COW TIPPING

Cow Tipping When I was a kid the group of boys I hung around with were basically pretty good kids. Not as perfect as I would like people to believe sometimes. We did make a little mischief now and then, which was hard to do in a small town. Eveyone knew all of our pranks and it was hard to come up with new ones.

We would set a bag of dog poop on fire on somebodies front step then ring the door bell and run. Out of the dozen times we tried that one, not once did anyone come running out of the house screaming and stomping on the bag to put out the fire. They would just kick it off the porch and hollor in the darkness that they were going to tell our parents. But they didn't know exactly who it was.

I guess our favorite mischief was raiding gardens. Just about everyone in town had a garden. We'd sneak around after dark and feast on cucumbers and carrots. Our favorite garden was our postmaster's. He had a higher fence but he grew strawberries and raspberries, that was living. Every now and then someone came out and chase us away. We'd head for the bushes and again they would hollor into the darkness "Get out of here before I send the dog out." Which was a laugh because just like they knew all the rotten kids in town we knew all the rotten dogs. And chances were there dog was already with us along with there kid.

But the one almighty prank of pranks, the one thing that would put us in the book of famous pranksters, would be if we could tip a cow. Let me run through this real quick for those of you who never heard of cow tipping. First off, cows sleep standing up, We did'nt know why they slept standing up, maybe thier legs won't bend that way or maybe it's to keep predators away. If it's the predator thing it didn't work to keep us away.

There was only one person in town that had cows. His first name was Premo, and He had about ten cows in a small pasture. We tried this once before, but too many guys showed up at Premo's pasture. We had a possey of twenty-five teen age boys. Premo came out and shot his shotgun in the air, we took off running in all directions and the cows scattered all over the place, what a mess. But that was the year before and we were ready to try again.

Wally was the first to mention it. He said that me and him could do it and not tell anyone else. We'd go out at midnight and tip us a cow. That sounded well and good but Wally could sneak out of his house at midnight. I couldn't, to many sisters and a brother. Some one would always wake up and set off the alarm then everyone would wake up.

I would have to tell Marty so we could go camping. It would be just the three of us. But Marty's cousin Stan was staying over, could he come along? O.K. but thats all except for Russel who was a slow runner but always wanted to tip a cow. But that was it, just the five of us.

Everything was in place. It was midnight. So the seven of us , Jim and Billy couldn't be left out either. We snuck off down the road to Premo's pasture.

We had a meeting before hand and made a plan. Wear dark cloths, no flashlights, be very quite. Aproach the cows with the wind in our faces so they could'nt smell us. When we found the right cow, Me and Wally would tip it. Every one else would be quiet and watch. If it didn't wake the others, someone else could tip the next cow, and so on. And by all means don't do the bull.

All of a suden here we are. Quitely one by one we went over the fence. We could see all the cows appeared to be sleeping. Premos house was dark, he had no dog. The wind was to our faces. We tip toed, crept and crawled up to a likely cow. We could do this. Me and Wally moved in for the score. We were at its side, the cow was sleeping, we didn't wake it. I slowly put my two hands side by side by it's front shoulder. Wally was possitioned at it's rear flank. Quitely he motioned One- two- three, and together we pushed with all our might. It wabbled, and for a second we thought it wouldn't go down. Then after the wabble it wiggled and shook. It turned fast knocking Wally down on his butt in a big warm cow pie. It took off runing and mooing and bumped into another cow that was sleeping on its feet. That one was mader then the first, it groweled at us. All the cows and the bull woke up. All mooing and running blindly in the small pasture . Seven fourteen and fifteen yeary old boys running to get out of thier way.

The cows tipped over two more boys. Stan and Billy were tipped into cow pies by diferant cows. Luckly no one got stepped on in the stampeed. We all made it over tha fence and out of danger of the mad cows. We were in the trees before Premo came out.

We didn't get a cow tipped, and we never tried again. Those cows probably were`nt even sleeping, just being quite. I think the joke was on us. But the younger boys in town thought we tipped one, so we were heros. We didn't want to dim thier impression of us so we let them think it.

*******************************THE END**************************

HOUSE ON HOLLYHOCK HILL

House on Hollyhock Hill (part two) So the big night came. I said I was staying at Marty's house, Marty said he was staying at mine. We took our sleeping bags and flashlights. Taking guns or knife would be braking the rules of bravery. When we went out, it was just starting to get dark. There was a dozen or more guys at the fence line to support us. The older ones gloating because they made it. The younger ones shaking in fear knowing that in a year or two they would have to go in to test there manhood and test fate.

