A Comprehensive List Of SWPA Area Climbing

 Well... maybe... as we recall 'em. A self-imposed mental acuity test... gave ourself a half-hour... we'll start with areas of prominence and work from there...

Everything included in the old Gritstone Climbs climbing guide by Bill Webster. Published back in the late '70's. For the most part locations in just over the border West Virginia. Most notably an early Coopers Rocks climbing guide featuring some now obscure norther WV areas such as Pioneer Rocks and Mont Chateau, with reference mention of even more obscure locales including Deckers Creek and Darnell Hollow. We had a well used field copy for many years before passing it along.

Not in the guide (a bit later in time) but just outside Morgantown is the short lived then since long closed Woodland Wall.

Central WV Seneca Rocks, New River Gorge and Summersville Lake.

Central PA Bellefonte Quarry just outside State College. 

Just outside Cumberland/LaVale, Md there's a tall, angled quartzite slab wall located along Wills Creek. Various names we've heard for that place over the years include The Narrows, Lovers Leap, Wills Mountain, the Roller Rink and Mt. Savage. We always just called it "the place in Maryland". Now, as we understand, officially called Locust Grove.

Closer ta' home...

(Note that all following cardinal directions are referenced to "Yough river north" as primary point of reference.)

White Rocks, Fairchance, PA (included in the aforementioned Gritstone Climbs guide) and White Rocks, Connellsville, PA, aka, Breakneck Rocks. We're gonna' use the original, or local names, for these areas , where applicable, along with the climbers vernacular.

Ohiopyle State Park and satellite crags Bruner Run, School House Crag, Maple Wall and Rivers End. Each a few steps off of the Yough River Hike/Bike Trail. In town bouldering at the Ohiopyle Boulders, aka, Proving Grounds. One-off Fern Cliff Boulder just above the falls. Lower Meadow Run and just up the creek Meadow Run Amphitheater ice climbing. Located just north in the high country along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is Bidwell Rocks.

Stewarton Rocks

Opposite side of the river from the state park proper, Stewarton Rocks is a long sandstone bluff flanking the river gorge just north of the old Stewarton Landing paddler takeout. There's a second smaller exposure adjacent the natural gas pipeline ROW which crosses downriver just north of Johnson Run. The bluff is usually visible when viewing across the river from the park's Bruner Run Takeout.

Connellsville-Dunbar Area

Eleven miles down river in the Dunbar mountains there's Buzzard Rocks, aka, Kraylick (or Krahlick) Rocks. Just up the road is the small Buzzard Rock Ice Fall. Just up the road further still are the Liston Boulders, aka, Swoager Boulders (or Cal's Rocks). Renamed (by us) in honor of the shortly departed local climber Cal Swoager. Was his secret bouldering area that he let us in on many years ago. Across the hollow there's some decent rock flanking the Lost Fiesta Cavern. Up in the hight ground are the Jurassic Boulders, aka, The Vault. They're just down the ridge line from Rattlesnake Rocks. Top of the plateau are the Elk Rock Boulders. Follow south a short distance and you'll come to Elk Rock Cliff, aka, Colls Cove.

View from Casparis Overlook - MTB trails and Yough Gorge Crag

Further north following the Yough gorge is the high flanking Great Allegheny Incline, aka, Yough Gorge Crag. A solid and tall outcrop of Loyalhanna Limestone. A few one-off sandstone boulders scatter the woods directly above. Staying low along the Yough River Trail there's Penny Rock Boulders. One-off Whale Rock is located just upstream amongst the Three Sisters river boulders - mentioned here as it's an annual summertime, shallow water repeat attempt of a thin crack/seam when river tripping. Further north just south of Connellsville there's a few decent and scattered one-off boulders in the area of Mojo Rapids and South Connellsville Beach. Higher up the flanking slope of the gorge are the Mojo Boulders. Also along the hillside exists the old abandoned P&LE Mine. Follow still further to the top of the ridge will bring ya' to Cow Rocks. Fred Gunther, owner of the old Exkursion outfitter shop located in Monroeville, PA, told us that he once had Yosemite-great Lynn Hill climbing up at Cow Rock during a break from a national slide-show tour stopover. Fred mentioned that she on sighted an off-width (roof?) crack that had been a project of their's. Correct us if we're wrong. 

