Exploring, Expeditions and Stunts

I woke up this morning and it was a little hard not to be mad. Without camping or hunting the rest of this year, how will our fun be had? The Powell trips are done, the trailer too, even the lawn sprinklers have paid their dues. We've spent all year criss crossing this state and yes we may have even pushed it a little to late. We're the last to winterize, the last to care. But hey, we still have our stories to share. So sit back with your drinks, your coffee, your tea and spend the morning reminiscing with me! How's that for poetic huh? Take that Poe! 

 It's no joke or story made up for fun that this was our last camping trip of the year and we went out with a bang. My Dad(the coolest man on the planet) had a tag and unselfishly enough(being that as we all know, I am the hunting jinx) let me tag along for two mornings of the search. Day one was spent with an eight year old completing our trio of hunting glory. We rose with the sun, we rode and we froze. We road hunted that desert scape leaving no hillside Un-glassed and (obviously) came up empty until the executive decision had to made to call it, mix a screw driver and/or maybe a tequila sunrise(we are nothing if not thorough) and hopefully change our luck! Well ask and you shall receive my brother, because morning number two gave us a run for our money and some adrenaline for our veins. Sans the eight year old(probably for the best),  we crossed a track that could have belonged to the Grandfather of all desert deer. For those of you who are not in the know, that would mean big! Big horns, big head and last but not least,(thanks to what would be a generous donation from Papa Todd) big meat to fill our ever empty freezer of despair. But, I'll be damned if the Gods of humor didn't catch wind of our luck and set sights on my poor Dad and his poor choice of a partner for the day. That monster Muley(I'm assuming, based on the shortage of buffalo in the area) lead us on the worlds most exciting game of ring around the rosy, staying just close enough to give us hope but far enough away to remain unseen. Bucks are jerks like that! Hours later we had to concede to his cunning, admit his savvy to remain elusive (call him an asshole under our breath) and make our way back to camp. Better luck this week Dad! I look forward to the inevitable pictures of your success sans "the jinx". 

Hunting wasn't the only dish on the menu though. We tend to have a short attention span and find other means of recreation in the hunting median(11-4, usually). This trip we were lucky enough to have a trail system full of old uranium mines and cabins to wander around. By wander I mean look inside at the four feet you could see and curse(secretly celebrate) the fact that we all "forgot" flashlights. It's dark in there! We may be many things but pumped to get lost in an old mine "the Hills Have Eyes" style is not one of them.  Gazing at their wonder and history from the safety of daylight was cool enough. Beautiful. 

In between the hunting expeditions and mine explorations, we're lucky to get front row seats to my brothers never ending display of daredevil deeds (as we always do whenever dirt, rocks or any other rideable surface really is present). Let me tell  those of you missing the days of Evil Kneivel, have no fear. His soul is alive and well in the heart of Tony. If something is at all feasible in the mind of a maniac, he will do it. He can climb it, jump it, race it and test it's very limits leaving you as entertained and nervous as if you were front row at Nitro Circus live. Best of all it's free for family and by invite only. Exclusive! 

 So with a tear in our eye and a swig of our beer, we said good-bye to the best time of year. We packed up our toys and put them away but we'll keep them close for sunnier days. Yes, as I have said, we went out with a bang. Because if there is one thing I know, this family can hang!