Some made it some didn't. We all knew the ones who did. The ones who didn't were all dead or in the mental institute.

So there we were at the door, I turned the handle. the watchers held their breath. We were in. We stood frozen in the door way. We both contemplated turning and running for home. But if we did we wouldn't be able to live in this town anymore.

Timidly we started to explore before it got to dark. Everything was dusty, the white lace curtains hung limp, it was deadly quit. We went from room to room. We looked out the window. There they were, at least twenty guys watching to see if we would run.There were pictures on the wall of a woman, it must be her. The wallpaper was ripped, the floor was dirty. I heard a sound and turned quickly, a mouse. Good, it wasn't a ghost.

It was dark now, we rolled out our sleeping bags in the front room close to the door. We had our flashlight's on when we heard the click at the front door.We went to investigate, thinking someone was fooling with us.We found the door locked, no one was around. Minor panic, how did that happen? We tiptoed around to the side door, it too was locked.

Then we heard a sound from upstairs thump, thump,------thump, thump, Like a ghost walking around. then an eerily quit hung over the whole place . We were'nt really trapped because the doors were locked, half the windows were broken we could have gotten out.

looking out the window into the dark we though we could see reflections of light coming from an upstairs window. the same one we earlier heard the thumping sounds. What time was it we didn't know, we both forgot to bring a watch. It's going to be a long night. Dog's barking sounded different. They say dog's know when a ghost or death was around.

Then out of no ware a cat came flying down the stairway screeching as if it was being chased by the devil or flung by a witch. Then I swear I could here laughter from above. It must be the ghost Hanna. Now we were scared, Marty grabbed the door handle, I was right behind him. It was locked. Good thing we couldn't run, we huddled close together. We heard the side door slam and evil laughter. We froze and stayed that way all night we couldn't move, we couldn't sleep. But after the door, all we heard was small sounds, mice, dog's in the distance, bug's buzzing, wind, our heart beats. We didn't even talk except in whispers.

It was a long night but morning was coming, the sky was getting lighter. We though it was just about over when BANG the said door opened. We jumped, then from the side room came three older boys. One of which was my friend Wally, with him was Bebo and Gordy. We were white, they were laughing.

They told us we made it. Then they told us the rules. Then made us swear a blood oath that we would never tell anyone what happened in the haunted house. It was them upstairs making howling noises, it was them with the cat, and slamming doors and laughing.

We just had to wait one hour and walk out the front door. We couldn't say a word to anyone, just go home. They would be out front with everyone else and would signal us when we could leave. When the signal came, Me and Marty were still white as sheets. We were dead tired so saying nothing was easy. We went home and to bed.

The following years we were allowed to be part of the older guys scaring the younger boys.
That house wasn't haunted after all. Hanna Helstroms haunted house on Hollyhock hill was just a house.

I missed that haunted house. I guess I miss it still.


*************************THE END******************************

HOUSE ON HOLLYHOCK HILL part 1

House on Hollyhock Hill. (part 1)


I grew up in a small town with a post office, a gas station, a junk yard and a school that went up to the sixth grade. We had no other business's. But we did have a pretty good ice skating rink, and a baseball diamond at the school yard and a population of kids that must have been four kids for every set of parents.


There was always something going on in the summer time. We had a never ending baseball game going on at the school yard. When ever you got there you would go on the team with the least players. The teams were always changing, kids were coming and going.You could always win or lose marble or trade baseball cards all day, all summer in the school yard. There were girls there to, but back then we didn't mix much, on perpose anyway. The girls played hopscotch and jacks. they played with paper dolls and hulla hoops. In general life was good in Parkville in the sixtys.


The one worrisome thing both boy's and girl's had in common was the house at the end of Hollyhock Hill road. It was only two blocks from the school. It was huge, three stories tall with a cellar some people say it had a dungeon. Everyone knew it was haunted.. Everyone.


Us boys would go up to the base of the fence line at the top of the hill. Then one by one we would take turns running up the path and touching the door and run back to show how brave we were. Then just to be safe when we got back with the others we had to spin around in a circles three times spit on the ground and say "Hollyhock Hana from Hollyhock hill ,the devil was watching and he's watching still." We'd say this for protection from the ghost of Hana Helstrom. She was said to have killed three kids in that very house then hung Herself from the rafters. And it was said that she left a note saying She would come back from the dead to get anymore kids She could catch in Her house. needless to say we might have been brave enough to touch the door but we were'nt about to go in.