Opposite side of the river to the east is located the South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club. The club's shooting range was once an old limestone surface mine. The surrounding mine walls usually provide good ice formation when a conducive winter. At the nearby abandoned Opperman Mine a single vertical ice formation, usually tall and fat when "in", occurs in a really good winter. 

The Ridge

Following the trail up into the woods overlooking the shooting range and river gorge puts ya' in an area known locally as Casparis. From there on south it's pretty much a boulder heaven throughout the northern hump of a camelback ridge. The Ridge is divided into Stairway To Heaven located at the extreme northern exposure, a Light Side along the flanking southwest river exposure and a Dark Side opposite, which slopes into a shaded meandering stream hollow. Following the southern hump of the ridge to its end will bring ya' to the Druid Stones, aka, Pagan Rocks. East of the stream the hollow slopes steeply upward in elevation thru several hundred feet of more boulders to the base of the vertical Casparis Cliff. Immediately beyond the clifftop an unimproved township road runs parallel the length of the hollow. Opposite side of the road the hollow continues in elevation thru more scattered large boulders. The rocky terrain eventually peters out as broken exposures of sandstone ledge rock near the top of the plateau. At one point for a length of maybe two hundred feet this exposure forms the bit more massive outcrop of Foleys Wall. A scattered one-off boulder rests here and there across the plateau. Near the actual high point of Chestnut Ridge bordering Casparis set a small jumble of boulders just off Sandy Flats road. 

The north flank of McCoy Hollow (and McCoy Hollow Road) is littered with a jumble of small to large boulders.

Jumonville Rocks are located on the ridge above Lemont Furnace, PA. Just off Jumonsville Road a short distance beyond the Coolspring Stone Quarry.

Fish Rocks, aka, Big Inch Pipeline, Rob's Knobs, the Lost World, aka, Lost Crag, Lambie Rocks  and Zebley Flats, aka, Rebecca Rocks rest near the upper plateaus flanking the immediate Dunbar Creek and Limestone Run stream hollows. Near the upper reaches of the small drainage hollow between Rob's Knobs and the Lost Crag exists a lesser obscure sandstone outcrop. 

North of Connellsville off of Breakneck Road is the earlier mentioned Breakneck Rocks. A bit further north exists the long forgotten Uncle Joes. Continue further north a hollow or two to Spruce Hollow Road and Spruce Hollow Rocks. There's another old forgotten outcrop similar to Uncle Joes, just off the east side of Breakneck Road, either before or after Spruce Hollow Road, that we visited years ago. However, can't recall exactly where. 

Following nearby Rt. 982 north to the small village of Wooddale are a series of large boulders located along the Power Line which climbs the ridge adjacent the existing limestone quarry above Wingrove Road. Continue north along Rt. 982. Just beyond the intersection with Rt. 31, to the right side of Rt. 982 is the Laurelville Retreat Center where there exists a small boulder field. 

Turning right at that intersection, climb Rt.31 to the Bear Rocks Community located halfway up the mountain. There's a small cluster of boulders in there somewhere that Tim Anderson developed years back. Don't know exactly where. We've never been there. 

Continue on Rt.31 for several miles beyond the summit until entering Forbes State Forest and Pike Run, maybe a mile east beyond Jones Mills. 

