"WhiteTail Lights"

I huddled against the early morning chill,marveled at the beauty of the starlit-Texas sky,the air was fresh and I was glad we had come and eagerly awaited the dawn.We both had expectations regarding this trip,but no degree of forethought could have prepared us for the realities we would face this day,nor has 34 years--now 2006--diminished the memory of what we would soon encounter.
The dawn crept in as stealthily as a thief and began as a pin hole of light,burning a hole in the fabric of the eastern horizon and what had earlier been darkened mysterious shapes were now revealed in the infant Texas sun. I strained my eyes to catch the first glimpse of deer so prevalent in the night but saw no movement,only jagged stone statues and weathered ragged trees standing defiant along the canyon hillside.The moment was at hand but it soon became apparent that our quarry was not participating in our little Kodak moment.
I heard the sound of a turkey calling in the distance,a brooks running water and the whispered breath of the stirring wind carressed my skin.It was a peaceful solitude that was SUDDENLY and RUDELY interrupted by a DEAFENING ROAR!!MY attention was diverted to the left,and I saw great beast moving in procession along a well worn trail.These were not the peaceful whitetail deer but creatures of steel,plodding along on hooves of rubber,moving under the power of digested carbon fuel and emitting bye products that fowled the air and noise that shattered the whispered silence. The only RACKS I saw were car top carriers,eight point caddys,6 point Fords and pick-up trucks and all were outracing the dust clouds in their wake.
The deer that roamed the night now hid in safe unseen places away from this human onslaught.People were coming onto the property in droves to look at lots or work on the places they had already bought--and we were sitting on the edge of the equivalent of a country interstate--a line slightly embellished but when deer hunting is involved and quietness and stealth important, a very accurate description indeed!
I sat patiently hoping the disturbance might run a buck my way but no such luck.It was a pitiful morning to hunt and Danny thought the same as I saw him emerging from his hiding place.
We decided to drive around a bit and check out the ranch but only made it across the road where we met some other hunters who had similar results. We shot the bull awhile (talked)and decided to eat and give it another try in the afternoon.That afternoon it was more of the same.We spent some time before dark exploring the flat rocky plateau on the far side of the canyon--found a lot of Jack-Rabbits and jumped one doe and that was it.
The sun was dying and the night came sliding in like the tide. The canyon once again became a dark abyss and the revelations of the day gave way to the mysteries of the night.We made it back to the car to sit and contemplate our remaining two day option.We watched the hunters across the road leaving the ranch and we were thinking about doing the same but after such a long drive we procrastinated a while,trying to rationalize a scenario that might have a more favorable outcome.SUDDENLY and without WARNING IT HAPPENED!!

more tomorrow Codger

I'm finally going to share this story that happened to me and a friend,it is very long--so I will have to do it in parts--or perhaps I will attempt to do it all---the following event happened to me and a friend back in 1972--for years I only told a handful of people--mainly family--20 years after the incident-I committed the telling to paper--in 1992---I am proud to be part of this event-and only wish I could find my friend to talk about it after all these years.

"WhiteTail Lights"

