It was suggested that I expand on my statement that I posted about how "I was ready to leave Calif. and return to my little town in the remote section of Idaho after being back in Calif 12 hours ". Here goes .....
As many of you know I purchased a old (really old Ranch) in Elk City, Idaho 4 years ago .It was at one time over 25000 acres. It is much smaller now as it was cut up over the last 100 years . I been working on it every chance I get . It will be are main living location someday after my Father passes .
It is a small village of about 200 -300 people .But I have only seen about 100 in 3 years of being here .We have a saloon,postoffice,VFW hall,school,2 cafe's ,grocery store, motel and 2 gas station's . Thats it .
Surrounded by 3 wilderness areas ,there is one road in and one road out . Seeing Mountain Goats is almost certain if you know where to look as you come up the River Road . I have a resident Elk Herd on the Ranch that have become quite friendly and adjusted to seeing us working on the old place . To have 40 -75 Elk in the front meadow is a common site . White Tail Deer are everywhere .
A mother Moose with her calf is not uncommon to see in Town and all the nieghbors stop and pick to any children walking to or from grade school for their own safety .
There are a couple Snow Cats parked in town to groom trails as needed .
No one locks doors here .Someone may stop by and need something .The last "breakin" we had , the intruders cooked a meal of Elk Steaks and all the fixins and did the dishes before leaving . Nothing else was missing .
The main mode of transport is a ATV and both of mine are licensed for the road . You can be ran over by a horse in town and seeing one tied at the local saloon or Post office is a everyday thing .
Grabbing a bite to eat at the local cafe can be fun if a outside vistor stops by . When they walk in and see 3 or 4 local people carrying side arms they get real quiet for awhile . Every AtV/pickup has a rifle rack and Camo is the color of choice .
A conversation on politics can last a few minutes but one on Wolves can last for days . Wolves die of lead poison whenever possible . There is no good reason to have them here .
All the stores and homes have a sign in the window that says "This bussiness/Family supported by the Logging industry" and also my personal favorite " NO EARTHFIRSTERS ALLOWED IN HERE !
If you start a project be prepared to have about half the nieghors and town folk show up to help . Everyone jumps in to help where they can .
I am 54 years old and just celebrated my last birthday there . The locals baked me a cake and showed up at the house to celebrate it . I've lived in Calif 50 years and never had that happen !
I just got my new barn pad cut and graded before returning to Calif . My nieghbor brought over his Cat Crawler and spent 8 hours digging out the hillside . The Cost ? 10 gallons of deisel !!! Try that in California !
If you travel downriver to the big town for anything , you always stop by the local cafe before leaving to make sure and check to if anyone needs anything picked up before coming back .
I arrived back to California at 9:00 PM on Thursday . By Friday I had been flipped off for driving too slow, my next door nieghbor had not known I was gone for 6 weeks nor cared and nobody said "Happy Birthday" .
Yes 12 hours here is more than enough for me !
As many of you know I purchased a old (really old Ranch) in Elk City, Idaho 4 years ago .It was at one time over 25000 acres. It is much smaller now as it was cut up over the last 100 years . I been working on it every chance I get . It will be are main living location someday after my Father passes .
It is a small village of about 200 -300 people .But I have only seen about 100 in 3 years of being here .We have a saloon,postoffice,VFW hall,school,2 cafe's ,grocery store, motel and 2 gas station's . Thats it .
Surrounded by 3 wilderness areas ,there is one road in and one road out . Seeing Mountain Goats is almost certain if you know where to look as you come up the River Road . I have a resident Elk Herd on the Ranch that have become quite friendly and adjusted to seeing us working on the old place . To have 40 -75 Elk in the front meadow is a common site . White Tail Deer are everywhere .
A mother Moose with her calf is not uncommon to see in Town and all the nieghbors stop and pick to any children walking to or from grade school for their own safety .
There are a couple Snow Cats parked in town to groom trails as needed .
No one locks doors here .Someone may stop by and need something .The last "breakin" we had , the intruders cooked a meal of Elk Steaks and all the fixins and did the dishes before leaving . Nothing else was missing .
The main mode of transport is a ATV and both of mine are licensed for the road . You can be ran over by a horse in town and seeing one tied at the local saloon or Post office is a everyday thing .
Grabbing a bite to eat at the local cafe can be fun if a outside vistor stops by . When they walk in and see 3 or 4 local people carrying side arms they get real quiet for awhile . Every AtV/pickup has a rifle rack and Camo is the color of choice .
A conversation on politics can last a few minutes but one on Wolves can last for days . Wolves die of lead poison whenever possible . There is no good reason to have them here .
All the stores and homes have a sign in the window that says "This bussiness/Family supported by the Logging industry" and also my personal favorite " NO EARTHFIRSTERS ALLOWED IN HERE !
If you start a project be prepared to have about half the nieghors and town folk show up to help . Everyone jumps in to help where they can .
I am 54 years old and just celebrated my last birthday there . The locals baked me a cake and showed up at the house to celebrate it . I've lived in Calif 50 years and never had that happen !
I just got my new barn pad cut and graded before returning to Calif . My nieghbor brought over his Cat Crawler and spent 8 hours digging out the hillside . The Cost ? 10 gallons of deisel !!! Try that in California !
If you travel downriver to the big town for anything , you always stop by the local cafe before leaving to make sure and check to if anyone needs anything picked up before coming back .
I arrived back to California at 9:00 PM on Thursday . By Friday I had been flipped off for driving too slow, my next door nieghbor had not known I was gone for 6 weeks nor cared and nobody said "Happy Birthday" .
Yes 12 hours here is more than enough for me !