Buddy Trip 2008 - The Last Days
October 11, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
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Categories: Castle, Fitness, Friends, Squirrels, Travel
Tags: Arm Wrestling, Buddy Trip, Burnt Forest, Death Hike, JD Ross, Mazama, Methow Valley, Off Roading, The Gun Show
When last we left my fearless band of merry men, we were somewhere around the Sauk river hiking the mountains and staying at Freds Cabin. On the third day it was time to pack up and hit the road. We were headed to Mazama on the other side of the great mountains.
It was a bit of drive, we stopped a few times to catch the view, had to go through some border patrol checkpoint and did a little site seeing including checking out JD Ross’s crypt (of Ross Lake fame).
The cabin we rented in Mazama was really pretty nice, with TV, stereo, DVD/VCR, a ton of pirated movies on DVD & VHS, all new appliances, jetted tub, etc. You can check out the cabin’s online reservation page here. My only word of warning and complaint is the web page says it has a BBQ, when in fact it has a sad little charcoal grill that can cook a single small chicken breast on.
We went exploring by vehicle and hiking mountains each day, like the previous three days. The views around where we were at are far better. I believe it was our first night there I had the brilliant idea for nachos, which turned out quite tasty. In the morning Travis made egg, ham, and cheese english muffin sandwiches, quite tasty.
We traveled to Winthrop for groceries and one night we went to Twisp, hitting a few bars. This is the good part of the story. The first bar we ate burgers, had drinks and played pool - I paid. Then we headed across the street and down a block to the more happen’n bar. As we sat down we decided it was Jason’s turn to pay. After a few shots of tequila and beers it was time to pay the tab. At this point there was a bit of disagreement as Jason believed it was my turn to pay. I decided to settle this like men. I challenged him by way of arm wrestling. Now he’s going to hate this part when he reads it, but I can’t help it. So we lock arms and at first I think he’s just toying with me - it feels like I’m arm wrestling a little girl. (Sorry man, but it’s true.) I give him a chance then my big right gun unleashes the pain.
So he’s convinced I was somehow cheating, though our two other friends were sitting right there watching and telling him that it was fair. When we return to the cabin we sit at the kitchen island and I give him a rematch. He’s holding onto the corner of the counter pulling on my arm, this time it’s at least like a 10 yr old boy I’m arm wrestling with. Then, the bastard must have lifted his legs off the ground putting the massive weight of his bulk on my arm almost breaking it, though never pinning me. I’m sure he’ll deny this to the day he dies. But that’s the story of the Big Right Punishing Gun.
It was a lot of fun to see and hang out with my friends, get off my butt, and get some serious exercise. Next year or the year after we’re thinking about hitting something farther from home, like Argentina. I’m excited to take that trip.
Anyways, that’s about it for me. I’ve just spent a long time organizing, uploading, and putting captions on pictures that Travis and I took from the entire week long trip. For your viewing pleasure here they are broken up into six albums.
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/FredsCabinBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/OffRoadingBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/DeathHikeBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/RoadToMazamaBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/MazamaCabinBuddyTrip2008
http://picasaweb.google.com/alcastle/DeadForestHikeBuddyTrip2008
Comments»
Border patrol? Confused.
Yeah I thought it was odd too. But apparently drug smugglers try to use the pass to bring drugs down from Canada.