In the Latrobe-Derry-Ligonier area are Derry High Rocks and the one-off Feed Me Jack at Hillside Quarry. At Linn Run State Park there's a one-off steep slab back near Wolf Rocks. Up in the hillside opposite Adams Falls is a small sandstone boulder/outcrop. Forbes State Forest there's Beam Rocks. Near Pleasant Unity there's the RT. 130 Boulder(s) adjacent Rt. 130. At the top of Laurel Summit there's a few scattered one-off boulders in the area of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Rt. 30 trailhead. 

Near Seven Springs Ski Resort are the Airport Boulders. Never been there, only heard talk of 'em.

Ice Only:

Buzzard (Kraylick) Ice Fall

Confluence

Darlington Quarry, aka, Longbridge

Irishtown

Layton Falls

Meadow Run/Amphitheater

Opperman Mine (Casparis)

P&LE Mine (ice bouldering)

Rod & Gun Club

Secret Cliffs I

Secret Cliffs II

Stewarton

Tunnel Cliffs 

Victoria Flats

... not a guide nor a prompt - visit at your own risk and liability.

Some Images:

Drone View of Casparis Cliff overlook

Breakneck Rocks

(L. Anderson)

The Ridge

(T. Anderson)

Derry High Rocks

(Our Loyal Scribe)

Ohiopyle - School House Crag

(L. Anderson)

Feed Me Jack

(R. Goodman)

Liston-Swoager Rocks

(S. Zagorce)

Stewarton Rocks

(T. Anderson)

Foleys Wall

(R. Goodman)

The Ridge

(C. Samples - B. Rentka)

Near Lost Fiesta Cavern

(Our Loyal Scribe)

Cow Rocks

(S. Zagorce - S. Zagorce)

Robs Knobs

(Our Loyal Scribe)

Druid Stones

Casparis Cliff

(S. Zagorce - S. Zagorce)

Casparis

(S. Zagorce)

Lambie Rocks

(S. Zagorce)

Casparis near Foleys Wall

(C. Samples - B. Rentka)

Lambie Rocks

(S. Zagorce)

Casparis near Foleys Wall

(B. Rentka - C. Samples)

The Ridge

(M. Johns - T. Anderson)

The Ridge

(M. Johns - T. Anderson)

Casparis

(Our Loyal Scribe)

Casparis

(D. Tarwater)

Yough River Gorge and Helicopter from near Yough Gorge Crag

Robs Knobs

(T. Anderson)

Secret Cliff II

(T. Anderson)

Rod and Gun Club

(T. Anderson - L. Anderson)

Rattlesnake Rocks

(R. Snake)

Cool Rock along the Yough River

1980 Subaru 1600 DL Hatchback 4WD

An imaginative Plan B for contemporary times...

Considering the average $50K+ price of a modern new car or $60K+ for a truck, wish that we'd have had had divine foresight, or a crystal ball, back in the day. Instead of one, we would have bought seven of these vehicles. Driven one and put the other six in garage storage. Once that designated driver had seen its day, pull another from storage, and repeat the process. Consider that our original purchase was eventually retired at 180K mileage, let's say at an average mileage of 25K/year. In theory we'd currently be on vehicle seven, with an expiration date of April, 2030. At an original purchase price of $5,200 (including tax and license), total cost for the seven vehicle lot ≈ $36,400. Figure in a few spare replacement parts for on the shelf, e.g., carburetor, alternator, distributor, CV joints, wheel bearings and such. Not bad (our opinion) for a, basically, fifty year daily driver. We did a current (on-line) inflation adjustment. Say $142K at $20K/vehicle. We've experienced typical modern repair receipts doubling that original purchase price. The small fleet of three RAM 5500's and one Ford F450 (all diesel) we ran at work averaged these typical shop repair costs: routine service $600 - $1,200+, minor fix: $1,200 - $3,000+, major fix: $6,000+. To replace a single, less than $100 sensor on a GMC Sierra 3500 once cost $6,200 as the entire cab of the truck had to be lifted to access the sensor (NOx or O2 as we recall) located somewhere behind the firewall. Prior calls to three alternate shops before authorization all confirmed the procedure... "Yep, that's what ya' gotta' do." And we maintained a file of multiple recall receipts for each.

