Mornin all, got to readin these post and then got to rememberin,, I crossed the mountain twice on horse back in my younger days, both back in the 70's.. First time was in Washington state, I was up there for bout 4 or 5 months, Met some great people, Went for a week or two with out seain anyone, Was just goin east and north,, as much as I could go,, Had more food out there then you have in a super market,, The next time I rode round Arizona for a month and a half,, Had my cousin with me that time,, Both times I would hit a town now and again and would find a lady that would take me home and feed me and wash my close, Would stay for a few days,, ( 3 was the most I ever stayed any where) But after a while both times I found out my horse would only laugh at my jokes for so long then it was time to be round people,, I lived in California for 40 years or so then headed back here in Kentucky , Had a guy ask me one time up in Washington if I ever got lost ridin round,, I told him, "I wasn't goin no where" He said he under stood that,, I now am retired and just takin it easy,, Had the Mennonites built this line shack, they call in a cabin here,, it's only 16 x 30 but my lady and I like it,, We still have horse's,, don't think I will ever be without em,, My line shack
was on a board that asked what was the dumbest thing any one ever did,, I added this to it,, Hope you all don't mind me takin up so much room,, just got to rememberin,, and at 57 years old, it was kinda nice,,
> The dumbest we ever done, huh ?? And you boys think what you did was dumb,, HA !! , Boys, grab a beer and have a set, let me tell you a story,,,,,
On my first trip over the mountain, this was in 73 I think, I rode darn near across Washington state on horse back. I spent 2 week's goin through the gorge, and it rain every day and I think it rained all day and all night those two week's,, I was headin east, ( what other way could I go, huh ? I had a big river to my right and a Canada to my left) After I got through the RR tunnel
and we won't even go there,,,, the light was red,, it was green on the other side when I started, so I had to get off the side of the mountain I was on,, There was no time to think bout it,, I got off the mountain, and it was DOWN to do it,, You ain't never,, even back here in Kentucky,, seen tree's so close together, callin this a knee knocker trail ain't even close to what it was,, ( now ,, be fore I go any farther, I am goin to tell you THIS IS NOT A BS STORY,, you asked,,, I'm tellin) after I get to the bottom there is a lake,, I ain't goin back up to the tracks, you can't sea that far ahead to know if another train is commin, and I didn't know the tunnel was there to start with, I had a map and was goin to a town for supplies,, But, they built a dam and the town was not there any more, they say it is, it's just under water,, anyway, I got to cross the lake, It's only bout 5 or 600 yd's so I cross it, My horse is tired and I know it, so I get a log, tie all my gear on it,, tie a bowline round his neck and we swim cross it, We get to the other side and we are really spent so I hobbled my horse, make camp, set up tent, got fire wood, make a fire, (after startin fire's in the gorge, I swear I can get rock's to burn, wet one's ) made grub and went to bed, I was spent,, Now comes the dumb part,, Durin the night my horse's snorting wakes me up,, then I hear CLUMP,CLUMP CLUMP, and it's gettin closer, I am tired, wet and not in a good mood, and NOT thinkin to well,, so, like a real DUMMY, I stay in my tent, in my bag and just stick my arm out the door and fire off my 45,, a colt 45, I can't hear nothin now, and I get real scared, I just figured out what a dumb thing I did, That was way passed dumb,, But the Lord look's after what ?? saddles tramp's and horse's,, I don't think that's how the sayin goes, but it will do for now,, I figure by the sound , it was a bear,, a big one, and lucky for me it left, I NEVER did or ever will, do that again,, I remember that feelin,, always will, Like I said, that was my first time, and I learnt a lot on that one, I don't think that was the dumbest thing I did on that trip, But it's the only on I will admit to,,
0k.. i'll quit now,,,
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Mod's,, if I got carried away, let me know,,
