Sam came out on a weekend and brought this fancy gun in a case--it was rifle, a powerful rifle-I don't know the caliber but I think it was an elephant gun--no maybe not that big but big ole shells and a big scope--might have been from his dads collection.
Sam said I'm gonna show yall something--if the message was --stand behind that gun--I had an A already!
Sam set up a bench with a sandbag for a rest and said Rick have your boy run up the mountain and set up some milk jugs with water in them.
Todd ran up the road going up the hill and when he got to the top Sam motioned for him to set down the milk jugs--they were a good 300 yards away.
Todd came on down the hill and Sam loaded that rifle--set it on the sandbag and lined up the shot--Sam squezzed the trigger and the left milk jug exploded in a halo of water 10 feet around--the sound and the destruction was amazing. He then blew up the right hand milk jug. I told him that was the most powerful gun I had ever seen---I'm not sure I should have said that because ole Sam got into his demonstration---He put that rifle up and said --you think that was powerful wait till ya see what's next.Sam went on over to the house to the room he kept there and came out with a handfull of what looked like long licorice strings--sort of grayish black--he said those were fuses--old ones and they were for different amounts of time--and he proceeded to light one and I stepped back--it burned steadily.
He said he had some blasting caps too--no dynamite--thank god---but he carried a can with him of black powder.
He said follow me--and up the hill he went--right to where the milk jugs had been--He said lets see---here we go he said--there was a large rock about two feet across and some varmit had wallered out a hole underneath it--Sam said this will do just fine.
He poured that whole can of black powder in that hole--and inserted what he said was a 48 second fuse--where we would have plenty of time to get down the hill.
I had already started down the hill just before he lit that damn fuse--seeing what could be a dangerous demonstration--boy was I right---
Sam lit that fuse which was supposed take damn near a minute but it took off like bat outta hell--Sam said "O" "NO" and started to run toward me-I was trying to go fast but only made it about 40 feet down the hill,Sam was only 20 feet when that damn Rock exploded--smoke and flying debris showered out in every direction-I personally saw a hunk of rock that weighed 20 pounds fly by Sams head-in my general direction----neither of us got hit but--it was pure luck---
That 48 second fuse was more like 5 seconds or less!!
Sam luaghed about the incident--that damn country boy was nuts---good ole Sam--------------more Sam stories later The CodgerMan

What is what Buffallo Bill Cody might say?
Wrong Blogbuster!
It's what Sam Naylor said to the Codgerman back in 82--that would be 1982-----

Sam may he rest in peace was one hell of a guy--a large man,tall baby face younger than me--coal dark hair--He was our landlord up in West by God Virginia--rented us the neatest little farm of 125 acres-on a creek called big Sandy.
The farm house was over hundred years old--two story--Sam rented it to us for a fair price but ask to keep a room for himself on the back side of the house--one with its own bathroom and sink and stove--for when he was out on the place working.
We were up from Florida and new to the country--and Sam made it his personal goal to teach us country ways.
We agreed to rent the farm and he said his first order of business was to plow us a garden with his new tractor.
The story of that famous garden is a full story unto itself--as are many others regarding Sam--like the time he taught me about dynamite fuses--with a live demonstration that almost ended up a dead demo!
Sam had an old gun he said I could use on the place--it was a single shot 22--kinda scratched up and rusty and--he said maybe I could kill the crow lookout when the garden came in.
I shot the gun a few times and was convinced it had a bent sight or a bent barrel Sam assured me it shot just fine.
Our first weekend there a big storm came up and the skys opened up and the rain came down in torrents--the creek water rose and debris was flowing down the creek in the fast current.I sat on the front porch and shot at bottles and cans milk jugs flying by--we had no neighbors across from us just the steep side of a mountain --
Yes we were not in the city any more--shootin at cans not drive-byes.
I reported in to my job in Charleston--but when I came home that monday--there was ole Sam---the sun was out and he had been busy-plowin our garden--he must have loved that little Kubota Tractor cause he plowed us a garden bigger than a football field and a second one by the house he said was for taters and onions and carrots and pumpkins. I think ole Sam got a bit carried away but I said beautiful job sir and he said outta make a great garden, nothin has been planted in this river bottom in 15 years.
Sam asked me how the gun was shooting--I told him about shooting at debris floating down the river--and that it shot pretty good but I still thought it had a bent sight--he said nagh---go get it I'll show ya something.
I got the gun and Sam walked out into the freshly turned garden and picked up some tiny pebbles and said here--handing them to me--saying toss these in the air one at a time. I said no way you can hit these little things with a rifle--he just laughed as I tossed the first tiny pebble into the air above his head---pow went the rifle and that tiny pebble blew to pieces--I could not believe what I had just seen!Five pebbles later Sam was 5 and 0--and I just shook my head--Buffallo Bill I said-Calamity Jane---unbelieveable I said--and he said--nothin to it,it's a trick--you can do it too!
I said no way man--he said way--here he said handing me the gun--He gathered some small pebbles--and said here's what ya do Rick--when I toss the pebble in the air you follow its flight in the sight and when it stops its climb-shoot--right at the point it stops--He said the target will look big to you. He tossed the pebble and I shot--and missed saying--see I told ya--he said it was still climbing when you shot--wait for it to stop. He tossed the pepple again and I shot and blew it to pieces--I could not believe what I had just done.I did it three more times--wow--thanks Sam I said-I'm going to amaze some friends one day. The Codgerman

