The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.

Today we conclude the story of Dana R. Kelby:

My mother and father came to visit for a couple of weeks while we were in Florida and we really enjoyed them. One of the more interesting sights, so different from life in Washington, were the road gangs with guards with shotguns and the convicts chained together. My dad really got a charge out of that.

After Florida I was transferred to a Nuclear Weapons Station in San Diego and though it was a short tour, the highlight would have to be standing watch. Since it was a real small command, everyone had to stand watch and we had two towers as well as a main gate. One tower was especially sought after, since it was about 100 feet directly in front of the Wave's barracks back entrance. No one griped if assigned to this post, a very interesting watch.

I was subsequently transferred to a submarine lender at San Diego. There were two such tenders on either side of a pier. When we would be underway, mostly to dry dock, they would practice getting underway for a week before we would actually get underway. After a couple of years, I was transferred to Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, with headquarters in Pearl Harbor.

My father came to visit us, my mother had passed away. We had a royal visit and had a chance to meet Ann's parents and brothers. He really enjoyed this visit.

I then received orders to the Defense Attaché Office, American Embassy, Rabat, Morocco. I first had to go to Washington D.C. to the Defense Intelligence School for three months for a crash course in French, and basic Security Indoctrination. This was an extremely interesting and exciting tour of duty. The climate is essentially mild with mountains and desert with in 100 miles.

We went to the mountains one Saturday and as we were going toward the summit, they were closing the roads behind us, we did not know this at the time, and as we reached the top, we were stopped and told that we were snow bound for at least six hours. Eventually a snow plow reached the top from the other side, so we were able to leave. When we reached the bottom, the road was blocked due to a slide. We were a little concerned, but after a few minutes, a truck driver said to follow him and we went what would be south about 10 miles and did not see snow again.

We also went down to the Sahara Desert to watch the desert people come to trade. You could see for miles across the desert and watch them coming. We also saw the Blue People, blue because they dyed themselves for protection from the heat. We also went to Spain, Gibraltar, Germany, Portugal, Palma, which were very interesting.

In 1972, I was appointed Postmaster here in Wilson Creek.

Dennis note: Sure must have been dull and boring being Postmaster in Wilson Creek or anywhere in the Columbia Basin after all of the other adventures.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins. This week we begin Cheryl's diary about a recent trip on Amtrak to visit family in Bremerton.

This column welcomes other travel journals from readers about their travels around the Pacific Northwest. Send me an e-mail, so we can discuss your project, at: dclay@atnet.net.

Cheryl is again traveling Amtrak, this time to Bremerton to celebrate the retirement of her son-in-law, Dan Berry, from the Navy. Read on.

One thing that's a little startling when going top speed and having your face so close to the window, is when you meet a train coming from the opposite direction, also going top speed. It seems close enough that you could touch it and being in the last car, a couple of times I would walk to the back door window and it's quite a sight even in a railroad yard when you are going between two trains. I wondered how there was room.

I enjoyed eating breakfast in the dining car where they seat you with other passengers. I was seated at a table with three passengers who were staying in the sleeper car; a nice older gentleman who was traveling from his winter home in Florida back to his summer home in Seattle as he was in need of what sounded like some serious medical tests.

This was learned from him telling our other table companions, a husband and wife traveling from their home in Colorado to their home in Seattle. I found myself a little envious of these nice people, a little older than me, who could afford two homes in two different states.

Folks in sleeping cars choose from the same menu I had, but their meals are included in the cost of the room. When they are finished, they leave a tip and just leave, while I'm given a ticket for my meal. I had a very nice spinach and artichoke quiche served with potatoes and a croissant, along with a cup of good coffee.

Tami picked me up and we had a pleasant drive to Bremerton. It was raining, but it didn't dampen our spirits. We stopped at Red Lobster for lunch, which was my treat, using a gift certificate Tami had given me for Christmas.

Of course it was a joy to get hugs from my grandkids, Dylan and Makayla, when we arrived at the house. That evening, I stayed to iron and mend for the next day, while the family all drove back to SeaTac to pick up my son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Becky, who flew in from Colorado for the event.

I wish I had the words to explain the retirement ceremony to do it justice, but I don't. Dan's first ship assignment was the USS Independence and with it being docked at Bremerton, although retired, he was able to have his ceremony on board.

Some walked and some of us rode in a van quite a distance down a narrow dock to the fairly steep stairs leading to the ramp from the deck to the Independence. I was so moved when I saw Dan's father, currently battling cancer and unable to board in the wheelchair, climb those stairs and cross that long ramp because there was no way he was going to miss honoring his son by being there.