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Quite the deal, our opinion, for a carbureted mechanical engine system, points/condenser ignition, manual four-on-the floor, manual part-time 4WD, off-road competent, 4-passenger, 2-door small car hatchback. 1600cc (1.6L) engine; inline-4, iron block, aluminum head. Highway rated 33mpg (never checked it but sounds close). Best features - no convoluted electronic control modules and relays. Especially - no temperamental electronic sensors. And if ya' wanna' put the window down, right there's the hand crank.

Fixer friendly as well. Wasn't a thing on that car we couldn't repair ourselves. If needed. In 180K miles all we ever replaced was one CV joint and wheel bearing. Recall that we replaced the water pump around 140K. Replaced the fan belt while at it. Drivers seat broke mid-life and ya' had to constantly drive at a slight lay-back. Lived with that. Back to the CVjoint/wheel bearing. We were havin' a heck of a time removing the bearing. Couldn't get it. While back at the shop purchasing a replacement bearing we asked the parts guy how to get the old bearing off. He turned to a wall display of several hanging Subaru specialty tools. He points to a wheel bearing removal tool... $50... cost more than the bearing. And we were short on cash. And cash only purchases in those days. Don't even think that they accepted credit cards. We didn't own one even if they did.  He then says "Wait a minute, I'll be back" and goes out thru the shop door. He returns about ten minutes later with an improvised shop tool consisting of a small box-thread knuckle welded to a bolt head. "This is what we use... just fasten it to the bearing then screw a slide-hammer body dent puller to the knuckle and hammer it out... just take it... no cost."

Still, it's a less than optimal small car unibody, which were just becoming standard. OK suspension. IFS struts/coil springs. IRS torsion bar, struts/shocks. Eight-inch ground clearance. The torsion bar gives the rear a bit of jaunty soft lift and firm ride. Nevertheless, we took it just about every (rational) place off-road as we did a lifted Dodge Power Wagon that we owned. Just had to be alert navigating the ruts and large rocks. And two guys could push it out of a ditch.

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Manual four-speed w/ mechanical shift 4WD gear box

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Initially walked into the dealer intent on a BRAT, at the time Subaru's version of a small, light truck. Wasn't aware of the hatchback or wagon models. After looking 'em over, walked out with the DL instead.

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They even had a copy of this art poster on the wall exhibiting some rube on top rope rigged with a full rack of climbing gear, helmet and rock shoes. We'll bet he stood on the roof of that DL to grab that first hold... we'll take one anyway.

A while back someone commented to us that they doubted that we ever drove a car up into Bellefonte Quarry near State College, PA... "You could never drive into that place - we been there!" Pulled this old 35mm still image from the archives. The only image that we have of the DL. Dated Sept, '83. We never thought the uphill drive in was bad at all compared to some of the places we took that car. Climbing related, that's the beginner wall in the background. Three parties can be seen climbing. We'd occasionally run rigging from the auto tow hooks and belay from the top of the wall to climb a few routes along the foreground wall of the pond. Was too brutal of a cheese-grater slide to fall unroped from on high. And the face is almost entirely thin crimps, smears and edging, so ya' needed to maintain dry shoes and chalk. A while back we were contacted by a member of a local State College group looking to re-open the quarry as a designated climbing park. Asked for use of an image or two. Sure. Don't know what ever became of their efforts, but we see that the quarry is still closed to all access. Too bad. They're settin' on one of the best single-pitch, trad/sport climbing areas along the east coast, our opinion. A bit unique as well, featuring open sky faces and hosting a few western granite-style splitter finger and hand cracks.  

