2002

It is almost June and it is time to start my "Chronicles" for this year.  Another mild winter, but we did get up to 98% of our normal snow pack.  My back was really bothering me last year and the pain extended down to my legs.  Had some tests and it was determined I have a pinched nerve in the back.  My doctor cannot do much so I decided to try a Chiropractor.  So far the treatments seem to be working.  My legs do not bother me as much as before, but I still have a stiff: back when I wake up in the morning.  Thank God it is not too bad sleeping on the ground in my tent at Fire Camp.

25-28 March

I was surprised to get a call for a fire in New mexico.  This is the earliest I have ever been out on a fire.  I usually do not get out till June or July.  The fire was the Kokopelli Fire at Ruidoso, NM.  One of the benefits of going to fires is that it gives me the chance to visit places I have wanted to see but have not had the time or opportunity.  Ruidoso was the center of the Lincoln County Range Wars in the 1800's where Billy the Kid got started.   I was called out as a Claims Specialist and had to be at the airport by 6 AM to catch my plane.  Flew into El Paso,  and went by Pick-up to Alamagordo and then on to Ruidoso.  Not too much action for me so I volunteered to drive the Camp Crew around to do some clean-up at the original base camp, and to ferry personnel into town for dinner.  This was too early in the year for the normal catering service to be up and ready.

Another benefit of going to fires is the opportunity to see friends I have not seen in years.  I had a friend in college by name of Dave Scott.  We have been in contact with each other by mail, but I have not seen him since 1958.  He is now retired and living in Carrizozo, NM, about 30 miles from Ruidoso.  While there I gave Dave a call and he came up to visit me in Ruidoso and we had a great 3 hour visit catching up on our respective lives..

2-10 May

Another fire.  I was called to go to the Ryan Fire at Fort Huachuca, AZ as Claims Specialist.  Flew into Tucson, but by the time I got there the fire was out and they we demobing everyone.  I stayed in Tucson Friday and Saturday hoping for a reassignment to another fire.  At 2 PM Saturday I was reassigned as Ordering Manager on the Penasco Fire at Cloudcroft, NM, about 50 miles south of Ruidoso.  Once again I flew into El Paso and was taken up to fire camp. The fire was finally controlled and turned over to a Type 3 overhead team for mop-up and rehab.  I demobed and got home on friday.

15-29 may

After a long weekend at home I got a call on Tuesday to go back to the Penasco Fire to be the Time Unit Leader for the Type 3 team.  I left home on Wed and was at the fire camp by 10 AM.  There was still a lot of mop-up and rehab work so I got my full 14 days.  I demobed on Wed and went down to El Paso to catch a flight home at 7 AM Wed, getting home at noon.  While in El Paso I had the opportunity to visit A fellow RV'er I met on the Compuserve RV Forum when he was looking for information and guidance on installing a Solar Power system on his RV.  H.C. Diehl and his wife picked me up at my motel and we went out for a great dinner at the Red Lobster.

30 May-20 July

I had been trying to get many personal chores taken care of but every time I made the necessary appointments I got called out to a fire and had to cancel them.  When I got home on the 29th of May I called Dispatch and told them I would be unavailable until further notice.  Everything was finally taken care of and I called Dispatch on the 18th of July and put myself back on the available list.

7-9 June

A while back I was interviewing a new candidate for membership in the Elks Lodge.  During the interview he mentioned plans for his annual fishing trip to the Delta. I mentioned to my fellow Elks that is sounded like a good idea and that we Elks should do something like that.  Well, one of the Brothers, Dick Hughes started the planning and we were scheduled for a trip 7-9 June.  We rented a houseboat and finally boarded about 1600 on Friday and took off looking for a place to fish and to moor for the nite.  Found a spot and after we got settled we tried some fishing.  We caught several fish, mainly "baby" Stripers and a few Catfish.  Dale Lawson got a nice 4 lb. Black Bass.

