The Case of Buried Treasure Chapter 2

     Here is the second chapter of one of the DTB Cousin books my cousins and I wrote as kids. We wrote at least four of these type of books, taking turns writing about a chapter each before passing it on to the next cousin. You can sometimes tell who is writing based on who has the biggest part in the story in that section:

Chapter II - Looking for Darin

Brad was searching for clues on the floor when he spotted a piece of torn notebook paper. There was some more following it. He called Troy over and they followed the the torn pieces of paper. The paper led to a closet.

Troy pressed his ear against the door and motioned that he didn't hear anything. Brad took a mini billy club out of his pocket and Troy swung open the door.

Brad looked inside but saw nothing. Then Troy went in the closet and looked if there were any more clues or anything. He didn't find anything, but as he was getting out of the closet, his foot snagged part of the rug and pulled it aside.

"Hey, look!" said Brad. "You've uncovered a trapdoor."

Troy was very pleased with himself.

Brad went over and opened it. There was a big long staircase that went down and down. He couldn't see the bottom.

Troy went over and looked. Then Brad said, "Come on, we're going down there and rescue Darin."

They both pulled out their pocket size mini flashlights and started down.

To be continued...

The Case of Buried Treasure Chapter 1

As I was going through some of my things, I came across one of the four mysteries my cousins and I wrote as youth. We were about ten at the time, so the story is pretty simplistic and not very realistic. Still, it was fun for me to type it up. It is only nine chapters long, so I decided to post it here chapter by chapter. I put it into paragraph form and fixed some punctuation for clarity purposes, but I left the misspellings intact. Here is chapter one:

The DTB Cousins

The Case of Buried Treasure

Chapter I - The Search in the Old Mansion

The DTB Cousins decided to go to the old mansion on Euclid Ave. When they arrived Troy said, "Let's make a thorough search of this mansion. Remember Chief Harper made an announcement that whoever found anything in this house may keep it."

"Let's split up to search this place," said Darin.

"Okay," said Brad.

Troy said, "I get this floor, Darin can have the second floor, and Brad can have the attic up at the top."

The DTB Cousins split up and began to search. Brad, who was searching the attic saw a chest. He opened the chest and looked inside. He felt the sides and felt four lines in the shape of a rectangle. Brad pulled out his pocket knife and pried open the compartment. He pulled a slip of paper out of the compartment and discovered it was a treasure map. Brad pulled out the other papers in the compartment. Brad put the papers in his DTB folder. Then he began to search the closet.

Meanwhile, Darin, who was searching the second floor, went to a bedroom first. He was inside and headed straight for the bed. Darin got on his hands and knees and looked under the bed.

A man came up from behind. The man grabbed Darin and dragged him across the floor. Darin tried to get free, but couldn't. Darin then yelled for help.

Troy had gone to the living room and was searching the fireplace mantle when he heard Darin's yell for help. Troy quickly ran up the stairs.

Troy saw Darin's pocket camera on the floor by the bed. "This must be where the fight was," thought Troy.

By the time Brad had joined him, Troy picked up the camera and they both began to search for clues in the bedroom.

To be continued...

Keyhole Canyon Flash Flood

     With the recent tragedy that occurred to the hikers in Keyhole Canyon this last week, I'd like to take this opportunity to express that my hopes and prayers are with the family members of the deceased: Linda & Steve Arthur, Robin Brum, Gary Favela, Mark MacKenzie, Muku Reynolds, and Don Teichner. I'd also like to remind everyone that the dangers associated with flash floods are real. These were experienced hikers. They had trained for this. Unfortunately, sometimes no amount of training can prepare you for what Mother Nature throws at you. Water is one of the strongest forces on the planet. It carved the Grand Canyon and millions of other geological wonders around the world. If you are trapped inside a tiny canyon when a flash flood comes through, you are toast. The only thing you can do is make sure you aren't inside such a canyon if there is any chance of a rain storm. I've attempted to hike the Narrows again on a few occasions following our adventure; but each time the weather forecast has prompted me to alter my plans. Life is fragile. It can be snuffed out quicker than a candle. Live life, but don't take dangerous risks. It just isn't worth it.

2015 Family Reunion

I just got back from the 2015 Allred Family Reunion in Pine Valley, Utah. We had a great time getting reacquainted and meeting the new members of the family. Some of the activities included: horseshoes, Frisbee golf, candy guessing game, an obstacle course, campfire programs, potluck dinners, arts and crafts, a family hike, a short excursion to the sand dunes (it was triple digits so we didn't stick around long), swimming in the river, a devotional, and family trivia games. It was fun watching the new generation having fun with their cousins just like we did when we were young. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Happy Mothers' Day

     Last year I paid tribute to the DTB Cousins' fathers. This year I'd like to honor their moms: Aunt Doris, Aunt Sandy, and Aunt Jen. Because they didn't go on the hike, their roles in the story are somewhat minor. However, the three women who the characters are based on are three of the most stalwart women I know: Dottie, Sally, and Janie. I have seen each one of them (as well as my other aunts) camping out in the middle of nowhere, taking care of their families under rustic conditions (such as pit toilets), and enjoying it - not just once, but every other year for my entire life. It didn't matter if they were expecting a baby, or taking care of multiple toddlers in diapers; they were there building memories with their families. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. They continue to do hard things, are are awesome examples of motherhood to their children and grandchildren.

     I especially want to take this opportunity to thank the two most important women in my life - my mother and wife. It has been three years now since I published The Narrows Escape. They have been, and continue to be, my biggest fans. They have read several versions of my books through the years and always offer words of encouragement as well as valuable insights. I appreciate their support and enthusiasm for my writing projects, and want them to know how much I love them. Thank you!

The Path Less Trodden

I love to travel. I also enjoy quiet solitude - exploring the unknown. I often choose to vacation in areas that are less crowded. It is one of the reasons I've always been drawn to Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken." It is also why I've enjoyed hikes such as the Virgin Narrows.
Recently, I've decided to start a new blog dedicated to travel tips and ideas. It is a way I can share some of my other adventures without writing a full length book about them. The blog is called The Path Less Trodden and can be found at travelthepathlesstrodden.blogspot.com for those interested in viewing it. The first spotlight is a short hike that leads to a shipwreck on the California coast. My family just discovered it last week. It is definitely found on the Path Less Trodden. The DTB Cousins would have loved exploring it.

Pi Day

3/14/15 - 3.1415 - Pi - pie
Yesterday was Pi Day. It's not an official holiday, but it should be. I can't remember for sure when I first heard about Pi Day, but it must have been from a student who had a really cool math teacher. I only wish my math teachers had thought of it back when I was taking math classes. Pie is without a doubt my favorite dessert - and I love most pies. Among the few that aren't worth the calories are pumpkin pies and lemon meringue. If the DTB Cousins had been lucky enough to celebrate Pi Day at school, I imagine that their favorites would be as follows: Devin - banana cream, Trey - pumpkin, and Brady - strawberry. Of course, any one of them would go for apple pie a la mode any time, any day. I think I'll go check the fridge for leftovers...