The land owner wrote a note on a brown paper bag,and a map to his property just outside of Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country.
It was the fall of 1972,I was an asst. mgr.at a dime store and welcomed the opportunity to have a place to hunt and relax before the Christmas rush.The stranger at the lunch counter was kind to offer his place and said he didn't mind if I brought a friend along.
The drive home that evening went quickly as I changed lanes and daydreams at will,imagining cool crisp mornings,clean mountain air and an 8 point buck silhoetted against a rising Texas sun. I broke the bonds of the merciless Houston traffic and picked up speed while pleasant memories of my youth flashed through my mind as fast as the mile markers changed,especially the years on my Grandparents farm in the foothills of the Blueridge mountains of Va.
This would be my first opportunity to visit this popular and scenic portion of Texas.Anticipation and mounting excitement were the word as I turned into Stonegate down the shaded peaceful street toward our house. I saw our neighbor Glenn in his yard preparing his famous barbeque. I rolled down my window to speak to him and the sweet smell of mesquite filled my car. I ask Glenn if he would like to go deer hunting--and as nmuch as the idea appealed to him he was unable to get away.
I contined on to my house and pulled into the driveway and my wife met me at the door and said Glenn wanted us to come down for some barbecue and he had a new couple to the neighborhood for us to meet--said they were me and Martys age.We went down and met the new couple--the guys name was Danny--I asked him if he liked to hunt and his eyes lit up like a kids on Christmas morning--I figured I had found my deer hunting partner!. We had a very enjoyable visit,shared some of Glenns brisquette and Danny and I planned our little hill country adventure,now all that remained were receptive bosses and the approval for a few days off.Within the next few days we had both managed to finagle three days off,we got our gear together and hit the road.The day turned to night and the miles to our destination diminished and the terrain from flat to rolling to rugged as we traveled narrow mountain roads under a starlit Texas sky.
In the mountains we began to see deer in great numbers along the side of the road and the scenery was magestic,a welcome change from the endless concrete and asphalt of the city.We passed through Kerrville at two in the morning driving another 15 miles or so till be came to the turn-off to the Spicer Ranch.The ranch was a 27,000 acre expanse now being sold for get away retreats in lots from 5 to 20 acres.Deer were everywhere and there seemed no doubt that within a few days we would be enjoying fresh vinison and swapping stories of our hunting prowess.
We traveled dusty dirt and gravel roads following directions on a brown paper bag and finally located the narrow drive to our benefactors property and came to a stop next to his partially completed cabin.Deer were standing around in the yard and barely flinched at the sound of the car or glare of the headlights.
It was clear and cold on that on that predawn Texas morning and the frost laden ground crunched benneath our feet as we set out to explore the area,build blinds and wait for the morning sun which would signal the start of deer season.
We walked a short distance and it soon became apparent that our little hunting oasis was less than ideal as the ground suddenly plunged into a small narrow canyon which comprised the bulk of the 20 acre property.
I chose a small rock outcropping partway down the hill--to build my blind;from its vantage point I could observe the far side of the canyon and the field just on the other side-Danny chose a spot at the bottom right side of the canyon,we would meet up at 11.30 a.m for lunch. end of part 1--more later--The Codger

Fluffy---I had her five years from age 8/13--a beautiful smart cat-who was a great mother and attacked dogs-by leaping out of trees onto their backs---a ferocious feline-----

Rhonda and Queenie--bird dogs--we had in Florida--they dug holes everywhere--they were given to a farm in Oviedo Florida--always running and hunting--beautiful dogs---

Dum Dum--named by my little sister---border collie--dads fishing dog--had her 19 years--she made her last fishing trip on the day she died--always envision her in the bow--riding across the lake--her ears layed back because of the wind--a wonderful dog,''Loved kids and dad.

Ru Ru---ugly little ----------dog--can't remember the breed---loved dad----

Chi Chi---a beautiful Cocker Spaniel we got as a puppy in Texas---the sweetest dog we ever owned--she was stolen from our front yard by a drive-by dog snatcher--heart breaking loss.--The first pet my wife and I got when we got married.

Princess Diana--our wonderful cat we had for 20 full years---lost and recovered her three times--once in the desert---once in Florida and once in Tenn.--longest time lost 2 weeks--she lived in 3 states with us--logged a lot of miles in the car--

James Bones 007--named by our Grand Daughter--about 5 1/2 pounds of Yorkie,Maltese and Shitzu--a bossy loyal mouthy-little general--
Lucky--Shitzu--large--black and white--quiet yet authoritative--loves my wife the best.
Storm---Luckys brother--beautiful light tan and white--small shitzu--a trouble maker--get s others in trouble and tries to look innocent--loves to get attention--a beautiful little dog.