Saturday morning we took off to look for a better fishing spot.  It was windy and we finally found a spot in the lee of an Island.  Fished for a bit and caught more "Baby" Stripers and small Catfish so decided to try another area.  It had gotten very windy and we finally found a place to tie up in the lee of another small island.  A few more fish were caught. but the wind blew all nite.

Sunday morning was still very windy so we decided we may as well head back to the Marina and get an early start on the trip home.  We left the Marina about 1130 and I was home about 1430.

15-17 July

As long as I was not available to go to fires I decided to go on my first fishing trip.  Went up to Orovill on Monday and got back on Wed.  Fishing was good, but the catching left a bit to be desired.  I had a couple of good hook-ups but lost both of them.

21-23 July

Got a call about 2pm Sunday to go to the Ellsworth fire in Gabbs, NV as the Receiving & Distribution manager.  Left home about 5PM and got into Gabbs about 2030.  We demobed on Friday and I was reassigned to the Garden Valley Complex in Garden Valley, ID.

24 July-4 August

 I left Gabbs at 0600 and drove to Idaho, arriving about 1530.  520 miles of sage brush.  A long hot drive.  Had a busy time working as the Ordering manager and demobed on Sunday 4 Aug.  Left camp at 0600 and got home about 1600.

12-14 August

Decided it was time for another fishing trip so I left home at 0800 and got to Orovill about noon.  The river was full of fish and many people got their limit.  I had three hook-ups and lost all three.  Came home thursday.  Two trips in a row that I was "skunked".

20-23 August

A plane crashed south of Echo Summit and started a brush fire.  I got a call about 0900 to go to the fire (Shower Fire) as Equipment Time Recorder.  Shortly after that I got a phone call from Utah asking me if I was interested in being the Ordering Manager on a fire near Duchene UT.  Seems my Supply Unit Leader on a previous fire liked the job I did and recommended me.  Unfortunately I was already committed to the Shower Fire.  Fire camp was at Heavenly Valley Lodge so I was able to sleep at home every nite.

26-30 August

While at the Shower Fire Trudy called and said the people that looked at the MH a while back stopped by and wanted to buy it.  Spent the weekend cleaning it out, getting it ready for sale.  Battery was dead so had to charge it up and had Kemp do a little work on the starter.  Unfortunately the people never came back or called.

On sunday I got a phone call informing me that Jeff Jeffries, a very good friend had passed away.  The funeral was at 1500 on Thursday so I left home at 0900 and went to Napa for the funeral.  Stayed overnite in a motel and got home about 1100 Friday.

4-14 September

Had a doctors appointment wed and when I got home my wife told me I had a phone call asking if I wanted to go to the Curve Fire in Azuza, CA as Time Unit Leader.  By the time I called back to accept the assignment it was canceled.  Got another call Thursday with an assignment as the Time unit leader on the Leona Fire at Palmdale, CA.  I accepted the assignment and asked for an flight down to the fire.  Finally got a call back with my itineray and about 20 minutes later got another phone call canceling the assignment.  Got another call Friday asking me if I wanted to go to the Curve Fire as  Supply Unit leader and accepted.  Flew out of Reno to Salt lake City to Ontario CA and got to camp about 2000.  Had a good week and demobed Saturday and got home about 2000.

24-26 September

Just got back from a successful fishing trip to the Feather River at Oroville.  As usual I went up Tuesday and started fishing about 2PM.  had several good hook-ups and finally landed a 40# "hog".  Wed was another good day with several hook-ups but only landed one, a nice 20 pounder.  Today, Thursday was another good day.  Started fishing at about 0625 and had four good hook-ups before landing a small 8 pounder.  had my limit of 3 fish so I packed up and headed home at 1000, arriving back in Tahoe about 1330.

14-15 October

The Salmon season on the Feather River closed on the 15th of October this year.  I decided to go up and give it one last try.  Since I would only be gone overnite I decided to leave my tent at home and stay in a motel.  Really enjoyed it so will probably motel it next year.  A single room at tje Motel 6 only cost $33.00 a nite with the AARP Card discount.  Once again the fishing was good, but the catching left much to be desired.  Many fish were caught, but none by me.