It Was Fun Camping

Here is Becky with the calves and Becky and Jason playing in the Assay Creek by where we went camping with Grandma Gatha. It was a nice

place to camp if you don't mind the traffic which we could hear going up and down the highway, but not near us, as well as the leftovers from the cows! We did have fun. Jason enjoyed fishing, even with no bait, and fishing with his Grandpa Don. There were no other campers around us when we set up camp but one when we left.

Camp out

A week ago I went with Don, Gloria, Jason and Becky, camping. We went to a place near Hatch. A river ran by our camp. I hadn't camped for many years. I really enjoyed the experience. Don and Gloria have good camp equipment. They have an eight man tent with good cots and sleeping bags. It was fun to be there with Jason and Becky.

Becky entertained a herd of young cows. They were interested in her and followed her to camp. She and Jason fed the chipmunks and a baby bird that just fell out of the nest was hopping on the ground. Becky was thrilled about it and followed it. It was nearly dark and we had to go back to camp, but the next morning, the bird was gone.

Jason went fishing with Don. Each of them caught 2 fish. They really tasted good. That was enjoyable.

Here is the story of my experience

HERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY:
I saw the other fishermen quitting to return to camp, so since he was fishing on the other side of the lake from where they met by the four wheelers, I decided to go meet with them. Igathered my fishing poles and equipment in hand then decided to walk back around the lake a little higher to meet the others so I would not have to tackle climbing over the thick dead fall around the lake, thinking it would be easier. After I had got away from the lake going up the hill a bit, I blacked out. Once I was back alert I became very disorientated knowing the trail and the lake were on my left hand side. I panicked and started walking (which was the opposite direction that I should of walked). It was around noon (the sun is straight over head), walking thru the very thick woods with lots of downfall. Then I realized that I was lost.

Scott and Elaum was looking at Frank’s catch for the morning and noticed me packing up thinking nothing of it and noting I was getting ready to walk back to the wheelers, where they were. Frank left. Soon about an hour, 45 minutes later. Scott and Elaum realized that I had not made it back yet. They started calling me and shot Scott’s 45 pistol Dillinger shooting 410 shot shell in the air hoping I would hear it and answer. Nothing…

I walked down off the rim which was close to the lake. There was no way of going back up for me after I got down. I realized later I turned west instead of east. I was now committed to make a plan. I said a prayer asking for help to be able to come up with a plan. I remembered what one of the lessons we taught in hunters safety class. I realized that he needed to S T O P**….which is part of the lesson taught. S - stop, T - think, O - orient, P - plan. I also remembered what Dad had taught me if he ever got lost in the woods -- to always walk downhill, which would lead to help, or water, where help would be. So now I had a plan and knew I was committed. I did have a lighter in my fishing back pack and a fishing pole, so if I needed to I could get food to survive.

I had not had anything to eat since breakfast. My food and more drink was at the wheeler. As I walked there was no turning around. once I was off the cliff there was no way Iwas able to climb up it…. I was committed. All I could think of was let those who were with me know that Iwas alright. I said a prayer asking that they know that I was alive and okay.

Whenever I got tired weak I would stop and take power naps and find a spring from which I felt was safe to drink. As I walked I came across several small springs where I was able to get water to drink at three or four locations. I had an empty pop can in my backpack. I untwisted it then used my snips made a cup to use to drink with. When it got dark I slept under the boughs of a pine tree.
I saw lots of wild life … a huge 6 point bull elk with a smaller one traveling with him; a hundred herd of deer with only a couple bucks. Once I was attacked by a Crouse when Igot close to her nest.

I did loose my new prescription glasses, my hat, and part of one of the fishing poles which I was carrying in my backpack. I must of laid my hat down, walked away before I realized it was missing. I must of lost my glasses when I fell thru a hole in a downed tree when the dirt gave way, I fell hard and my ‘chrome’ knee got bent under me stretching it, giving me a fright. I wasn’t about to go back into the thick downfall to find them once I discovered they were gone.

