Notbob gave CJ a bear hug

Week 5 02-07-2010

The Search and Rescue Team arrived at Owyhee and setup a command center. The Sherriff arrived dispatching teams up the trail to Eagles Nest.

The sheriff radioed dispatch, “send the chopper down the valley to look along the river”, he said as dark clouds began to blanket the area.

With the hoist motor on the pallet for repairs, Notbob returned to the shop, put his tools away, punched out and headed for the parking lot.

Indian Johnny was leaning against Notbob’s car when he got there. “You headed to Owyhee”, he asked Notbob . “Yes”, was the terse response.

“Can I catch a ride” Johnny asked? Notbob grumbled about not being a taxi but pointed to the passenger door nodding his head affirmatively.

When he arrived at Owyhee Notbob gave CJ a bear hug and told her “we’ll find him”. Johnny talked to the Sherriff then headed up the trail.

Kaseowiski was getting an earful.

Week 4 01-31-2010

Grubby punched in, grabbed his tools and headed for the Steel Shop. Notbob was already there disconnecting the power from the overhead crane.

“Did you hear about Josh”, Grubby asked? “Rumor is he committed suicide” he continued. Notbob shook his head, “never ever happen”, he said.

Kaseowiski was getting an earful from Easymoney about the Steel Shop crane being down for 3 days. “If JC was here it would have been fixed”.

Kaseowiski bristled at the comment. “He’s not here” he grumbled. “Good riddance”, he continued. “It’ll be fixed as soon as we get parts”.

Grubby hated working 50 ft above the concrete floor, but was able to control his anxiety as he unbolted the hoist motor form the gear box.

The sun warmed the late fall morning as Miss Kitty sat in the kitchen window watching the mist rise like a breath from the jumbled woodpile.

The sun was warm on his face.

Week 3 01-24-2010

The world slowly came into focus for JC. The Vale of Tears roared at his feet as the sun rose over the Sinkiuse River. He hurt all over.

The roaring in his ears was not from the river at his feet, but from the concussion he suffered falling from the trail 200 feet above him.

JC tried to take a personal inventory. His blurred vision made it difficult. He flexed his hands and painfully raised his arms over his head.

The pain in left arm nearly caused him to blackout. He took a deep breath and lowered his arms to his side. The sun was warm on his face.

CJ drove to Owyhee as the sun rose behind her. She met the Deputy Sherriff, unlocked Valiant, confirmed nothing was missing then broke down.

Nosmo emailed Jolene, Insalata’s manager. Get a mobile soup kitchen out to Owyhee. “Send soup, sandwiches, coffee; the works, and bill me”.

Was he suicidal?

Week 2 01-17-2010

The knock at the door was the County Sheriff. “Did you and your boy friend have a fight, were things ok at work, was he suicidal”, he asked?

At dawn, a Deputy Sheriff was dispatched to the trail head at Owyhee Uplands. He found Valiant parked where JC had left it. The doors locked.

“There’s a powder blue Plymouth Valiant Station wagon matching the description of the missing mans car parked here”, he radioed dispatch.

“Looks like we need the Search and Rescue Teams and a command center up here”, he continued. “Get the chopper up for an overhead look too.”

Dispatch called CJ and told her they had found Josh’s car and that they were calling out SART and setting up a command center at Owyhee.

CJ called the office. ”Nosmo, Josh is missing. The Sheriff found his car at Owyhee Uplands. I’m going there to see what I can do”, she said.

Time and gravity

Week 1 01-10-2010

For a moment, JC hung above the trail. Time and gravity seemed too stop. And he knew, if he survived, what he needed to do with his life.

Josh hit the ground with a bone jarring thud. Tumbling head over heals, he landed in the Talus next to the class 5 rapid, the Vale of Tears.

CJ was worried. Josh should have been home hours earlier. Their dinner, uneaten, sat cold on the stove. She tried his cell phone. No answer.

Broken, battered and bleeding, Josh drifted in and out of consciousness. The star filled sky offered no protection from the chilling cold.

911, what’s your emergency? My boyfriend went for a day hike on the Headlands and hasn’t come home yet CJ said with some panic in her voice.

