Hey, this is Tom Gresham from Gun Talk Radio, and this is a bonus podcast. I had an idea. I thought that it would be fun to read a chapter out of a book I wrote.

Wow, a long time ago now. Copyright on this is 1984. The title of the book is Close Calls.

It was published by the NRA, the National Rifle Association, back when I worked for them in the early 80s.

And it was a collection of true stories of close calls in the outdoors, brushes with death.

And I interviewed a lot of people, found out a lot of... in the outdoors, brushes with death.

And I interviewed a lot of people, found out a lot of interesting things.

Actually came up with some conclusions, some similarities between near death experiences

in the outdoors. Number one of those is that many times people just

give up and die. And those who survived decided somehow to keep on, keep on, keep fighting.

More on that, maybe when we read another chapter.

But this one I particularly like.

It's about airplanes, and I like airplanes,

about people who love the outdoors, so that works also.

It's simply titled, The River.

The roar of the airplane's engine made conversation difficult, so the two men were silent.

There was no need to talk anyway.

They worked together every day, and the flight was short.

Even though their work brought them in contact with wildlife constantly, they still enjoy looking out of the windows for moose, bears, and other animals easily spotted from the small plane.

King Salmon lies 58 air miles. spotted from the small plane.

King Salmon lies 58 air miles from Dillingham, practically neighbors by Alaska standards.

It wouldn't take long before the skis of the Piper PA-20 down on the frozen necknecked river near Bud J Stovolle's cabin.

Jay Stovol glanced automatically at the gauges of the old workhorse aircraft, his mind wandering as he piloted over the familiar route.

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