Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The Men That Don't Fit In There's A race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will. They range the field and they rove the flood, And they climb the mountain's crest; Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood, And they don't know how to rest. If they just went straight they might go far, They are strong and brave and true; But they're always tired of the things that are, And they want the strange and new. They say: "Could I find my proper groove, What a deep mark I would make!" So they chop and change, and each fresh move Is only a fresh mistake. And each forgets, as he strips and runs With a brilliant, fitful pace, It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones Who win in the lifelong race. And each forgets that his youth has fled, Forgets that his prime is past, Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead, In the glare of the truth at last. He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance; He has just done things by half. Life's been a jolly good joke on him, And now is the time to laugh. Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost; He was never meant to win; He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone; He's a man who won't fit in. Robert Service

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

First Trip 2018 Journal entry #1

Left out early Friday morning heading for the wilderness. I drive my truck and pull my neighbors gooseneck stock trailer and he goes along with his horse. So I have 3 mules and his horse. My buddy and friend of his follow along with his gooseneck and 4 horses ... 2 that he will pack and 2 they will ride. We aren't going on a long trip really just short trip of 1 night and 2 days. Really just trying to get out and ride the wilderness and camp. This time of year the bowhunters are out after Elk and Deer so we can't take the hounds. Which is really ok because the guys don't have the time to stay out and hunt. Really I don't either but would probably make the time if it was possible. It takes us about 4 hours of driving to get to the trail head.. not that many miles but about the last 1/3 of the trip is slow winding mountain roads with some steep grades up and down. My dodge does good going up hill but the steep down hill parts are a little scary because there aren't any brakes on the trailer I'm pulling but we make it just fine. We get all packed up and head out.. I'm riding the famous Jet Johnson mule and packing Big Agnes and my new mule Ruth.. Ruth does good and leads out just fine. We wind our way up and over the ridge heading out to our overnight camping location. I'm constantly on the lookout for lion and bear sign but after the first day and about 7 miles rode all we see are a couple of Does, a Fawn and a small Buck that looks much bigger then he really is due to the velvet still on his antlers. We make our way down to the river and ride up aways. We find a good level spot where there already is a fire ring and decide that's where we should camp. We unpack all the animals and start setting up camp. My buddy has a large 16' Noah's tarp that we string up to sleep under. I like to stay under a tarp even if the weather looks good just to keep the dew or frost off of out bedrolls. We use our manty tarps for ground cover and roll out our bags on top of them. We gather up fire wood and get a fire going. Get out the morals and fill them with alfalfa pellets, soak them in the river and feed the mules and horses. There are 4 of us in camp... we all get our cups and then the whisky flask is brought out. A toast is made for a safe and good day.. There are some cliff dwellings above us and a couple of the guys go up to check them out. One guy decides to cool off in the river while me and my buddy finish with another shot of whisky. Story's are told that night around the campfire while steaks and corn on the cob is cooked. Now like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas stories told around the campfire at night after some whisky has been drank stay there and are not repeated. We eat our steak and corn.. best corn I have ever ate by the way.. then climb in the sack. The weather is really warm so the bag and bivy sack stay half unzipped most of the night.. At about 2 am we all wake up to horses pawing the ground and Big Agnes one of my mules is loose. This being just a one night trip all we did was just tie them up. I get up and slip on my camp slippers and catch Agnes and tie her up. My buddy is standing next to one of the pack horses that is showing signs of colic, switching his tail and kicking at his belly. As usual we forgot to bring banamine. I take the horse down to the river and he drinks good and craps on the way back.. so no more colic. Finally some good sleep and it always amazing me how well I can sleep outdoors on the ground. Next morning you can see some light coming through the sky to the east but it won't shine in this canyon for a while. Its 6 am and everyone is moving and getting dressed. Its not cold at all and it was a good thing we put up the tarp because there was a heavy dew. First item on the agenda for me at least is coffee.. My Jetboil and big off brand yeti cup is ready with starbucks coffee singles already in the cup and water ready to boil in the Jetboil. I always like to prepare my coffee the night before so it doesn't take too long to get that caffeine in my system. After my coffee is ready I carry my cup and take the mules down to the river to get a drink. Ole Jet drinks his fill as does Agnes.. the new mule Ruth won't drink, but she will learn to drink when water is available so I don't worry much. Again we fill the morals and feed the animals and while we wait for them to finish eating my buddy and the other guys eat some dry cereal and prepare some peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. I'm not much on breakfast anymore so I just work on my coffee and then start breaking camp. I have summer sausage and some nuts for lunch already in my saddle bags so I'm pretty much ready to go. Saddling all the animals is a chore but they are all saddled without mishap. My buddy and I have traveled the wilderness every year now for 5 years straight we just tie a one man diamond that takes 2 men but we are pretty good at it and it takes us no time at all and once its tied it lasts all day. We study the map and decide on our course and head out. The climb out of the canyon is long and steep.. one of the horses that one of the guys is riding gets tired and starts to fight it some so he has to get off and lead.. no since in taking a chance on an accident this far back.. after we get on level ground he gets back on and his horse does better. I took one hound with me "Maggie" I always like to take at least one hound but I have to be careful because I can't take one that will get off running a track and cause us to be late. Maggie has had a kinda of rough life.. she jumped out of the dog box once going down the highway.. I still don't know how she fit, and then she was bit one time by a rattlesnake. She listens to me good and goes with the other hounds when they are trailing but I didn't believe that she would start her own track. Well on the way up I see her right off the top below the ridge whipping her tail back and forth and then pretty soon I hear bahhh bahhh .. of course I get excited but nobody else really pays attention. I rush over to see if I can find a track but there's just too much rock.. she doesn't go far with it but I'm pretty excited that she found something she liked and wanted to trail.. she just might make a hound yet... Finally we top out and decide that the ride from where we are at will take long enough if we just head around a short circle to the trucks. We had intended to take another route but everyone was in agreement that getting back to our rigs early would be best so we could at least get back home at a decent hour. I wonder if our trips have been shortened up because we are getting older or we are just getting too busy with other things. Well I can't do anything about getting older but I will change the being busy part. This country is beautiful and there is lots of it I want to explore. Tall pines and junipers and cedar trees. Deep canyons with big rock bluffs and rivers. It was designated a wilderness on June 3rd 1924 making it the first in the US and with over 558,014 acres its a big place.. and want to see it all. On the way back like always I have my eyes peeled looking for lion and bear sign but I never found any... a few deer track here and there but that was all. I didn't put shoes on my pack mules and on the way back I think Ruth's feet get sore and she breaks the lead string from Agnes to her. I have to start ponying her with Jet and one of the guys leads Agnes. Ruth gets pretty sore footed I guess because Jet dang near has to drag her in... but Jet is up to the task because he has been down this trail we are on many times and knows we are headed back to the trucks. We got back to the trucks pretty early .. around 2pm and figure we rode 10 or 12 miles .. not a bad day really. We unsaddle and head home.. It was a good trip .. short but sweet and we had a good time. We stopped and ate in a small town on our way home after I had to buy a fuel filter for my old dodge but we made it. During our dinner we discuss future trips and plans for maybe a lion hunt in the same area. We will see. As for me I will be back and head in further and stay longer. And with some hounds. This is what I hope is the first of many trips. My off grid living days are over.. sold my place but I have to find other ways to get out and find adventure for me the hounds and mules.. Just a gypsy with mules and a pack of hounds #born100yearstoolate #CBVTV #nevertoolate

