The Sojourn to Sunshine Farms.

As the guests of Ali and Deborah Sheikh, seven Morgans took to the road to Sunshine Farms,  located between Gilmer and Gladewater in East Texas . With our usual keen coordination, six of the vehicles made the starting place in Crandall. However, Ali and Steve Ward had arrived about an hour before the announced meeting time, Jeff and Yvonne Smith about an hour after the planned time, and Joe Aid just went directly to the Farm from his home in Tyler. 

Traci Murphy was marginally tardy, due to severe overheating problems with coolant blowing everywhere. While the +4 was cooling down, it was decided to raise the bonnet and take a quick inspection. Her radiator cap was missing! However, a search found it still in the engine compartment. So it was replaced and the five cars present commenced the 107 mile trip through the back roads of Texas in a beautiful, crisp, sunny Spring day. The group stopped briefly in Van for a short break and arrived at their final destination at about 11:30. Joe was already there, and due to the pause in Van, the Smiths were able to arrive only about 15 minutes later. 

There the travelers met and mingled with other invited family and friends and got to review the restoration and furnishing of the main house that has been now completed. It was in the early stages when we saw it last year.

 As lunchtime had now arrived, a huge and hearty Bar-B-Que buffet was set out on the verandah, which encircles the house. All queued up to partake of the tasty victuals and enjoy the open-air dining atmosphere as the food rapidly disappeared.

 Later, while some remained behind and enjoyed coffee and conversation on the porch, others trekked out to the outlying pastures. The first leg of the trek was to visit the lamas, goats, sheep, some bulls, a friendly horse named Willie and the marvelous herding dogs.  There were some kids (goat) in the pasture, so the very protective dogs would hardly let you near even to get a picture.

 Next we hopped into the vehicles for a jaunt over to see the original ‘dog-trot” style farmhouse which has been magically turned into a charming guest house. Then it was on to the far pasture just to get the lay of the land and discuss” rights of the road” with some napping cows and calves.   We eventually won, well they moved somewhat over so we could drive around them.  Returning back to the main house by the pasture roads we saw a small wild boar. 

 Back at the main house we visited with the new puppies just rescued by Deborah and they were a very friendly lot giving lots of doggy kisses to those who wished to partake. After the adventurers reached the verandah the two groups reconvened to share afternoon stories.                      

But as the day was getting shorter and Jos Lucas is our co-pilot, it was decided that we needed to take our leave in order to get home before dark. We gathered by the cars for a picture or two, the puppies came out to get our attention and try to hold us there. An idyllic afternoon in the country does have to end though.   It was a great outing, great weather, great location and great hospitality from Deborah and Ali Sheikh. Thank you.