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Going Through Hell Getting to Rock Heaven

In August, me and friends ventured out to do some serious rockhunting. My nephew drove because he knew the road well where we wanted to go. But where we wanted to go had a horrid road that I managed to avoid on my rockhunting trips. That is until this day. I convinced myself that it could not be that bad. Afterall, how many times have others gone through it and are still here today to talk about it. I knew one day sooner or later I would also be talking about my adventure through that route.

The road was about a quarter mile decent off a badland wall. I knew this was going to be rough when at the top I looked down the narrow road with drop offs on each side. The road was so narrow that only six inches was spared for mistakes on each side of the truck tires. I covered my head and couldn't look. My friend in the back seat assured me it was OK so I peeked out and watched the trail in front of us. It twisted left and right, up, down and positions that seemed impossible to pass. Finally, we were at the bottom. Whew! I survived. That was hell!

We proceeded on through some rough country that was nothing like that awful road and finally came to what we call Rock Heaven! What an awesome sight.

We stayed for most of the day and hunted for fairburn agates. As the day went by we knew we had to get out of there before dark. I also knew we had to go UP that road to avoid a much longer trip through rough country. It was all I thought about as we made our way back to the bottom of that badland wall. This time it looked straight up and this time I covered my head and did not come out until we were at the top. My friend in the back seat was terrified. My nephew seemed to be pretty calm as was his son who was in the back of the truck. I could feel the truck's angle and how steep it was and didn't dare peek out. Finally, what seemed to take forever, my nephew said we were finally at the top.

I don't know where the fear comes from but I have to be the worst when it comes to traveling across the badlands. Must be an age thing. Yes, I am afraid but as a crazed fairburn addict, I am sure I have not seen the last of that road.

After all that, we came back with nothing to show for our adventure. The things we do for our friend, the fairburn agate.