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

To become a member of the Long Riders Guild you have to complete a Journey on horse back or Mule of more then 1000 continuous miles.... preferably with no vehicle assistance... Crazy well maybe but I will go ... Long Rider: Now I ask you, patient reader, if you own a horse why haven’t you surrendered to the pull of the horizon? What keeps you from giving in to the same sundown madness that pulled your forefathers and mothers towards the beckoning sea? Why, as you read this, do you not listen to the stirring of your own blood? Find your courage! Change the rhythm of your life! People will say you are an impetuous fool for setting out, but their souls are dulled by the commonplace. Do not allow them to judge your actions by their base principles. They speak only to hide their own fear and cowardice. I challenge you by saying that if you own a horse and have never ridden away from "home," then you are not truly bonded with the animal. You are a slave to the barn where you, the rider, hide your bravery. Real courage is leaving the ant-heap to ride where you wish, when you wish, as rapidly as you wish. Think how free you will be if you saddle up and ride away. You will not only discover a poetry of riding, you will learn that the ride and the horse place a lasting spiritual fingerprint on your soul. I leave you with this thought. Truth seldom whispers to you and when it does the song is no louder than the beating of your heart. No one can travel this road for you. Only you can summon the courage to ride the sacred trail of which I speak. So go on. What’s stopping you? Saddle Up! Excerpt from the founder of the Long Riders Guild

See if it works

Lion Hunting with Richard Payne Part 2 Fire side talk in the mountains a...

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Not a bad read... good info especially for travel out of country #bookoftheweek

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Book Recommendation "Finding Everett Ruess"

This was a really good read.. I couldn't hardly put it down. A story about a true desert vagabond that went rogue in the desert South West. And he left us with a big mystery. Just click on the link to get it from Amazon #bookoftheweek

Monday, June 25, 2018

"The Long Way To Los Gatos"

Really not the best read in the world but pretty interesting. If you like horses adventure and long rides this book might be something you would enjoy.. Just click on the link ... Thanks!

