Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Nine) Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

        Paul Bunyan’s home was in a giant cave set up with furniture and other really big things. Paul Jr. even had a little bedroom in a smaller cave to sleep in on weekends or during school breaks.   

        Lucas was beginning to feel like Jack after climbing up the beanstalk into the giant land.   Paul Jr. saw Lucas feeling nervous and knew exactly where to take him.

        “Follow me,” he invited

        Lucas followed him to see what his bedroom was like, and as they were walking Lucas noticed the corral for Babe, the giant blue ox. It was in a darker part of the giant cave, only it was empty. The only thing inside was some fresh food that lined Babe’s feeding box.

        “Where’s Babe?” Lucas whispered to Paul Jr., quietly, hoping Paul Bunyan did not hear him.

        Paul Bunyan was talking to John Henry in the main room, explaining the situation with Babe at the Hetch Hetchy dam.

        “They are talking about him right now, let’s go listen,” suggested Paul Jr.

        Paul Bunyan seemed worried about Babe, and was wondering if the government decides he is too dangerous, what would they do.

        “Babe left yesterday to find some apple trees to snack on,” Paul Bunyan explained to John

        Lucas could not resist. 

        “Do you just let him wonder?” asked Lucas. “Aren’t you afraid he might be seen?”

        Paul Bunyan reached down and picked up Lucas and Paul Jr., setting them next to John Henry.

        They all sat on a large table in front of Paul Bunyan.  His deep voice caused the table to rumble, startling Lucas a little.  

        “Babe is old and wise,” Paul Bunyan explained. “He’s probably grazing near the Hetch Hetchy lake.”      

        “Why did he crack the dam?” Lucas asked.

        Paul Bunyan smiled and moved a little closer to Lucas. Close enough Lucas could smell his peanut butter breath again.

        “We have both been a little upset about the damage the dam has caused to the Hetch Hetchy valley,” he explained. “Babe is a creature of Nature and he wanted to do the right thing, only he did it without thinking of the dangerous consequences it would have.”

        “Did anyone get hurt?” asked Lucas.

        “No, just a few feelings,” Paul Bunyan replied. “If Babe had really taken out the dam, thousands of lives may have been lost.”

        John interrupted.

        “Babe understands the danger now and will help fix his mistake,” he explained.

        “Does he talk?” asked Lucas.

        “No, but he understands,” John explained.

“The Hetch Hetchy dam is a touchy subject that affects the lives of millions, so millions need to decide its fate. It’s not up to us.”      

        Just then the smaller door leading to the top of the cave stairs opened and Ranger Pam walked in.

        “Hey everyone!” she shouted.

        She looked like she was a mile away, but for Paul Bunyan she was no farther than two large steps.

        “Ranger Pamahas! It’s great to see you,” Paul Bunyan said welcoming her into his home.

        He carefully allowed her to climb into his hand as he brought her down to sit next to us.

        “What a treat to have so many visitors,” Paul Bunyan said joyfully.

        “I come with a request from Talitha and the President,” she explained.

        “The President of what?” asked Lucas.

        Even Paul Jr, was a little confused.

        Ranger Pam removed her Ranger hat and read from a letter that was found rolled up inside.

        “That’s tomorrow morning!” Paul Jr. protested.

        “It sure is!” John Henry replied. “The path to Yosemite Falls is always full of people in the mornings, but I am sure security will make sure the area is clear.”

        Ranger Pam put her Ranger hat back on her head and looked up at Paul Bunyan.

        “Talitha thinks you may no longer be required to keep your life a secret,” she explained.

        Paul’s face immediately lit up with happiness.

        “You mean I would be free?” he asked.

        John cleared his throat.

        “Don’t get your hopes up too much,” he explained. “There is usually fine print to read before you get too excited.”

        Paul Bunyan walked around the room and sat in a chair next to the large fireplace.

        “I just am ready to stop hiding and live in a normal place,” he explained.

