River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-14

we sprang up to find it dripping
through the canvas and running
under our bed, and Kitty standing
with bowed head braced against the
storm and looking so forlorn.
This was another of the "befel1s"
referred to IN the beginning of this
letter, so with laughing cheer we
picked up our bed, piled all in the
middle of the tent removed our food
box TO higher ground, and, as you
know, the world looks brighter on a
full stomach, we made coffee, warm
ed up some Boston baked beans,
and as we worked and planned, the
clouds lifted and dear old Sol
glanced in on US. After a hearty
breakfast we scrambled and got
ready TO move on, which we did, re-
Joic1ng in the thought that it is
better farther on" A long hill
faced us and we did as we had done
on the previous day, alighted and
walked beside our horse. AS we
climbed, the shore was beneath us.
Stretching out over the blue waters,
the mist told of unsettled weather,
and soon the gentle rain began its
pitiless work. Philosophical and
CHEEKY was our leader, as we un-
f1inchingly meandered on seemingly
always uphill. Thus for hours, al
ternating between showers and
cloud lifts, harder often the going
down hill than up, as the rain had
made the soil slippery and Kitty
would often slide almost upon her
launches. Not thinking of rain we
had no protection when walking, but
a convenient grain sack helped TO
keep the rain off our shoulders.
Maybe it wasn't fun! The dropping
hats, the baggy knees, the general
"trampy" look of all three was in
describable.
After passing through ravines, by
big diaries where the cattle upon
a thousand hills" surprised us by
the great number and their fine conz
dition, we would reach a height
where the view would delight our
souls. Steamers were constantly
going and coming-the big liners
to and from San Francisco, riding
so grand1y over the big waves and
sinking gracefully into the trough
of the sea.
Turning away from the coast we
are again in the big timber and the
trees dripping with the passing
showers threw their bright drops
upon us as we passed. Stopping
under an immense oak we waited
through avery energetic shower and
viewed a wonderland of ferns-a
nook for an artists pencil. AS we
walked we still wore the grain sacks
for we knew not where our next
camping place would be. At noon
we stopped for lunch beside the
road near another mountain stream
at the foot of one of "the ever1ast-
ing hills" Mr.. Rhoads had by this
time become reconciled to the de-
formed condition of his pants knees
and hat, also the expression" of
his shoes, and was ready to do JUS
tice to the lunch. A sorry looking
couple, if one we're not studying
faces.
, The rain was over, but we were
not yet over the hills, as we learned
in our afternoon drive. Nearing
Santa Cruz our way became more
. nearly level, and the ocean, still in
sight, restful to our eyes. Stopping
at this beautiful city by the sea we
, purchased potatoes for the first
, time, and drove to Capitola, three
miles further on for our Sunday S
rest, reaching camp in time to settle
our belongings and dry our tent and
f blanket before shutdown.
t A restfu1 day followed. The surf
rang in our ears, as it had all the
way for the last 81 miles. We called
) on a friend whose summer home
; overlooks the bay and camp and
, feasted our eyes on the beautiful in
: coming rollers. In the early hours
t of Monday we began our further
t wanderings, having ridden ninety
| miles and having sixty more 10 ride
|, ere reaching this haven.
r We rode out from Capitola
/ through Aptos, another summer
; outing place, by Spreckles' fine
: home, whose moose and deer forest
is bit of grandeur not hitherto
, met with. Down over the hills to
{ jacksonville, three miles from the
z coast, where they have the finest
Strawberries, noted for this and its
; beet industry, the, home of Claus
Spreckles' sugar refinery, on to
Moss Landing, where the Salina
river empties into the ocean, a big
shipping place for grain and cattle