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Memories of being a Greennhorn Part I Noel"Spirit Rider"Bell It was the Summer of 1997 when I went out for Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship or FCF. My chapter is the Daniel Boone FCF Chapter which is located in Southern Missouri. Haveing got my FCF application in by the deadline I was looking foward to what lay ahead. As you guessed things were not as them seemed. The week before Phase I testing my Grandma took ill and my ride was in St.Louis with her. I had to come up with another way to get there. I called everone I knew, " Sorry but we have other plans" or " I don't want to drive that far" was what I kept hearing. Finally I called an uncle and he said "yeah we'll take you. We're headed up that away any ways." Haveing solved that problem I had another one. How to get home. Talking to my aunt later that night they though it would be best for me to get a hotel room. Those problems worked out, I couldn't wait tell Phase I testing. Friday had came and the weather was perfect. My uncle picked me up around 11:30 and we headed out. en rout I studied over everthing. This was first camping trip I had been on in two years time and was a little rusty (my father took ill and passed away in 96). Having got to the campsite. I met some of the FCFers and got instructions from the Vice President. Starting to set up camp, the Vice President (Doug Lout) yelled at and I went over to see what he wanted. He told he had a lean to that I could use if I wanted. Grabbing the opportunity I took it. After I got my things unpacked (not much), I went to work on Supper. I was told to build a fire but don't start it. I soon got the go ahead and lit it. It took me two trys, but I really wasn't worried. I fixed supper and waited around untill the council fire that night. Before the council fire I meet with some of the other greenhorns. One of the greenhorns I meet was Mr. Bob Triphahn aka Two Forks. We started talking and became friends. I really don't remember that council fire that night. I guess my mind was on the the testing. I do remember you could feel the Holy Spirit in that place. The council fire ended around midnight (?) and the greenhorns started there testing. We were tested over the Royal Ranger uniform, campcraft, knots, lashing, first aid and much more. By the time we were finshed it was 3 am. That Saturday we woke bright and early and ate breakfast. If you know FCFer's they will feed you. They usually have more then enough. After Breakfast we had our business meeting and broke into the events. As a first timmer there wasn't much I did. After several hours of events we meet back to tell winners and to have a acution. There were enough prizes that the greenhorns got to take to two. One was for tradeing and the other was from the trailwalk we went on . I picked some cast iron for one prize but I can't remember the other. After the auction, we found we all had passed. On to phase II. As how I got home. The future Two Forks gave me a ride. |
