This is so cool. I have so many questions after reading through it twice and taking notes. I've been to that ranch so many times, it was almost like I could see the growing Bowen family there.
Was Gertie's husband Warren D Bowen? She never mentions him by name, but throws in a letter from Warren to his grandkids on the last pages of the book.
It seems like it was written in (1924+43yrs)=1967 (pages 10 & 14), but 1971 was later mentioned as being in the past (p.20).
The oldest boy Glenn was 7yrs old in 1924, making him now almost 100 yrs old.
Is the shack on Bowen Ranch the original 1924 house in which she raised her eight kids? She mentions their sleeping porch (p.36) and how when she was writing her narrative their 6v wind charger was only used to power "a night light outside the window for the registration of fishermen" heading for DC (p.17). Seems like she earned her retirement income by charging people to come through. Hmmm, sounds familiar!
Speaking of sounding familiar, "Those hikes to the stream make a variety of impressions on different people. Some will never make it again and some swear to heaven they will never try it again; but believe it or not, they are the ones who do come back again. Others say it is the greatest invigorator to their system and they claim to have their best sleep in years after a sojourn down and back." (p.77) And, "I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard that familiar utterance, "I'll never do it again." (p.78)
Her description of DCHS is on pgs. 83 & 84
Thanks for sharing Mojave.