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Time to get to the mountains

On our way for a little overnight trip into the mountains. I will head out tonight and just cowboy camp and wait for the others to show up in the morning. Its been hot and dry down here in the desert and from what I can tell its been dry in the mountains too. No camp fires my cooking will be done either on the Jet Boil or my hurricane grill. It is a short trip with us just riding in to the hot springs and coming out the same day. I will probably ride Jet Johnson and maybe lead Big Agnes (my mules) Of course I don't hardly go anywhere without a hound or 2... I will take a couple of young dogs (Maggie and Laurie) that really aren't wanting to do much on their own yet. Don't have time to be trailing all over the mountain. I have been going through my stuff in my truck and my trailer. Getting ready for hopefully many more adventures.. becoming more of a "Nomadic" instead of the stationary off grid hunter I was before I sold my camp. I think it will be fun.. and of course there will be a video of everything on my youtube channel  CBVTV Youtube Channel  and I will try to have some pictures to show here on the blog. So adios ....

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

The Alchemist This book came to me right at the right time.. coincidence..?

I don't know but I like it ... I'm listening to it as an audio book.. but here is the Link to the written book... #nevertoolate #born100yearstoolate #schoolofgreatness #Lewishowes

Thursday, May 10, 2018






I have seen a little uptick in the views on this blog. I actually just use it mainly as another place to show my videos. I think in the future I might think of using it as a place to share what I will be doing and what videos I will be making. I am not much of a writer .. and I don't really enjoy it that much but I do enjoy making videos.. Like I have said before I'm not sure why I just do.

For the most part I am an introvert.. I don't go to many social events .. church and a roping every now and then .. but thats about it. When I use to drink I didn't mind sitting at an old fashion bar and talking to some of the locals.. you know the kind that has the mirror and the tall bar stools .. but I am getting older and with age I have decided that drinking didn't help me in any way... and was probably hurting me.. after all I plan on being active and pursuing my adventures for many years to come.. Speaking of adventures...

There are several things I would really like to do before I hang it all up.. call it a bucket list if you like... so here you go..

One of the things I have dreamed about for several years now is taking a long ride .. unassisted, on my mules. A ride of over 1000 continuous miles. Start right out of my place and go .. somewhere not sure but just go. Have provisions mailed or drop shipped to locations planned out a head of time and just go .. day after day. Try to travel as much as is possible off of the beaten path .. through wildernesses or forests across the country. There is a guild called the "Long Riders Guild" that a person can be made a part of for doing this.. and I think it would be something I would like to be a part of http://www.thelongridersguild.com/   Not sure if I have what it takes to actually accomplish such an undertaking .. but I would like to try.. My wife is very supportive and really encourages me to do it..  maybe ....

As far as the videos go I would like to continue my hunting with the hounds on my mules but move around more .. see new places but continue hunting the way that I do .. making circles on my mules pounding it out in the dirt. I know that it is not the most productive way to hunt but it suits me just fine. As a fellow lion hunter told me one time "It fills my soul" .. and thats about the way I feel about it. I sold my mountain camp .. I didn't really want too.. but I needed the money and I did kind of get stuck there.. there were lots of advantages to being there off grid in the mountains the way I was but also a lot of disadvantages too. And the money from the sale will allow me to do some of these things I'm writing about.  I will try to go into all that in a video..  Now I am in the process of building a more mobile outfit rigged up where I can just take off and if its just for a day or 2 or for 2 weeks everything is ready to go .

I would like to take more pack trips on my mules into more wilderness areas. Heck I haven't been all over the Gila like I would like too so that will probably be where I start. Probably always have some hounds with me too. I would also like to travel back to Nevada and look at some of that country.. I seen part of it but would sure like to spend some more time up there especially during the summer months while it is so hot down here.

This coming winter I would like to trap some. I helped an older man for a while years ago that made his living trapping. Now it wasn't much of a living but it fascinated me and I learned a lot. I trapped some when I was a kid on the ranch but I wasn't very successful .. I ran into a rancher this last year that talked to me about Henry McIntyre a pretty famous lion hunter from TX. Most of the time Henry looked kinda of rough from spending so much time out in the hills hunting but this man talked about a time he seen him at a funeral and he was all dressed up and wearing a coat made of Bobcat fur.. now that is something I would like to wear to town some day lol.

I will be doing some hunts with my grandson. We put in for everything this year but didn't draw a thing. So I bought him a bear tag and we will be trying to get him bruin. He passed his hunter safety class so he is excited about it.

I also promised my grandson that we will get us a canoe and make a trip down the river here. It won't be that long of a trip maybe 2 or 3 days..but while I was on the internet doing a bit of research about canoes and kayaks I watched a couple videos of a guy that travels all over and makes these trips. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_424KuhriUZqEAdOI4QtA .. So someday I want to go up north somewhere .. Minnesota or maybe Alaska and take a canoe or Kayak trip .. a long one.. This adventure is kind of way out there but still something I would like to try.

