Sasquatch - No Girl No Job And A Bet

#95 - Harris could afford that kind of money, but Marty would be hard pressed if he lost the bet. Spring was over four months away.

Welcome to Before I Forget . .      

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Sasquatch of Downieville #1

No Girl No Job And A Bet 

We were again at our claim, the “.44 Special.” We were on good gold already.

We’d decided we would work it through the summer and fall. By then we would know if we would keep it or not.  

I wanted to spend time digging around that difficult southeast corner - where I saw Sasquatch. Getting dredging equipment in there would be a chore fit for burros. 

By midmorning, I got down to where the stream levels out and makes the loop curve off of and then back on to our claim.  

Up on the bench above the loop was where Sasquatch was set up. 

He was still there. He was up milling about his campsite moving things around.  

I thought it was time to meet him and started out. 

We were still 25 or 30 yards apart.  

“Hey! Who’s there!?” he called out, slipping a revolver from its holster. 

“Hey! Hello!” I called back. “I’m your neighbor. This is my claim over here. Thought I’d come over and meet you, if you don’t mind?” 

He thought a second or two - “I’ll meet you down on the creek!” he called, waving a ‘come on over’ wave.  

We introduced ourselves. His name is Marty.  

He said, “I thought you were the mountain lion. He’s been real nosey lately.” 

“Oh, yeah? I’m bringing my dog next time.”  

We were on neighborly terms. 

I said, “The townsfolk call you ‘Sasquatch’.” 

“Yes,” he smiled. “I’ve become aware of that. I was about to have a cup of coffee. Like a cup?” 

“Sounds good to me. Thanks.” 

We climbed the embankment to his tent area. 

“You are the first person I’ve seen here in the year and a half I’ve been here. It’s remote and looks like no fun to get into. That’s why I chose it. This bench flat we are on was an unexpected find. Perfect for my tent setup.” 

“You have a neat setup, that’s for sure!” 

“I got the best gear I could. I wouldn’t have made it through the winter without my hot tent and stove. How the old-timers survived up here is amazing. They were a hardy bunch.”  

“Hard to believe you weren’t seen by anyone over all this time.” 

“I know. I knew I’d be seen some day. I’ve seen helicopters and small planes. But no people. I’m on Forest Service Land, so I’m legal. I'm not hiding anything. Still odd I’ve not been found before now.” 

“Your setup looks like part of the terrain. Would be hard to see from above." 

“That’s true. The camo works.” 

“So. Why are you here? I see you are prospecting, but with simple gear. And staying over winter?? In a tent? What’s up?” 

Marty told me what happened.  

It was all because of no girl, no job, and a bet. 

He had a good job, and he and his girlfriend were talking about getting married. 

Then the love turned bad. He was crushed.  

At the same time, his long-time “on a career path” job at a software company came to an end. The company was purchased by another company. Things changed.  

He was thirty-four years old and without a mate or a job. And a desperation, or depression, grew inside. 

He had enough money to coast for a few months.

Down deep, without recognizing it at first, was the thought that he was also, free.  

Maybe he’d take an extended vacation. Do it now, while he could. 

A month passed, then two, and his depression was gaining ground. He got lost in a “World of Maybes.” 

Marty’s friends, Harris and Bobby and Louis, were over for a ballgame. They were enjoying the beer and the genuine junk food. 

Marty was high and slowly his depression was outing itself. 

Harris said, “I don’t want to hear it. Why don’t you just leave for a while. Go off and do something else. Go live in the mountains like ‘you said you should’.”  

“I could do it,” Marty said. “I could do it!” 

“No, way,” Harris countered. “You’d chicken out.” 

“I can do it.” Marty said again. 

- Bobby and Louis eyed each other.  

“Ha! L-O-L! Winter is coming. You’ll die! -- Would you like to bet?” 

- Louis and Bobby’s eyes widened. 

Worked up inside, Marty said, “Yeah, I do! How much, what conditions, till when?” 

- Bobby and Louis lasered their eyes on Marty and Harris, a smile on their lips. 

Harris was taken aback for a moment. 

Rather riled up himself, he said, “Ten Thousand Dollars! You must live alone in a tent in the mountains till spring.” 

He stuck out his hand to shake on it. 

“Done!” said Marty, shaking Harris’s hand. 

A moment passed, both looked like, - What just happened here?? -  

- What just happened here? - had witnesses.  

“Game on!” Bobby and Louis shouted.  

And they couldn’t back out of it now. Couldn’t even tell if it was a good bet or bad one. 

Harris could afford that kind of money, but Marty would be hard pressed if he lost the bet. Spring was over four months away. 

Marty had three weeks to get his gear together. Harris would look after his apartment.   

He drove Marty up Hwy. 49 to drop him off near a vista overlook near Downieville. 

They would keep in touch regularly. Downieville just got cell service. 

Marty had a full backpack, a full duffel bag, a tent bag and fireplace stove, and two gallons of water. 

They pulled to the road’s edge and Marty pulled his gear from the car and ran it the few yards to the woods.  

Seconds later, he waved goodbye to Harris.  

He cached his gear and set off to find a suitable place to camp for the night. His plan was to search the area for a few days for the best spot to hunker down.  

A couple hours hiking distance from town seemed about right. He would need supplies through the winter. Water, especially before the snow falls, could be a concern.

He found his present site on day seven. By Thanksgiving Day, Marty was settling in, an accomplishment after the initial hassles of getting started.  

Only four months to go. Ten thousand dollars would cover most of his rent and utilities. 

“I got here because of a bet.” 

“I see,” I slowly answered. 

“So. Why are you still here?? You must have won the bet, right? It’s been over a year since then. You have family? Why are you still here?” 

- to be cont’d -

Sasquatch of Downieville #1  

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