Our 8th year on the ranch has come and gone and we could not be happier about our move.
What started out as a weekend getaway eventually turned into full time living in a beautiful little valley, we now call home. I think some of our family and friends back in town are still scratching their heads wondering what the heck we did. Our neighbor Paul warned us that might happen when we first got out here and he was right. It happened to him about 50 years ago and he just celebrated his 90th birthday out on his ranch. I’m not sure if it’s the water, or the dust or just the lifestyle but there sure are a lot of folks that live into their 90’s out here.
Someone else I know just celebrated a special birthday.
The mother of our two boys and love of my life.
Sexy 60! Go Con go!
We had a small family gathering in the back room at the Tres Pinos Inn in Tres Pinos www.trespinosinn.com with the In-laws and the Out-laws . If you are looking for a neat place to have a private gathering check out this excellent restaurant in Tres Pinos and ask for Morgan. She is fantastic and can accommodate all of your needs. The food is some of the best in San Benito County. Try the lamb, delicious!
Another fun restaurant just 100 yards away is The 19th Hole. This place is casual with killer steaks and burgers and a great vibe. You will feel like you stepped back in time to an old saloon but with great food and booze! A couple of my buddies affectionally call it "the scene of the crime". I don't remember why.......... Try the skirt steak, it's off the hook! (3) Facebook
I saw this online, and it tells the rest of the story about this great small town with the big attitude of "Grit and Grill".
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLT198HOk3q/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
If one horse is good, two are better, right?
After looking for a long time and a lot of help from Ramona Koch who owns Romona Koch Performance Horses, we found a great 2nd horse. Rio is a 12-year-old gelding and a was a perfect addition to the ranch. Rio and Shorty have become pretty good pals. Marley horse likes him too.
Before we moved to the ranch, I think I had been on a horse twice - once when I was about 5 and once down in Costa Rica that actually turned out to be a Jackass. Picture that, two jackasses riding down the trail together.
Connie had already been riding for about a year with another trainer from our area named Paula. I first saw Paula at the first cattle branding we were invited to on a big ranch past our place. She sat on this big horse and was darn handy with that rope. This lady who must have been about 70+ at the time was out roping everyone there. Tough as nails and come to find out later, a huge heart She worked a lot with Connie on the fundamentals of being a good horsewoman. After a while of watching Connie be so excited about riding, I got sucked in and was ready to give it a go.
Below is Rio on the left, Shorty and Rio getting to know each other and Connie and niece Olivia taking a ride together.
I got Romona's phone number in a round-about way. Thats her above by the way, and her horse Calvin on this year's 2025 poster for the San Benito Horse and Saddle Show Rodeo.
With my first call to her, she asked how much I knew about horses. I told her I was quite certain I knew which way the saddle pointed at which she quickly said (because she is no nonsense) "I'll have to call you back". I truly thought that was the last time I would ever hear from her. After a few weeks the phone rang and Romona was on the other line. She said she had a great trainer that she recommended, and she could come out to the ranch to work with me. This is how I met Christina. Christina had her work cut out for her. So, flush everything I thought I knew about a horse, which was about zero, and start from scratch. It was a little embarrassing and a lot humbling along the way. After getting bucked off (actually looking back I probably fell/bailed off, but I tell my city friends "I was "bucked", sounds tougher). Either way I hit the ground a few times and seriously thought about giving up. Too many people whispering in my ear about crazy horses and crazy things they did to people. Christina worked with me to rebuild my confidence and set the negative chatter from the doom and gloom folks to the side. Since I started working with Christina, I have been fortunate to been invited to several gatherings and even invited back to one that didn't work out so well - twice. Thanks Ed and Paul.
I cannot thank Romona enough for that call back and her recommendation of Christina. Also, for her knowledge and the patience she has had with Connie and me.
Ramona is one-of-a-kind and runs a great operation. Here is a link to an article our local paper did on her this last year - impressive!
Rodeo 2025: Ramona Koch and her enduring passion | BenitoLink
and here is a link to her website if you would like to know more about her operation.
About
Fish On!
Marc and Mike with some beauties out of the Truckee River.
My dad introduced my brother Marc and me to fishing at a young age. We grew up fishing the Lake Tahoe area and especially the first three miles of the Truckee River. The thin air and hot sun mixed with the pine scent was the best smell ever. Above is a nice haul of rainbows we caught on the Truckee at the Tahoe City Lumber yard. 50+ years ago access was easy, and the rafting business was just slowly getting started so getting on the river without all the hubbub was simple. If you have never floated the Truckee, it's a fun slow float through a stunning mountain landscape. You just have to put up with a few more people these days and fish well after they get off the river in the evening. Here's a picture of some folks having fun on the Truckee.
The Griddle, The Star, Murray Bar, 406 Saloon, Macs Last Cast, Jam along with Dillion, Livingston, Bozeman and Darby are names that will not be forgotten soon. A good friend at the time introduced me to fly fishing about 10+ years ago (thanks Stuart). My first true cast was in the Carmel River. After that I was "hooked". Many adventures later and I have been able to in turn introduce my two boys and a couple of good buddies to the sport.
Here's a band that was playing at the fairground in Ennis MT the night we met Rosco at the Silver Dollar Saloon. Reckless Kelly, "Ragged as the Road"
Bing Videos
Our fishing trip was back to western Montana, via an old-fashioned road trip with a couple of pals to fish some of the iconic rivers there. To describe the trip would take a lot more room than this already long blog - another time.
I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road...........
Johnny Cash sums up the trip in this song -
J-O-H-N-N-Y C-A-S-H - I've Been Everywhere - With Lyrics
A few pictures of the trip and a nice brown on the Ruby River.
We just got our beef back from the butcher this year. I started with a Hanger Steak, a Tasty Burger and our new way to cut the sirloin roast - Carne Asada. I marinaded the carne asada for 24 hours from a recipe I stole from buddy Ken on the fishing trip. I will squeeze in some chicken and fish into my diet soon........I promise.
Give me an email to get on the beef buyer list for 2026 or check us out at www.jnbranchbeef.com
Don't want to go all-in on a "side", you can head to DeRose Winery www.derosewine.com on Saturday August 2nd and try a gourmet JNB Ranch burger prepared by Al DeRose and the wonderful folks there. It comes with a great bottle of Vino and is a beautiful venue to enjoy an afternoon in our San Benito wine country.
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