Notes ‘N ‘News

Valley Highlands Area – Scouts Canada. April 2006

Volume Two #7 Scouter Chris Tyler Firstscoutkim@aol.com

April, from the Roman Aprilis, (probably from ‘Aperire’ To Open or Enlighten) which celebrated the opening of buds. It is a busy month, starting of course with All fools day on the 1^st. Long celebrated by the playing of tricks on others. The victims in France being known as April Fish; In Scotland as Gork’s, and in most other English speaking nations as April Fools.

The Anglo Saxons called it Eostre, after the Teutonic goddess of fertility, symbolized by the bunny rabbit, celebrating the vernal equinox. This later gave its name to the Christian festival of Easter. On April 2^nd we ‘spring forward’ to Daylight saving time. Palm Sunday is on the 9^th while Passover begins on the 12^th and Easter from the 14^th-17^th. Earth Day rounds off the month on the 22^nd.

A legend-in-the-making.

This is the story of the Naked Hobo, made even more interesting because no one was naked and the person in question was not a hobo. It's a story as much about how campfire lore gets started and how one mysterious incident can become so embellished in the retelling that it bears little resemblance to the truth. And how everyone's version of that truth is both different and accurate, based on their own personalities and preconceived notions.

Okay, so back to the naked hobo. It was one of our typical hikes, which means we aimed for 6 miles but likely would wind up trudging for 8 or so. We kept to the marked trail except for the couple of times that we zigged when we should have zagged or found our way blocked by downed trees. The 11 kids and six adults plowed through the woods undeterred by any wildlife since no animal in its right mind would surface anywhere near this noisy bunch. We did find plenty of evidence of active nature all around us, from a shed snakeskin to a pile of feathers left by a wild turkey that had lost an encounter with a fox. A senior Scout declared that watching a banana spider subdue a battling beetle was the coolest thing he had ever seen. Our goal was to reach the Iron Bridge, a somewhat mythical edifice in that the map showed it to be there but we had never actually seen it. The last time we walked this route, on a wilderness survival trek a few years back, we got pretty close. A few older Scouts went ahead and claimed to have seen the bridge. But for the adults, one in particular, having missed the bridge still rankled. He is not one for loose ends or unfinished business. And so we pushed through the steamy woods, deeper and deeper, as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Then, off to the right, down a slight slope and in a thicket near a patch of swamp not far from the river, some bushes began to rustle. Too much for a snake or bird, but maybe an angry boar? A frightened deer? Out stepped a middle-aged man with whitish-blond hair, drenched in sweat with an inscrutable expression on his face. He was wearing no shirt, but clutched what appeared to be a gray one in his hand. He wore white shorts that were also soaked through, making them all but transparent. He seemed to be in a great hurry.

One of our adults tried to engage him in conversation as he came up the slope and passed through our line of hikers, not making eye contact with anyone. “Are you lost?” “No, I canoe around here.” “Need any water? No, got some in my truck.” He slipped by the troop and once ahead of the line he broke into a run up the trail, disappearing around a bend. And the chatter began. “Who was that? What was he doing this far from nowhere? Why was he in those bushes? Why was he in such a hurry?” With 17 active imaginations in gear, the theories poured forth. Each reflected the preconceptions of the person. One adult assumed the worst and had been reaching for his hip knife as soon as the guy appeared. Another figured the guy was just off amusing himself away from prying and judgmental eyes.

The leader who tried talking to the fellow believed the man was harmless, that he had been hiking the trail and needed to make an emergency bathroom stop. Our unexpected presence embarrassed him. I figured the guy had been out running on the trail to get into shape (he was sporting a bit of a spare tire). I was impressed that someone would subject himself to such torture on a hot weekend afternoon. The kids, however, had more interesting theories that became even more outrageous as they tried to top each other. I really doubt that the fellow was an alien albino crack smoker who had buried dead bodies in the woods whom he would dig up later for dinner. But, who knows?

Once the fellow disappeared, so, too, did all hope of solving the mystery.
The man, however, did get a moniker: The Naked Hobo. And a legend was born.

(Taken from a letter to Scout Net. A BSA Website.)

Take Five.

Sometimes I get stories in the mail which I feel can be shared with you. Here’s a couple.

I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new Dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name. Suddenly I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40 years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded the idea. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. Hmmm, or could he???

After he’d examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School. “Yes. Yes, I did, I’m a Mustang,” he beamed with pride. “When did you graduate?” I asked. He answered “In 1959. Why do you ask?” “You were in my class!” I exclaimed. He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, wrinkled son-of-a-gun asked “What did you teach?”

- Ouch!

Working people frequently ask me what I do, now that I am retired, to make my days interesting. I tell them, “I try to have a little fun each day, It’s important at my age.

For example, I went into town the other day and went into a shop on Main Street. I was only in there for about five minutes. When I came out there was a cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said, “Come on buddy, how about giving a senior a break.” The cop said nothing, he just continued to write out the ticket. I called him a “Not nice name” He glared at me and started to write another ticket for bald tires. So, I called him “A piece of dog-****”

He finished writing the second ticket and placed it under the windshield wiper with the first ticket. Then proceeded to write out a third ticket. The cop never said a word. This went on for about twenty minutes, the more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Personally, I didn’t give a dam. I’d come into town by BUS.

