A) Was chosen, one summer, to study "Federal Gov't" at Montana State U./Bozeman. For an added bonus, classes were spent at Big Sky Resort, as our"campus." That's not far from the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This educator and explorer had never been that far into our West by car....
B) One night I stopped in Nebraska, with the Indiana Jones idea of spending the night, in my car, in a cornfield. I had this "wild" plan to smell the Nebraskan countryside aka a cornfield! And did!
Early that morning, I awoke to the "putt-putt" sounds of a farm tractor near my car just inside the opened cornfield gate. A farmer was putt-putting away on his tractor, staring at me. I had been taught to always take the initiative when confronted with a problem, and got out and immediately explained, wiping my sleepy eyes, that I was an educator traveling to study in Montana and had wanted, at least once, to spend the night in a cornfield?
He continued to stare out of puzzlement....then laughed and invited me to follow him over to their farmhouse. His wife would prepared me a true Nebraskan COUNTRY breakfast!!! Well, I did....
C) Passed into Kansas and paused for a time in Lawrence, noting that a large university was there...summertime! Along the way, stopped at a small diner for, yes, my very first Bison 'burger...delicious!
D) My plan was to spend the night in Denver. As I approached from Kansas, could see the night lights of Denver up higher from the Plains, along the edge of the lower Rockies. However, Denver was hosting a huge square dance festival, with, it seemed, every gosh darn room taken! Turned north towards Fort Collins, another university town...in the dark.
E) Fort Collins, Colorado is another unviersity town. Spent the night in an old-fashioned downtown hotel. The, next morning early, drove straight north into Wyoming. Laramie was holding a great big RODEO. Yes, had to stop and enjoy and mingle.
F) Next stop...CODY, Wyoming! Stopped for plenty of time to explore the famous Cody museum before heading into Montana.
G) Last destination was Big Sky, where I would begin seminar classes on Monday morning at this resort for the summer studying "Federal Government." Neeeded, first, to go straight through Yellowstone National Park to get there, though. But, didn't realize how huge that very first American National Park was. Saturday night, decided to drive through the Park...late...and not stop until reaching Big Sky.
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE, driving through the night, with all kinds of critters out and about me on that narrow two-lane road through and around the Park loops! Saw Yellowstone Lake by moonlight...moose (what the heck is the plural of moose?)...coyotes...wolves...bison.
H) Made it to that first morning class on time!.....more....
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
12- OLD-FASHIONED 'COON HUNTING (NO gun!).....
A) My first and only "OLD-FASHIONED 'COON HUNTING" Adventure!...no guns, am NOT that kind of 'hunter'...my choice!
B) On one of my many adventures out and about my native Virginia, photographing, exploring and researching" in nearly every nook and cranny, this "Indiana Jones-kinda guy", met some country folks in Albemarle County, Va. up next to the Blue Ridge Mts. They described how they had, often, ventured up in the moutains, 'coon hunting....and invited me to go with them one evening....did I quickly say, uh, "YES!"
C) Was in a November, and little did I realize and know that THIS adventure would remain in my memory bank until today. And now I know!
D) My new country folk "friends" had invited me for a real country meal, of porkchops, mashed potatoes, a casserole and strawberry shortcake. After a fine meal, they took some time to explain how the 'coon hunt would go, warning me that I was in for some walking that night.
E) Using a farm truck, one of the guys drove what seemed to me straight up the side of one mountain, through the trees, over rocks and down a ravine...really! They were after the "perfect" area for 'coon activity that night. A plump acorn tree in an oak grove was THE destination, and one of the guys knew exactly how to find them in the middle of what looked like a mountain wilderness, in the DARK!...and we did.
F) Did I mention their coon dogs? No! There was Bessie...Jake...Gertie...and Eisenhower. Discovered that each one had a different bark sound for any given activity. The mountain guys taught me, quickly, to pause and listen. They knew what dog was doing what, when and where. Fascinated the living heck out of me....in the DARK roaming all over, up and down and sideways on that mountain!
Was this townie guy going to give up? NO!
