On Trip: Robert Cranney, Rodney Mulder, Duane & Holly McCully, Marcia Davis, Abby Clyde, Allen & Janet Clyde, Ralph Powers, Shay Lelegren, Tracy Hall
Ten years ago on this date, our beloved friend and caver of extraordinary exuberance, Daniel Harry Clyde, died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He left behind his wife, Marcia, and young daughter Abby.
Robert Cranney had the thoughtful idea to hold this graveside vigil to remember him. I didn't ask, but I assume Dan's family has been doing this every year since his death. This was the first time that most of the cavers had been here since that day. It would be easy to think that this was a sad and grim event but that was not at all the case. As it happened, the conversation was very uplifting. After a while, we began telling some of our fondest memories of Dan, a few of which I will relate here.
One of Abby's favorite stories about her dad was told to us by Dan's father, Allan Clyde. He describes in some detail how Dan built a bobsled run up the hill in the back of their house. The run went through the door in the back of the garage, through the garage, down the driveway, across the street, and ended in the neighbors yard. This did, of course, require packing a snow path through the garage. This creation was built in Dan's younger years, when they lived in New England.
Marcia told us about Dan's Tyco slotless race car set. He assembled this track and glued it permanently to a large piece of plywood. He was skilled at fixing the cars, which needed repairs often, and hot-rodding them. All of this happened not while Dan was a kid at home, but rather while he and Marcia were living at Wymount. On one particular day, he called his brother Steven, who was also living at Wymount at the time, and asked Steven's wife if he could come over and "play racecars." Steven did come and play.
After much pleasant reminiscing, we went down to Brick Oven Pizza for dinner. Rodney showed us a video that he made for his son Skyler for a school project. It highlighted many of their travel activities. We also got the opportunity to visit with Marcia and Abby regarding more contemporary and current events. In all it was very enjoyable evening and everyone was very grateful for the experience.
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 Rodney Mulder |  Rodney Mulder |  Allan Clyde, Rodney Mulder, Ralph Powers, Robert Cranney, Tracy Hall, Janet Clyde, Marcia Davis, Abby Clyde, Shay Lelegren, Duane & Holly McCully Rodney Mulder | ||