VOA常速英语2013--科罗拉多牧场提供了许多有趣的活动

 

Colorado Dude Ranch¹ Provides Many Fun Activities 科罗拉多牧场提供了许多有趣的活动

MANCOS, COLORADO — Dude ranches² allow vacationers to experience the feel of the Old West...as they ride horses, and take part in other fun activities while enjoying beautiful scenery. 

One popular dude ranch in the US western state of Colorado is tucked³ in a stunning⁴ mountain location 2400 meters-high.

It's time for another hearty⁵ meal at the Majestic⁶ Dude Ranch.

又要开始在雄伟度假牧场饱餐一顿了。

Robert Bucksbaum bought the ranch in the San Juan Mountains 3 years ago. He’s a hands-on owner, who not only cooks for his guests, but also gets involved in the dirty work.  

罗伯特·巴克斯鲍姆三年前买了这座位于圣胡安山脉的牧场，他是自己动手的牧场主，不仅给客人们做饭，还做脏活儿。

"I love being around horses. When I came here I knew this is the right place for me," said Bucksbaum.

“我喜欢跟马在一起，当初来这里我就知道这里很适合我。”

Brandon Sanderson manages the riding program.  He says a dude ranch horse has certain characteristics.

布兰登·桑德森负责骑马项目，他说度假牧场的马有几个特点。

“You kind of look for a horse that has more of a herd⁷ instinct, that doesn’t want to be a loner, wants to be a group horse," said Sanderson.

“这里的马有群居的本能，它们不喜欢独处，喜欢和一群马在一起。”

He matches the horse to the rider's experience.  Christa Balogh tried riding for the first time this week.

他将马和骑者的经验相匹配，Christa Balogh本周第一次尝试骑马。

“It was hard at first.  Scary for that matter, very scary.  If you don’t have your feet situated⁸ right, you have no control," said Balogh.

“起初有些难，很害怕，如果你的脚没有放好，那就无法掌控。”

Wrangler⁹ Clint Show helps take care of the horses and leads trail rides.  

牧人Clint Show帮助照料马匹，还负责在小路上骑马。

“I really enjoy showing people how to ride, what it is to ride this country.  It’s really fun," said Show.

“我喜欢教人们骑马，怎么在这个村子骑马，真的很有趣。”

There's more than horseback riding at this dude ranch.

除了在度假牧场骑马外还有其他乐趣。

Greg Szymanski is bike riding with his daughter.  When she suggested they go to a dude ranch, he didn’t know what it was, but is glad he came.

格雷格·西曼斯基在和女儿一起骑单车，当女儿建议来度假牧场时，他还不知道是怎么回事，但他很高兴能来这里。

“When I got out here this was really great.   A lot of stars, horseback riding, mountaineering, a little climbing, it’s a good time," said Szymanski.

“来了后发现很棒，很多星星，可以骑马、登山、攀登，过得很开心。”

That good time also includes country line dancing.  Bonita Holden is a big fan.

开心的项目还包括土风舞，Bonita Holden就很喜欢这个。

“It is great exercise, and very good for your mind to remember all the steps, and it’s really fun," said Holden.

“很不错的锻炼，记住所有的舞步对大脑很有好处，非常有趣。”

Carolyn Glazner is taking on the challenge of shooting at a small moving target.

Carolyn Glazner在尝试射击一个移动的小靶子。

“The thing about the dude ranch is that it’s so different from anything you experience anywhere else, where you get to walk around in cowboy boots, be in the dirt, ride horses.   And those aren’t things you get to go in your normal life, and certainly not in the city, so it’s a great experience to try different things," said Glazner.

“度假牧场和之前经历的一切都不一样，在这里可以穿着牛仔靴到处走，弄得很脏，骑马。是在日常生活中没有的，当然城市是没有的，所以能尝试不同的东西是很棒的体验。”

She and her son Eric Green live near the beach in California and are excited about horseback riding in the mountains.  Green's overwhelmed¹⁰ by the beauty.

她和儿子埃里克·格林住在加州沙滩附近，很开心能在山上骑马。这里的美景令格林惊叹。

“I’ve never seen so many trees in my life.  It’s unbelievable.  You can see them as far as the eye goes.  So it’s beautiful.  It’s really different scenery for me and I love it," said Green.

“我还从未看过这么多的树，难以相信，目光所及处都是树木，好美啊！对我来说真是别样的风景，我很喜欢。”

Robert Bucksbaum says it makes him feel good that guests are having so much fun.

罗伯特·巴克斯鲍姆说，客人能玩的开心自己也感觉很好。

“You know, we've had people who are stressed out from their normal workday, and they come here and you can just see the stress being shed off day by day, and it gets better as the week goes on, and seeing the joy in their faces makes it really worthwhile," he said. 

“要知道，客人们平时的日常生活压力很大，他们来这里后，就能看到他们一天比一天轻松，一周过去了他们感觉更好了，看到他们脸上的喜悦，我感到这一切很值得。”

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

3 tucked   

塞进( tuck的过去式和过去分词 )； 翻折； 盖住； 卷起

参考例句：

• She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears. 她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。

4 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

5 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

6 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

7 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

8 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

9 wrangler   

n.口角者，争论者；牧马者

参考例句：

• When the strangled wrangler dangles the mangled spangles on the bangle jangle.被绞死的辩论者晃荡时，手镯上撕碎的小金属片发出刺耳的声音。
• A wrangler is a cowboy who works with cattle and horses.牧马者是放牧牛马的牛仔。

10 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。