The Rest of the Story

                                      FLASHBACK......LATE AUGUST, 1959....
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As dawn broke I again started hearing sounds--motors, voices.  Jan and Fr. Bob also heard them.  From across the river we saw park rangers---and they saw us!  They yelled across that it would be awhile before anyone could get to us, but they are coming. 

  What a great sight and feeling when those forest rangers walked out of the woods and onto the river bank where we waited.  They had water and--chocolate bars---sandwiches, too, but chocolate came first!
  We had to walk quite far before we reached a road and were able to ride in a vehicle.  I'm sure there were lots of questions by the police and forest rangers, but I was just elated to be out of the woods.   Someone drove us back to Park Falls (45 miles) and to our homes.  My Aunt Emma was relieved to see me and then I headed to bed.   
     A good day's sleep and I was ready to go again---but not to Copper Falls.  Fr. Bob stopped by later in the day  to see if I was alright.  He said that the forest rangers confirmed there had been a bridge closer to the park center, but it had been dismantled sometime before. 

     What happened to us?  Remember the picture?  

Copper Falls Park is the point of the continental divide.  Rivers on one side flow one direction; rivers on the other side flow the opposite direction.  We had followed one river downstream and past the point where an opposite river converged.  When we crossed an old bridge way out in the wilderness we actually changed rivers and with going against the current we headed further out into the wilderness. 
     I think we were like in a slice of pie between two bisecting rivers flowing opposite directions.  I think.
      I recovered from the trauma quite quickly; was the center of attention for awhile; lost my status as a girl scout to be followed; gave up any notion of being a nature guide. 

      Fr. Bob remained the parish assistant for a  year or two and then was transferred to a church a little further north.  One morning he heard noises in his backyard.  Looking out he observed several cows having their breakfast.  Not sure of what to do he called the forest service.  They quickly sent someone over, but in the meantime the cows left on their own. 
     When the ranger arrived Fr. Bob explained the phone call.  The ranger kept looking at him and finally asked, "Aren't you the guy that was lost  out in the woods at Copper Falls with the 2 girls"?
This ranger was among those who found us.  Fortunately for Fr. Bob there was evidence in the back yard that indeed cows had been there shortly before.   THE END

I am going to contact the Ashland paper to see if there is a copy of the edition that carried the story.  It would be great fun to read the actual account.  I don't know if Fr. Bob is still living or where.  I don't know how or where Jan is.  Maybe we should have a reunion at .....Copper Falls....and go for a hike.  I know this bridge one (or3) can cross.....




This has been a good "rest of the story" day in the life of Grandma G.

"For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)