After reading this post on Alpha Trilogy, about hillbilly surfing I thought about the unofficial sports of those of us who live out “in the tules” away from town life.  Being a good “Left Coast” boy, I did have the priviledge of learning to boogy board as a young kid.  So I have my California credentials there!

I had to make my own fun growing up, since the nearest kid was 4 miles away, arranging play dates wasn’t an easy task.  So I made my own fun.  My playmates were my horse and dogs.  That is probably what molded me into the Western Wanderer I am today.

I always had a dog to play with.  Our English Pointers  were nothing like the field trial champions most people think of.  They were part of the family and even came deer hunting in the summer with us.

 
As a child I climbed trees, grain tanks, in the rafters of the barn. Just another challenge to pass the time. My favorite was climbing the sheer faces of the hay stack. Even today as an adult I have to find a way to get on top of the hay stack when someone forgets to “stair step” the bales. This involves using a pair of hay hooks to grab handholds, while scrambling for foot holds on the edges of the outer surface of the hay stack. Similar to ice climbing but no cold or crampons.
 

 It just goes to show you that “a country boy can survive”  and entertain themselves when there aren’t any hunting seasons open or school to attend.  I think that is one of the benefits to life in the West.  The outdoors is your playground.  I spent my time getting dirty and pretending to do the hunts I go on today.   Every time I buld a campfire in the back country, I think of the dozen of times I played on the ranch, imitating that very thing. 

And when that feeling of self doubt comes over me, wondering if I can do it, I just think to myself, “I’ve been practicing my whole life for this moment.”