| The three boys laughed and raced along pushing | | | | kick off point for adventure and another of the |
| their bikes up the steep little mountain road of | | | | better fishing trips that any kid could ever hope |
| western Colorado early the morning of that | | | | for. The boys left their bikes behind near the |
| perfect, hot summer day in August. Fishing poles | | | | mine, and set out cross country, following game |
| over their shoulders, Gordon, Mike and Steve | | | | and cow trails through the stands of oak and |
| headed up the mountain toward the old coal mine. | | | | sage brush and cedar trees. Cutting across the |
| The played out coal mine marked the upper end | | | | larger meadows near the top of the ridge they |
| of the road known as the "Coal Road" by the | | | | finally hit an overgrown old logging road that led |
| local folks of this small town of Paonia, Colorado. | | | | up over the ridge to the east of the mine and |
| In these boys book though, it represented the | | | | headed down into the next canyon. |