The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-11-20
The First Day.


While the bare realities of convert
ing ones plans into action is essen
tial to any achievement, it is TIL,
formulation of such plans and tn,
building of beautiful castles in the All
that bring out the sunny sides of lif'
and create more enjoyable atmos
/ phere. In everyone's life comes ;
time when the spirit of adventure get
a strangle hold, which usually sue
ceeds in clinging until the victim ha'
totally succumbed, and it is while one
is young and the spirit of youth per
meates the soul that the romance OF
adventure means most and its cling
is stronger. 1t is only, therefore, that
am normal young man that ! have
occasion to writes these lines.
After weeks of planning long
dreary weeks when restlessness pre-
vailed and the itching foot replaced
the itching palm-Dwight johnson
and 1 met in Sunnyside, Wn., on Oc-
tober 27--the starting point of our
Journey. Here we met some old Nez-
perce friends and spent pleasant
evening at the homes of B.. J. Fike
and John Collins. 1t does cheer one
up a bit to. meet people from the old
home town, and by morning we were
in the highest spirits and quite anx-
ious to be on our way.
On Tuesday, October 2S-a day
which probably will not equal the
Fourth of July in history's records,
but to us was just as important-w
filled the bug, one of Henry's s huge
family, with oil and gas and pointed
the nose to the south. She responded
most willingly and it was not long
until we were rolling on our way to
the Sunny Southland.
Between Mabton and the Columbia
River we encountered muddy roads,
caused by heavy rainfall, and by the
time we hit the pavement again the
fliver of the road looked more like a
Jim Crow car than an automobile.
However, such hardships as this only
tend to make the softer spots more
enjoyable.
The Columbia is very low now and
instead of being a swift, turbulent
stream, flowed softly and smoothly
down the broad valley to the sea. We
crossed by ferry short distance
abve The Dalles and hit the famous
Columbia highway which we followed
into Portland.
When one is used to indoor life and
has few chances for exercise, good
stiff iaunt through Washington's ex-
hilerating air has a tendency to IN
crease one's appetite and cause tne
gastronomic organs to get almost
frantic when not properly nourlshed,
and by one o'clock I had gotten TO
the stage where eating must be I'M
mediate or altogether unnecessary, lot
one who has reached the post mortem
stage no longer desires to eat. Thus
we were at one O'Clock with only four
more miles to 90 to the nearest res
taurant.
We had often heard stories OF how
tbe Ford would run merely upon lts
renutation and needing no fuel at all,
and I suppose it was on this account
that we overlooked filling our gas
tank and let the thing run dry. can
Won imagine our feelings at that time,
when we were both nearly starved
Well. it is hardly fit, to write 50 l
will let you use your imagination.
After all it WASH It so bad, for we only
had 70 walk two miles through the
ein for gas and were finally aple 70
enjoy hearty meal.
The Columbia River Highway Is al
that the most radical of propagandlsts
have said it is, and so far l DelleVe
that our drive along this scenic route
has been the most enjoyable OF our
entire trip. The rain and fog marred
our view somewhat, but nevertheless
+be grandeur of this great panoramic
vista could not be excelled and its
wonders were heartily appreciated.
At Hood River, the garden spot OF
the Columbia, we came into a broad
valley. rich in fruits and vegetables.
All was fresh and green, spotted here
4Lo.o u;th rich colors of autumn,
which blended harmoniously into
beautiful picture Across the river
81 this point could be seen, far up on
the high bluffs, the little town 81
white Salmon, the Washington outlet
Of this district