        “No more secrets!” added Lucas.

        “That’s right!” Paul Bunyan replied.

        John stood up and waived for Paul’s attention.

        “After learning about this Presidential visit, I think we need to get back to camp and prepare. Do you mind taking Lucas and I back to the spot you picked us up?” he asked politely.

        Lucas began feeling a little sad.  It’s not every day a kid is able to spend time with a giant.

        “Can’t we stay a little longer?” Lucas asked. “Paul Jr. was going to show me how they get electricity all the way up here.”

        “It will have to wait,” John replied. “I need to talk to mom and I can’t get a signal way up here.”

        “Mr. Paul Bunyan, can I ask you a question,” Lucas shouted as Paul was putting his massive feet into socks and boots.

        “Yes, little buddy,” Paul replied.

        Lucas hesitated a little before asking his question. He wanted to spend so much more time with Paul Bunyan.

        “I saw a cartoon once where you took the kids swimming. I know cartoons are not real, but I wanted to know if that ever happened?” he asked.

        “It did, a long time ago!” Paul replied. “I take Paul Jr. swimming all the time, but no children have seen me publicly in over a hundred years.” 

        “I am not sure if we will have time to swim here in Yosemite, but I promise to go swimming with you and your dad in the Grand Canyon, as soon as the dam is repaired,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        John looked up at Paul.

        “Let’s get going back to camp before we lose any more sunlight.” 

        Lucas tapped Paul Jr. on the shoulder.

        “How did Ranger Pam get here so fast?” he asked.  “She was just with my mom.”

        Paul Jr. chuckled.

        “Search and Rescue are always making trips up here, so we usually just ask for a ride,” he explained.

        After everyone was securely sitting on Paul Bunyan’s shoulders, Paul left his home to hike down the mountain to drop them off.

        “Hey John,” Paul Bunyan called as he continued to walk.

        “Yes,” John replied.

        “When do you leave for the Grand Canyon?” he asked.

        “Probably tomorrow after the President leaves,” John replied.

        “I probably will not make it for another few days, not until the crack in the dam is fixed,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        “We are going to need your help,” John insisted. “Kokopelli is not easy to find, and if we find her, we will need your help to get her into the basket.”

        “Did we find the basket yet?” asked Paul Bunyan.

        “My grandmother’s basket is in my living room,” Ranger Pam interrupted. “Safe and sound.”

        Lucas was completely lost.

        “I thought we were going to the Grand Canyon to go camping,” he told his dad. “And who is Kokopelli?”

        John smiled at Lucas calmly.

        “We are going camping there as promised. We just need to pick up Kokopelli to help us solve this climate problem we have been facing,” John explained.

        “Yes, but who is Kokopelli?” Lucas repeated.

        John continued to explain.

        “Kokopelli is very powerful and is usually resting between seasons.  She controls most of the elements that give us wind, rain, and snow.”

        “So, is Kokopelli the name of Mother Nature?” Lucas asked. 

        “It is the name she has been called for over five thousand years,” John replied. 

        Lucas finally understood a little better.  He was still frustrated having to leave Yosemite so soon.

        “Why do we leave tomorrow?” he asked.

        John was expecting this question all day.

        “We will be back next year,” John said joyfully, “And tomorrow you get to ride on a train called the Cannonball.”

        Lucas instantly felt better.

        “With Casey Jones?” he asked.

        “The one and only,” John replied.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Five) Elmer!

Elmer!

        As the sun was setting behind the tall granite cliffs surrounding the Yosemite Valley, Lucy snuggled up in a warm blanket while lying on the hammock.

        She had her pink flashlight in one hand and was writing songs with the other.

         Lucas helped John build a campfire to make s’mores.

        Campers in all the other campsites were returning from their different activities around Yosemite. Some were beginning to build fires of their own, while others were playing guitars and singing. Every camp was doing something different, as some people played games or started cooking dinner.