Once I got quite a distance I came across the road and decided to follow it, soon I recognized the area I was traveling in. It was very dark and I could not see far, thinking someone would eventually come by I traveled on the road so I wouldn‘t loose it. I decided to lay down in the road after midnight. Soon I heard a vehicle. A pickup came by I asked for help saying I was lost. About 12:56 am Casey Mulligan, along with a companion, called the cell phone number which Gloria had at camp leaving a message that he had picked me up and was taking me to Boulder. (However there was no reception so she didn’t get the message until after the deputy had arrived at camp about 6:00 am later that morning. ) Casey and his companion were out Geo-caching.

Casey had given me a ride to Boulder Town, where I bedded down on the lawn of the LDS Church with the firefighters until they could notify the Sherriff later that morning. The Firefighters gave me some food and water. Casey called the cell phone again after 1:00 pm and reported that I was in Boulder and was okay, a little dehydrated and was given food and water. The Sherriff was contacted and he said he knew about me since the search and rescue had contacted him. Afterwards the Sheriff picked me up and took me back to camp arriving between 6:00 and 6:30 am. It took a good hour to go on those dirt roads up and thru Hellsback Bone Canyon to where we were camped.

I just couldn't believe it would happen to me.

A fork in the road

As I travelled down the rugged road
My shoulders ached beneath the load.
The sun was setting, the light grew dim.
It would not be long til I returned to Him.

I came to a fork where I had to choose.
One way I'd win, and the other I'd lose.
The lane on the left to the past it led
And sign on right "to the future" read.

I knew the past with its familiar lies.
I feared the future with unknown skies.
I longed for the comfort of things I knew,
Yet I searched my heart for what to do.

The familiar path though the easiest
Would never take me to what I love best.
To the past, though familiar I yearned to go .
The future held the key if I'd let it show.

I turn my back on old lessons learned.
To the future I veer. Blessings I'll earn.
Toward family, peace, self respect and love.
I can do this, I know, with help from above.

The road to the right remains well lit,
But the lane to the left calls me a bit.
When I stop and consider the price of sin
I am determined to to endure. I know I can win.

Kent Vance

Good ol' Grandpa

I just wanted to tell those who are posting pictures of Grandpa, "Thank you." I miss seeing his face. It is wonderful to stare at those pictures and remember him. I have posted a few comments on Larry's santa and Kent's most recent one about my memories about Grandpa. One special experience I had when I was on my mission was: I had met a lady who had talked about how she talked to her Grandpa beyond the veil, he had visited her a few times. This sparked a desire to see Grandpa, so one day in one of my prayers for the night I asked Heavenly Father to tell Grandpa Vance that I was thinking of him. I did it one or two more times, then I had a dream. I saw Grandpa, it had been sooo long! He didn't talk to me but I felt his love. It was a special experience. I just want all of you to know I sure loved Grandpa, I wish my children could have gotten to know him, they would have loved his jokes. I still tell my children when they tell me they are thirsty out where there is no drink in sight, "I'll spit in your mouth for you." So continued to post pictures and tell me about my wonderful Grandpa.!

When I was a kid

Sundays were structured differently years ago. When we went to church, it was an all day affair. Priesthood and Sunday School were in the morning, then we went home for lunch. Sacrament Meeting was later in the afternoon. Meetings like Primary, Mutual, and Relief Society were held on a different day of the week. I remember one Sunday, Grandpa Dunn passed out in sacrament meeting. All of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren got up and left with him. It was quite a crowd.

Occasionally on Sunday, we would go and visit relatives. One of those visits was to my Aunt Betty's house. Dad and Uncle Harold would hunt and fish together. Harold always had new equipment but their home was very modest. It had concrete floors with no covering. You entered the house through the kitchen and there were two bedrooms. The master bedroom and the kid's' bedroom. The living room was a long narrow room that doubled as a bedroom. I think it was there that I was exposed to our first television programming. We would watch the Loretta Young Show, The Grey Ghost, The invisible man, and when the test pattern came up, it was time for us to go home.

Some Sundays, we loaded up the car and headed for the mountains. Sometimes we went fishing. Sometimes we went for a pic nic, sometimes, we just went riding. We would sing songs and play games. Found a Peanut was a regular and so was Old McDougal's Ford.

