Mary and Sam pursue geese on California adventure

Hunting on Christmas. Go figure. I get a kick when Mary writes how they had to put chains on, dig out snow and a rock. I think we know it was Sam doing that. I always get a kick when Mary says he has done nothing. I am always amazed when she writes of him doing laundry, dishes and cooks a meal. Let's not forget he had the two rear tires fixed and probably does all the driving when they are on a trip. Just saying.

Friday, Dec. 24, 1948

Arose early and cleaned cabin and cooler. Took all stuff out of refrigerator to Nichol's. Then Sam fixed the two rear tires, and we did not get away until nearly 2. Last night he did not do a thing. To cleaners and got the plaid robe and got mail at Belfair where it was hard to get away as we saw so many we knew. To Myrtle and Ralph's and saw the television set. Mary and Louie were there. We drove on to Portland where we ate fried oysters and oyster stew at Lowes Oyster House. Very good. We stayed at El Rancho Motel out between Milwaukee and Oregon City. Very nice place and clean as a pin. We read awhile and then to bed. Still tired from last night. So many cars on the road today. Very slow.

Saturday, Dec. 25, 1948

We did not get up until after 9 and it was a good thing as the roads near Salem were a sheet of ice early. We saw three cars in the ditch in less than a half a mile. Ate breakfast at Albany after many attempts to find a place to eat. So many places were closed. Then over the pass and had chess pie near the summit. The roads were very good. We did not need chains at all. The snow was deep at the pass and a very lovely sight. Not many cars on the road. We arrived at Tule Lake at 5:25. We were going to eat at Klamath Falls, but the Pelican Café was closed so we ate at the Sportsman Hotel where we have a room. Dinner was very good. I decorated the room with cedar and red crepe paper. It looks very good. Cold out. Lakes are frozen so we can't say how the duck hunting will be.

Sunday, Dec. 26, 1948

We slept until nearly 10:15. Certainly had a good rest. Ate breakfast downstairs and it was good. We read the paper and then went for a ride. Out around all the good old spots, but no geese, as all the lakes and ponds are frozen. We saw dozens of Chinese pheasants. They certainly have lots of feed here. So many grain fields. We drove over to where Henry got all the geese last year and got stuck in a snow drift. So, we had to put on the chains and dig out a big rock, then we got out. I can't see how we can get over to where the geese are unless it thaws a lot. Back home again thru Klamath Falls. Very lovely out. Snow all over. Very little traffic. The only ducks we saw in a field were among a herd of Herefords. Ate dinner downstairs and wrote a stack of thank you letters. To bed late. Trying to snow.

Monday, Dec. 27, 1948

Today we got up a little earlier and ate breakfast. Then we drove over to Malin and then to Klamath Falls where I got Sam house slippers for his birthday. Very sloppy out and trying to snow. We drove over as far as the Game Commission where they told Sam all the ducks and geese are at Willows. Coldest weather since 1904. Home to the hotel and read the paper at 3:30. We wanted Henry and Laurice to eat dinner with us but as they ate in Klamath Falls it was a good thing, we did not wait later than 6. About as soon as we were thru eating, we saw Henry's car out front. We had a nice evening visiting. They went to the show "Gone with the Wind" at 9 and Sam and I read. To bed early.

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1948

I was going to sleep late but Laurice could not sleep so knocked on my door a little before 10. The men left at 7 and took a lunch to be gone all day. We ate breakfast and then went to the bank where Laurice got travelers checks. Then I read awhile and about 2 we ate a big shrimp salad. Ah! It was delicious! Later we drove up to Klamath Falls where Laurice had the generator fixed on the car. We visited all the antique and gift shops and decided they did not sell so well this Christmas. I bought a pair of army trousers. They will be fine to wear with my shirts. Home and read. The men came about 6. No geese or ducks, but they saw plenty but too far away. They went to where they got some last year up on the hill, but none had fed there. We all ate fried chicken and spaghetti for dinner. Tonight, will pack up as we go to Willows tomorrow.

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1948

We did not sleep too well as there was so much noise. We ate our last breakfast at the hotel and got on our way at 10:45. Sam gave the desk clerk five cans of salmon and oh was she pleased. Between Weed and Tule Lake we drove in snow. Quite heavy but after that it quieted down and by the time we got to Redding there was very little. The huge pine trees looked so lovely in the white snow with their red bark. We arrived at Willows at 4:15 and got a room at a motel very clean and new. The lady did not care for hunters so we said we would be careful. Ate dinner at the Willow Hotel. Very nice. Called Henry and he had no luck today so is coming over tomorrow eve. Sam got a room for him at the hotel. We sat around awhile and then had a malted milk. Went to our motel and read. Finished a letter to Emmett, Flossie Cady and Fischlers.

Thursday, Dec. 30, 1948

Today we did not get up until after 10 as we had so little sleep the night before. To the hotel to eat and sat there reading for a while. Then we drove as far as Gridley and got there at 3:30. Ate a sandwich. We called at the Game Reserve and drove all around it. They claim a half million geese are congregated there, not counting ducks and swans. Went up on the tower where we could see all over the reserve. It was a glorious sight, like rows of cotton it looked, and it was all snow geese. We took several pictures. Around 5 we stopped by the O'Brien Ranch to see the geese going overhead and who should come by but Henry and Laurice. Henry had got a fine Canadian honker at Tule Lake, and he surely was proud! He said it was 8 above zero when he got it out by Sheepy Creek. We all ate at the hotel and had a good time. Laurice and I walked around town, and I wrote to Cleora and Mother. To bed fairly early as all were tired.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].