In between these I will still be doing what I do .. and I will have a video camera with me so I will video.. I have hours and hours of video now... trying to figure out a way to make story out of it and making it interesting to a regular viewer is whats hard.. but I will try.

As far as the videos I have planned here you go.


All ready filmed but not edited:

Tom White and Don Milton Part 3 Final

Dennis Carson

Charlie Settles

September 2016 Nevada hunting trip.  Partially edited

Finish 2016 Lion hunting

Training scent video. Testing training scents on my hounds

Trailer Build ... fixing up my trailer for easier and faster travel to and from the hills

Hunt with Rick and Angie

Hunt with Josh and Brent

Hunt with Red


Still yet to be filmed (ideas):

Pet safe outdoor bark control .. I have 2 of these that I haven't set up yet and will be Testing on my hounds

My Story.. who, what, where and plans

The last five years and what we have been up against

Gear.. my pack outfit and saddle gear.. what I use on a daily basis for just day rides and what I use when we will be staying out for some time.. (I've videoed a couple already but I didn't like the way they came out)

My life up at camp.. I lived for a little over 2 years up in the mountains off grid. I filmed a lot and had always planned on making another youtube channel about my experiences up there. I had a sawmill, solar well, solar system for electricity ..

Also something that might be a little more personal.. not sure so much out there already but in the last 2 years I have lost around 45 pounds.. how I did it.. might be interesting to some ..

Ok please if you read this, comment and let me know. I'm kind of at a big turning point in my life here. Not sure if it is worth it to share all this stuff. I've sure had some mixed feelings about it here lately and haven't been real sure if it will benefit anyone. I'm 56 years old and sure don't want to look back when I am 100 and have many regrets. It's time now ... #nevertoolate #born100yearstoolate #CBVTV

Thank you,
Brett Vaughn

©CBVTV "Born 100 Years Too Late"
 




 











 

Monday, April 9, 2018

Done Deal

Well its done... I sold the place on the mountain.. kinda of mixed feelings about it but it does open up many other opportunities for me. As soon as time permits and I get everything straightened out around here I will be making a video about my plans for the future. I know that not many read this blog but I will keep it up ... Thanks!

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Be ready after next Friday .... everything changes ... going Rogue .. really stay tuned. Let the adventure begin!

Monday, January 15, 2018

Tired of working for everyone else .. Taxes

This might be funny if it weren't so true.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

" I Was Born 100 Years Too Late"





I often hear people say that .. but do they really mean it? I often think of it myself, but times were sure a lot tougher back then and I wonder if the people that did live in those times could see how we live now if they would trade? I bet a big percentage would.

But I do like the ring to it ... and I have had people tell me that they think that I was born 100 years too late... but I'm really not sure if I would be tough enough to make it back then... I would like to think I was but really not sure.

I've been listening too Chris Guillebeau. He has a blog and has done some Ted Talks and I like alot of what he has to say. One of the things that he says is that you really don't need a specific "niche" as much as just a "Theme". I like that and "Born 100 Years Too Late" really sets the tone or the Theme for what I do. So whether it is riding my mule hunting lions with the hounds or packing into the wilderness or some other adventure I'm seeking.. It will all be under the theme "Born 100 Years Too Late"... Now that doesn't mean I will be giving up my down sleeping bags or my jet boil or many of those other modern comforts that make my time outdoors more enjoyable. But it does mean that I will be seeking adventure just like people did back 100 years ago..

There are still great adventures to be had out west that many that give lip service to the theme "Born 100 Years Too Late" don't follow through with.. great long ride or packing adventures all the way down to just overnight adventures in places close to home. So many sit in front of their TV and watch other peoples adventures or watch old westerns and fantasize about being back in the old west. But they aren't willing to give up the fancy trucks and houses or other expensive things that take away our freedom and tie us down to working for the man to pay those bills.

I will keep doing my videos because it is something that I really enjoy doing .. but I will also try to write some.. (its not easy for me)  and one of the things I will be writing about is our journey to freedom by selling unnecessary items.. getting rid of our debt and pursuing my dream by living adventures that are available to me now but still fit into the theme of being "Born 100 Years Too Late"   

So I have incorporated "Born 100 Years Too Late" into the title of this blog and into a Facebook page, web domain name and a youtube channel. Wondering if I should start changing everything over to that name.. After all CBVTV was just a spur of the moment thought that came from shortening "Cowboyvon" and adding "TV" .. really not much thought went into it and I do like "Born 100 Years Too Late" better.

If you read this please comment.. any advice would be appreciated..

Thank You...

Brett Vaughn ©CBVTV...Cowboyvon... "Born 100 Years Too Late"  #nevertoolate