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Charlie Manson and Me – part 3
~Newman Cabin~
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We rounded a bend on the trail and finally spotted the Newman Cabin. It is up on a rise on the South side of the wash, and we drove up and parked and finally got out and stretched our legs! That was a long drive from Ballarat.
Newman Cabin pic sent to me by Hal Newman. (Yes, that’s right! During my research for this story I actually connected with the son of the man who held the mining claim there!! How amazing is THAT! Hal Newman and his brother still hold the claim for this mine! The cabin is the Headquarters of the operation, as proclaimed by the sign over the door.) Newman Cabin in Goler Wash – sign over door.
The interior was very sparse, with a barrel stove and a twin-size metal bedspring with a torn-up mattress, so we opted to sleep in the van.
Newman Cabin interior – 04/16/2005
Newman Cabin interior – 04/16/2005
Newman Cabin – 04/16/2005.
Notice the mattress on the right. I doubt it is the same mattress we encountered 29 years earlier!
Here we are getting ready for supper – 10/1976.
See how small the trees were! – 10/1976.
Looking towards the West down Goler Wash – 10/1976.
Well, we had a nice supper (Barbara is an EXCELLENT cook!), and we sat at the campfire (Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes and maybe some dead branches for effect). I’m sure Danny and I cranked out at least a thousand b-b’s, plinking at the rocks up on the slopes.
Then we settled in for the night inside the snug and secure van.
Ready for some sleep after a very long day – 10/1976.
Finally, a picture of the ‘Mad Explorer’!
One last sip of STP before settling in… – 10/1976.
LOL …FOR THE ENGINE!
Then, (…as prearranged with Barbara, and keeping in mind it was Halloween) I ‘excused myself’ and stepped out of the van into the pitch black of a deep canyon night.
I went around to the back of the van to (…errrr, use your imagination), then went around to the side and…
BOOOOOOOO! – 10/1976.
…and Danny, being the tough little trooper he is…
Barbara was more scared than Danny was! *sigh* – 10/1976.
…and she was taking the pictures!! So now it was REALLY time to settle in for the night.
…OR WAS IT!!!
Those are straw mats we used as shades on the windows. The van is facing West, so the morning sunlight would pour in if they weren’t covered. That, and IF Daddy ever actually slept past 4:00 am! LOL
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Charlie Manson and Me — part 4
~Up Goler Wash To Carl Mengel Pass~
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