Another Wild & Crazy Year Here
Hard to believe that another year is ready to be put to bed. Working on several projects, continuing with my Sacred Journey book of my world travels. Then I decided to go back to finish my book, Growing up Basque, about my grandfather Pete Minaberry. Hope they will be completed and see the light in coming months.
Got to see lots of my old classmates from Bishop High School at our big class reunion in September. Some of us had been in school together since kindergarten.
Tonopah Butler Days
Our family had a high old time at Butler days in Tonopah, Nevada – the little mining town where our great grandmother Belle and her husband Jim, hit one of the biggest strikes in Nevada history in 1900. There was a big parade down main street. Good eats, a wine tasting at the beautifully restored Mizpah hotel, and all kinds of fun activities going on at the Tonopah Mining Park up the hill.
After finishing my book signing, thanks to all the nice folks who came out to chat and buy a book, and Shari Bombard and the great Mizpah staff. My sister Virginia and I stayed over at the Mizpah to relive some memories of visiting “T” town with our dad, P.K, as kids. If only those walls could talk the stories they would tell.
Riverboats of Louisville
After a big trip to Alaska and Chicago last year, to add to my American journey book adventure my sister and I headed out on another train ride this time to Kentucky. Fortunately, we were home safe when the horrible storms hit. My sister Virginia came along. the true horse woman of our family and a great traveling partner. Blue grass county – may very well be the greenest place in America. Got to visit some famous horse farms with wonderful guide, David. It was more exciting than we could have imagined to be standing in front of the place where champion thoroughbreds take their chance to make history in America’s most famous horse race.
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We got a chance to ride on another kind of transport. We sailed one morning on the Spirit of Jefferson Riverboat on the Louisville waterfront. The beautiful old riverboat gliding across the big Ohio River reminded us of a bygone era.
Lost two of our favorite folks this past year Cowboy Jim Koch – & Gebby McMurry. Salt of the earth good people both mentioned in my books. Cowboy Jim & Gebby always seemed to be smiling -filling every room they inhabited with deep laughter. How they will be missed. In typical western style Gebby was buried with her 38 gun and her favorite bottle of White Zinfandel.
Goodbye Dear Jim
It’s hard enough losing folks from the WWII generation but to hear of friends near your age passing is a double shocker. When word came that our good friend Alan Goodale had passed away I could still picture him. Flying out of the Chutes at the Bishop Labor Day rodeo his face tight as a drum until he got that rope tied around the frisky calf. A big grin would spread across his face as the dust settled in the big arena. He partnered up with Martha Mae Brown some 50 years ago- hard to believe he’s gone
Rest in peace Cowboy Alan.
Spellbinder Bookstore
Small town bookstores are special places. Lynne, the proprietor of Spellbinder Books in my sweet hometown of Bishop in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains has created a haven for book lovers. There’s a great range of books, fun author events,and unique gift ideas. As well as a little cafe to nibble on a muffin and a cup of java. We need to support our local bookshops for they are an endangered species.
That’s all for now. Until next time Happy Trails to you & God Bless you on your journey.
All the best Judith