Letters, Journal Extracts and Sketches
to Milwaukee from the Southwest, 1969-70
by Kayak Peter Wait
Me in c.1967, before coming west, while still a nice clean cut boy. The picture was probably taken on the Wisconsin River.
- Top of the Page
- Introduction
- Index to the Letters
- Index to the Journals
- Index to the Sketches
- Slide Show of some sketches made on the trip
- About these pages
- Home Page Contents
Introduction
On his birthday in 1969, our hero followed the advice of Horace Greeley and went west.
His previous experience in the west being, in the late 50's, crossing the Mississippi to sleep in an Iowa corn field, immediately returning to his natal state of Wisconsin. And then in 68, flying to SF to visit a friend seeing such sights as Height-Ashbury and a cafe reputed to be a hotbed of the Berkeley Free Speach movement. But, stirred by tales of Mountain Men such as Jeb Smith and Grizzle Adams and explorers such as Powell and Fremont, he needed to see more of the real or natural west. So, on Oct. 10,1969 he headed west, or rather, east as his first stop was Ann Arbor.
It is also rumored that the impending Wisconsin Winter helped spur him on.
These are some of the remaining letters, journals and sketches sent back to Milwaukee. They were fondly saved by his mom, the archivist of the Wait family. I have now taken upon myself the mantle of Archivist, and in that role offer you these bits of the past.
Enjoy. PJW 9/17/2000