Not then anyway. But before we hit sixteen ,to show we were a man ,we had to spend the night in Hana Helstroms hunted house. For all the brave talk nobody wanted to spend the night in that house. And nobody wanted to be the one who wouldn't.


Other boys have been spending the night in that house for at least one hundred years or so. But whenever they came out, it was always the same. None of them would ever say What happened in that house.They all looked white and shaken.


At different times we've all seen candle light in the windows. and the white lace curtains blowing without a wind. Sometimes we would see shadows pass in the windows or hear strange sounds.


In the summer of my fifteenth year it was my turn. I was going in with Marty. We would spend the night. My good friend Wally who was one year older then Me and Marty spent the night in there last summer. He has never said a word about what happened in there that night. All we were told by any of the boys that were older was make out a last will and testament. Sometimes boys would die or disappear in there. Sometimes they would go mad and end up in a mental institution. We were worried because if an older guy said something like that you just knew it was true.


(To Be Continued)

RAINBOW STEW

***RAINBOW STEW***

When I was a kid in the early sixties we boys had an old friend who was kind of a hermit that lived on the edge of town. We didn't know his real name. We all just knew him as Texas Bill. He was harmless and everybody knew it. But our parents didn't like us over their a lot. He was kind of wild and ruff around the edges. He told wild stores about his cowboy days. He told us that he actually shot and killed Comanche Indians and other bandit's. Our parents all said it wasn't true He was crazy and making up stuff. We didn't know for sure but we liked the stores.

We did know for sure he was a good trapper. He would snare rabbits and squirrels and other small animals. Or he would shoot them with his .22 rifle and He tough us all to do it to.

Every Saturday Me, Russel, Marty, Wally and a few others would show up. We'd go out in the woods with him to check His traps and see what we were having for lunch. And part of the unwritten rules for our Saturday rainbow stew was we had to steal something to put in the pot. Texas said we was suppose to get it without anybody knowing we were taking it. And by "it" I mean things like potato's or onions or carrots anything eatable that we could sneak away from home. Just something to put in the pot to share with the others.

Well that's all fine and good. I think most of our parents knew about it and chose not to say anything. After all whats a hand full of green beans or a can of corn.

But one of the worst exceptions was Russel's father. He was kind of mean and didn't like anybody. So if Russel got caught swiping anything for the stew He'd get a whipping.

Well on this particular day that's exactly what happened. When Russel's father came home from work He went out to water His garden. He discovered someone had taken three of His biggest tomato's. Then somehow He found out what us boys were up to.

He showed up at Texas Bills shack with the cops. We were in his back yard sitting around the picnic table and on stumps We used for stools. The big black pot was still bubbling over the camp fire. Russel's father came over ranting and raving his face was red, spit was coming out of his mouth.

And as Russel will tell you to this day for a fat man His father can hit pretty hard. And he started hitting Russel then and there on the side of the head knocking Him to the ground. The cop didn't do anything to stop Him. But Texas Bill picked up his rifle which wasn't loaded but it made a good club, even for Texas who was about one hundred years old. He hit Russel's father with the rifle butt right in the face.

Then the cop stepped in and grabbed Russel's father before He killed old Texas. Russel's father had blood on his mouth and a broken tooth. Texas told Him "If you hit that boy again, I will put a bullet in this here gun and shoot you right between the eyes". Everybodys mouth' went wide open. Including Russel's father and the cop's.

Then in a small cowardly voice Russel's father turned to the cop and said. " Did you hear what he said to me". The cop looked at Him then He looked at the old man with the gun, and at us. He turned back to Russel's father and said " I heard Texas say if you hit the kid again He's going to press charges."

Russel's father was real careful about what He said about Texas or our rainbow stew Saturdays. But He was still a mean man and every now and then we seen or heard something. But we were afraid to tell Texas. Because we knew he would kill him and end up in jail. Russel wouldn't tell us anything.

We were around thirteen or fourteen, what could we do? We told our parents. All they said was stay away from Russel's house. We couldn't do that, Russel was our friend. And we quietly wanted to let Russel's father know we were around watching and we were Texas Bills friends.

Well, Russel made it. He grew up and moved in with His brother in His senior year. The rest of us made it to.

***************THE END***************

TEXAS BILL

We moved to Parkville when I was in the sixth grade, I was eleven in 1959.

