I love history in general, although I’m bad at remembering dates. Early in life I began reading books on pioneer America and western history. Mother – Durell Dickerson Justus – was an avid reader and I, her oldest son, began to learn to read even before entering the first grade. Later in life, after retirement, I did some serious family history study and discovered that the spirit of pioneers ran in the family from ancient times on up to the present day.
Members of each generation kept following the frontier westward after settling the Blue Ridge Mountain and other areas of the southeastern United States. I found and contacted cousins that are living in many of the states including far away California, Oregon and Washington. I even found cousins in Australia, established there through a great uncle’s son who served in the army during WW II and was sent to Australia to train and later drive the Japanese from the Philippine Islands.
Even before I knew of cousins scattered far and wide I read from a young age about the settling of the west, warfare with Indians and life of the cowboy on ranches across the west. I read and studied early American and western history and read many of Zane Gray’s western novels and books of other writers. So it is logical I developed a vision and yearning inside to experience the west in person.
In 22 years of serving at bases in the US Air Force my family and I lived in Texas, Iowa and Colorado. Living in Denver over three years gave me joy and opportunities for outdoor adventures, exploring, hiking and fishing, hunting and camping. After retiring from the Air Force and returning to live in Georgia I have been blessed by making several annual journeys with friends and relatives to fish and explore the west.
When western experiences seemingly were over for me a chance came in August 2015 to go with friends from Rabun County to two favorite locations in Wyoming: Twin Cabins Campground on Wiggins Fork River north of Dubois, and North Platte River below Seminoe Dam.
I must say age does make a difference, especially on the long road trips out and back, but I was happy I did so well. On the last location on the North Platte River I was taken on a grand four-wheeler ride with Winfred McKay to see hidden valleys in the high mountains nearby. A different world exists on top of mountain ranges. We saw inspiring views of near and far vistas, and wildlife such as mule deer, antelope, geese, hawks, swans, beehive swallow colonies, and various kinds of ducks on the river.
I have many photos of this journey and previous ones and detailed written journals of each trip. While I lived a few years in the west and made several visits since retiring, I would go again if health and circumstances permitted! Officially, however, I’ve said this is my last journey west. Miracles do happen, as I have known them to happen before. I am thankful that God gave me opportunities to see so much of our great and beautiful nation.