        Lucas could smell the different foods and campfire smoke from every direction.  The sights, the smells, and sounds were like nothing Lucas had ever felt before.

        John Henry took out his large hammer and carefully split some wood for the fire.

        “Why don’t you use an axe?” asked Lucas.

        John smiled and quickly put the axe away in his truck.

        “That old hammer is my oldest and most trustworthy tool. I just pull it out once and a while to remind myself of the battles we’ve fought together long ago,” he replied.

        Lucas would love to hear his dad tell stories about some of these battles, but went back to putting marshmallows on a stick for toasting.  Tali did not agree with some of the stories he told. 

        “I could live like this forever,” he told his dad joyfully.

        John laughed while picking up a stick. 

        “Hand me one of those marshmallows, would ya?” he asked. 

        Lucas tossed a marshmallow to John and watched him carefully poke the stick in one end.

        “It sure is a great feeling to be out in such a beautiful place, with the best views on earth,” John explained. 

        The campfire was now getting big sending smoke right into Lucas’s face.

        “I better move my seat,” he said. “I promised Mom I would never smoke.”

        John laughed when he noticed how serious Lucas was.

        “That was a great promise,” he replied.  This world has enough pollution already for us to go feeding even more into our lungs.”

        Lucas started to cough as the smoke from the fire began to follow him once more.

        “What’s wrong with our fire?” he asked. “It’s following me.” 

        As soon as Lucas moved his seat to the other side of the fire pit, the flames began to send smoke right to where he was.

        “I think the fire is in love with you!” John said, lowering his marshmallow into the heat.

        “I am starting to smell like smoke,” Lucas replied. “Mom might think I was smoking.”

        As soon as Lucas put his own marshmallow on a stick, the smoke went away.  

        “Why didn’t I think of that before?” Lucas asked himself.

        John just sat back and enjoyed the company of his little boy.

        Tali was gone, helping Ranger Pam with a presentation in the Lower Pines camp theater.

        Before any warning, an alarming cry echoed from the other side of the campground. 

        “EL-MER!” the voice called out.

        Lucas sat up quickly in his chair.

        Immediately another voice from the other side of the camp called out the same thing, only much louder.

        “ELL-MERRR!!”

        Now Lucy was the one to sit up in the hammock, putting down her Jr. Ranger book.  She waited to see what all the racket was for.

        “For Pete’s sake!” she thought. “I wonder if someone is lost?”

        Once again, more shouting returned, coming from everywhere. Even across the river.

        Lucas started to feel so excited about the shouting, he stood up and started skipping around the campfire circle. 

        “Hey John,” he called.

        John was just putting the toasted marshmallow inside a graham cracker with some chocolate.

        “Yes,” he replied.

        Lucas stopped skipping and began staring at the chocolate melting over the cracker.       

        “Why is everyone yelling for someone named Elmer?” he asked without taking his eyes off John’s s’more. 

        “Calling out for Elmer has been a tradition for campers here in Yosemite, ever since the 1960’s,” John explained. “Everyone who camps here shouts for Elmer when the sun is setting!”

        “Can I call for him?” asked Lucas.

        “Of course,” John replied. “This trip would not be complete without shouting Elmer.”

         Lucas took one last look at John’s s’more, almost drooling. Then he let out all the air he had in his lungs.

        “ELLLL-MERRR!” 

        Lucy came running over as fast as she could, almost tripping over the box of firewood.

        “What is your problem Lucas?” she whispered.

        Lucas shouted again before Lucy knew what hit her.

        “ELLL-MERRR!”

        John was laughing so hard, he almost fell to the ground as he watched Lucy take off running for the tent.

        “It’s okay!” he tried calling out, but it was too hard to laugh and breathe at the same time.

        It was too late.  Lucy was already in the tent and inside her sleeping bag before Lucas could yell it again.

        “This is great!” Lucas said, lowering his s’more cooker into the fire. 

        “Do you think we are going to see any bears?” he asked.

