Notes from Christmas Eve 1974 Bill Humphreys
Written at Wrong Branch Saloon in Julian, California
Up at 6am in North Park, cold so I put on knee socks, leg warmers, shorts and knickers 3 short sleeve wool t-shirts a cotton jersey, one long sleeve wool jersey gloves and on the road to Julian at 7:20am.
To Ramona (67) at 10am, rest and eat at Health Food Store, call Mary Anne and Bob. Leave Ramona at 10:30am 42 x 21 out of town the wind is unreal, feeling good, beautiful roads with some shelter.
Santa Isabelle at 12:15 (15 miles) two hot cups of Tea with mucho honey, see and talk to Chris with her family get her address and back on the road.
7 miles goes up 1000 ft into a head wind the whole way in 42x 21 & 23. Bonk sets in but pick up tailwind on the turn off to the cabin at 5:30 pm. Find a great old sweater and coat so I can sit on the outhouse at 25 degrees, then walk up to Pine Valley Lodge and have a glass of burgundy, a great walk see a hawk perching for the evening in plain view.
Walk and get a ride to the Wrong Branch, it is good to be back in the country.
While riding thru Ramona I remember seeing two old timers with a broken down car and one said. “What do ya wanna do, Start It?
End up at Larry and Carolyn’s cabin where they have been cooking their Rooster all day in hope of it not being to tuff to eat. Get pretty loaded there and he shows me a neat trick on how to light a fireplace.
Christmas Day, I gather firewood and go for a walk up Eagle Peak Rd, climb up a hillside and lay down in the warm sun. Do sit-ups and side bends, nap and then walk all the way to town (3 miles) beautiful night 22 degrees and clear.
Drink much beer and play pool with Fred from Brawley, who works lettuce 6 months a year, I win two games. Meet Indian “Monti” go to a party nearby. Much food sit around a listen to his story, about Indian politics. He was an engineer making big bucks, now back on the reservation building houses.
Back to the Wrong Branch, Bob and Mary Anne show up from Ramona, play some more pool and then drive back to the cabin. He runs out of gas so they spend the night at the cabin with me.
Found these notes written on a 5 x 8 piece of paper, while searching thru my file drawers for a copy of my resume. The ink was fading and I just typed it as it was written 42 years ago. I had spent the Winter of 74 & 75 in San Diego before flying to South Africa to start my season of racing.
