We moved to Ca. back in 83 . We drove from West Va. and took what my brother called the Northern Route.
It was our first time heading west--and ea. place we passed through was a first time for us--so the trip was very interesting and the scenery held our attention.
We passed through St. Louis and saw the arch at night--Kansas was really beautiful, I had expected flat land with not much beauty but was thrilled to see some rolling land very green--lakes and antelope.
We were traveling in two vehicles--and only put in 500/600 mile days and camped at state parks along the way--all were very nice.
The place that blew me away was Colorado---God and Hollywood must have teamed up--the place is too pretty to be real--It looked like it was created on a Hollywood set--even the trees were gorgeous--the streams were pure blew--the rocks were clean--the snow pristine.
The plains and the mountains perfect--the houses blended in like they grew there---
I know that I haven't been all that many places--but Colorado is awesome!!!Makes me want to see more of this country when I retire.
The Codger

We met at a parking lot by the beach--and Mr. B would be our sr. leader--but he said he had to take care of some errands--that we were to take off up the beach and he would catch up with us later.
We were all dressed in fatiques--had web belts with water -machetes--first aid equipment and those old pogo radios-which were kinda heavy and only had a range of about 2/12 miles--we had two of them.
I was kinda cool when we started out--so the heavy fatiques weren't too bad till the sun got a little higher.
We dived into our business--following orders to search the beach and dunes--moving north--we found all kinds of junk--dead sea gulls,trash,condoms,dead fish and turtles,rope and styro floats and fishing line and a dead cat--and at one point topped a dune--and there was a naked couple--who saw this little army of teenagers with fatiques and machetes--and they threw on their pants and gathered up their stuff so fast---
We started about 7.30 am and had been walking for three hours, no sr. member--which was kinda weird--but heck, most of us were 15/17--we could handal it--We kept heading North but a few of the guys were not in good shape--either weight was a problem-or lack of exercise--but we started to get stragulars--We waited a number of times for them to catch up and by lunch--they were 1/4 mile behind--so we stopped at the wreck of a barge--rusting away in the surf---to have lunch-a few people had some snaks they brought others nothing--they had told us we would be supplied during the day by a 4 wheeler with water and food--well no sr. member,no 4 wheeler--and we began to ration water--as we began pushing forward again-North--
We had found about 23 dead seagulls--2 dead turtles---and all kinds of other stuff-including some plastic material which was unusual.
By mid afternoon we had been walking for over 7 hours--the sun and exertion and wind and salt and sand began to take a toll on us.
The shirts had been off tied around our waist--water was getting to be a real problem and the beach was narrowing and the land west of the dunes was getting more rugged and desolate.
We stopped a number of times for the stragulars--and they had just about had it--and we were feeling like crap ourselves---We had now been walking for 10 hours--the water was almost all gone--we were sunburned and tired but continued to try to do what we were asked--but it was clear we had a problem.
The area west of the dunes was palmetto land and pockets of salt marsh and as the sun sank lower in the East--it relieved the heat but the mosquitos came out--the salt marsh to our west was alive with insects--the beach was narrowing and the tide was coming in.
I estimate we had walked 40 miles at least--we really did need some assistance now---darkeness was coming and we would have to make a makeshift camp on top of the dunes--and build a fire to ward off the mosquitos--
We looked back south of us for the stragulars and waved at them when suddenly--a pair of landing lights shown through the early evening shadows--a plane was flying the beach toward us--only 50 feet in the air---he buzzed by us and it was that beautiful Red Stinson Voyager with my dad at the controls--he wobbled his wings and waved at us--and came around on a slow turn--right over us again and dropped a message streamer that said stay put--help is on the way--
I was never so glad to see my dad--he came through for us--He lead the 4 wheelers from Ormond Beach airport right to us--they had food and water--and took us to the airport--it was very late by then--I was totally exhausted----and to think our soldiers go through much more than that every hot day in Iraq--and someone is always trying to kill them. My dad is gone--but not really--I think about him constantly---------------------ric the Codger
Oh the sr. member who was supposed to be with us--had girl friend problems--and got severley reprimanded---the last I heard was some of the plastic material we found may have come from a fuel tank on the aircraft------

