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Karen Stewart of Aberfeldy JAC reports
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So after a wild weekend of sightseeing and trying out some authentic Western nightlife with the other IYFE exchangees in Dever, Colorado i arrived a couple of weeks ago in Big Sky country- Montana. Staying on the Cape family's ranch about 2 hours drive from Billings Airport (8 miles of these are on a gravel road!) Middle of nowhere (...think Aberfeldy is in the sticks?...not a patch on this place!). But where i am staying, its beautiful wilderness, with Black angus cattle, horses and a few antelope, coyotes and wild horses roaming around too. The Ranch, although small by Montana standards has massive pastures and huge corrals and barns - so different to what we are used too - Everything is on such a big scale over here, from the roads and trucks to the machinary and farms (and of course food!).
My first couple of days were spend getting acquinted with the landscape, from the grassy plains, to the hilly pastures and endless badlands...all on horseback of course! My first weekend was epic...gathering in cattle and moving them from one pasture to another...all on horseback too of course! Was a fab (if not slightly scary!) experience...but one ill prob never get the chance to do again, so im glad i did it!. Felt like a proper cowgal , part of a crew of twelve (including one very cool Texan cowboy...who just epitimises the word cowboy!) I deserved my beer by the end of the afternoon (especially as it was into the 100 F's!).
Went to visit the Cheyenne Nation at a Native American reservation called Lame Deer a couple of days ago for their annual pow-wow festivities. I got to chat to some of those involved and watch all kinds of parades and traditional dances while they celebrated their fascinating culture and tradition. Also spent some time in Miles City- the town itself is apparently one of the few remaining true Western towns in Montana - it certainly had that feel about it- lots of boots, chaps and cowboy hats! July 4 weekend celebrations kicked off with a visit to the very top of the Beartooth mountains (over 10, 000 feet!) crossing into Wyoming, for breathtaking scenery, then onto the Red Lodge Rodeo to watch some crazy American cowboys try their luck on the back of a bucking bronco!
Everyone i have met over here has made me feel so welcome...almost eveyone i meet has some connection to Scotland...in fact most people will claim to have scottish heritage! So far my trip to the Wild West of America has surpassed all expectations - having a fantastic experience...and one i certainly wont forget. Pack up here tommorow and leave for the mountain town of Bozeman to rejoin some of the other IYFE gang, then off for a weekends exploration of Yellowstone National park!
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