Helen Austin called to check on things. I asked if Zoie had been gigging. Zoie does like to gig with her dad but sometimes has a test and studies instead. She has been gigging and not only gets the fish, (always several) she cleans and cooks them too, often shares with Helen and Frank. Sometimes ready to eat and sometimes ready for the freezer.
Juanita O’Dell called, said her dad hoboed to Arizona but, it didn’t change the fact he was 12 years old when it happened. He hoboed home when he couldn’t go with the older cowboys when trouble hit. She was talking about the back roads round Current River. Sam liked to go those back roads too, We often traveled the railroad tram to Van Buren (4-5 times a year). I enjoyed the ride.
In 1980 we cut stave bolts in Coppermine joining the tram near Hunter. The last load I had to drive out while Sam took tractor home through the woods. I’d liked to have ridden with him to see the country but, the load had to be driven home too. It was somewhat scary pulling the “thressel hill” out of Coppermine. I honestly don’t know how high it is but, the bridge had burned out years before.
One place I could only see sky and I had eight staves (39” logs had to be 11” through but, many were 36” through). I made it but, it’s one drive I’m glad I only had to do once. We got $1 an inch, in 1996 we only got 35 cents for the same measurement. They are white oak. One tree we could not reach around and it was hollow for 12’ but Sam cut into stove length. I needed wedge and sledge to split in half but, after that a simple ax swing and I had a chunk of firewood.
Even as a child I liked the wood chores. Doubt I can stand now to split wood but I liked to show off. I’d stand a 15” chunk on end and 10-12” through with four licks with ax I had four sticks of wood. Lots of good memories made along Current River. The kids like most Riggins kin enjoyed swimming in Current River. Sam floated with a niece once. That was a very enjoyable day for them.