rolls?

[ppine]

Grandpa,
Glad to hear your references to Basque culture. My wife's sister is a reitired professor of Basque studies at the U of NV. We used to entertain people from Basque Spain at the house. I like border collies, lamb, garlic with beans and sheep. Ran into a large flock of sheep while elk hunting in Sept.

Many years ago in ID, while elk hunting we were riding out for the evening hunt past a sheep camp. All at once 5 black and white dogs ran out barking and snarling around our horses' feet. They ignored us until I yelled at them in Spanish to Vamanos, and they all left.

I used to run into Basco herders at their wagons often when out working. Now they are from Peru, Chile, and China.

[Grandpa]

Yes Ppine, they are a great people. My father had a disagreement with his father and left home to go help a couple of his uncles at their sheep shearing station about 30 miles from here. He ended up hiring on with a sheep outfit as a camp tender. He was 12 years old. By age 14, he was a wrangler for a large sheep company packing supplies in to the Basque herders. His area was mostly central Idaho wilderness in the summer and Nevada deserts in the winter. He did that for 6 years, between 1914 and 1920.

In 2001, my wife, son and I had a car break down, just an idler pulley on the fan belt, exactly half way between Lovelock and Fernley. We called our mechanic at home and he said the Lovelock AAA had the best rating and sent them to get us. No part in Lovelock, it was a Friday and Monday was a holiday so we were to be stuck in Lovelock for 1/2 our vacation. Got talking to an old basco at the garage where the car was. He was the father-in-law to the owner. Had to be at least 90 years old. He said he used to herd in Idaho when he first came over. Told him about my Dad. They worked for the same company. He remembered my Dad. Said the herder had told him my Dad was the best wrangler in the company, always remembered to bring in that "something special" that was not on the companies supply list. (Tobacco? Whisky? I have no idea what) Anyway, came back to the garage after lunch and that old man had got in his car and drove all the way to Winnemucca, picked up my part, brought it back and refused to take a cent for his trouble. We were in California by nightfall. I'll never forget that kindness because that old man remembered my Dad's kindness for 80 years.

[ppine]

Grandpa,

That my friend, is a western story. Thanks for sharing it. May I extend an invitation to you and your family to come to Elko at the end of January for the National Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering? The town will be filled with people like you and the ones in your story.