8) TREED! That's the term... Finally, WE heard "that sounds"...TREED! And all of us took off down the mountain towards the hounds. Gould have sworn that this was the same spot where we first started at the cars? Flashlights...there was the little furry critter, high up in a tree, with the four coonhounds yelping and jumping around the base of the tree.
"C'mon, hounds...time to call it a...a night! Let's go over to the truck...."
9) "Wait...that's it?" I muttered, trying to stand up from fatique....... "Just thought of something...what was in that casserole, earlier?"
"Uh....'taters, carrots, onions and...and 'coon."
B) On one of my many adventures out and about my native Virginia, photographing, exploring and researching" in nearly every nook and cranny, this "Indiana Jones-kinda guy", met some country folks in Albemarle County, Va. up next to the Blue Ridge Mts. They described how they had, often, ventured up in the moutains, 'coon hunting....and invited me to go with them one evening....did I quickly say, uh, "YES!"
C) Was in a November, and little did I realize and know that THIS adventure would remain in my memory bank until today. And now I know!
D) My new country folk "friends" had invited me for a real country meal, of porkchops, mashed potatoes, a casserole and strawberry shortcake. After a fine meal, they took some time to explain how the 'coon hunt would go, warning me that I was in for some walking that night.
E) Using a farm truck, one of the guys drove what seemed to me straight up the side of one mountain, through the trees, over rocks and down a ravine...really! They were after the "perfect" area for 'coon activity that night. A plump acorn tree in an oak grove was THE destination, and one of the guys knew exactly how to find them in the middle of what looked like a mountain wilderness, in the DARK!...and we did.
F) Did I mention their coon dogs? No! There was Bessie...Jake...Gertie...and Eisenhower. Discovered that each one had a different bark sound for any given activity. The mountain guys taught me, quickly, to pause and listen. They knew what dog was doing what, when and where. Fascinated the living heck out of me....in the DARK roaming all over, up and down and sideways on that mountain!
Was this townie guy going to give up? NO!
8) TREED! That's the term... Finally, WE heard "that sounds"...TREED! And all of us took off down the mountain towards the hounds. Gould have sworn that this was the same spot where we first started at the cars? Flashlights...there was the little furry critter, high up in a tree, with the four coonhounds yelping and jumping around the base of the tree.
"C'mon, hounds...time to call it a...a night! Let's go over to the truck...."
9) "Wait...that's it?" I muttered, trying to stand up from fatique....... "Just thought of something...what was in that casserole, earlier?"
"Uh....'taters, carrots, onions and...and 'coon."
11- The BARN, EARLY ONE MORNING, WAITING For The SCHOOL BUS.....
A) I was 7-years-young, waiting for the school bus in front of an old brick house with a barn in back. There were a few of us, kids, waiting. All of a sudden, adults came running from different directions and towards the old barn in back. In the early morning semi-darkness, I could see them all standing, just peering into the opened barn door. No one ventured inside.
This little boy, as always, was curious about anything and made my way to the barn. Again, the standing men said not a word but stared inside the barn. To this day, I can hear the sound of a rope slowly twisting from inside the barn..... I dared not squeeze through to take a...a look-see.
B) You can complete this true experience..........
This little boy, as always, was curious about anything and made my way to the barn. Again, the standing men said not a word but stared inside the barn. To this day, I can hear the sound of a rope slowly twisting from inside the barn..... I dared not squeeze through to take a...a look-see.
B) You can complete this true experience..........
Friday, August 20, 2010
10- WORKING AT CIRCUSES and CARNIVALS In HIGH SCHOOL!!....
A) When they would come to my Shenandoah Valley town, a temp job was in store for moi!
B) My grandfather, Carl, my father, Melvin, and all of my Steffey uncles were huge fans of circuses, always visiting each one that came to my town in the Shenandoah Valley! My father, in his 'shop', designed and made miniature circus wagons when I was little.
C) My goal, as a kid, was to one day see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus under the bigtop!...and get a temp job putting it up! And when the impossible did happen, that circus coming to our small town, guess who was there at the crack of dawn?
