Saturday, November 2, 2013

Tyee kopa court kah sun klatawa enati Pecos chuck

Where in the World is Mr. Alford?

Chinook Wawa

Tyee - chief
kopa - common preposition:  to, at, on, with, by
kah - where
sun - sun
klatawa - to go, to travel
chuck - body of water, river
enati - other side, over

After crossing the Coolidge Dam on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Mr. Alford and his stunning wife Jenny continued their adventure southeast along the drainage of the Gila River and east through the copper mining capital of the United States.

A long climb up into the Big Lue Mountains delivered Mr. Alford and Jenny out of "Grand Canyon State" and into the "Land of Enchantment".  Over the Continental Divide, through the city that is home to Western New Mexico University, and over the Black Mountains at Emory Pass carried them east to the Rio Grande.

Through fields of chiles and groves of tall pecan trees they pedaled south through El Paso del Norte into the Lone Star State.  Southeast into the Chihuahuan Desert they continued on some of the most desolate roads Mr. Alford has ever traveled.  By far the most common vehicle they spotted were those of the US Border Patrol.

Mr. Alford is currently located in a very small town where "Judge" Roy Bean practiced "law" at the steps of his saloon from the year 1882 to 1896, brandishing a unique form of justice on the frontier of the Wild West.  Bean referred to himself as the "Law West of the Pecos" and referenced (albeit infrequently) a single law book, a 1879 copy of the Revised Statutes of Texas; legend has is that Judge Bean would burn newer texts delivered by Texas Rangers.  Juries were selected from loyal saloon customers and were expected to buy drinks at all court recesses.  Since this town had no jail, all infractions were considered finable offenses; most often for the exact amount of money the accused happen to have in their pocket at the time of trial.  It will be no surprise that Judge Bean refused to send any portion of the collected fines to the state, but rather pocketed the money to support his personal enterprises.  

Can you guess  Where in the World Mr. Alford is?  Submit your answers to the the Where in the World is Mr. Alford Box in the Library and Mr. Daily will be drawing a lucky name on November 15th for a great prize.  Mr. Alford would also like to remind all of his students and colleagues to get at least sixty minutes of physical activity each day!

Kloshe konaway
Kloshe nanitch

Mr. Alford 









































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