Mountains, bears, bonfires, and (finally) DSL! DemoTex reports from NC.

[DemoTex]

Dear DU,

A neighbor stopped by Friday evening and invited me to a bonfire at the local lake. I loaded the dogs into the Sube and headed up the gravel road to the small "dry hydrant" lake (the VFD uses it to fill up the tanker trucks). There are trout, bream, and smallmouth bass in this small community lake. Several dogs swim there daily, my Sirius and Canicula (Nick-Nick) included. I fly-fish there almost daily. There is a crude stone fire pit, too, for these impromptu bonfires.

Mike, another "close" neighbor, was the fire-master. He was already there to start the fire and would be responsible for extinguishing the fire, too (we are in the Nantahayla National Forest and adjacent to the Gorges State Park). It was BYOW (bring your own wood, wine, whiskey, etc) to this isolated party. I settled for some split hickory and cheap Australian Sirah.

I started up a steep grade on a washed out gravel road at a very slow speed in the Subaru. It is only about 3/4 mile from my house to the lake. It was still daylight. Near the top of the grade is Mike's and Denise's house. I knew they were already at the lake. I was surprised to see a black cat dart from right to left and up the steep slope to their house. My dogs missed the cat, as they had on numerous hikes through the same narrow roadway. Then, as I glanced ahead to Mike's driveway, my dogs went wild. A very large black bear loped from Mike's driveway into the woods towards my house not far away.

Anyway, the bonfire was great. I got briefed on the bears (no problemo). My new neighbors are an eclectic collection of fairly famous artists, old hippies, retirees, and those still working who choose to live way out in the sticks (as Ms/Dr Demotex calls it). Smokers/non-smokers, drinkers/non-drinkers, and the occasional whiff of a smell from the 60s.

How do I identify myself to my new neighbors? Retired airline pilot, aviation accident investigator, writer, and Democratic activist. That's the way it is.

Mac