The Last Days in my Maryland Paradise
July 1958

Dads first cousin Bubber came to Edgewater specifically to interview dad for the Martin Marietta position in Orlando Florida.
He knew of dads qualifications--what they had in mind for him was a technicans job in the environmental test laboratory. Dad was an expert in heat and cold systems also diesel and gas powered engines etc. and was a quick bright learner. Bubber had 13 years of formal education.
Dad accepted the offer rather than an offer from his present company which involved a move to Baltimore.

OK --I was a 13 year old kid--who had a crush on my best friend Nancy, my little black haired girl--but she did not know it--I also experienced my first pangs of jealousy about that time when one of my other friends started making moves on Nancy.
I'm not sure exactly when Nancy turned from my best friend and fishing buddy to a girl I had a crush on--could have been right after the girl scout dance which she and I went to together--or perhaps when I watched her swinging one day wearing powder blue and white trim shorts--and I found myself looking at her in a different way than I ever had.
We were going to move--that was that--I would be leaving the best place I ever lived--and the best friend I ever had--I made up my mind I was going to kiss her good bye--right on the lips.I had a few weeks to think about that particular move--considering I had never kissed a girl before--oh I had been kissed a few times and the last and most recent was Nancy tackling me and kissing me-the day I was checking her out on the swing set.I think that little event got my motor going.
It was certainly a busy time--dads cousin upon discovering dad had his instructor rating and having the desire to learn to fly himself-spoke to dad about possible planes that might be for sale. Dad was in the know regarding Lee Field as the owners were his friends--and dad knew about a Stinson Voyager that would make an excellent purchase for his cousin.
Bubber bought the aircraft and asked dad to fly it down to Florida when we moved and Bubber would get another relative to drive mom and I down to Orlando.
I lost the coin flip--to get to fly with dad to Florida--My brother Ron won.
Dad and my brother took off for Orlando the day we left--they were to call us at a specific time in one of the Carolinas--to let us know the trip was going as planned--and so we would know they were alright.
Oh yeah---the KISS---the KISS---the KISS
The day before we left I walked over to Nancys house--my desire was to kiss her and tell her what her friendship had meant to me.That was my plan. I am ashamed to say I chickened out-totally--I shook her hand said good bye--we would have a couple of letters between us and lose track of each other for 43 years----I am happy to say we reconnected in our advanced years--and I got to finally tell her what her frindship meant to me and how important she was to me. I have always held her in my memories--and we check in often-I don't intend to lose her again.
Nancy married a great guy--they have been married longer than me and my wife and we are 37 years--She loves her man and finds happiness in his company always and I am so happy for her--she loved animals as a small girl and raises beautiful dogs and runs a Vet Office now--and has a great family. I am blessed to know her,my little black haired girl.

Now back to the move-----I was a basket case in regards to my cat--that's in a story posted on the blog--but anyway we got to a pre-determined phone rendevous spot where we were to call a specific airport in the Carolinas to find out that they had landed to refill on schedule--(My Father and Brother)in the Stinson Voyager,4/place airplane.
We called and found out they never arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should have been there hours ago---this was horriffic news---dad was a fanatic about safety--and there were just a few possibilities---
They crashed--get that one out of the way first--they had illness hit someone--they had engine trouble and made an emergency landing.
We were told to stay by a phone and people at the airport would start making calls and if they heard they would notify us.
Three tense hours passed--not knowing if they were alive or dead--basically--when the phone rang--they were alive--they had engine trouble--a magneto--and had to set down at a grass field in the middle of no-where--with no phone---had to catch a ride to another town for parts and fix the aircraft--dad got to a phone as fast as he could to tell us--thank God--we continued on our road trip to Orlando.
It looked like we were going to beat them to Orlando.
That's it--from now on--the family stories will be in Winter Park Florida for the next 7 years of my life. The Codger

P.S I have screwed up my e-mail address so yall can't email me till I straighten it up---

