Our “New” Jeep!

 The first vehicle that I ever drove was an early 50’s Jeep CJ 3.  The Jeep belonged to my best friend, David Morgan’s great uncle, Mr. Homer West, whom everyone called  “Old Slick.”

Old Slick owned all of Big Stomp Mountain above WAYNESVILLE and he had an old log fox hunting cabin high up on the mountain.  Starting when we were in the seventh grade Old Slick let us go camping at the cabin AND…he let us (we were all of thirteen years old) drive his Jeep so we didn’t have to walk and carry all our gear up the mountain. We did that from age thirteen all through our college years.

The Jeep was green and just about like the one in this picture.

(I have a new book coming out March 1 entitled “How They Linger.”  It contains, with sixteen other stories, the whole story of Old Slick and camping on the mountain.)

Since then I always wanted an old Jeep like that.  

Living on Ocracoke it is possible, with a four-wheel permit, to drive on most of the beach and several other off-road routes.  After looking round, we were able to locate a wonderfully restored 1965 CJ 5 Jeep in Ohio.  We bought the Jeep and Trish’s son, Greg, hauled it down to the island for us.

First thing we did was get the permit and then take it out to the beach for a winter ride,  it was a good day and Trish spotted several perfect Scotch Bonnet shells and a starfish for us to collect.

Now it is safely installed in the garage, but, when summer comes the top will come off and we will be able to take you for a ride!