        John put the entire s’more into his mouth, closing his eyes in delight as the taste hit his tongue.

        “There is nothing better than a s’more by the campfire,” he said as soon as he finished chewing.

        “What about the bears?” Lucas reminded him.

        John wiped a little chocolate off his face before answering.

        “You only see bears in camp if you leave out food or anything with a scent,” he explained.  “I have seen a bear unzip a backpack just to eat a tiny tube of lip balm.”

        “Gross!” replied Lucas. “I tried a little taste of Lucy’s cherry flavored lip gloss and almost threw up.”

        “Bears love anything that smells. Even shampoo!” he explained.

        Lucas wanted to change the subject so he could eat at least one s’more.

        “Is Paul Bunyan really as tall as the Grizzly Giant tree, or was I just seeing things?” he asked.

        After Lucas had such a long day, full of new experiences and information, John was excited to talk about his friend.

        John looked over at Lucas, then he looked up at the top of the tree right behind him. 

        “Paul is about as tall as the tree behind you,” he explained.

        Lucas immediately turned around to look at the tree.  It was the tallest tree around. 

        “That’s really tall,” he said nervously. “How did he get that tall?”

        “He was also chosen by the Old Hara tree long ago like you were. But he did not keep his promise to protect trees. Instead, he found a job cutting down trees. With every tree, he chopped down he grew another inch,” John explained.

        “How did he ever stop growing?” asked Lucas.

        “It happened after he made a new promise to the Grizzly Giant and finally kept it,” John replied.

        John looked up at the trees and paused for a few seconds.

        “Paul has replaced every tree that he ever cut down, and has become one of the greatest protectors of trees the world has known,” John explained.

        Lucas yawned right after finishing his s’more.

        “I like that story,” he said feeling a bit sleepy.

        Lucy was finally out of the tent, now that the shouting for Elmer was over. She was hearing John and Lucas talk and was curious about what the trees wanted with Lucas. 

        “Why does the Old Hara tree and the Grizzly Giant need Lucas?” asked Lucy.

        John picked up a pinecone and tapped it upside down, over the palm of his hand.  Several flat shaped seeds fell out.

        John picked up a little dirt and placed one seed in the center. 

        “Here, I’ll show you!” he said, handing the ball of dirt to Lucas.

        Lucas took the dirt into his tiny hands, cupping it tightly so the seeds would not fall out.

        “What do you want me to do with it?” he asked while peeking in-between his fingers.

        “What do you think these seeds are good for?” asked John.

        “Seeds to grow a new tree,” replied Lucas.

        “Now picture in your mind, the seed that I planted in the dirt you are holding,” John continued.

        Lucas closed his eyes and saw the seed.

        “I can see it,” Lucas replied.

        “Now love it as much as you love the Grizzly Giant. Let it know how much it is needed here in Yosemite. Give it everything you got!” John said powerfully.

        Lucas began to picture the seed become a little tree out on the edge of the meadow.  He saw the sun come out and shine, giving light and life to the little tree causing it to grow taller than any other tree in the forest.  

        Suddenly Lucas felt a movement inside his hands as if a worm were inside the dirt John had given him.

        “I feel it!” Lucas whispered opening his eyes and hands to see if it was really a baby tree that was moving.

        “Look, a baby tree!” he whispered again, standing up to show them.

        Right then a huge group of campers shouted for Elmer all at the same time.

        “ELL-MERR!”

        Lucy immediately jumped, then plugged her ears.

        “Why do they do that?” she said nervously.

        Lucas smiled and found a large cup to hold the dirt with the little seedling.  As soon as the plant was safely put away he took a deep breath, sitting right next to Lucy, ready to call out for Elmer once more.

        “Don’t you dare!” warned Lucy watching him very closely.

        Lucas stopped just before yelling. Looking over at John he needed an explanation.

        “Who is Elmer?” he asked.

        John made sure Lucy was going to listen to the story.