The ride through the canal was like being in Venice- with overhanging oaks and flowers and ferns a botanical wonder just this side of Heaven.
We passed under the bridge there was a pattering thunder as a car passed over.It startled a big bass lying by the canals hewn side boards and he scooted by us looking for cover.
It was like entering the land time forgot-when we exited the canal to Lake Osceola--the lake like a mirror showed trees great and small and moss hung like tinsel and a mist floated free-among the clouds and blue sky.
I could see our reflection and the deepening bottom,white sand and green grass left a lasting impression as dad cut off the engine and and put the trolling motor down, it was time to fish.
With a flip of his wrist dad was the first to cast-he had a bite set the hook and I was in last as a 2 pound bass came over the side dad said your behind son with that twinkle in his eye.
I dropped the plastic worm right next to the lillies let it sink and then rise and then over again reeling slowly toward me-than do it again.
I felt a tap put the rod tip down slowly reeled in the slack till I felt it again and jerked the rod and sank the hook ,it was a scrappy bass that felt much larger but he only went a pound and a half but it was enough to tie dad-then we went back and forth matching each for the total-and by the time we passed the scenic boat tour dock we each had three bass about the same size.Dad said its not going to matter son it's how you finish that counts-and I'm waiting for the big boy to bite.
We fished the scenic lake and caught a couple more then headed for the long winding canal to lake Maitland to fish around dog island.
We put on the sonic lures with those shaking metal beads and worked the eel grass on the far side-I hung the fish and he came up like a rocket shaking his head like a bulldog side to side,31/2 pounds and I took the lead-on the old man and still he just smiled.
The count was now 6 to five me as I allowed myself a grin we headed toward Lake Mizell-I led in numbers and big fish too,could this be my day?
Lake Mizell was my favorite Lake,it was dark and mysterious and had a really deep hole and trees and deep jungle. It was close to the famous genius drive a botanical garden with visual treasures to see and the curdling screams of the peacocks could be heard yelling for help.
If there was a bass to challenge the record to my way of thinking lake Mizel was the place and still is today-hiding deep under cover in that ancient old pool he has survived by staying hidden except to feed.
Dad said this is it son the last lake to fish I'll give you a chance to win he said with a grin--the Odacity I say--He was giving me no respect,I was leading and he acted like I had lost--
Dad said throw your worm over there by the canal entrance on the right side--there's an 8/12 pounder there-just waiting to be caught.
Did he think I was a fool to fall for that--I cast my line to the deep water.
Dad said son I tried to help and with a masters touch he dropped his lure and bounced it off the sideboard right on the spot--and said-there he is-I just gave him the look--he set the hook and his rod bent way over-his drag whined and the huge fish broke cover a fat 81/2pounder and the contest was over. In memory of my dad Ben
written by the Codger Man

Fishing isn't a hobby I heard recently, it's a part of a person--who they are---this comment from the Florida sportsman radio show on a.m 930 Jacksonville Florida-last sat.

I'm going to attempt to write about a typical fishing trip for those of you who have never been--a possible look into what you are missing.

The Fishing Trip

I was so excited,it was hard to sleep.
This condition occurred before each trip.
It was an adventure,a challenge a treat for the eyes.
A quest on the water as old as time.
The alarm clock rang and I sprang from my bed.
I hooked up the boat and loaded the rods.
I stowed the tackle boxes and net and a bunch of moon pies.
I got the vienna sausage and little oatmeal cakes--
It was a deal dad and I made--I load the boat and he made the hot cakes for breakfast and the sandwiches for the day.
The margerine melted and the Kero syrup poured thick.
I woofed down the hotcakes and had a cold glass of O.J
All was in readiness as we climbed in the car---the house lights were out the door shut tight.
We eased out of the driveway onto the road.
The big bass were waiting and we would oblige them.
Dad was the best and we would compete,maybe today I could beat him,I had a chance if the stars were aligned and frogs had wings.
He was getting old-had arthritis in his hands,maybe his touch was off-even with all his infermaties he was still a hell of a man.
We had it down to a science,fishin the Winter Park chain.
In 11 minutes we would be there-and I'de back the boat down-undo the strap and dad would climb in--I'de ease into the water at the Dinky Dock ramp-dad hit the ignition and reverse in a snap and the sling shot bass boat slid onto the black satin plain.
The boat rocked slightly as I pulled out the trailer water cascaded off like an afternoon shower.
I deposited the trailer in the designated spot and headed for the shore-dad was waiting for me-the motor at neutral I took the back swivel chair.
He put her in reverse and backed us out-the first signs of daylight peaked above the horizon,we headed for the canal toward lake Osceola.

more tomorrow Codger