The first person I met was Wally, who lived three houses down. We were still unpacking when He knocked on the door and asked my mom "Do you have Any kids here my age." Well my mother though I was the one out of the four of us that was closes to his age. So she brought me out. He then introduced himself and asked if I wanted to go out to play. It was winter so we went sledding and have been friends ever since

It wasn't long after that, that Wally introduced Me to Texas Bill. Texas was an old man that lived on the edge of town. He was skinny and would have been tall if he could stand up straight, but he was all bent over with artheritis. He was very old, when asked , he would say he thought about one hundred, but wasn't sure. He had a twinkle in his eye, and a couple of good yellow teeth, everything he ate had to be soft.

He had a very small house that use to be a one car garage. He had a couch that turned into a bed, a wood burning cook stove that He used to heat with , and a bathroom so small he had to take a bath in the kitchen in a wash tub. He did most of his cooking and cleaning and living outside in his back yard.

Most of the adults in town said us boys should stay away from crazy old Texas Bill. He might be dangerous. And his story's were all lies anyway. They probably were jealous, Because all the boys in town would rather listen to Texas then their teacher , or even their father.

He taught us a number of important things like how to spit and fight. He told us how to sharpen our pocket knifes and play mumble peg, and how to cuss ,and how to be polite to girls and women.

But his stories were the best part of our visit. He said he was a Texas Ranger. He would talk about the bad guy's He tracked down , Like Sam Bass and John Wesley Hardin. He told us of gun fights and ambushes and riding horses across the plains chasing rustlers or murderers. He fought Comanches and chased Mexicans bandit's back across the border.

He told us stories of when he was in the wars WWI and WWII. He was in the Calvary in both . The first with horses and mules, the second was mostly trucks.

We all though he was a man among men. A real live hero. We couldn't understand why the adults couldn't see this.

He told us other Texas stories to. Like of the Alamo, He could make you feel like you we're there, along with Sam Huston, Jim Booey, Danial Boone and the rest of them fighting to the last man to make Texas free.

In our minds their was nothing crazy about Him.

About the time I left home my little brother started hanging around Texas Bill's place. Then I was eighteen and I was sounding like all the other adults. I told my brother He's just a crazy old man in a little shack telling lei's. Nobody could have done all the things he say's He's done.

Two years later I was in the Navy and half a world away when I got a letter from Wally. In it was an obituary for Captain Monroe Fox formally of the Texas Rangers, veteran of world war one and world war two. Born 1865 in Brownsville Texas died 1968 age 103 Known locally as Texas Bill.

I don't know what happens to us but somewhere between childhood and adulthood we lose the ability to see anything special in someone that's plain and unspectacular.

****************************THE END************************

STICK HEAD

*********STICK HEAD*************

I suppose this isn't a peticuler happy story. But it was a happy time

In 1958 I was ten years old in the forth grade. Life was good , we lived in the town of South Grove. and it was the start of spring, the snow was leaving, the days were getting longer and us kids were having a wonderfull time. we were finding ponds full of frogs and pollywog's. That was our thing in the spring of 1958.

That's also when we got a new kid in school. He seemed OK. I can't remember for sure what His real name was, I think maybe Steve. Anyway, He was a little small for his age and he missed school alot because he was sickly. But when He was there we all played together. Even being small he could play all the games we played. Tag, dodgeball, marbles, and generally running around and being ten.

The reason we called him Stick Head was the fact that he didn't have any hair. Non at all. But for some reason we couldn't understand when he came to school, or was in class His mother made Him wear a wig. It was a bad wig but he had to wear it. When we went to His house to get him to come out to play. His mother would make us wait on the porch. And She would take Him into the bedroom and stick his wig on his head. He had some kind of glue stuff He used to stick it on with.

When we ran through the woods He would take it off so he wouldn't wreck it Then before We went home, We had to help Him stick it back on.

My most memorable day I had with Stick Head would have been forgetable with anybody else.

We were playing in the school yard, just boy stuff. But our teacher Mr. Left who was overly protective of him seen me push Him pretty hard from behind. Old Stick Head went flying flat on his face.

Mr. Lefts solutions to boys fighting in the school yard was only one thing. He would take the guilty party's down in the basement of the school. Put us in over size boxing gloves and let us fight. He would be the ref and stand close to the side of us so He could stick out his hand to block any blows that looked like they might be to hard. He though it was punishment. We boys more or less had fun with in. Each combatant got in a couple of blows. Then the fight would end in a draw. Every one was happy.

But this time Mr. Left wouldn't let me get in any blows, And Stick Head got in quite a few. Then again out of character Mr. Left told me, He better not ever catch me playing ruff with Steve (or what ever His name was) again.

We all thought that was weird. But like everything else the teacher told us we forgot it, and went back to being ten.