part # 1 Saved from the Mosquito Hoards

I belonged to the Civil Air Patrol,I was a cadet. My Father a senior member was a pilot and Operations Officer for the Orlando Squadron.
C.A.P is an auxillary civilian wing of the Air Force and since I believe the 40's-- has assisted in finding downed aircraft---a search and rescue organization.Cadets are often called upon for land searches and also to be spotters in the search aircraft--which are most often private planes owned by Squadron Senior members-but in some case squadrons had some of their own planes as well.
We were all called out to the base--an A3D-- had gone down--I may after all these years be in error as to the name of the aircraft but it was stationed at Sanford Air base and I believe it was a medium range bomber--in any event-it was believed to have gone down in the Atlantic-just off shore from an area from Cocoa North to Ormond Beach.
We as cadets were ask to begin a search of the beach and the dunes-starting in Cocoa working North--we were to be assigned a sr. member--and we were to look for any debris that may have come from an aircraft and of course any signs of the crew.

part 2 later

I hate/ dislike snakes--no let me take that back---I don't mind snakes as long as I see them first from a distance--say 100 miles or so-- I especially do not like being surprised by a snake----on with the story.

In case you don't know what a Renault R-8 is--it's a small car--the sport version of a Renault Dauphine---built in the early 60's--it was more square in shape--a faster motor--in general a fun little car to drive--very peppy!
It was into such a car that 4 of us found ourselves--one afternoon--my brother and Richard and Steve---we went down to Oviedo to go squirrel hunting--yes that's right those furry little creatures you feed at lunch by the office.
We were coming back home -and were on Forsyth road--when my brother spotted a large black snake crossing the road---Ron shouted stop the car Rick--I want that snake-I didn't think I just stopped--bam---Ron jumped out and chased the snake into ditch and pinned his head down with a stick--slid his hand down the stick and grasped this huge black snake with his hand--
The snake was angry and about 5/6 feet long--and furthermore was shedding--which makes um even more agitated--Ron slid into the back seat and shut the door--I said don't take your hand off that snake Ron-as I pulled back into traffic.
Here we go--we're in a tiny car, 4 nearly grown men and one angry snake--it's rush hour as we neared Aloma ave--not far from the house-----then suddenly the snake opened his mouth real wide--Ron freaked and let the snake go in the car!!!
Where is he--I screamed----I soon found out--he crawled up to the front and wrapped around my ankle and started biting it.
I forgot about driving the car and went off into a ditch--stopped and looked down and the snake was crawling into the dashboard from underneath.We all got out---were laughing and swearing and carrying on --rush hour folks didn't know what us crazy teenagers were up to.
We shook the car to no avail--he wouldn't come out--it was with trepidation that we got in and drove to the house----Jerry from next door came over and we told him about the snake--and he said he wanted to get him--which he did--as the snake finally crawled out.
Jerry took the snake and I wrote this story, another memory of my life.
The Codger

Another Weird Story

My life has not been filled with strange happenings but in my 60 years I have had a few blue ribbon entries--that are quite noteworthy at least to me--you'll have to judge for yourself.

It was the latter 70's, Houston Texas--I dropped into a beer joint to have a cool one--the beer joint was new to me--I had never been there, it was crowded-I mean elbow to elbow--I stood at the corner of the bar and ordered a draft---I lifted it to my lips--and before I could take a drink--the front door opened and a girl/woman walked in--about my age!! The moment I saw her it was like viewing a person I had known my whole life--there was no doubt that we had been very close and for a very long time---I was glad to see her--I smiled-I couldn't believe it was her--but I didn't know who her was--are yall getting my drift--my eyes and my heart knew her--my brain was a disconnect--at least her ID.

Here's the next part----------
The bar was crowded--max occupancy--half the people had come from work including me--shirt ,tie and slacks--of all the people in the place--guess what------she walked straight over to me with the look on her face like I had--instant recognition--big smile--a hug and kiss and she said how great it was to see me,I said the same of her-and then I said--I feel like I have known you my whole life but I don't know who you are----Here's what she said--and it's the only part I have remembered all these years since---She said" We were married in the 1500's-you were a Tyrant King and killed many people--and then she walked off into the crowd and I never saw her again.
I didn't especially like hearing I killed many people--I really did know her--- The Codger