The Early Years
April, 1981
Love at first sight.
Driving from Berryessa back to Davis, I saw the truck sitting on a dirt corner in Winters, California, looking very much alone, abandoned, forlorn, and sad.
I drove back to Winters the next day to find the owner, a certain Mr. Graf.
E. J. Graf had owned the truck for many years. He had the Ford dealership in town, but the dealership had closed down years ago.
Mr. Graf had used the truck mainly for hunting and camping. He had made a few modifications on his own, adding a front bumper tow-hitch ("I don't like turning my head and backing up my trailers", he told me), a spotlight on the roof, and an extended 100 gallon gas tank in the bed.
After some convincing, sold it to me.
I overpaid.
I drove back to Winters the next day to find the owner, a certain Mr. Graf.
E. J. Graf had owned the truck for many years. He had the Ford dealership in town, but the dealership had closed down years ago.
Mr. Graf had used the truck mainly for hunting and camping. He had made a few modifications on his own, adding a front bumper tow-hitch ("I don't like turning my head and backing up my trailers", he told me), a spotlight on the roof, and an extended 100 gallon gas tank in the bed.
After some convincing, sold it to me.
I overpaid.
1980's
Putting the truck through the tests of young men.
Living in Davis meant lots of opportunities for Ford fun. Hunting rabbits in Nevada, forging rivers, driving through the delta, and testing the truck's abilities. There was nothing this truck couldn't do!
Thanks to Blair for digging up some of these old photos!
1986
The truck and I move out of
The Rest Home.
1987
Doodling while in vet school.
