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CAPTAIN’S LOG.
One of the
things that happened in the change of editors is that some items
were lost, not the least of which was the ad for the national NAF
rendezvous in California just outside of Hollister. For those of
you who want to attend but do not have the map or dates or
location or whatever, you should get in touch with the western
Factor, Tom Casselman. He will be happy to get it to you.
That California
rendezvous is shaping up to be a dandy. It is on private land that
has lots of advantages over many other places where rendezvous
have been held. Trees, grass, privacy—not much more that a
person could ask. I hope to see plenty of you there.
Recently, my
fairer half and I made a trip into southwest Arizona. It had been
cool up here in the Rocky Mountains of western Colorado and we
thought perhaps a little warming up might be in order. We were
right! Problem was, for most of the trip the weather wasn’t as
good as what we left behind us. But there was cheer to be had. As
we sort of stumbled onto things in the towns we passed through, we
discovered little gems that we hadn’t known about. For example,
Wickenberg AZ, much to our delight, has some really, really, good
places to eat. Not only that, they have a gun show that was going
on while we were there that is, thought small, filled with some
choice firearms. Best of all, the folk there are willing to
haggle. (I saw a sign at a trader’s tent a couple years ago that
said, For our customer’s convenience all prices have been
pre-haggled). Not only that, but they seemed willing to point out
good buys that others there had.
We eventually
straggled into Brenda, AZ to visit with the Chief Factor, Bob Loyd
and his wonderful wife, Nancy. After visiting for a while, Bob got
us into a place about 25 miles away that you may have heard of:
Quartzite.
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It’s something that everyone should do once. Imagine
your favorite swap meet or yard sale on a scale that defies
description. I mean really defies description. There are people
selling every imaginable thing under the sun (yeah, the Arizona
sun). Acres and acres of stuff. Some out in the open, some under
tents, some half and half. Some of the sellers were beady eyed,
claw-fingered traders but most were friendly, happy, interesting
people, glad to see you even if you weren’t going to buy
anything. Of course, it is next to impossible to get out of there
without buying something. There is just no way to walk through it
all without finding something for your possibles pouch or rifle
bag or camp gear. Ask Howdy when you see him at rendezvous. He had
the experience this spring. It’s quite a place down there. Some
winter you should try it.
On the way home
I noticed that the price of gasoline was inching up. The vehicle I
was driving did at best nine and a half miles to the gallon so I
was quite sensitive to prices. I’ve been hearing people talking
about how the high cost is affecting their summer plans. With the
western rendezvous being held near Round Up, Montana—which is a
loooong way from anywhere—I’ve heard some folks who try to
attend each year say they are afraid they won’t make it.
The cost of
fuel is just too high. I hope that NAF members can find a way to
the California doings. Perhaps by car-pooling or volume ticket
buying groups can make it. I know that Bob Loyd and I are trying
to get a group together to help defray costs. We may all have to
meet at some spot on the way, but we’re working hard to figure
it out. I sure hope all of you will, too.
In the interim, I remain Yr
Hmbl, Ob’t Etc.
Bill
Cunningham
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