What’s your name the 911 operator asked? Callisto Johansen CJ replied. Then she gave the operator JC’s name, address and where he had gone.

Week 20 11-29-09

The star filled sky proffered a cold crisp night as Miss Kitty, listening intently, surveyed the woodpile. She too sensed the coming change.

Kaseowiski, a Petty Tyrant, spent his day trying to quell a rebellion by the maintenance crew and other Journeymen in the shipyard.

Notbob worked on the over head crane most of the day. He told Grubby the machinist the hoist motor was shot, and then went to tell Easymoney.

JC made his way hurriedly down the trail. It was pitch black with only occasional breaks in the canopy. He could hear the river raging below.

The town’s evangelist, Deacon Blue, spent his day on the street corner chanting “Though I walk through the valley of death I fear no evil”.

Slipping on wet leaves and loose rocks, JC lost his balance. Falling, the last thing he saw through the trees was Ursa Major. Then, nothing.

{end “The Fall”}

Week 19 11-22-09

JC found a warm dry spot to sit and soak up the afternoon sun. He pulled out his lunch and while he ate it lost himself in his thoughts.

A cold breeze sent a chill down JC’s spine. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been day dreaming, but the orange sun was settling on the horizon.

“Damn”! I’ll have to make most of the hike out in the dark. Indian Johnny’s warning rose up from the crashing surf below. “Bear is there”.

Josh pulled on his sweater, shouldered his backpack and started down the trail. He stopped and looked at the sun setting below the horizon.

He’d spent the afternoon thinking about his future, but hadn’t reached any conclusions. Now, in the glooming, he focused on the trail ahead.

CJ prepared dinner for her returning hero hoping he’d found what he was looking for at Eagles Nest. She knew things were about to change.

Week 18 11-15-09

JC carefully navigated the slippery trail high above the Sinkiuse. His thoughts focused on avoiding wet leaves, loose rocks and washouts.

He stopped about halfway, took out and energy bar and ate it. Warmed by the exertion, he took off his sweater and tied it around his waist.

Donning his pack, he headed up the trail admiring the beauty of the Osneset Headlands. Hemlock, Spruce and Fir filtered the afternoon sun.

As he neared Eagles Nest the trail flattened out. It got its name because of its perilous perch above the pounding surf and the river below.

JC walked to the edge of Eagles Nest and looked out at the azure blue sky and the ocean below. It made his knees wobbly, so he stepped back.

CJ left work a little early and stopped by the store. She knew he’d be hungry after his hike. She’d fix a nice dinner and tell him her news.

Week 17 11-08-09

JC rolled to a stop at the trail head to Eagles Nest. Warmed by the morning sun, wisps of steam rose from the black top of the parking lot.

He buttoned his gaiters on over his boots, pulled on his wool sweater, shouldered his day pack and started up the narrow rock strewn trail.

8 miles up a little, down a little, but mostly up. The Sinkiuse River raged below as the trial wound along the north side of the Headlands.

CJ got to her desk feeling like something wasn’t right but she couldn’t pin it down. She picked up the phone and called the Temp Agency.

She realizes the agency will need a few days to find people with sales experience and she wants to start interviewing candidates next week.

Rumors flew around the shipyard like seagulls on a garbage scow. JC had punched Izmore in the face, he’d quit, been fired, and stormed out.

Week 16 11-1-09

JC packed a lunch, grabbed his day pack with the 10 Essentials, a canteen of water, his hiking boots, red gaiters and kissed CJ good-bye.

“I love you. I’ll see you tonight” he whispered in her ear as he kissed her good-bye. She smiled, started to share her news, but faltered.

JC tossed his gear on the back seat, patted Valiant’s dashboard and holding his breath, turned the key. Valiant came to life without a hitch.

CJ watched as Valiant pulled away from the curb and headed towards town. She locked the door to the house, got in her car and drove to work.

As JC drove through town heading for the trail head at Owyhee Uplands, he had a gnawing sense that something was left unsaid between them.

Miss Kitty jumped up on the kitchen window sill and looked at the morning sun shining on the woodpile. It promised to be a crisp sunny day.