Jeremiah Watt

It is 52 degrees and a very wet dew shrouds every thing that I own. I pack up, thinking that I will dry things out later on, becasue I am headed to the Doniphan Library to work on the blog. It is so easy to get behind on the blog, because of the Library situation

Its a quick 27 mile pedal thru the hills of "Mizourah", correct pronuniciation there for the folks from "forren" contries. While I am engaged in the ardous task of climbing yet another hjill on my journey to the berg of Doniphan, and bunk bed logging truck passes me and gives me a honk. He tops out the hill, and turns off the highway and onto a gravel side road..........so sharp is the bend that he has to back up twice and then go ahead to finally negotiate the bend. By that time I am once again coming up beside him, he leans out the window and hollers at me............Hey buddy, how ya like the country? Well, that seems like a good a reason as ever to stop and take a drink and get in a visit.

The fellows name is Buster Hancock, he served in Korea, and wanted to know right off if I had served. I told him no I had not, and that I came to USA from Canada. My ears is bad son, ya better speak up a little, says Buster. That danged ol VA, it don;t do a thing except take care of the folks who work in the office he says. I ain't been hearing good since I came home from Korea, I's in the Artillery over yonder says Buster. I know real well, that's where my hearing went to heck, but they want me to bring em proof......................so what the heck am I to do..........set a Howitzer off in her Office. Bring proof, sometimes I wonder if these folks know just how silly they sound when they come up with the rules.

So what do you haul with the truck I ask Buster, I recognise it as a wood hauler but what sort. Well, I haul amost anything, but I try to stick with private lot hardwood, cause it pays the best. You see all that clear cut come up this way from West Plains? Yes I tell him that I did, but not sure I understand the reason behind it all. Well it's simple says Buster, some is rich folks that want a view..........so they bulldoze it off an burn it. The other is folks who have bought into the latest Gov program to clear all the hardwood for fast mature Pine trees. SO, what do you think of that BUster, I ask him. Well shoot, it's crazy, for one it chages our creeks and the I think it will deplete this thin soil over time. This has not been a Pine growing area, ever, and all the leaves and decay that go on with the hardwoods has kep the hills in good shape..............God is no fool, he knows what to grow here.


But the worst part of all is the Gov and there poisoning of mature trees. Well now I have heard of that BUster few dasy ago, but I don't understand the logic of it. Oh, it simple enough says Buster. Having a logger go in and selectively cut out the mature would leave the State forests looking less pristine, so they send forestry students out with "PuntPoles., loaded with poison. They simply stab the trunk in 4-5 places and it injects a small seed that over time takes its effectr on the tree. The tree just dies away from the outer branches down to the trunk, and no logger will ever get to put his saw into the tree and no marks will be made on the soil............and no local will be able to earn any money from the cutting of age select trees...................and this area will be poor forever.

_HEY DARREN MY YOUNG FRIEND, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I MADE IT HERE !

Buster never mentioned any political party, nor an affection nor affiliation for one..............he simply seen it as a waste of good renewable resources in and area that could use a little financial up lift. Its pretty simple folks, and I do not pretend to know enough about the workings of any States Forestry to know who is telling the whole truth here. I am simply relating to you what folks whom live her think is going on.

I arrived in Doniphan about 1pm. Doniphan is build on a hill side and all roads seem to lead UP to the towns center. Had to pick up my photo card from a special delivery to the Post Office, that way I could get my photo portion caught back up. The bigger problem, was that of 13 computers located at the Library, only one ahd any ability to handle a photo at all. I had to wait my chance to get on that Computer. I have to say the Librarians here were good to woirk with, and got me onto a computer as soon as I could. I got 1 hour of quality time and at 5:15 I headed out of Library.

The sky was very ominous looking, and I make a quick ride down the hill to check out the RV park..............$22.50 to stay and have a bath. Then onto the Motel and found out it was $39.95 and I could bath twice or three times if I wanted......but still too much. SO I got a few grioceries and skipped out of town to the west, back unde5 a bridge that I had crossed in arriving into town that afternoon. My thought was to just pitch camp under the actual bridge, but upon looking I could see that when I rained it washed out under the bridge very heavliy..........................BOOM.........................BOOM and a crack of lightinig fill the sky.

I conclude that this storm is not going to stand around and wait for me to have a debate on where to pitch camp. SO I head out from the protection of the bridge, and head up the bank of Current River a ways, under some heavy old oaks that line the bank. I find aspot with ample slope to allow good drainage..........................BOOM..................and I unload the trailer.........................BOOM and resounding ear splitting crack.............................I dig out the tent that is still soaked from last night. I chuck the little poles into thier slots, and pull the back pegs down tight, then move around...........................BOOM and a huge flash of white light fill the darkend sky about me. The wind is just ripping thru the tree tops, and BOOM goes the thunder once again.

I don't even have the front pegs in place and the rain comes in buckets. I quickly pound/push the remaining pegs into the ground and just throw my stuff into the little one man tent that I have called home fore too many days now. I wrap up what ever else is left out side the tent in my yellow waterproof sack and bail into my tent. I drag in sand and mud just becasue of the hurried entrance. The tent is so low, you need to be a Yoga instructor to get your muddy shoes off with out spreading mud every where else including the walls. I am in, now to get the bed down and something to eat......................oh yeah, eat.............dang what am I going to eat? The bed is down, and I am laying in about 2 inches of water at the head end of the tent. I am knoshing on Cherry Licorice Twists for supper and the thunder is rattling the screens in my tent. The rain seems to be coming in pails full not drops, so I Pray not for a dry night, cause I ani't that stupid, I am already quite wet and know I will be getting wetter. I simply Pray for the folks back home, I Pray for my Mom who is in the Hospital back in Canada, I Pray for the volunteers at Awana's back in Coalinga, and I Pray for all those folks who do not as of yet know Jesus................because I know that in the morning I will be wet but alive, and if not I know where I will be gone too. Do you?

Good Night and Good Bless..........................BOOM, CRACK....................BOOM goes the night.