Well it wasn't long after that we saw Stick Head in the back of His family car leaving town. They had to move. I never seen or heard of Him again.

Fifty years ago is alot of time. If I knew then what I know now. I wouldn't have played ruff with Stick Head or pushed Him from behind.

I'm glad I didn't know then what I know now. Stick Head would have missed out on a little bit of childhood. And so would have I.

**************************THE END********************

DANIKA'S ADVENTURE

Danika's adventure with Grandpa.


Life is full of adventures. Some are big, some are small. Their are scary adventures, brave adventures, Sad or happy adventures. but the best adventures are the ones you can share.

It's like the question; If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise? The answer is; It doesn't matter.


This is an adventure Me and my granddaughter Danika shared in 2003. Danika was ten and I was old enough to drive the four-wheeler.

At the time I had a bait shop and trapped a lot of my own minnows. Dani was visiting me and her grandma for a week.

On that day we got on the four-wheeler and headed to rainbow river, a round trip of about eight miles. Out of tower we went east to the taconite trail for the first leg of our journey After about one mile we got on the rail grad section of the trail. This was smooth running so we were making good time. And me with tunnel vision was watching straight down the road. Dani, riding on the back was an excellent observer. She was seeing everything ,birds, squirrels and rabbits. Her head was swivling left and right up and down. then all of a sudden, little fist were pounding me on the back. Dani was trying to be heard over the sound of the wheeler.

When she finely got my attention I stopped. Dani was out of breath from excitement. But when she told me she seen a moose, I was excited. But a ten year old, come on. she might have said mouse."not moose". Ya but does she know a moose from a deer, Their is a lot of deer around. But we were going to find out.

We drove a little further until we found a place to turn around. We went back, we drove slowly hopeing that what ever it was, it was still there. What's the chance?

But there it was. A moose, a real moose. It was a gigantic female at least fifteen hundred pounds. Bigger then a horse and twice as ugly. We stopped the wheeler and shut it off to listen. It didn't move much at first. Then it started to walk around. Not threatening but I was getting a little nervous. This was spring and she probably had a calf with her.

A moose doesn't have claws or sharp teeth but it does out weigh Me, Dani and the four wheeler. If she was defending her calf I had no doubt that she would try to kill us. But after watching ten to fifteen minutes it wondered out of our sight.

Seeing a moose in the forest is a lucky omen. I'm in the woods all the time. If I see a moose once every ten years I would consider myself lucky.

So we happily continued our journey through the forest to Rainbow River. We collected our minnows out of the traps, and headed back. We tried to find the moose on the way back, no luck. Dani stayed with me at the bait shop and we told everyone we saw that day about our moose encounter. We had a good week.

So not only is Danika pretty, a star athlete in volley ball, a musician in the band and an honer roll student. she is the best wild life observer I've ever been in the forest with .

************not even the end**********
Love Grandpa,

A HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE

*A hike around Angleworm Lake*

(part two)

Angleworm Lake was shaped kind of like an angleworm but more like a hot dog about one hundred's yard's wide and about five miles long. Like a fat river with no current. It had mostly sandy beaches and on one side it had a cliff. The trail went over the top of this twenty foot cliff to give us a view of the whole lake.

In the sandy spots we found a lot of animal tracks. We had a boy scout hand book with us. So we were able to identify all the tracks we didn't know. We found of course deer, moose, rabbit and raccoon. We might have seen wolf tracks , but Banjo was running all over making his one tracks so we couldn't tell for sure.

Banjo would be a big help if a bear showed up. If a bear hears a dog bark he'll take off running. Everyone knows that right? At least we hoped that's what would happen.

We got to the first rest stop on the right side of the lake It was on that cliff half way to our camping spot. So we rested, we looked around for tracks and eatable stuff. The rules about finding eatable stuff in the woods is If the dog won't eat it, you don't eat it. We were pretty safe because Banjo wouldn't eat anything we wouldn't eat.

Banjo was a good dog. He liked to run a lot. He was what you would call a mutt. Back then nobody made excuses like "he's a retriever mix" or " he's a cockaterrier" or some other exotic designer breed. Banjo was a mutt and happy with himself. So what. He was mostly brown and black spots on a white background. He was about as big as a collie but with shorter hair. He didn't know any tricks but everyone liked him just fine.

We continued our hike,we made it in a total of four hours. I know that because I borrowed my dads watch so we would be on time for our ride home.We started our hike at 10:00 AM and got here at 2:00PM. So to meet our ride at 6:00 PM tomorrow we would have to leave at 2:00 PM to get their on time. We're going to be safe so we will leave at noon. We do want to go camping again.