We flew to Ga. often--to go to the farm in E-town alsotook Uncle Jim his favorite adult beverage,a case or-2ofit-now how do you know I'm not talking about Fresca---what dry county?-Early Times What?
We landed on the highway in front of the house--why? ,you ask--cause there wasn't an airfield there silly!
We would buzz the house--and the relatives would block off each end of the road with a car and we would land and taxi up the driveway to the garage--all this under the auspices of the powers to be in the little town where Uncle Jim was-Mayorfor half his life,and other city officals were also related in some cases--I never could spell nepotisum--you know I'm just kiddin right?
Anyway here's the senario-dads Cs.owned-th plane-he didn't have a pilots license--dad did ,so dad flew the plane when ever his cousin wanted to go somewhere---Uncle Jim was dads cousins father---got the picture---Right-ON--.We shall continue.
It was time to go visit the farm--and also take Uncle Jims medicine-we wereto make a side trip to Blackley and pick up a realtive---dad called her his old maid school teacher aunt---or something like that--she had never gotten to fly in a plane--Bubber was going to ride in a car from Blackley to the farm and she was going to get her airplane ride and get to land on the road by the railroad tracks--enough for her to talk about for the next month.Oh by the way--me and my younger brother Ron were in the back seat of the blue a white Cessna 180--dad and his aunt in the front. Off to E---town we went.
OH there's one more hitch--they were out of fuel in Blackley---thunder storms were moving in--we had to go on over to the farm and would have to go get fuel and bring it to the farm--to leave and go back to Florida on Sunday.
We arrived at the farm and buzzed the house--dads relative was having the time of her life--laughing and lookin out the window and all--anyway we buzzed the house--and no one came out. What's this--that never happened before--we buzzed the house again--no one--we were low on fuel--there were thunder storms toward Columbus--we had to land--but without being able to land on the road--cause it wouldn't be blocked off-had to pic an alternate strip--dad picked the road through the back pasteur--it was as straight as an arrow-was long enough--it just had a few minor problems---three to be exact--the field was surrounded by very tall trees and telephone poles--and out on the road were 300 head of cattle grazing--the road was our landing field--only one thing to do as the fuel was running low--dad had to run the cattle off of the road with the plane---he told everyone to hang on--his aunt grabbed the strut by the cockpit window--dad had to dive down just pass the trees and fly 20 feet above the ground and then pull up sharply to clear the trees on the far side--it was fun--me and my brother were shouting with glee--but not dads aunt--she was screaming at the top of her lungs--talking to the Lord.
The first pass moved some of the cattle off the road--it was clear it would involve many passes---dad continued the assault on the herd--diving down sometimes 10 feet off the deck and a hard climb at the other side of the field---10 passes--I don't know how many Lord have Mercys and other adjectives from his Aunt--who was swearing that if she lived she would never fly again--All my brother and I said was do it again dad--Welanded and that beautiful blue and white Cessna was brown from the cow patties on the road--We un loaded Uncle Jims cases of beverage and dads aunt grabbed a bottle and was last seen making its contents disappear--saying she wouldn't fly with my dad ever again or anyone.-UNtill that moment she never drank either.---The Codger

Here's what we used to do---you take a deep sea fishing rod--a big one with hundreds of yards of strong line--you attach the end to a kite and you put that sucker up there where people need oxygen---well high up anyway--and just about any fishing rod will work --
We used to make our own kites when we were young--the secret is in the tail.
Back in the early 50's we played marbles---yes we did--and it was popular--we each had a bag--normally rawhide ---we had clearies--Bunkers,cats eyes and steelies--one of the games we played was chasies.
It was serious business on the playground--cause winners kept what marbles they won.Various people got reputations as good marble players and each day there were heated challenges--now those old marbles are big collector items.
The sickest I ever was was back in the mid 50's when I caught the ashiatic flu---I caught it on Halloween--I was all set to be Zorro at the clubhouse party but instead got a fever of 105--and was delirious out of my mind sick--very sick--the worst I have ever felt.
OK that's my contribution for tonight--you Bloggers just keep on keepin on ---more later Gators or whatever---the Codger