August 28, 2023
On Thursday (August 17), as part of the FROG (Forest River Owners Group) Rally, we went on one of the bus excursions. It costs extra to go on one of the bus excursions, but we thought we’d try it this year.
There were 100 of us who went on the Bison, BBQ, and Boat Ride excursion. It took two buses to carry us.
We loaded onto the buses at the front of the fairgrounds and headed to the ranch, Cook’s Bison Ranch.
We arrived at Cook’s Bison Ranch with a beautiful sunny sky. Since there were so many of us, the passengers of our bus ate BBQ first, while the passengers of the other bus went to see the bison.
After eating, we discovered it was starting to become overcast. Our bus passengers loaded up into two wagons pulled by tractors. The wagon Bruce and I rode in reminded me of the covered wagons in Western movies.
It started pouring rain as we headed into the pasture with the bison. We got soaked as the rain came in the sides of the wagon. Everyone was in good spirits and laughing as we got wet.
Feeding the bison was interesting; they came right up to the wagon, stuck their tongues out to the side and rolled their eyes back. People dropped the large pellets of food into the bisons’ mouths.
By the time we headed back to the buses, it had stopped raining.
Dripping with water, we loaded back into the bus to head for the boat ride. We hoped for good weather on the boat ride and we got it.
The boat ride was on the largest natural lake in Indiana, Lake Wawasee.
The buses arrived at a pub’s parking lot. The boat was behind the pub, tied up at the dock.
We loaded onto the boat. Bruce and I decided to sit at the front of the boat, on the bottom level, next to the pilot house. While we waited for the boat to get underway, we watched a hummingbird at a house next to the dock.
As the boat motored across the lake, we saw swans feeding. A sail boat raced past us.
The boat reached the far side of the lake and turned around. As we cruised back, the sun was setting. We passed the swans again.
After the boat ride, we climbed back into the bus for our ride back to the fairgrounds.
I wasn’t sure if they picked The Frog Tavern to got with the FROG Rally or if that was just happenstance.
This excursion was well worth the extra money we spent.
Blackberry Homestead 
How fun. I love doing things like that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was that a Jolly Roger flag above a trash can flag? It looks like what Oscar the Grouch would fly if he were a pirate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed! I didn’t notice the flags until we were on our way back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am surprised that they have people feed the bison up close like that! There have been reports of bison charging at people in places like Yellowstone, but maybe the ones at this place are somewhat tame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While the ranchers said these were not tame animals, they have been raised with people handling them. Being in the wagons put us our feet just below the bisons’ head height. I would not have wanted to be walking in the field with the bison. They were a lot smaller than the Holstein cows I grew up with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting about the size of the bison vs Holstein cows. I am sure they would not have so something that was not safe. I guess bison and cows come is all sizes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remembered the bison in Yellowstone as being larger. That may have been because we were walking.
LikeLiked by 1 person