We soon crossed the mountain and dropped down into the Salmon River country and canyon – 3,000 feet in 12 miles [the old White Bird Grade]. The highway is very scenic, a good deal like Lewiston and Uniontown, but the canyon itself is magnificent, such high rugged bluffs or mountains. The river is beautiful – green mostly. Dad could show us the old road he and Charles P. came over on. White Bird is 18 miles from Grangeville and is a dilapidated little town. From there to the Meadows is 72 miles and the road is fine though not graveled.It is now 5:45 p.m. and the boys still mending that tire. Bernice says to tell you we have just been investigating an old house. It is a nice shanty but there were quite a number of clean-looking glass jars with bright covers, a little old bed in the corner and a little old table. Bernice has just come along again to tell me to tell you that we plan to camp at “Gouge Eye” tonight. She keeps laughing over it. We are all feeling fine. It was pretty hot for a while along the river but a cool wind is blowing now. I’m getting hungry.
We thought we’d make it to Cambridge but Dad says we will about make Pollock. We see many cars loaded much as ours are. I have already thought of many ways to shift the load and contrive more convenience.
We are off -----
Wed. a.m. Had a blowout just after this and had to camp at Gouge Eye. Had lots of fun – more later. Made 127 miles.
Love, Momma
[The photo above of the old White Bird Grade was taken by Vance. It's actually a good photo but did not scan well due to the hazy appearance of distant mountains.]
5 comments:
I find it amusing that Bernice thinks it's so funny that the place is called "Gouge Eye".
White Bird is not a dilapidated old town any more! I think there are some really nice places there now.
Riggins was called "Gouge Eye" in the 1850s because of a vicious saloon fight between a couple of miners resulting in the obvious injury. They all seem to enjoy the name but the fact that Bernice can't get over it makes me think she'd never heard it before. There are some beautiful houses near White Bird so the community is doubtless more prosperous. In my youth it was still dilapidated, however.
I will forever refer to Riggins as "Gouge Eye" going forward.
"I'm going to Gouge Eye to go rafting. Where are you going?"
You and Bernice have a good time! I'm going to stay at the homestead with Ethel and Myrtle. I'll eat veggies from the garden and make a quilt on the old sewing machine. Then I'll play with Shirley Jean.
A book has just been published -- Six Girls on a Hoot! Yellowstone National Park, 1926. It's evidently about six girls traveling from Minnesota to Yellowstone in 1926. Interesting it's the same year. XO
Won't it be funny if the group mentions a run-in with six girls?
Post a Comment