Choctaw feels that if you have gone this far to look at his pictures, you need a little more information about "BuckSkinning" and what is really going on. First of all this Rendezvous is held on private land that consist of 42 acres. It was bought by two members of the group for no other reason than to hold Rendezvous. It is so isolated from the rest of the world, that unless an aircraft flyes over, there is no human sound, unless you make it. There are no trucks, cars, phones ringing, nothing but the sounds of nature. There are few places still left in Southern Alabama like it.
The group that you see in the pictures are from all walks of life. You have College teachers, Corporate Presidents, Building Contractors, public utility construction, law enforcement officers, and medical professional. They all have a great deal in common. You can sum it all up in one word~~~BuckSkinning~~~
Now to the big swing. To the left in this picture is a tremendous oak tree. The first fork of this tree is about 25 feet from the ground. About 35 or 40 feet from the ground there is a very large limb. I tried to get a fishing line over the limb for several days, in order to pull the larger rope up and over the limb, but did not succeed. My youngest son finally did it for me, by tying a spool of 20lb. mono line to a beer bottle and throwing it like a football! By his doing this, I pulled a smaller line over the limb, then the large rope. I then put a slip knot in the rope at one end pulled in snug to the limb. We then repeated that step again, and I cut the rope in the middle at the ground level. I made the seat out of 2 1/2 thick red ceder, large enough for my grandson and I to get in. The "big" kids have a shoving match to see who gets to swing first, and who has to push. The ropes are so long, you cannot "pump". Someone has to push you for it to really be fun. The best "pushers" are over six feet tall, with long arms. They can push you several times to get you started, then get a running start and run under you, shoving you at the same time. If you have never been in a swing like this, you have no idea what you have missed!
This is Loaping Turtle, sitting at ease, waiting for someone to come by and give him a push in the BIG SWING. On the front edge of the swing board, it is stamped "Blue Turtle and Choctaws swing". Blue Turtle is the mountain man name for Stephen Todd Caton Jr., Choctaw's grandson.
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