The Navy also honored my daughter and grandchildren for what they went through while their husband and father were away for so long on various ships at sea. Tami received flowers and Dan several citations. The final act was Dan walking a red carpet, signifying the last debarking from the ship, doing it once more with his wife and children in hand. It was moving for all and it was my honor to witness this departure from the Navy.

More next week.

The rest of the day was spent visiting and enjoying my family and the next day we all boarded the Bremerton ferry to Seattle for me to be dropped at the Amtrak station and my son and daughter-in-law to be dropped at a hotel near the airport for an early morning flight back to Colorado.

After teary goodbyes, I only had about a 15 minute wait before boarding Amtrak for my trip back to Ephrata. The last car of the train is apparently the one for passengers getting off at stops prior to Spokane. It was odd to me that the next to the last car, where folks were being boarded for Spokane, had three Amtrak employees assisting passengers getting on, but and there were none at the last car.

So I just got on, put my suitcase in the rack by the door, climbed the stairs and saw "couples and groups" go to the left and "singles" go to the right, as indicated on signs posted. I was first to board and decided to take the very last seat in the train. This allowed me easier access to the back of the train during the last hour of daylight, to view the countryside while traveling along the Sound and going through railroad yards. It seemed the ride was a little rougher clear in the back, but fun to experience.

I had a choice for dinner reservations of three seating times and chose the latest one available at 7:15. I found myself fighting to stay awake though as I didn't want to miss dinner aboard the train. At 7:00, I found my way down the stairs to the washroom, so I could wash for dinner and arrived in the dining car a little early.

I talked to a couple of young men, one from India and one who had survived a severe accident with brain damage and months in a coma. The two were about ready to start up a game of chess. With a broken King, I was asked if I might have a toothpick to fix it. Luckily I did and they were both grateful. This is just an example of train travel where everyone seems to get along so easily.

The young man who had been in the accident said chess is what brought him back to life. When passing them after dinner, they were only on their second game and he had won the first. He claimed he was just lucky. Both were incredibly nice and polite.

During the meal, I was again seated with three passengers who were traveling in the sleeping car. An older couple said they take a train trip at least once a year and on this one were headed for White Fish, Montana.

A younger gentleman said he works for an airline in Chicago and yet also travels to Seattle at least once a year by train for the relaxation of it. He said he hoped the trip home was better though as on the trip out, their train hit a tanker in an intersection and they were lucky he was carrying water and not gasoline.

The three of them had steaks and I had herbed chicken, which even though was a bit dry, had good flavor. The salad, rolls, veggies and mashed potatoes were very good and our waiter was fun. I visited with him for a while after everyone else had left and he was about ready to retire after years of service on the railroad.

We rolled into Ephrata right at the scheduled time of 9:42 p.m. and Dennis was standing there to greet me and help me step from the train. Garnet and little Brenda Starr were waiting in the Dodge Ram. I was the only one who got off the train during this stop.

Dennis put my luggage into his rig and then told me to hold on a minute before getting in. He picked up a flashlight and walked me back to the tracks. What a souvenir he gave me! When I was leaving for Seattle, he had placed two quarters on the track. When I was returning, he placed some more.

He only found one of the quarters after I left, but found the other when he came back to get me. Then he had me find the ones he left before I arrived this evening. If you look really hard, you can tell a couple of them are quarters and a couple are nickels, but mostly they are just very flat, shiny pieces of silver.

Since this is defacing coins, it's probably illegal, so we'd better not make it public, but I love having these souvenirs as a reminder of my train travel.

Although there were a couple of issues on this trip, it sure beats driving the pass on winter. This and other Amtrak trips are a part of my future plans. Thanks to Dennis, Garnet and Brenda Starr for making the trip to and from Ephrata a pleasant part of my journey.

Dennis note: Don't worry about the coins, Cheryl. Remember there are machines where people pay to flatten a coin as a souvenir. If the Feds come to arrest me, I'll tell them you made me do it and send them your way.

One downside to Amtrak travel from the nearest station, Ephrata, is the time of pickup and drop off. When heading to Seattle the train is scheduled to arrive at 4:22 a.m. Returning from Seattle the arrival is scheduled for 9:42 p.m.

When the train is headed toward Spokane and points east, the arrival and departure times are just the opposite.

A beneficial side to the arrival and departure times is the prospect of traveling to Seattle, spending the day and arriving back in Ephrata in the matter of around 17 hours. Or, if more time in the big city is warranted, the travelers could spend the night and head back home the evening of the next day.

There is ample parking at the Ephrata Station and the Ephrata police were seen making regular passes by the station to make sure all is in order.

OK Cheryl, Garnet, Brenda Starr and I stand ready to play taxi for you again.