Nature’s Embrace: A Family Retreat in Broken Bow
As I immersed myself in the final edits of Love at The Mayo, I found myself at a crossroads: a five-day family getaway to Broken Bow loomed ahead. Should I sacrifice precious editing time to join Robert and Sadie, our goldendoodle puppy, on the annual Ward/Dausses family vacation?
Ultimately, I chose to embrace the adventure, vowing to edit until noon each day.
We arrived on Thursday night, and on Friday, we spent the day lounging at a spacious log cabin that Robert’s parents had booked. Tucked away on a dirt road and surrounded by towering pine trees, the cabin felt like a sanctuary.
(Robert and Sadie are sitting around a campfire on the cabin property.)
Broken Bow is a nature lover’s paradise, nestled alongside Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River, surrounded by a national forest. This tranquil setting offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Early morning air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of pine needles, providing an inspirational backdrop as I, wrapped up in a blanket, edited outside. I listened to the owls hoot, the coyotes howl, and the birds sing.
One afternoon, Sadie barked excitedly at a curious possum wandering through the woods. During a stroll, Robert and I spotted five deer grazing near a nearby cabin, enjoying their company until a car startled them away.
On Saturday, we ventured to a park along the river. This year, however, our usual spot was taken by a wedding, so we settled on the right side of a ravine, where the gentle rustling of leaves provided a natural canopy. Although we had to watch out for falling acorns. At least, we maintained a respectful distance from the ceremony.
One of the highlights was introducing Sadie to swimming for the first time. She cautiously dipped her paws into the cool water, taking her time to get acclimated before finally swimming instinctively. Her joy was infectious, and we couldn’t help but cheer her on!
(Sadie enjoyed learning how to swim!)
Sunday afternoon brought another adventure: kayaking along the river. I shared a kayak with my adolescent nephew, a rare opportunity for one-on-one time that I cherished. He quickly turned into our nature scout, spotting a river otter gracefully diving beneath the surface and swimming toward the shore. In one of my favorite sections, where cedar trees were immersed in the river, we encountered turtles basking on fallen trunks, schools of gar swimming beneath us, and even another river otter popping up—perhaps the same one we had seen earlier.
Reflecting on the trip, I know I made the right choice. The memories created with family in the serene beauty of Broken Bow will last a lifetime.