We set up camp on a beautifully sandy beach with a fire pit and bench. We pitched our tent so we could see the fire and the lake. We tried a little fishing no luck. So we made supper. cool aide, beans from a can and hamburgers. we seen some tracks around our camp site mostly deer, no bear, good.

We told stories into the night. Then with stars shining we let the fire go out and we fell to sleep

two tired and wore out adventurers and one brave bear dog was sleeping soundly till morning. Me and Marty got up early about 5:00 AM . Their was a mist on the lake and the sun wasn't quite up. Banjo was in the woods doing what dogs do in the woods.

Then we seen it coming out of the fog. A moose, A gigantic moose horns and all coming right at us. We were in our underwear. Marty called Banjo. I could hit it with a rock, and he was getting closer. We backed into the trees about the time the moose stepped on our pup tent. Then out of nowhere came Banjo, Barking and yelping at that moose at least one hundred times bigger then him. Then he actually bite the thing on the ankle. That just made the moose mad, It started to bat our tent and camping gear all over the place with it's horns. Banjo kept barking and running at him. We were hiding just out of reach in the tree line.

Then he got Banjo. That moose hit him with the side of his horns. the dog let out a yelp and was flung like a rag doll, into the brush. Then Marty and Me started yelling and throwing rocks and chunks of wood at the moose. Marty hit him right on the forehead. It didn't even faze him. Then just like that he just turned and walked away.

We were shaking, all the bravo gone. Our camp gear was a mess and our poor dog Banjo, When we found him he had blood on his side and he couldn't move. What do we do? We were trained boy scouts. What do we do?

It was 5;00 AM we built up the fire, carried Banjo over to it. We boiler water and got out the first aid kit and boy scout hand book. Banjo had a little blood on his side and couldn't move without groaning. nothing in the hand book to cover that. We were on our own. We cleaned him off and fried up all the bacon, and gave it to him.

How are we going to get him back to our pick up spot five miles away. But we had to get out of here with wild moose running all over the place it wasn't safe.

So we collected our camping gear and made a litter to carry banjo. The sun was up the fog was gone. We felt safer. But we had to get moving. carring the dog was going to take us a lot longer then four hours. It was 6:00 that gave us twelve hours we should make it, So we started our hike out with Banjo moaning and groaning.

On the way out it seemed we could go only fifteen minutes before we had to stop and take a break. This was much harder then we though it would be. We never thought once of leaving Banjo behind so we could go for help. Banjo risked his life to save us. so we trudged on trying to make him comfortable. we finely got to the half way point on the top of that cliff.

We had to be extra careful. We had our wonderful comrade to think of. "we'll get him out" we told him , scouts honor. We took a longer rest here and gave Banjo the rest of our food so he could keep up his strength.

It was 11:00 AM it took us five hours we had seven hours left before we missed our ride. We could make it with time to spare if we had no problems. But problems is all we had. Me and Marty were both wearing out. One or the other was always falling to our knees. We started taking breaks every ten minutes.

We were almost their it was 5:00 we were both sweating. Could we make it. We got a little closer and herd a car horn and Norvil calling us. We were covered with sweat and about dead from exhaustion . But when Banjo heard his name he jumped off the litter and took off running for the car and Norvil. Marty and Me looked at the dog then at each other. Then smiled we were happy . We saved his life.

The End

HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE

**HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE**

(part one)

Angleworm Lake is north of Ely on the Gunflint trail. Their was a hiking trail all the way around it's eleven miles of shore line. I don't know when the D & R established it as a national park hiking trail and started to maintain it. But in 1961 it was a well marked trail that had three rest stop benches along it's route.

That was when I first hiked that trail. It was with boyscout pack 165. We nine boy scouts and two adult leaders packed for a day hike and got their early. We hiked half way around, cooked hot dogs, and hiked out. A pretty good adventure.

But me and Marty had better plans. We were going to come back with camping gear and the two of us were going to spend the night. We would camp at the half way point at the back side of the lake. A perfect plan. Non of the other guys wanted to go. But that was OK sometimes to many guys take the fun out of it. We were thirteen years old and we've been camping in the woods around around town before with our parents permission. So this wasn't to mush of a leap.

Our parents talked it over with each other and with the scout leader. When they were sure we were trustworthy and wouldn't get lost we had our permission to go.

Marty's brother Norvil and his friend Bebo would drive us to the start of the Angleworm Lake trail.