D) That VERY EARLY Saturday morning three of us chums rode our bikes waaay out in the country to meet the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus by train. The country sidetracks of the C&O was the only spot for many miles to unload onto trucks and then on nearby to a large open farmer's field. We saw the lions, tigers, elephants cars being unloaded into cages. The work elephants did most of the heavy unloading, methodically and under the guidance of their trainers.
This young freshman high schooler, back then, never once thought of whether the animals were treated with respect and dignity. Today, I do think back over those kind of thoughts. During those early years of being thrilled about circuses, I observed a handful of traveling circuses and often slipped around "back" to watch. Now, I do remember "seeing" much more than just unloading an animal or an animal trainer "making" an animal perform a trick before "adoring" circus fans. More about those NOW feelings for another commentary!
E) We all three did get circus jobs. "WOW"...I uttered that exlamation over and over moving around and inside the upraised BIG Top. My jo was to help raise the side show tent nearby. That side show boss, around noon, brought us a genuine circus hot dog with "everything!" for lunch. And I, later, was given two (2) official tickets for the circus show later that early evening. Of course, my girlfriend at the time was invited. Since I had no driving license at the time, her father took us waaaay out in the country to the circus!
F) And what an ADVENTURE the entire looooong day was.... That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!
G) And those CARNIVAL sideshows...this boy soon learned the reality of the "carny life" by heading out to each on an early morning. They were called 'roustabouts.' Once, a gaggle of us boys opened a large carnival truck that had been sitting on the town fairgrounds. We began to pull out rolled-up tents and poles. From the middle of a sideshow tent? Out rolled a 'carny'...alive.
The neatest part of a carnival was the sideshow, with large paintings on canvas signs advertising the acts. I got to go inside, that evening, and see the performers...often polluted.
H) AND WHY DO I HAVE A BIT of SADNESS, though? At that age, had not discovered the wonderful world of cameras, especially since they weren't sophisticated! DID NOT take any pics of this momenteous period of my adventurous life...NONE! However, had, by then, developed that great "memory bank" system of storing visual details and senses. Can "bring up" detailed memories right away for "seeing" experiences and adventures in order to write about them....
B) My grandfather, Carl, my father, Melvin, and all of my Steffey uncles were huge fans of circuses, always visiting each one that came to my town in the Shenandoah Valley! My father, in his 'shop', designed and made miniature circus wagons when I was little.
C) My goal, as a kid, was to one day see the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus under the bigtop!...and get a temp job putting it up! And when the impossible did happen, that circus coming to our small town, guess who was there at the crack of dawn?
D) That VERY EARLY Saturday morning three of us chums rode our bikes waaay out in the country to meet the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus by train. The country sidetracks of the C&O was the only spot for many miles to unload onto trucks and then on nearby to a large open farmer's field. We saw the lions, tigers, elephants cars being unloaded into cages. The work elephants did most of the heavy unloading, methodically and under the guidance of their trainers.
This young freshman high schooler, back then, never once thought of whether the animals were treated with respect and dignity. Today, I do think back over those kind of thoughts. During those early years of being thrilled about circuses, I observed a handful of traveling circuses and often slipped around "back" to watch. Now, I do remember "seeing" much more than just unloading an animal or an animal trainer "making" an animal perform a trick before "adoring" circus fans. More about those NOW feelings for another commentary!
E) We all three did get circus jobs. "WOW"...I uttered that exlamation over and over moving around and inside the upraised BIG Top. My jo was to help raise the side show tent nearby. That side show boss, around noon, brought us a genuine circus hot dog with "everything!" for lunch. And I, later, was given two (2) official tickets for the circus show later that early evening. Of course, my girlfriend at the time was invited. Since I had no driving license at the time, her father took us waaaay out in the country to the circus!
F) And what an ADVENTURE the entire looooong day was.... That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!
G) And those CARNIVAL sideshows...this boy soon learned the reality of the "carny life" by heading out to each on an early morning. They were called 'roustabouts.' Once, a gaggle of us boys opened a large carnival truck that had been sitting on the town fairgrounds. We began to pull out rolled-up tents and poles. From the middle of a sideshow tent? Out rolled a 'carny'...alive.