        “It was told, that a young man named Elmer was lost over sixty years ago. He lived here in Yosemite with his parents who worked at one of the large hotels.”

        Lucy plugged her ears as more and more campers began yelling for Elmer again.

        John continued the story.

        “One day this little boy Elmer became lost around camp so the family began calling out his name.  As campers and hotel guests heard the shouting and understood a boy named Elmer was lost, almost every person in the entire valley started calling his name.  It did not take people long to find him unharmed.”

        “I like that story!” Lucy said. 

        Lucas just wanted to shout for Elmer once more.

        “Can we shout together?” he interrupted.

        “Wait, there’s more!” John said before continuing.  “Later, it is told that Elmer worked here in Yosemite Valley selling fresh fruits and vegetables to campers. People would shout his name just like today for him to bring over his cart.”

        Lucy relaxed a little as the echo of people yelling Elmer continued in the distance. Now she understood the reason behind the shouting.

        She felt almost as excited as Lucas now to call out Elmer’s name.

        “Let’s yell out his name on the count of three,” she insisted.

        John did not hesitate.

        “One, two, and three,” he began.

        “ELL-MERR,” all three of them shouted.

        Immediately another voice replied.

        “WHAAAT?,” causing all here of them to start laughing.

        “Someone needs to go over and tell that guy the story,” Lucy teased.

This will not include Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates

The Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates are a very heated exchange between good people on both sides.  

The dam is damaged in "Paul Bunyan and Me in Yosemite" and almost destroyed, but it is not a move to prove how or that one side wins over the other. 

It is only to show how damaging a bull headed move can be (when babe the bull or ox rams and destroys it) after Paul tries to convince him of the danger of not thinking it through. 

Babe only remembers the beauty and his old friends who lived in the valley before, not realizing the suffering his actions may cause. 

A simple lesson that is not political, but meant to teach the kids the importance of thinking about both sides of each argument and to think before acting.  

Adults can also see an opportunity to teach children their own point of view no matter what side they lean towards.  Hopefully this clears up any confusion about my intentions in the book.  

Kids everywhere are going to love it. We look through the eyes or lives of trees, and animals who live in Yosemite.  

How Climate changes our world, or how they feel about our trash and we work out ways to understand the dangers of speeding and many other issues I notice over the many years visiting the National Parks.  You hardly notice. Not preachy.

Not a boring tree hugging book that will put your kids to sleep, as much as it is a fun for kids + education looking through other point of views, while trying to hold on to for dear life as Paul Bunyan jumps hundreds of feet below after placing you in his shirt pocket.

Leading into a battle in book two with Kokopelli who is causing havoc and is angry with people.

Kokopelli art is coming

We discover a way to contain him with a basket weaved by a famous Yosemite basket weaver.

Lucy Telles

It will be a fun filled book loaded with a punch in the right direction for this new generation who needs to understand how our planet works. 

We need no encourage them to get out of the house and feel the world around them. 

It is great to see it on TV, but even better to get out and sleep in it, breath it, taste the springs water and swim in the lakes. 

It is hard to love a world from a still or moving picture.  Just as it is hard to love a food you never tasted. 

  

I look forward to feedback once the book has been read, and we will include any important ideas in our future Series.  I am leaving editing open for "John Henry in the Grand Canyon" until I can have a little feedback from "Paul Bunyan in Yosemite."  

 

New artwork for the Jr Ranger Adventures

I am excited about our new artwork created for The Jr Ranger Adventures. 

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite has two covers now.  

One is still with Lucy petting Elmer the baby bear I will use.  My next one is a special edition I am going to use on t-shirts and other promotional goods.  

It is awesome as you can see.  I am making one change to the drawing that will make Paul Bunyan a little more modest by closing his legs.  I still love these two concepts shown below.

I will use the top one to modify and use for my main cover. It will be ready tomorrow. 

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite  by Derek Ryan Jensen 

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite  by Derek Ryan Jensen

Keep in touch for the next update. 