I could hardly wait. It was going to be next Saturday morning. We got packed early, we had a pup tent big enough for two. Marty's dog Banjo would have to sleep outside. We packed sleeping bags, hunting knife, hatchet, cooking stuff and food. We were going to fish with willow sticks so we brought hooks and line. We had our canteens full of water. But we had strict orders from mom's, no guns. Which was a bummer because we were both pretty good shots with our .22's. No swimsuit's again mom's orders. No swimming, stay safe. We wouldn't have taken swimsuits anyway. Skinny dipping is the way you did in in the woods.

Saturday morning finely came. And Norvil and Bebo shooed up at our house for the ride to Angleworms. Before we could leave Novel got the lecture from my mother about safe driving, No speeding, Make sure the boys get their safe and don't let them forget their camping gear in the car when they get out. I was mortified knowing I would get the raspberries all the way to the lake. After all Norvil and his friend were seventeen and to old to get lectured by anyone.

But anyway after all that we were on our way. And after enduring one hour ride with Marty's brother and bebo, we made it.

We got out with all our gear and Marty, Me and Banjo took off down the trail.

Norvil like all big brothers would probably pull some kind of a trick. So we took off down the trail to the left got out of sight then circled back and hid in the brush. They finished their cigarettes and just took off. Then we back tracked and went down the trail on the other side of the lake. Just in case they came back and tried to follow us they would be on the ring trail.

We thought up that plan before we left. I guess we were a little disappointed that they just got in the car and left.

*********END OF PART ONE**************

Lake Wob'a Chue Part two

*********Lake Wob'a Chue** A fish story**********
I caught the first fish " hot dog I won a nickel." Then grandpa caught the next two, one right after the other. All little northerns. Unless I could catch up and pass grandpa in the amount of fish I caught he would win the second nickel. That was the rules. First fish,most fish and biggest fish all got a nickel. Some times I would win. But mom would always give me three nickels. Because if grandpa won he would take them. Rules were rules.

Then we had for quite a time nothing. It was still early. I took a little hike along the shore,came back nothing.We had lunch. " Bobber down" I shouted. Grandpa pulled in number three with a big grin. Darn "I'll catch up with him", I thought.

Then for quite a wile we were both skipping rocks. when my bobber went down. Goods deal my turn! I picked up my rod and wanted to set the hook. It went down again . I reeled in a couple turns tell I had tension and BOOM I set the hook. To my surprise my rod bunt and drag was pealing out. Wissssssssssss it stopped, Grandpa was just as surprised. He reeled in line to get out of the way and give me room. Wissssssssssss It went out again the fight was on. I knew I could get it in. Grandpa said I could so I could.

With more advice then I've ever got at one time."keep the rod tip up," "Keep up tension," "Don't let it get in the weeds," "let it run."

He took off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs. We were Both in the water up to our ankles. Wisssssssssssssss. Holly cow, but grandpa said I could get it in. "I can get it in"
But the rod was bent, but I was winning. It was coming in. And then their it was, we could see it about five feet away. It was coming, grandpa went out a little further. We had no net. We didn't think we would need it. It was closer. Grandpa was out to his knees he reached down and grabbed it by the gulls. It was big and it was slippery but he had it and I had tension on the line. Then BANG the line snapped. I fell backward on my but in the water. grandpa fell forward on his knees and the fish slowly swam away..........................Nobody said a word, I though I screwed up I was about to cry. Grandpa started to laugh out loud "did he lose his mind?" "Did he finally go off the deep end?" He was wet from his armpits down. I was wet from my butt both ways. Grandpa was hooting and whooping.

He slapped me on the back and said that was the biggest northern he has ever seen in his life, fifty pounds at least. He told me how good I did. I would have had it but I only had twenty pound line on my rod.

We built up the fire to dry off our cloths. We talked for two hours about that fish. Grandpa let the other fish go, And right their he renamed that lake. On the maps its still called Four mile lake but now it's real name is "Lake Wob'a Chue" which in Indian language means " Lake with one dam big northern."
****THE END** OF THIS STORY****

LAKE WOB'A CHUE part one

*********Lake Wob'a chue** A fish story**********

I remember my first memorable fishing trip. I was six and I went with my grandfather who was to my eyes one hundred. We went to Four mile lake not far from my home in northern Minnesota. Grandpa said it's really name was (Lake Wob'a chue),. He said it was a Indian name that meant " Shitty little lake with small northers."Well that's what he said and grandpa knew a lot of things.