(Interent Image)

Found this image on-line. We always thought that hatchback would modify to make a nice (looking) rally-style machine. Like minded thinker. Looks like they installed a bit of a body lift ta' boot. Nice work. Although, we learned our lesson regarding bolt-head shear on those unibody strut-spacer lifts. We'd cautiously decline if the intention was to take that thing out and beat it up. 

This is probably the ultimate endorsement ever for those early model Subaru 4WD's. Our old climbing buddy Goodman, a highly persnickety and very hard man to please to say the least, was so impressed with the performance of our 4WD DL that he eventually purchased similar. Of course, a step up (one up per his rationale - ya' had to love 'em) to a 4WD GL wagon. An '84 model as we recall. He drove that thing up until his recent passing away just a few years back. Think that he (himself - he was a pretty good mechanic) performed a bit of short block rebuild just a few years prior. Said that he had a heck of a time finding parts. A thirty+ year old vehicle at the time. Not many of those were left cruising the streets. He mentioned that by then he had to get the pistons/rings shipped in from outside the US. 

Pictured: West face of Seneca Rocks, WV - note the long departed Gendarme formation nestled at the base of the Gunsight Notch. Goodman's wagon nosed into the parking stall.

Sixty Years Of Thunderball, Part II

Q Branch outfitting Bond for the mission ahead. We always thought it brilliant how all the gadgetry and their function in these films was presented ahead of the fact. Then the audience sat back, in turn waiting for their deployment. Usually in the exact order that Q dished 'em out:

 

                                                                                              (YouTube Video)

We were always a bit drawn to the miniature underwater breathing device Q supplies to Bond:

(Internet Image)

One piece unit - small twin air cylinders and (we're guessing) some type of regulator valve

Q specs the breather as an approximate four minute, "last resort" air supply. Bond eventually employs the device three times, each a critical situation, throughout the remainder of the film.

Thought that we would have some fun and run thru some (rough) figures:

Those canisters appear about the size of a standard CO2 gas cylinder, as of the type used to power an air rifle or BB gun. So we searched on-line. We found that they come in various sizes of 8g, 12g and 16g (g = net weight of the CO2 gas in grams). Again, assuming the near size as of those on the breather, we split the difference at the 12g cylinder:

Cylinder pressure (max) was specified at 870psi (@ 70ºF)... say 60bar (P)

Cylinder volume, 14ml to 16ml... say 0.016L x 2 = 0.032L (V)

Atmospheric pressure (@ 1atm) = 1.013bar (B)

Cylinder capacity = [V x B] / P = [0.032 x 60] / 1.013 = 1.9 Liters (L) of air supply.

An average volume of breath of air, as we recall from our way-back-then diving course training, is around 0.5L.

So, 1.9L / 0.5L = 3.8 breaths... say 4 breaths of air.

Let's say that Bond, being the man that he is, is as efficient at diving as they come. As such, we're sure that we could categorize him within the 4 to 8 breaths-per-minute range of a master diver. Thus, in addition, he could surely hold his breath for at least a minute between breaths, and possibly two minutes (even when considering his 60-70 smoke per day non-filter Chesterfield habit). So, figuring four breaths of available air from the miniature breather, with a minute in between breaths, we would figure at least a realized four to possibly six minutes down time. This being in line with Q's theoretical four minute approximation.

All this with keeping in mind that these figures are based at surface pressure (1atm), e.g., escaping predator tiger sharks while trapped in the shallow depths of a luxury swimming pool. Doubling the depth to 10 meters (2atm) would specifically halve those numbers. Also, heavy physical exertion, e.g., hand-to-hand combat with enemy divers or out-maneauvering racing, hand grenade tossing speedboats, would drastically increase air consumption.

