One last Uncle Walter story. The family farm/ranch had close to a mile of river bottom. At the time, it was all rural and scenic, with a small waterfall and a great rope swing over the river.
Up till the early ‘60’s, things changed. Previously, we never had a problem with tourists in canoes. Over the years, various Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, as well as organized church groups and canoe clubs camped in the river bottom. Most contacted us in advance, stayed by the river, controlled camp fires, did no damage and took their trash with them. But in the ‘60’s, people started being assholes.
Then some careless canoeists let the fire get away. They left as the fire (early evening, hot day) reached the 120 acres of pretty much dry, ready to combine oats. The predicted yield was 60 bu/acre - a big chunk of money back then.
The fire reached the field - it looked like Atlanta burning in “Gone With The Wind.” That was the end of us allowing tourists to camp in the river bottom.
A couple of years later, Uncle Walter and my stepfather spotted a group of canoeists, ignoring No Trespassing signs, setting up tents and gathering wood for a big fire. Walter loaded his two big dogs (would threaten or attack on command) on the truck, then he confronted the trespassers and told them to leave and go camp on a gravel bar in the river (public property). This did not go over well.
Three of the canoeists told Uncle Walter, “We are staying, and you can’t make us go.”
Walter looked at them and replied, “Maybe not, but my dogs can.” (One word and the dogs were growling, ready to jump off the truck).
The most belligerent canoeist then produced a pistol and said, “If those dogs leave your truck, I’ll shoot them.”
At which point Uncle Walter slid his 12 gauge barrel out the window and said, “You might get one. And by the way, my brother is up the ridge with a rifle…”
Uncle Walter said he never saw a camp site cleaned out so fast.
From then on, no tourists, no problems.
Up till the early ‘60’s, things changed. Previously, we never had a problem with tourists in canoes. Over the years, various Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, as well as organized church groups and canoe clubs camped in the river bottom. Most contacted us in advance, stayed by the river, controlled camp fires, did no damage and took their trash with them. But in the ‘60’s, people started being assholes.
Then some careless canoeists let the fire get away. They left as the fire (early evening, hot day) reached the 120 acres of pretty much dry, ready to combine oats. The predicted yield was 60 bu/acre - a big chunk of money back then.
The fire reached the field - it looked like Atlanta burning in “Gone With The Wind.” That was the end of us allowing tourists to camp in the river bottom.
A couple of years later, Uncle Walter and my stepfather spotted a group of canoeists, ignoring No Trespassing signs, setting up tents and gathering wood for a big fire. Walter loaded his two big dogs (would threaten or attack on command) on the truck, then he confronted the trespassers and told them to leave and go camp on a gravel bar in the river (public property). This did not go over well.
Three of the canoeists told Uncle Walter, “We are staying, and you can’t make us go.”
Walter looked at them and replied, “Maybe not, but my dogs can.” (One word and the dogs were growling, ready to jump off the truck).
The most belligerent canoeist then produced a pistol and said, “If those dogs leave your truck, I’ll shoot them.”
At which point Uncle Walter slid his 12 gauge barrel out the window and said, “You might get one. And by the way, my brother is up the ridge with a rifle…”
Uncle Walter said he never saw a camp site cleaned out so fast.
From then on, no tourists, no problems.
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