It was 1954 grandpa wasn't 100. He just looked that way to a six year old. He was sixty, about the age I am now.

I was a tough kid. I don't remember being especially smart or good looking, or a good singer, but I was tough, I could run through the woods like the wind. I could clime a tree like a bear, I could get a sliver in my hand and pull it out without even crying. I got that from my grandpa he was tough to. He could lift me over his head like I weighed nothing at all, and that impressed me.

But anyway on this day grandpa came over to get me at six A.M. because that's when those little northern bit the best. Mom packed our lunch, Sandwiches, apples, coffee for grandpa and two bottles of pop for me one grape and one orange crush.

We got in his panel truck and drove to four mile lake witch was four miles from town. "That was strange to." We parked the truck got out our gear Rods' tackle box, can or worms and lunch. We walked down to the lake witch was about a quarter of a mile. It was almost like camping. Truck ride, long hike. Then we set up camp . No tent but we had a spot for a camp fire with logs on both sides to sit on.

But first things first. We put worms on our hooks grandpa casted out first. He got it exactly were he wanted it. Then it was my turn, but before I could cast grandpa had to get behind a tree out of the way. I wasn't really a bad caster. But grandpa said he just wanted to give more room because I was more of a creative caster. After three or four tryes I got it out their to.

Then I cleared the rats nest in my real and we were ready.

Bobbers bobbing grandpa built a fire and we settled in for the first fish.

***************come back tomoro for part two******************

Puff

Once upon a time their was a dragon.Yes a dragon and this might be a true story. This dragon over the years went by many names because dragons live for ever. His encounter and adventures change along with his name. This particular encounters happened outside of his cave in the land of Honah-Lee. A young boy by the name of Jakie Paper encountered this mighty beast wile walking along the ocean beach out side of town. When Jackie seen the dragon he was more in aw then scared, and the dragon was more like a big mean dog with a puppy. More curios then threaten. They both took a step backwards then slowly came closer to meet one another. Little Jakie Paper and the mighty rascal Puff over time became fast friends. They played hours on end. They flew through the sky and sailed on the sea as Jakie kept lookout on puffs gigantic tail. Noble kings and princes bowed when ever they came upon them. When they sailed over the ocean priate ships would lower their flag in fear when puff roared out and blew fire. Jackie would also bring presents to Puff not silver and gold but things like strings And sealing wax and other fancy stuff. But dragons live for ever but not so little boys. And so one gray day it happened Jakie Paper just quit coming to to see Puff. And puff was so sad he quit flying over the land and stoped his fearless roaring. He just hung his head in sorrow and went into his cave and was never seen again. Jacky paper went to collage and became a investment banker and eventually forgot he ever even knew a dragon. Puff is still wanting for another young imagination to find him.

the end

The story is about lost innocents not drugs

Don Quixote

Ok. I woke up this morning thinking about of all things Don Quixota . More then thinking about it I was feeling it. I think after 40 years I get it. So lets pretend you're five years old and I'll tell you a bed time story of Don Quixota.

Once upon a time in days of your when knights were bold and brave. They wore shining armor head to tow and road big war hourese called chargers. They spent their days fighting dragons and monsters. they protected the kingdom and most importing they rescued damsels in distress and damsels were always in desires. They were always locked in towers or being chased by witches or dragons. It was grate times but all to soon it was over. All of a sudan
all the damsels and princess were safe. All the dragons,trowels, and monsters of any kind were either dead or chased off. And all the knights were out of work. The kingdom was good, every one was happy. Meany years latter when the Knights were old and their armor was rusty from lack of use. One of the old knights his name was Don Quixota he had nothing to do but sit around the house all day, life was good but he wanted more. So one day he decided he was going to go on one last quest. He was hopping their was at least one more dragon for him to slay. So he bough an old skinny plow horse and got out his rusty armor and off he took. Everyone though he was just a craze old man who faintly lost it. The first person he met on his quest was a naboure by the name of Sancho. Now Sancho was a friend so he said he would go along and help Don as a squire and keep him out of trouble. So they road through the kingdom and every time they came to a windmill Don Quixota would see in his mind either a dragon or a giant with long arms tying to suat at him. And every time they came to a country inn he though it was a casal . But to make a long story short. This went on for a few years and one day wile battling yet another giant he was knocked off his mighty stead and died. The kingdom missed the caricature.

...................THE END..............

The moral of the story is crazy old Don Quixote died a happy a young hero fighting a giant, instead of an old man dieing of high cholesterol on his easy chair.

P.S. thanks for the header