacation Matt and Sharon decided to mix it up a little bit and visit Beaver's Bend State Park in SE Oklahoma. Unlike the vast majority of Oklahoma the Southeast part of the state is extremely hilly (sometimes called the "Little Smokies" for how much it looks like the Smokey Mountains in TN.) It's densely-wooded and the state park has a river running through it that is dammed at one end forming a very large resevoir. The state park has about 50 (very economical!) cabins for rent and, given the stone tile floor, is dog-friendly. So last Thursday Matt and Sharon loaded up the car, piled in the doggies, and took off for Broken Bow, OK and Beaver's Bend State Park!

The first night Matt and Sharon just did a little exploring and decided to try out the restaurant there at the park. It was surprisingly good (Sharon believes she found the home-made chocolate cake that all others chocolate cakes should be judged by) and had a gorgeous back patio that was visited by the occasional forest creatures. Sharon shared a french fry with a squirrel who was most appreciative.

The next day provided absolutely perfect weather and so, after a hearty, non-cardiac friendly breakfast Matt decided it was time for Sharon to try her hand at horseback riding. Sharon had never ridden a horse before, so Sharon got to experience her first ride aboard the lovely Goldie. The ride was extremely scenic, winding through the forest with some white-tail deer (who clearly knew it wasn't hunting season) coming up to see what we were doing. Sharon admitted that half-way through the ride she nearly turned back to Matt and said, "I want one!" Some would argue that Auggie counts as a horse, so the Gosneys won't be full-time equestrians any time soon.

That afternoon Matt and Sharon took the dogs for a good, long walk (or as short-legged Penny deemed it, a death march.) Penny and Auggie seemed to enjoy the trip reasonably well, although Auggie made it clear he would rather go home by running to the back of the Pilot every time he walked past it as if to say "please open the tail gate, let me in and take me home so I can use the bathroom in my own back yard!" Auggie, being a somewhat timid giant, does not like using the restroom for an audience, certainly does not like the idea of doing so while attached to a leash, and certainly not in strange woods. So needless to say, Auggie was glad when we got home.

A Matt and Sharon tradition when vacationing is to stay at a place that has a grill so that Matt can grill a couple of steaks. Not to say that the steaks turned out well, but Sharon teared up a little she was so overcome with beefy emotion. Matt and Sharon of course got to enjoy some napping, reading, and puzzle-working (one of Sharon's favorite vacation activities.) The next day after some pancakes Matt and Sharon were back on the road. The trip was certainly enjoyable, despite the two ticks that Matt managed to inherit and the pollen-induced allergies that Sharon had to suffer through. Beaver's Bend is definitely recommended, however Matt and Sharon will probably hold off on another trip until the Fall to enjoy the changing leaves. And to avoid the pollen and ticks.



Below is a photo album of the trip. Hope everyone is well, and if any of you have a horse Sharon can have ... she's interested!