FrontierGander said:
I love Bents fort! This summer, the top comes off the Jeep and I am taking a ride out there to enjoy the fort.
In the spring of 1972 the National Parks System had a ribbon cutting to start work on the building of "Bent's Old Historical Fort". A small group of us were invited to attend, "
bring your primitive camps, wear your period clothing, we will have shooting of muzzleloaders". This is what we were required to have to enter the property. Like said "
A day out is always good".
1). We go to the site the day before get setup and just have a pleasant camp that night. The next day the NPS folks show up around 10AM and start setting up for their "
Ribbon Cutting" affair.
2). The governor shows up with his body guards, many of us know Dick Lamb (he's an old buckskinner and a pretty damn good shot). He's wearing the most beautiful set of brain tanned leathers we have seen (just the right amount of wear to really look good, just like a David Wright painting). The governor is carrying a Homer Dangler flinter and he knows how to use it guys, like said a damn good shot.
3). We are honored to meet Davey Crockett's great granddaughter (she's probably in her 80's) very nice person, she there to cut the ribbon. Cool ....
4). After the affair is over the governor asks if we have extra bedding and a place he can slide into to. "
You bet your ass" was the out cry. We feed him and his guards (they went back to town for the night), we became his guards and were told to "
load up boys", which we did. Spent most of the night in an 18 foot tipi talking and listening to him tell us how government really works. Probably the most interesting camp we had or ever have had since.