_______________

Subsequent to completing our brief exercise we were surfing about on-line to acquire an image or two for inclusion herein, as well as to double check a few of our units and values. Along the way we happened across a divers forum site which included a post from an Australian fellow, tagged Fibonacci, who had previously done an almost identical, albeit more comprehensive breather analysis. Taken a few steps further, his study includes resting and working performance at depth. He also made use of available CO2 cylinder performance test data which allowed 'em run his analysis at higher pressures beyond the stated 60bar limit we found on line. With all results summarized in an excellent table format. We figured that we'd include a copy of his post:

(Internet Image)

This was a nice check of our figures. As you can see, make a few slight adjustments either way in the constants and variables and we're both spot on. 

Another thing that we've found to have in common - we both need somethin' f*k'n better ta' do.

Sixty Years Of Thunderball

(Internet Image)

 At six o'clock in the morning there was a knock at the door at my hotel... "Aaah" I

thought, "breakfast"... the door burst open and in walked (director) Terence (Young) followed by

(cinematographer) Ted Moore and (set designer) Ken Adam, followed by (actor) Sean Connery

wheeling in what looked like my breakfast trolley... "Makeup trolley, Bob" said Sean... "I don't

understand, it was breakfast I ordered." Terence began by behaving like a director on set, "Put it

over there Sean, will you, in front of the mirror". Sean folded back the lid of the trolley and

opened all the drawers. For the next half hour they went to work on me... applying lipstick,

eyelashes, nail varnish, a blonde wig, stockings and high heeled shoes. When it came to trying

to equip me with suspender belt and knickers I drew the line - I put those on myself. Then they

marched me out in full drag in broad daylight making me cross the hotel foyer crowded with

people and down the hotel steps into the car. And the last glimpse I had of Terence and Sean

was as they collapsed in two huge chairs in the foyer as they gasped for air and barely

controlled hysterics... but that impersonation of a woman in Thunderball and the ensuing 

fight when Bond offers me his sympathy and then knocks my blonde wig off, revealing I'm a 

man, was really one of my favorite stunts.

                                                                                                - Bob Simmons                              

                                                                                                          Original and longtime Bond stuntman 

(YouTube Video)

(Internet Image)

Fight sequence final edit (T) and Connery and Simmons on set (B)

To us it would be a great job to be tasked with sitting around and cooking up asinine 

situations to craft into a finish narrative. We could handle that.

---------------

One morning in 1965, a few days before Christmas (or was it a few days after?), woke up totally amped one morning in anticipation of heading out to the local theater later that afternoon to check out the opening of the new James Bond film, Thunderball. The Bond films were a relatively new concept and at the peak of their popularity at the time. The buddies and I were always in eager anticipation of 'em and big fans. Received quite a bit of Bond-themed gifts that Christmas as well. We even purchased ol' pop a gift set of 007 shave cream and aftershave. He apparently didn't share our enthusiasm for Bond gear. Remember that stuff setting un-opened on the shelf in the upstairs medicine cabinet for a few years before (we suspect) going the way of the pink bowtie and yellow socks. 

Those early films set new standard in film production with emphasis on technical stunts and, in particular, award winning sound design. A good example is the above short YouTube clip. Courtesy of sound engineer Norman Wanstall and composer John Barry, the audio is always just as much an element of entertainment as the action on screen. Hence the term "Sounds like a Bond film."

Happily, No CGI back in those days. Stunt work was handled all live action with actual stuntmen...

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The impressive as heck final underwater battle was choreographed by underwater director Ricou Browning (above) and photographed by underwater cinematographer Lamar Boren. We were familiar with both those guys from the Sea Hunt television series. As soon as we saw them tagged in the opening film credits we figured that this was gonna' be good.

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Earlier in time, Browning was also the underwater Creature From The Black Lagoon

Wrangling a 14ft tiger shark for Thunderball: Browning, dive assistant and cast "extra"

Correction (12/12/25): No one gets left behind here - that's underwater engineer, inventor and all around bad-ass Jordan Klein assisting Ricou in this image. More than assistant. He designed and built all the underwater crafts and props for the film

(YouTube Video)

Thunderball underwater battle. We always liked when the various sea predators joined the final 1/3 of the fight.