- Naughty, Naughty.

THIS MONTHS MENU.

Not everyday do you want to slave over a fire. Here is a meal that is easy to prepare and takes little effort.

MELON CUP, SAUSAGE POLENTA, BUTTERED GREEN BEANS, SLAW, with PERSIAN PEACHES for dessert, served with HOT TEA.

MELON CUP. Wash and Cut up melon to bite sized pieces – skin left on. Place in a large bowl over crushed ice or use individual bowls. (Or serve chilled tomato Juice)

SAUSAGE POLENTA. You will need… ½ Cup finely chopped onion, 1 Clove garlic, Minced. 2 Tablespoon salad oil, 1 1lb can (2 cups) tomatoes, 1 6oz can tomato Paste, 1 3oz can mushroom stems and pieces, 1 teaspoon salt, Dash of pepper, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ Cup grated parmesan cheese, Small package of corn-muffin mix, 1 8oz pack brown ‘n’ serve sausages. ½ Cup shredded sharp process cheese.

METHOD. Cook onion and garlic in hot oil until soft but not browned. Add next six ingredients and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add Parmesan cheese to muffin mix THEN prepare batter following instructions on the muffin package, Grease a 10x6x1½-inch baking tin and pour in the batter. Slice half the sausages over the batter, spread evenly, Pour hot tomato mixture over all. Cover with foil and Bake over hot coals for 25 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, and arrange remaining sausages on top, recover and bake 15 minutes more, Remove from heat sprinkle with shredded cheese. Serve hot. Yields 6 servings.

PERSIAN PEACHES. Mix 4 Cups sliced peaches, ½ Cup Orange juice, 3 Tablespoons Honey, 2 Tablespoons finely chopped candied ginger, Dash salt. Cover and Chill. Serve over vanilla ice cream or flood with whipped cream. Serves 6,

For HOT TEA. Use one tea bag per cup, add BOILING water, no, not hot – BOILING water. Allow teabag to steep for a full minute or even two. Serve according to taste. (Sugar and milk) (As a Safety precaution allow the prepared tea to cool a little before drinking – especially if using metal cups.)

SUMMER IS COMING and what better time to brush-up on you’re Pioneering skills? Why Pioneering, what use is that in this day and age? Almost everyone you ask will tell you that all we ever do in Scouts is tie knots. – Well to some extent that is true. But if we do it properly, and teach the youth the principals of pioneering they will soon learn a lot more.

The principles of engineering come into lay in our every-day lives. What knot is the best for tying a canoe onto a roof rack? The laws of motion, leverage, wind effects and more come into play here. Sheer Lashings take more than a bit of string if the extended poles are to stand up to the stresses and strains put upon them. Sometimes tying two poles together is not enough, you need three? Do you know why?

Do you know how to use a rope and a spar the haul a picket out of the ground? Do you know the principles involved in such an operation? You should – if only to help the youth understand the correct and easy method.

The Scout Shop carries some excellent books by John Sweet. Pioneering Principles and Pioneering – Use of ropes and spars are probably the best of these. The others extend the themes of the first two.

The Canadian field book has a good section (look under ropes) on knots, bends and hitches, yet interestingly nothing on Pioneering. The scout handbook is worse than useless. Scouting for boys has a section on pioneering which I would urge you to read. (Pages 92 – 111)

Hers a challenge for you. I will donate one copy of each of John Sweets books to the first Patrol leader that can, a) tell me what a Malay hitch is. B) What it’s used for, and c) demonstrate it to me in May, @ the Nitevent Competition when I am back in Canada.

In addition, I will donate one copy of each of these books to the first Scouter that can demonstrate the making of, and use of, a Roscoe stretcher.

Claimants for these awards must e-mail their claim before the 26^th April 2006.

Now to some new Business.

You should by now have received via e-mail details of the new registration forms for 2006/7

These forms have been completely revamped and will take a lot of the drudgery out of the section leaders lives and allow for more time doing actual scouting rather than sitting at home writing up forms for every event.

A lot of people have put in many hours of hard work to bring us these new forms, let’s use them to our advantage.

If you have not yet received such an email please contact Michelle Neifer.

Car Dealer Derby…

Congratulations to Andrew Wise, 1^st Drummond , for getting the ball rolling on this one. Now all we need is for you to follow suit and we will need to have a separate day just for them. It could happen!!!!

Now – Get your brainbox around this…

Which public institution serves the minds of ALL of the population – One individual at a time???

Bricpare Tubhilly -

An Anagram

O.K. Here’s some help…

Try your skill at this one…

The Gothic Novel was invented almost single handedly in 1765 by an English Author.

Question is “Who was the Author?” And “What was the name of the Novel?”

And almost finally…

Back in the very early days of medical practice, in the 1600’s, Thermometers were not filled with mercury.

Question is “Can you name the substance used at that time. Answer another question, Can you name Napoleon’s favourite tipple?”

Since this will probably be the last Notes ‘N’ News for this year…

See how close you can come to the correct answer to this question.

“If ALL the water in the air at any given time, fell at the same time, how many inches of rain would cover the earth?

O.K. Finally…

How long can a cockroach live without it’s head?

Answers next time………………………………………… Bye-bye.