Living in Greeley Hill, we have to travel six miles downhill to an 1850s gold rush town, Coulterville, California for our Post Office. Twenty-six years ago town folks were looking for an excuse to have a community party. They created the Coyote Howl. The story of the birth of the Howl is a little murky. The story is that there was some drinking going on in the Magnolia Room of the Jeffery Hotel (not a surprise, the Mag Room is a saloon) and someone joked that with all the coyotes in the area and everybody imitating them there ought to be a contest. Now, coyotes don’t make just one sound when they howl, so people have different ideas of what they should sound like. If you would like to hear what the contest sounds like, click here for a multi media clip that we recorded in 2007. The rest of my images are stored on Photoshelter, so give a click if you want to see more.
Kids in groups compete as Pup Packs. These boys came in second in 2011.
This Piney Creek resident was the adult winner in 2001.
This year, as always, the parade is lots of fun for families.
This adult contestant had won in the past but didn’t make it in 2011.
The calliope is a treat for everybody. It isn’t my favorite type of music but it seems to fit in with the parade.
Master of ceremonies Silverman gives a young pup a chance to test out his howl for next year.
Everybody has an opinion and some express theirs more colorfully.
This year’s adult winner wore a little hair of the dog while howling.
Capt. Henry Love shoots his 12 gauge at the bad guys. Historically speaking, Capt. Love was the Marshall who captured Joaquin Murrieta.
During the gunfight, the bad guys always get to die.
In 2005, the Magnolia was hopping. It will reopen June 15 of this year.
This pup uses his hands to make his howl.
Panama Red shoots his way out of the saloon.
During the gunfight, the Lady Sheriff shot a couple bad guys.
While county music is playing in the park, folks are dancing in front of a booth that seems to fry everything you could think of. No fried stuff for me.
