Melvin L. “Vern” Edwards is a guy who is always ready for a new adventure himself. He is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife of 68 years raised their two sons and three daughters to always be honest, kind and do their best in all things and never stop learning. He is a man that has a great love for the outdoors and nature as well. He went from being a scout to the Civil Air Patrol, then at 17, in 1955 he joined the Navy where he met this lovely girl (father was a Chief Petty Officer) and at 21 made her his wife. They have embarked on many new challenges with Pragmatism and unending optimism. Even instructing his 5 children to literally bury the negative words, can’t, if and impossible in the backyard never to be uttered again. After the Navy, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 10 glorious years of family camping, boating and skiing. During their working years they have traveled through or lived in most of the country he has written about. He retired when he was 74 and he and his wife began a new chapter in their lives helping with their 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Busy, busy time. He hopes that you enjoy this story as much as he has enjoyed joyfully writing it.