Mini Reunion

On some of our Mickey Mouse Gang Reunions, all the members were not able to attend. I think those of us that were able to attend made the best out of it. These not fully attended reunions shall hence forth be know as Mini Reunions. Here’s the Mini story.

Mini Reunion

 

In the summer of 1997, we had a Mini Mickey Mouse Gang reunion at Dale and Sandy’s condo at Breckenridge, Colorado. Pam and I got there first and found that Dale had received a brand new high dollar fly rod as a gift from his family. Being the gamer that I am, I took on the not so trivial task of teaching Dale how to fly fish for trout. We started out in the parking lot of his condo. I gave Dale a few lessons showing him how to flip out with his wrist and not the whole arm. After about an hour of practice, Dale could lay the fly out there forty or fifty feet within a foot of a target on every cast. He was a natural and I found the task was a lot easier than I had thought it would be. Being the anxious and raring to go guy I knew him to be, that afternoon we were headed for the river to try the trout on the fly rods. When we arrived I advised Dale to go ahead of me about 60 feet so I would be out of his range. He got a kick out of that and razzed me about it for years. We caught several trout, but Dale caught two more than I did. He razzed me about that too.

 

Teaching Dale how to use his fly rod in the condo parking lot. Look at that fine form he’s developed already.

 

 

The next day, we took a drive up in the mountains and saw some really breath taking scenery around the Breckenridge area. We drove up to Hoosier Pass on the continental divide.. The next day Jane and Howard arrived and we continued touring the area with our guide tour Dale leading us.

 

Sandy and Pam with breath taking scenery behind them in the mountains.

 

 

Sandy and Pam sitting on the Continental Divide. Pam’s blood is flowing to the left and Sandy’s to the right.

 

Jane, Pam, and Sandy enjoying the mountains and scenery.

 

.
We decided to drive over to Cripple Creek, Colorado, and do a little gambling. As I recall, Howard was driving my rental car on the way over to Cripple Creek and he decided to take us on a short cut. It turned out to be a dirt road up the side of a steep mountain. I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. We all lost our allotted money and toured the town. Dale drove on the way home the long way.

 

Sandy must have hit a big one based on the grin on Dales face.

 

 

The next day we toured the town of Breckenridge from top to bottom. We ended up visiting a local brewery trying some of the high country beers. That night we visited the Breckenridge Backstage Theater and saw a wonderful live play. I can’t remember what the play was but I guess that comes with old age.

 

The gang enjoying Breckenridge shops and the town. Nice socks Dale.

 

In the Breckenridge Backstage Theater preparing to watch the live play. From the looks of the crowd, we must have gotten there early.

 

 

On our last day there, we all had tickets to WestFest originated by Michael Martin Murphey that was held outdoors on Copper Mountain near Breckenridge. The show promoted cowboy music, art, and culture. We spent the entire day there on the mountain. We heard many many artists preform including Michael Martin Murphey, Red Stegall, Don Edwards, Mindy McCreedy, and John Anderson. Pam ran into Michael Martin Murphey when she went to see some of the shops and his body guard wouldn’t let her get too close to him, but he did give her his autograph. John Anderson was the last performer of the day. Dale and I got up and did the Fred Shuffle on the mountain when he sang “Swinging”. We got a round of applause from the people on our immediate area.

 

The stage at WestFest on Copper Mountain from our perspective on the mountain.

 

The ladies with their high fashion rain hats enjoying the show on stage. Perhaps a Jane design?

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time on our Mini Mickey Mouse Gang reunion and hoped it could have lasted longer. I hope everyone out there has made lasting friendships like the ones we enjoy with the Gang. I hear that Dale has become a master fly fisherman since those first lessons in the parking lot that day.

 

 

Thanks for reading Mini Reunion,
Hawg Jaw Bill