The neatest part of a carnival was the sideshow, with large paintings on canvas signs advertising the acts. I got to go inside, that evening, and see the performers...often polluted.
H) AND WHY DO I HAVE A BIT of SADNESS, though? At that age, had not discovered the wonderful world of cameras, especially since they weren't sophisticated! DID NOT take any pics of this momenteous period of my adventurous life...NONE! However, had, by then, developed that great "memory bank" system of storing visual details and senses. Can "bring up" detailed memories right away for "seeing" experiences and adventures in order to write about them....
9- CLIMBING an OLD WATER TOWER......
A) The same chums who took a ride on that freight train also looked up, one day, nearby, at that TALL, OLD abandoned water tower and, yes, decided to climb it and touch the 'ball' at its zenth ......
B) This adventure, by the way, required a major ponderable. Was my turn, that morning, to go, uh, first. So, I slowly began the ascent up the narrow metal ladder on the outside of the tank. At times, would pause and look UP, without spying that 'ball' on the very tiptop, hidden around the larger storage water tank.
C) The other chums were on the ground urging me on up further. They were going to come up behind me. About halfway up the very tall and sorta terrifying ascent, this boy decided to stop and begin, backwards, coming back down. One of the other chums then went up...and, after a time, came back down. We all three never said a word then or afterwards, ever.
B) This adventure, by the way, required a major ponderable. Was my turn, that morning, to go, uh, first. So, I slowly began the ascent up the narrow metal ladder on the outside of the tank. At times, would pause and look UP, without spying that 'ball' on the very tiptop, hidden around the larger storage water tank.
C) The other chums were on the ground urging me on up further. They were going to come up behind me. About halfway up the very tall and sorta terrifying ascent, this boy decided to stop and begin, backwards, coming back down. One of the other chums then went up...and, after a time, came back down. We all three never said a word then or afterwards, ever.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
8- The MISSISSIPPI RIVER...VILLAGE of HANNIBAL...And THAT CAVE Of BECKY'S!!....
A) Another of my ADVENTURES was traveling across America to study at Montana State U. in Bozeman, Montana! Instead of flying, like the others did, I drove, for the very first time! And honestly rediscovered, down on the ground, my America. This native Virginian is even mo' of a patriotic kinda person, now, as a result of that trip!!!
B) Saw the Mississippi at St. Louis for the first time! And paused a bit to explore that Gateway Arch along the banks. By the way, what IS the official title for this Arch?................Jefferson Naional Expansion Memorial!
C) Then drove north along the river, going through the real country (love small country towns) to Hannibal! First thing I did was to get out of the car and wade into the semi-muddy Mississippi River, sans sandals, before exploring the quaintm historic small town. Yes, commercialization had moved in with real places. Remember, also, that the Samuel Clements award-winning fictional characters and places were just that...fiction.
D) ....more.....
B) Saw the Mississippi at St. Louis for the first time! And paused a bit to explore that Gateway Arch along the banks. By the way, what IS the official title for this Arch?................Jefferson Naional Expansion Memorial!
C) Then drove north along the river, going through the real country (love small country towns) to Hannibal! First thing I did was to get out of the car and wade into the semi-muddy Mississippi River, sans sandals, before exploring the quaintm historic small town. Yes, commercialization had moved in with real places. Remember, also, that the Samuel Clements award-winning fictional characters and places were just that...fiction.
D) ....more.....
Thursday, April 8, 2010
7- HOT-AIR BALLOONING...UP, UP And AWAY EARLY One ALBEMARLE COUNTY MORNING!....
A) My beautiful little daughter then, Sarah, spent the weekend with me and a friend from New England and had decided to visit and surr-prise both of us early on that Saturday morning! We had no idea whatsoever of what she was up to, not until she drove out in the country to an Albemarle County lodge outside of C-Ville. And there we saw the crew, preparing for sending alft a huge HOT-AIR BALLOON!