Dad loved pulling pranks on us as children. He told us to watch for the Indian, Falling Rocks, and would point out the signs that warn to watch for falling rocks. He also told us that there was a rock in the Conejos River that had ice on it all year long. Actually the rock had an advertisement for block ice painted on it. Environmentalists have since pushed to have the paint removed from the rock.

Sunday Dinners were also an important tradition. When Mom cut up a chicken, we each had our "assigned" pieces. We each had assigned seats. Dad was at the head and Mom at the other end of the table. We always began with a blessing on the food. Once in a while, Dad would ask the blessing, "Over the teeth and through the gums. Look out stomach here it comes!". All of us but Mom found it amusing. We laughed and talked and enjoyed each other's company.

Those times we spent together made us strong as a family. We bonded, and we learned about each other.

I still enjoy Sundays. They are a time for worship and prepare for the coming week. I really miss the family activities. We are so far from each other.

Grandpa Bingham--62 years ago

Today is the 62nd anniversary of the day my dad died. It is really hard for me to even think of that time. In June Arlo and I drove him to Alamosa to enter the hospital as he was having surgery the next morning to repair a hernia.

We went to Ruth and Bill's and had supper and then went to a movie. He had the surgery and there were complications. He had pains from adhesions from a former surgery. They operated to remove the scars, but that was not successful either. He developed a bowel obstruction and it progressed to the point that it burst.

The day he died, Keith sent a telegram that he had been released from the Navy and was on his way home. We tried to find him, but were not successful. Some of the aunts and uncles met every bus and train that came into Alamosa. He was home in time to go to the funeral.

We no longer had a home and Keith wanted to buy back the farm and take the four (Leon, Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye), to raise them. He didn''t have the means to do that. After the funeral, Leon went to Farmington, New Mexico, Barbara went with Ethel and Don, to California, LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. Doris Faye went home with Arlo and me. Keith went to Los Alamos, New Mexico and lived with his friend Bud Richarson. He found work and remained there to marry Erma Rae and to raise his family.

The years go by, but the facts don't change that there was no place to go home again. After a year Leon went to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home. After 6 years Doris Faye also went to Grandma and Grandpa's home. Barbara was the last one to go to Grandma and Grandpa's home. All of them graduated from Manassa High School. I will forever be thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. They were a great blessing to us.

Santa

I remember when I was young that my father had a bright red beard and that Boyd Pagett had a dark beard. Dad worked for Boyd at Conejos County Gas and Oil. That bright red beard faded a bit as the years progressed. He shaved the beard for several years.



And then later he decided that the beard would come back. It seems that everything drifted from the top of his head to the bottom.



Arlo did enjoy acting the part of Santa. The children of the area would come into Conejos County Gas and Oil and whisper to each other and point at Arlo. They were discussing whether he was the "real" Santa.



It was natural for the younger generation to hop on pop. He did enjoy children on his lap. He loved to have them come and say that he was Santa.

My Prize

We spent a couple weeks in Utah last month. We had the opportunity to spend some time with my mother. She bought a new computer and I was compelled to use it while there to keep up on my blogging habit. In the craft/sewing/laundry/storage room that contained the computer was a collection of frames and pictures that were being prepared for the family reunion that was the coming week. There was one needlepoint that was to be mounted and framed. My mother asked me if I would help her with mounting it. I was not very helpful. The time there managed to expire before it was mounted. Mom wanted to mount the needlepoint using tape. I told her that it would not work well and that something mechanical would be much better. She sewed an extension on the needlepoint and stretched it around the back of the mounting board.

Before the work of art was mounted, I noted to Jeanette the nice appearance of both sides of the needlepoint.

We stuffed bags, ate out, looked at historical sites, and many other things.



The family congregated at the cabin that mom arranged to get for our use in Pine Valley. Those that attended the reunion were given the opportunity to earn storebucks for the family store. I earned enough to buy the needlepoint.

Now I need to find a nice place to hang my prize. I think it is beautiful.