We read current on-line comments regarding the final edit length of the underwater battle being excessive and slowing down the pace of the film. We always wished that it was longer. The audience at the time certainly thought so. Shortly after Bond exits the Coast Guard helicopter, zipping along powered by his tank-mounted propulsion unit, we remember the surrounding theater audience erupting in cheers as Bond enters the battle by ripping the face mask off a battling bad guy as chief villain Largo views incredulously. 

Speaking of hardware. Other than Bond being equipped with "everything but the kitchen sink", we like the simplicity of the dive gear. No BCD's and only the necessary hardware - a basic weight belt and double tank back-plate, face mask and fins. We also like the bad guy's old school double hose regulators. Bear in mind that at the time recreational diving was less than ten years old. We ourselves attained open water dive certification years later, prompted to a large extent from viewing Thunderball as well as the Sea Hunt and Cousteau TV series. Though by that time the pursuit had advanced to a bit of point of exasperation with all the hardware, as far as we were concerned. We realize the necessity for learning the function and developing the skill associated with the stuff, but man, the course instructors really loaded ya' up with gear - console depth/pressure gauge, dive watch, dive computer, compass, BCD, octopus regulator, dive knife, thick 6mm wet suit (second lesson out we brought our own 3mm paddling wetsuit), hood, gloves, boots, snorkel, fins (a bit oversized we thought - we preferred our own traditional snorkeling fins) and weight belt. Ta' boot they additionally recommended a thin under-wet-suit rash guard/thermal suit. First sight of all this stuff splayed about the deck of the pool our first thought was "How come Mike Nelson can dive with just an air tank, weight belt, face mask and fins?". And we thought that we'd seen it all after meeting a few over-the-top gear junkies from rock climbing. Those guys are pikers when sided amongst divers.

Excerpt from a recent NAUI on-line interview with Ricou Browning prior to his passing in 2023:

NAUI: "How do you think the dive industry has changed in the last, say, 40, 50, 60 years?"

Browning: "A diver wears so much equipment it's unbelievable. We used to just wear a tank

                               and a weight belt, and that's it. And then they all of a sudden start putting all 

                               this junk on ya'. And then you're overweighted... everything, it's just too much.

                               All you need is air."

We gotta' agree with Ricou. Although, we're hardly the expert. We've only subsequently have done maybe a dozen dives. The last being sometime late 90's. Most all memorable, however. One of which being a pretty cool drift dive of the Niagara River (NY) a few miles upstream of the falls. Remember lots of interesting large rock boulders. And our group was escorted the maybe two mile distance by random schools of small mouth bass.

---------------

One of the Sunday newspaper magazine supplements featured a rear page mail order ad offer of nine Ian Fleming Bond novels for (as we recall) $2 for the bunch. Hard back. Each of the then four film adaptations and five others. Placed our order and after receipt read 'em all in about a month. Each quite a contrast to the film versions but highly recommended none-the-less. At about that time we received a letter from the publisher listing a second month's selection of books handpicked just for us based upon our "known interests". Seemed that we had inadvertently committed to a subscription book club. Minimum one year. The selections included all adult level reading. Hey - we're nine years old. We can handle it. Didn't gripe and honored our contract. Subsequently developed a life long interest in reading. Just as important, learned to read over the terms and conditions and fine print of any future agreement, whether we understand it or not, before signing on the dotted line.

Anyway, good film. And the book ain't bad, either. 

Old Dad Tales Of Bulls*t: Border Incident

We made a brief trip up to Southern Ontario a few weeks back. Personal business. One of those last minute things. Considering the current politics, was a bit apprehensive over the thought of possible border crossing issues. Inquired on obtaining a passport card, but was told 3-4 week wait time. Ta' boot, they currently weren't issuing them anyway because of the U.S. government shutdown. After driving five hours, we sure as heck didn't want to get turned back at the Canadian border. Our business couldn't wait. Nor did we want to. Made a few phone calls to the authorities and explained the situation. "Just gonna' be in Canada for at most two hours to pick something up - then we're gone." Was told by both U.S and Canadian officials to just pack a photo drivers license and an original birth certificate and "you should be fine". Did just that and made it there and back with no problem. The border guards couldn't have been better guys. 