B) Was early...7:30am, needing to "catch" the early am currents! Best times to balloon ARE early in the morning or late afternoon. During the day, because we were beside the Blue Ridge Mts., the air current had a tendacy to move up the mountain. We didn't want to wind up across and over in the Shenandoah Valley. HOWEVER, doing so would have been another neat adventure on its own.
C) Ten (10) of us, three in my group, walked over to the small thatched box, thru the little door and were greeted by the Pilot. Before lifting off, he shared brief instructions on how the hot-air balloon system operated, making it all make sense! And then the ground crew loosened the support lines, and we were quickly off and moving up, up and away! WHAT A THRILL!!!
D) Did take a bit of getting use to the firing sounds of the pilot opening the burner above for hot air to drift up into the Envelope. I covered her ears, and she, within a few minutes of time, adapted and moved to the edge to experience the terrific adventure, as the balloon began to quickly soar straight up for height. She was OK for non-stop smiles spread across her face. And they were non-stop smiles for the rest of our hour flight!
E) We could see the lay of the foothils all around us, for miles, and up the old worn Blue Ridge mts., including barns....farmhouses...lakes...ponds. Horses and cows would see the shadows coming across from above, in their fields, and take off running, fearing something strange!
F) Once, the pilot went straight up into the clouds....then came back down to skim across the treetops, with Sarah reaching out and pulling off some leaves! She really had a smile for that one.
G) After an hour of so, the pilot searched for a good, treeless spot to land, and found one near a solitary house. As we slowly ascended, we could see, on this early Saturday morning, family inside having breakfast in the kitchen. Suddenly, the two childrend jumped up and ran out on their porch, excited to see such a HUGE hot-air balloon landing right near their home. The parents came out to join them, WITH a camera. What an ADVENTURE for them and for us.
H) By the way, "ron rascal" (college nickname) had taken my Nikon, as usual, and recorded the ADVENTURE....recently, sent Sarah pics of her at and inside the hot-air balloon!
I) ...a bit more coming....
B) Was early...7:30am, needing to "catch" the early am currents! Best times to balloon ARE early in the morning or late afternoon. During the day, because we were beside the Blue Ridge Mts., the air current had a tendacy to move up the mountain. We didn't want to wind up across and over in the Shenandoah Valley. HOWEVER, doing so would have been another neat adventure on its own.
C) Ten (10) of us, three in my group, walked over to the small thatched box, thru the little door and were greeted by the Pilot. Before lifting off, he shared brief instructions on how the hot-air balloon system operated, making it all make sense! And then the ground crew loosened the support lines, and we were quickly off and moving up, up and away! WHAT A THRILL!!!
D) Did take a bit of getting use to the firing sounds of the pilot opening the burner above for hot air to drift up into the Envelope. I covered her ears, and she, within a few minutes of time, adapted and moved to the edge to experience the terrific adventure, as the balloon began to quickly soar straight up for height. She was OK for non-stop smiles spread across her face. And they were non-stop smiles for the rest of our hour flight!
E) We could see the lay of the foothils all around us, for miles, and up the old worn Blue Ridge mts., including barns....farmhouses...lakes...ponds. Horses and cows would see the shadows coming across from above, in their fields, and take off running, fearing something strange!
F) Once, the pilot went straight up into the clouds....then came back down to skim across the treetops, with Sarah reaching out and pulling off some leaves! She really had a smile for that one.
G) After an hour of so, the pilot searched for a good, treeless spot to land, and found one near a solitary house. As we slowly ascended, we could see, on this early Saturday morning, family inside having breakfast in the kitchen. Suddenly, the two childrend jumped up and ran out on their porch, excited to see such a HUGE hot-air balloon landing right near their home. The parents came out to join them, WITH a camera. What an ADVENTURE for them and for us.
H) By the way, "ron rascal" (college nickname) had taken my Nikon, as usual, and recorded the ADVENTURE....recently, sent Sarah pics of her at and inside the hot-air balloon!
I) ...a bit more coming....
