Camping out at Haystack
REMEMBER WHEN
The year that I “graduated” the eighth grade, Brent, Terry and I went camping at Haystack Mountain on that night. We were there around noon that day after having our ceremony and we pitched camp. We were literally free to run the trails, which we did and climb the mountain numerous times, which we did.
About midnight or twelve thirty, we heard a car coming and as we were sitting at our campfire at the base of the mountain we didn’t really worry. When the car rounded the corner where we were, we discovered it was a carload of just-graduated seniors and to put it mildly, they were rather deep in their cups. After we let them use our bug spray they took off and we went to bed.
Four thirty that morning we awoke to the sound of radial aircraft engines. We ran as fast as we could to the top of the mountain to witness a “flyby” of three TBM Avenger aircraft that were used to spray for spruce budworms.
As a history nut and former sailor, and totally enamored of the Avenger, that flyby was awesome. Now when I hear the radial engine of the local crop duster it transports me back to that morning long ago and I sit and remember when …
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
