Pop learns "Cowboying".
"Line Riding" is a cowboy term. It refers checking the fence line's around the ranch property. A job that came about when "Free Ranging" gave way to property lines and farming. The Ranchers fought the idea but in the end they lost.
Berts first job was to check the fence lines for breaks or needed repair. In the old days this was a time consuming lonely job that might take a month or longer to complete. The line rider had to load everything he needed on a couple of "Pack" animals. With these in tow behind him and his horse he'd head out.
The modern "Line Rider" has it a little better than days of old. Bert loaded everything in a Dodge Power Wagon FWD. The Dodge was a military surplus truck left to the island when the military moved out at the end of WW2. The island company acquired several Jeeps and trucks from the military. They were all painted a light "Sandy" brown and put to work where ever needed. Cattle don't do a lot of fence damage. Maybe a post now and then when some cow needs something to rub against. They usually just tolerate the "Barbed" wire. Stampedes are unlikely unless lightening starts a fire.
Buffalo aren't so docile as cows. Big nasty twelve hundred pound animals. They're like a bunch of Lemmings. A "Buff" will charge through a three strand fence and not even blink an eye. Thats bad enough but when the whole herd follows, well you can imagine. Buffalo weren't ever meant to be fenced in but how else can you control their travels. There's a whole lot of places where the big critters just aint welcome!
Bert ran the fence in about two days and some hours. Wasn't much damage except where the Buffalo had used the fence to scratch and itch. Pop said it was the best time he'd ever had and got paid for it. Even got to sleep at the "Line Shack". Most all fence lines have one of these little cabins at the halfway point. It's rest when your tired and shelter if the weather gets bad. The line rider also has to repair anything wrong with the cabin while he's there. Pop put everything in order and left some coffee before he traveled on.
There would be lots more to learn about this new job but Bert was now "Bonafide". He'd "Cow Boyed Up".
Berts first job was to check the fence lines for breaks or needed repair. In the old days this was a time consuming lonely job that might take a month or longer to complete. The line rider had to load everything he needed on a couple of "Pack" animals. With these in tow behind him and his horse he'd head out.
The modern "Line Rider" has it a little better than days of old. Bert loaded everything in a Dodge Power Wagon FWD. The Dodge was a military surplus truck left to the island when the military moved out at the end of WW2. The island company acquired several Jeeps and trucks from the military. They were all painted a light "Sandy" brown and put to work where ever needed. Cattle don't do a lot of fence damage. Maybe a post now and then when some cow needs something to rub against. They usually just tolerate the "Barbed" wire. Stampedes are unlikely unless lightening starts a fire.
Buffalo aren't so docile as cows. Big nasty twelve hundred pound animals. They're like a bunch of Lemmings. A "Buff" will charge through a three strand fence and not even blink an eye. Thats bad enough but when the whole herd follows, well you can imagine. Buffalo weren't ever meant to be fenced in but how else can you control their travels. There's a whole lot of places where the big critters just aint welcome!
Bert ran the fence in about two days and some hours. Wasn't much damage except where the Buffalo had used the fence to scratch and itch. Pop said it was the best time he'd ever had and got paid for it. Even got to sleep at the "Line Shack". Most all fence lines have one of these little cabins at the halfway point. It's rest when your tired and shelter if the weather gets bad. The line rider also has to repair anything wrong with the cabin while he's there. Pop put everything in order and left some coffee before he traveled on.
There would be lots more to learn about this new job but Bert was now "Bonafide". He'd "Cow Boyed Up".
I really liked it. GG!
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