Had Previously lived and worked in Buffalo, NY for four years. With occasional business in Southern Ontario we'd traveled that Peace Bridge border crossing probably a hundred times. Back then ya' usually just flashed your drivers license and you were good to go. Guess that currently could be called the good ol' days. 

Still, and as always back then, upon reaching the border we were prone to always recall a past, amusing tale told to us by our old buddy Big John, related as follows with a bit of "editing for depth" on our part...

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Two or three years out of high school and a casual friend from school, Dino, having since procured a pretty good job, purchased a brand new car. As an added reward to himself he arranged, along with a few other friends, John included, an extended road trip. The route was to take 'em cross country, final destination the southwest U.S. terminating in San Diego, CA. There they would visit with a few other relocated buddies as well as John's brother and dad. 

Arriving in San Diego, and after visiting and renewing old friendships, and with no set itinerary, their trip expanded to south of the border into Tijuana, Mexico. A day or two of fun in Tijuana and the boys are set to return. All is well as they arrive at the border crossing for re-entry to the USA. The crossing guard checks their credentials, deems all is good, and waves the crew on thru. John, always good for a wisecrack or two, seated rear seat behind driver Dino, nudges Dino on the shoulder...

"See... I told ya' they don't check the fender wells"... words uttered deliberately within earshot of the border guard...

"OK smart ass - pull that car over into the lot!" responds the guard. 

They pull into the lot and are left stewing for about a half hour while the guard goes about his business at the gate. About another half hour later the guard arrives in company with a border patrol pickup riding two inspectors. The inspectors hop out and move to the bed of the truck and begin sorting floor jacks, tools and jack stands. The boys are ordered out of the car and are left to watch as the inspectors go to work...

"Make sure to check those fender wells good!" orders the guard, with direct glare at John.

The inspection proceeds as efficient as a Formula 1 pit stop. After an overall exterior and under frame visual, they initially have the hood and trunk lids open, performing thorough visual inspection of the engine and trunk compartments. Dino occasionally glances John's direction, repeating "##@@!! YOU, JOHN!!"

The interior is next, which includes unbolting and removing the front and rear seats... they rummage thru the glove box and console, perform a visual under the dash, feel about the roof liner...

"##@@!! YOU, JOHN!!"

Next they loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, place a floor jack front and rear, lift the body and off come the wheels... there's a thorough inspection of the fender wells and again the underbody...

"##@@!! YOU, JOHN!!"

Dino now stands watching in shock as his new car sets wheelless atop four jack stands, front and rear seats setting on the asphalt parking lot along with luggage and all else that they were carrying. Papers scattered throughout the interior...

"##@@!! YOU, JOHN!!"

Finally, the guard walks over...

"You guys are good to go."

Off struts the guard back toward his post. The two inspectors return to the pickup, both pulling metal floor jacks rattling across the pavement. They load their jacks and tools and depart. Dino, John and crew are left to put it all back together. 

"##@@!! YOU, JOHN!!"

Some time later we ran into Dino while out having a few beers. Eventually, in conversation, we brought up John's retelling of the incident...

"##@@!! JOHN!!" was his only reply.

We related this tale to an actual border agent who was a neighbor on the same block as us in North Tonawanda, a suburb of Buffalo. He said that those guys actually got off easy. The agents could have pulled all the door panels, dismantles the dash - a total number of things. "They could also have held those guys in custody for 72 hours for thorough background checks... they were lucky that the agents were just teaching them a lesson.."

Needless to say, John never got invited along on another road trip - unless he drove alone.