Colors Retired

The colors that fluttered with pride while overlooking the Hole In the Wall Recreational Area, were lowered at 2:38 pm on Wednesday, marking the closing ceremony for this spring, summer and fall season. It took a little longer to close down this year, perhaps it was because we did not want to see the season end although poor weather conditions, illness, other priorities and a slight case of laziness were all factors.

All the dens and wallows have been secured with a variety of colored tarps, blue, silver, and gray, almost like a rainbow coalition. That was a simple chore this season since the Wolf Pack and Bear Covey (what is a bunch of Bears called?) had already covered their homes. The "Duck House" Recreational Center and Museum also sports a new "Blue" tarp and perfect storage area for fish!

The Cook Tent remains in place, although hesitant at first I finally conceded t0 the pressure of the Lady Eagle and took her advice, which now I have to admit was solid and well thought out. It was her idea, since parts to the sliding door at the end of the tent were lost, was to replace it with the end from the Buffalo Tent, it did fit perfect and a much better system that the original end piece. Prior to storing the remaining portion of the Buffalo tent, she came up with the concept to simply place that tent over the top of the cook tent, again her thinking was logical and it was simple enough to accomplish and it fit perfectly. The Cook Tent is now double roofed, securely lashed to the decking with nylon straps and screws and all seams covered with "Duct Tape". I did a quick engineering test on it after it was completed, the Cook Tent is now secure enough to withstand Williwaws in the range of 85 to 125 knots and withstand snow loads of less than 5.3 feet of snow. All remaining items, chairs, tables, tarps, buckets, counters, sink, coolers, kindling and dunnage are stowed neatly inside the tent a waiting spring.

Several new surprises await you for next spring, I could tell you now but why spoil a good winter of anticipation! While I completed the final area clean up and hauled garbage, she once again manned the ladder with paint brush in hand and put the final coat of stain on the roof of the Fire Pit Gazebo, the project is now completed until spring when a second coat of stain will be required and some minor repairs. The winter will be spent in conceptual planning for spring, several new projects in mind which should enhance the purpose of the project. Looking forward to seeing the affect of the Wolfette Landscaping Project, flowers will bloom there! With the onslaught of the fall typhoons, the flowering bushes have flourished and in full blossom, the bush at the Moose Wallow has tripled it's original size and completely covered with blossoms leading me to believe that they require a lot of water.

It was a good year, next year can only be better and we look forward to that.

My co driver sends his greetings.

He looks like he is a panic in the truck photo. I forgot to tell him how to reach the brake.

The space next to me is his and his alone. Unless Stan comes South for a ride along.

Typhoon Strikes HITW

Although Typhoon and Monsoon rains pounded the Anchor River Valley over the past twenty four hours, the area will not be declared a National Disaster Area. Only damage on the river due to the high water levels is that the weir washed out again, fish counting days have concluded for this season. Two more programs and the Sport Fishing Report will also conclude. At the HITW, the Kroc Pond has reformed so Mr. Kroc is expected to return to his habitat. The fire pit area is also under water, however, the kitchen remains high and dry. The heavy rains were a good thing, while the water levels are up we will send in a survey crew by boat to mark the high water lines in the low areas, that way in the spring we will know where we need to dump truck loads of fill. Butch and Sundance are safe and secure, now that they have relocated their winter home, someone moved it on them but by spreading peanuts to their camper they were able to re-locate and seem to like the back deck area. They will be o.k. for the winter. That is all.

2008 suggestion

Five of these welsch pony crosses were for sale for a mere $3500 and those two Belgians were $4800, what a deal. Calculate what a belgian will eat. Buyer beware.

"Legends Of the Fall"

The colors of the fall are just now starting to settle in the valley of the "Hole In the Wall", the river is quiet as we watch the slow transition from one season to the next.

Soon, the colors will intensify and the sound of the geese will be heard as they

also commence their journey southward.

One day soon, we will see the ice starting to form along the edges of our river, followed by a blanket of snow.

In time, the snow and frost will yet again yield to the green grasses of spring and the cry of the geese will be heard once again on their northward journey.

Although the seasons and the landscape are always changing,

the one constant is that this will always be our home.

For those that are visiting the site, this is the Anchor River. The picture was shot from the Anchor River Bridge on September 5th by Dick Bedard.

Suggested improvement for 2008

No not more truck parking. Look at the little chapel. This one in Biggs Junction, OR. Yep you need a chapel for your Pope to minister from. This one may even have a "bell". On Saturday night you could even hold bingo in the chapel.

Summer of 2007

Watching the summer come to a close while sitting in the confines of the HITW was a gift I will cherish forever. Morning coffee under the gazebo. Talking with the tribe of white masked bandits and chattering with the birds,I watched as the camouflage of green slowly faded to the vibrant colors of fall. (The view from the Duck House as the sun rises is heavenly if the smell where different.) Ghost memories of past clan gatherings ran through my head as I thought of the growth our little haven has seen...the memories, laughter, and even some tears...but memories for us all to cherish.
I thought back to the chill of the mornings Memorial Weekend as we put together our summer home...In the fall that chill is at night, mornings were warm even in the rain. I thought back to the HITW when we first arrived in a muddy wet sand pit...turned out to be primitive concrete I think...now hard work on our parts and lots of love has dried out the mud...even in the rain...puddles accumulate but the mud of the past seems to be 99% gone.
Willows and Alders, once little shoots hardly noticeable, now almost surround the area...it is hard to tell it was a sand pit.
I relived the summer of 2007 in my heart and head...cementing it in the mud banks of my brian...the long wait we had to endure due to my fathers misreading the email on Dee-Dee and Donny's arrival. Their actual arrival and the visit of our second guests of the summer. (Remember Uncle Bill arrived earlier in the spring.)Having family in the Hole made it even more of a haven for me. Having family from the past in the Hole...made me feel young again. Seems when they pulled out of town...Uncle Bill followed them...leaving the Hole to father with nothing to do. He took advantage of the sun and the previously planted sauna tubes (in hopes of building a gazebo next year)...and built it this year. A beautiful addition to our haven...and bait for the return of family in future years.
Summer was still in full bloom upon my arrival at the Hole. The gazebo being newly finished was in need of a coat of stain...with the monies left in the money jar I hired a Mexican to do the work...she did a mighty fine job too...and in record time. Unfortunately dad will have to find some more change...about 35 cents an hour...I ran out before the top of the roof was done...or he will have to climb the ladder himself. So now the bait was on the hook for the clans up here to come South...I myself did not cast the line...but I am glad they were landed.
Moving the Wolf Den and putting up our wood for Memorial Weekend made if feel less like an end and more like a beginning for next year.
Having "family" from out of state for the closing weekend made it even better. Pat and Dick were fun to have around it was great listening to stories and seeing pictures of my parents when they were...okay I will not go there as it will ruin the "I am young feeling" (they were my kids age!). Oops!!
Pat works wonders in the kitchen and I was treated to the most wonderful pssketti in the world...and I know the secret ingredient now. It was fun to watch my parents with friends from the past...and even though i do not remember these people I felt I did.
Teaching my father a new competitive sport was something I could have lived with out...but it was a fun game and the balls did not weigh nearly as much as a ballini ball...nor was it necessary to throw them as hard as a base ball. Best of all...it did not require me to attempt to catch a speeding object.(we will soon have to spend the entire summer down there just to play all the tournaments).
So the weekend drew to a close...and the trees will soon finish shedding their leaves...
but under the blanket of brown that will become white...our summer of '07 memories...will be taking root for the leaves of '08.
(Now I wish I had a digital camera...this is the time for the sappy song and the photo shoot....maybe someone will add it to this post later.)