Sunday, February 14, 2010
6- WHITE-WATER RAFTING on the GALLATIN RIVER in MONTANA!.....
It was a scary thrill, through those wild river rapids in the Gallatin Valley, near Bozeman, that helped me become a much better and stronger person, inside. And, at the end of the float trip, inside, I yelled..."I DID IT, SQUIRE, I DID IT!"
Was studying the "federal government" with a special Montana State U. class meeting at Big Sky, all expenses. Intead of flying out to Bozeman, Montana, like the other ten from different schools, rr decided to leave early from Virginia and drive across country, for my first ever trip on ground. First night was in a small Illinois town, then off to see the great Mississippe River. Took time to explore the St. Louis ARCH. And then took the route up the river to Hannibal, Missouri. Explored that writer's old town, houses, cave and...waded in the M-i-crooked-letter, crooked letter-i-crooked-letter-crooked-letterhumpback-humpback-i!
Was studying the "federal government" with a special Montana State U. class meeting at Big Sky, all expenses. Intead of flying out to Bozeman, Montana, like the other ten from different schools, rr decided to leave early from Virginia and drive across country, for my first ever trip on ground. First night was in a small Illinois town, then off to see the great Mississippe River. Took time to explore the St. Louis ARCH. And then took the route up the river to Hannibal, Missouri. Explored that writer's old town, houses, cave and...waded in the M-i-crooked-letter, crooked letter-i-crooked-letter-crooked-letterhumpback-humpback-i!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
5- SUPPER With A POLTERGEIST?.....
One of my many interests, and adventures, included an invitation from an older country couple to spend the evening in their home. The invitation included, yes, a homemade supper and meeting the family dog, Sam. And as a part of my research on ghosts...a poltergeist.
The meal was in the large country kitchen...a new addition to the old home, with a reason why.
The poltergeist...the old country home dates back before the Civil War. A girl, who worked for the original family back then, began to experience strange and unusual occurances only when she was alone in the house doing her cleaning chores. Objects about the room in which she was working suddenly flew up and around, directed at the girl, often hitting her with force. When she would go outside on an errand, globs of mud would appear, as if thrown by someone with malice and strength. She, according to stories told in the county, would run and scream back inside, only to have objects about the room come flying at her. Mud, even inside, would suddenly appear and hit her.
When the girl left the house, in fear, the happenings ceased!
After supper, and listening to the elderly couple describe the tales told to them over the years, from the Civil War era, the husband told me to come over to the door from the kitchen to the older, original portion of the home. He proceeded to pick up Sam and carry him into the old sitting room. Immediately, Sam squealed and scrambled back into the 'safe' kitchen and turned around to mysteriously stare back into the sitting room, nervously.
The husband picked up Sam again and placed him once again further back into the sitting room.
The same mad dash to return to the kitchen happened again, with Sam turning and looking back, scared!
That's my story, and this educator, historian and researcher is sticking to it!
The meal was in the large country kitchen...a new addition to the old home, with a reason why.
The poltergeist...the old country home dates back before the Civil War. A girl, who worked for the original family back then, began to experience strange and unusual occurances only when she was alone in the house doing her cleaning chores. Objects about the room in which she was working suddenly flew up and around, directed at the girl, often hitting her with force. When she would go outside on an errand, globs of mud would appear, as if thrown by someone with malice and strength. She, according to stories told in the county, would run and scream back inside, only to have objects about the room come flying at her. Mud, even inside, would suddenly appear and hit her.
When the girl left the house, in fear, the happenings ceased!
After supper, and listening to the elderly couple describe the tales told to them over the years, from the Civil War era, the husband told me to come over to the door from the kitchen to the older, original portion of the home. He proceeded to pick up Sam and carry him into the old sitting room. Immediately, Sam squealed and scrambled back into the 'safe' kitchen and turned around to mysteriously stare back into the sitting room, nervously.
The husband picked up Sam again and placed him once again further back into the sitting room.
The same mad dash to return to the kitchen happened again, with Sam turning and looking back, scared!
That's my story, and this educator, historian and researcher is sticking to it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)