Yup, it was a Friday the day plus – before I normally leave or arrive home. Sometimes, technically a late Saturday night departure (before midnight), but most of the time a little after midnight or 0100 hrs – early Sunday morning – but it all depends upon sufficient “days sleep” prior to the 8-1/2 to 9 hour drive. Getting there too late is a problem setting up camp as it gets dark early and sleeping quarters must be cleaned, and I mean cleaned before we can crash.

Have to get that 6′ x 6′ cabin (on a 16′ utility trailer – the old Newsom Recall Shack actually, reclaimed from the mice and Pack Rats who figured since Liz and I weren’t using that DIY “tent on a trailer” setup, aka THE TUG, they would. And they did “use it” for their daily biological functions while building multiple nests with everything they could lift and drag to their treasure chests. Absolutely delightful. Don’t have time to look right now, but I don’t think I’ve posted about this (though have written about it somewhere) or mentioned what found in these Pack Rat nests; nicotine vapes; dog food and treats (including large Milk Bones); coins; hair comb; pens; pencils; MANY decomposing Mormon Crickets – and they have their own quite distinctive smell; dog feces (they were bringing Liz leavings and what looked like maybe Coyote); and of course, miscellaneous tangled hair, twine, scraps of paper,etc.. What a mess! This last time I’m trying a couple of those audible rodent repellents that hook up to the vehicle’s battery (multiple nests in the engine compartments of both trucks as well). OH YEAH, they even used a couple of “rodent repellent scent bags” as nesting material! Used the repellent bags for nesting material! Seriously.)

Last trip during the first week we slept in the bed of the pickup with a light rain occasionally. Even after moving back into the trailer and being reasonably comfortable with the bleached and cleaned walls and floor – that lingering odor would not go away. Tried everything. Know what works every time to stop that horrible stinky odor? Just stay in there for a few hours – I actually go NOSE BLIND! I kid you not! I’ll wake up and get moving around before Sunup start work, (initially thinking “great that stuff finally evaporated away, I can’t smell it any more!”, but after being outside for awhile when I walk back towards the trailer for something, that stench hits me before I even reach the trailer! “HOW CAN I STAND SLEEPING IN THAT STINK? Then the same little voice that encouraged me to turn back before Waterford to check on the garage door says, “We go nose-blind from being in there so long you dumb ass”.

(August 4th is a Sunday, but I left on August 11th, also a Sunday -duh lol); the “wellness check and search” took place FRIDAY OCTOBER 4th, and I didn’t get back until October 20th finding the business card on the gate and my garage door fully open to the top of the header, which freaked me out because I had backtracked to Lake Don Pedro just to make sure it was closed – and it wasn’t! So I closed it and resumed the trip heading back towards Waterford. How it ended up back open to the top of the header before I came home I have no idea.

You know, it actually makes me feel much better that the deputies weren’t there on a Sunday when I normally get back home, but still that nagging question remains: What did they think they were doing there when my truck, trailer and dog were gone and everything secure? If they though the open garage was an issue, why did they leave it open? Especially after entering my house and setting off the burglar alarm. WHY DIDN’T SOMEONE CALL ME FIRST IF SINCERELY CONCERNED ABOUT MY HEALTH AND SAFETY? STILL DOES NOT COMPUTE!

THis is really bothering me. Something is very wrong with how this whole thing unfolded. What was the reasonable conclusion that I was even home? All neighbors knew where I was going for the last 3-1/2 years. Hopefully I’ll be getting some information from the sheriff’s office soon that might help clear this mess up. Still serious doubt it was to check on my well being though. But why an exploratory search of my home when I have committed no crime? What were they really doing in my home while I was obviously away? Back to the question of why did they want that main vehicle gate open? Why did they outside search after going into my home? Oct 4th, 2024? I didn’t get home until October 20th, 2024.

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS: You know, this entire matter jumped up and “bit me” in the ass while I was busy minding my own business working in another state. This has completely disrupted my life and plans (and was obviously intentional) and none of it makes any reasonable sense with the facts known thus far. Perhaps I should stay here in La Grange and continue writing about the shenanigans here and what might eventually be revealed, as law and order slowly returns to this country and trickles down into communities like this? I can always visit the Antelope when desired.