Appalachian Safari: A Virginia Mountain Man's Wild Stories - Book Review

I've never written a book review but in this case I really like this book.  I also know the author and his family very well.  David Adam Atwell's dad, Eddie Atwell, is my partner at this stage of my life. We've been together about 10 years now. Our family ties go back to the Revolutionary War when we both had grandfathers that were imprisoned for siding with the British. That will be another post at another time.

 

Appalachia is full of writers, crafters and creative people.  When one of us writes something I normally don't comment on it. I read and rejoice that something was written... but I really like this little book. And it is not because I know the person who wrote it, it is because it is out of the ordinary and full of information.

 

For one, this is from a family that is known in our area for their hunting and fishing prowess. Believe me, I have been more than amazed at their skills.  As an example, Ed once called me at work and asked what I'd like for dinner. He was home early and decided he'd cook supper. I told him anything simple would be fine.

 

We batted around a few ideas when he asked, "What about some grilled fish?" I said that sounds good. He said he would have to go catch it. If he couldn't catch anything, he would think of something else.  I looked at the clock and it was 3:30 PM and I got off work at 5.  I'm thinking, "Ok, it's going to be a late supper if he has to catch it!"

 

Imagine my amazement when I pulled up into the driveway at 5:30 and the fish (enough to feed 6 people) were on the grill cooking just about done. It was hard for me to comprehend these fish were swimming just an hour before!  That's when I realized that what folks had said about this family having some talent for hunting and fishing, beyond the usual, was true. Now David Adam Atwell has written a book about some of that talent.

 

This book is a very quick read and it's personalized stories, (some are hilarious) about the family but it is chocked full of some of their hunting, shooting and fishing tips.

 

Here is a brief excerpt on catfish: " My father ran out of bait once while fishing on the dam of Rural Retreat Lake and decided to scavenge for some. The waterline at the dam, like most man-made lakes, is rocky to prevent erosion and after flipping over a few rocks my dad scooped up a crawdad and decided to fish with it. Dad hooked it through the tail with the hook coming out of the top, placed a bobber around 4 feet up from the hook, and then cast the crawdad about 10 feet out. After a few minutes the bobber disappeared and dad reeled in a nice catfish. I started doing the same and we caught a lot of fish that spring, and saved a lot of money on bait.  Over time we also caught bass and muskies at the dam using crawdads. The secret is to setup your line and cast it out just far enough that the crawdad is bouncing around on top of the rocks, but also cannot get enough grip to actually crawl under a rock.  Unlike night catfishing there is no art to setting the hook, when your bobber disappears you just jerk the pole; and let me tell you that bobber vanishes suddenly and goes completely out of sight. Over the years we found late spring and early summer to be the best time of year and have always done this type of catfishing during the day."

 

And that's just on catching catfish in the daytime! There are excerpts on everything from shooting turkeys to hunting buffalo in the mid west. It's telling stories but in the telling a lot of information comes through about hunting and fishing. Thus Appalachian Safari is an excellent book for hunters, fishermen and anyone interested in that side of our Appalachian heritage. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you will too.

 

It can be purchased on Amazon and there is a kindle edition also. Appalachian Safari on Amazon.com

Appalachia Mountain Music Tradition - Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners

Ok so I lied. I thought I could keep this going and well ....looks like I've been busy. Back to it.  I've been excited lately by so much goings on. Went on a date Saturday night to Independence Virginia. I love what they have created at their old courthouse. The lower floor is home to the Historical Society and the upper courtroom is now the Baldwin Auditorium. Went with partner, Ed. We went to support Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners. They just released their cd, "Songs from My attic".  Jim is the owner and operator of the barbershop at Rural Retreat and this music is Old Style mountain music.

I have to say I was raised on the old style music. My grandfather, Wesley Bane Boyles played at the Bristol Sessions. Grand daddy Bane was born in Bland County but had moved to Bluefield, WV in the twenties with his parents. He played with a band called the West Virgina Coon Hunters. His career was cut short though. He was arrested for making illegal spirits. I don't hold that against him. I did a bit a research looking for his arrest record while over at the Craft Library in Bluefield and found the newspapers had recorded that between 1927 and 1928 there were 137 moonshine stills captured and busted up.....most of those named as involved were kin to me.  Yes, it was a family tradition.

As was the music. As I listened to Jim Lloyd with band members, Mark Rose and Trevor McKenzie play the old style music, I was transported back to a time when all of my family played some instrument and this music. Instruments leaning against a wall with folks sitting around a kitchen table, or on a porch. Many played more than one and it depended on the song they wanted to do whether they picked up the mandolin or the bango.  I fell asleep many a night listening to that sweet music. I forgot how much I missed it. I also had forgotten how much of a part of our life this music was. Sad songs, happy songs, funny songs. Listening Saturday night put me back in time and I really enjoyed it. Especially their version of Johnny Cash's  Ain't No Grave.

There are not many young ones taking up the music style these days. But the band member Trevor is in his early 20s and I can't wait to see what he does when he grows up. And as I looked around the Baldwin Auditorium most of those in the audience were my age, not that I'm that old, but not many young folks.

I thought to myself that I have failed to pass on this tradition. All the musicians in my family that played this music have passed on. Now I'm making it a mission after hearing this group to cart my grandchildren to a show or two.  If you get a chance Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners put on a great show and the cd is pretty good too.

Left Trevor McKenzie, Mark Rose & Jim Lloyd

Jim Lloyd and the Skyliners

The new cd is "Songs from my attic" and it was produced by Mountain Roads Recordings