The Author Derek Ryan Jensen and this Blog was prepared or accomplished by approval of Derek Ryan Jensen in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in these articles are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the National Park Service, The Jr Ranger Program or any other Department in the United States government. Neither do they reflect any resemblance to work done by any other major Corporation including Publishers and The Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks, or any other related Corporation who may have created similar works about folk heroes and or National Parks.   

I have had many messages on Twitter asking about the release of the Paul Bunyan in Yosemite Book 

I am working on the art for the main title still I don't like the font right now but after a few touch ups for the title in Yosemite and we are all set. Hopefully I can be set to publish this weekend.  

Haleakalā National Park Jr Ranger Adventure #6

We finished the basic draft of our Adventures in Hawaii on a trip to Haleakalā National Park.

Lucas and Lucy meet Izzy Presley who is the enchanted eight year old singer who caused the Mt. Haleakalā volcano to rumble the moment he was born and his voice was heard.


This is going to be an amazing new addition to The Adventures of a Jr Ranger. Adventure #6

When my kids (Jr. Rangers) and I finished going over this story plot we were reminded of the inspiration we felt while making up this amazing new adventure.

We thought of Israel Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole, the amazing Hawaiian singer who passed away June 26, 1997. He sang the famous Hawaiian version of the song "Somewhere over the Rainbow."


We scrapped together a fun picture we could share in his memory as we started noticing similarities Disney had with Maui in the movie Moana. His physical features were crazy similar so uniting Israel's love for this "Hawaiian Superman Maui" (Shown by his constant use of the fisherman hook necklace)

Hope you enjoy the Collage

IZ's website http://www.izhawaii.com/

https://twitter.com/Author_Derek

https://twitter.com/JrRangerLucy

https://twitter.com/JrRangerLucas

www.lucasfern.com

https://www.facebook.com/derek.r.jensen

Heroes with Hammers, and Trains that Speed, to the Great Smoky Mountains with Johnny Appleseed

Heroes with Hammers, and Trains that Speed, 

to the Great Smoky Mountains

with Johnny Appleseed

The Adventures of a Jr. Ranger

Book #2

It's Mt. Whitney all over again! The Adventures of a Jr Ranger

It is interesting, how we commit ourselves to a project that appears golden, even perfect! Then we arrive at basecamp and realize the battle has just begun.

Several years ago, I made a sixty plus mile backpacking trip, from Sequoia National Park to Mt. Whitney Portal.  

It was beautiful, and HARD.  

The actual trail would take eight days, if we did not cross Pants Pass (Somewhere near Mt. Kaweah), with over fifteen kids under eighteen years old, including myself.  I was sixteen. 

We had a terrible time, fighting drought conditions, and heat, but it was still a memory I will never forget.  Almost getting killed twice, by a fallen tree, and a huge rock slide on the north side of Pants Pass, as we needed rope to get down safely with the smaller kids. (A long exciting story)

Our group felt invincible after climbing Pants Pass successfully, until we hit the last few miles to the summit of Mt. Whitney.  

It took everything we had to get our names in the register on the summit, eat a late lunch, and make it down to camp before it was too dark. Some of the adults and kids, did not make it to the top.  

Today I feel like I just made it past Pants Pass again, with this first Adventure of a Jr Ranger book #1.  But self-publishing is a lot of hard work, like having to make it to the summit of Mt Whitney this next week. 

When I step back and look at the forty books I planned out, it feels endless. 

One thing you learn, backpacking up these steep, steep trails, is to keep one foot in front of the other, and try to enjoy the journey the best you can.  

I hope I have enough success with Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite, to find someone to help.  If I could afford an assistant, I would sail past my goal of twelve books a year.      

Right now I am Mr. Mom, working a full time job from home, while completing this book.  As much as I love to have the company of my Four children on Summer break, I found it is much easier when they are in school. 

As soon as I secure this families, peace of mind, financially.  I will be able to enjoy the summers with the kids, even more.