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50th anniversary of the run this year. Hard to believe.
It's nice to take two whole days to prep, I can really think about things. Packing is a real art, it's taken years to figure out how to get it just right. I must fight the urge to pack every corner of every crate; I keep forgetting that everything's going to be re-packed in a hung over delirium and it has to fit easily, not efficiently.
Glued up a couple more crates, this time to fit the propane tanks. Having to strap the tanks down during transport is a bummer, and it's so much nicer to have them just sitting in a box. It also artfully camoflages them in the field. I had been procrastinating on the glue-up, and not moving on the crate project at all, because of a variety of irrational regrets. For one, I had ordered up a thousand dollars of custom moulding for the edges, aimed at making a hundred crates, and the groove that the sides fit into is a little too big. Oops. So I spent more money finding just the right cotton book-binding tape to try out a new glue-up method using glue-soaked tape that could possibly see a crate assembled in one step. That turned out to be possible, but way too finicky. So in short, I thought "screw it" and just glued up some crates with what I had, big grooves and all, and they turned out OK. The joint that results is not perfect but there's so much glue in these things that I don't think a perfect bond is really necessary.
Rollins reservoir
Jul. 9th, 2011 03:49 pmHappily encamped at Long Ravine. Much drama getting here and though it isn't secluded, it is fun. Lots of good looking rednecks, a handy dockside store, live music tonight. Quite the party place.
I had been feeling lethargic and flat but yesterday's excitement snapped me right out if it. Nothing like a little terror to get you feeling motivated, right?
The reservoir has a muddy cove with a huge submerged tree stretching out into the lake. We swam out and rested on it, six people and five dogs, all sunning like otters. Very fun swimming with a pack of dogs like that. Quite worth the trip.
Live logging the clusterfuck
Jul. 8th, 2011 03:53 pmWell, if things don't go badly sometimes it wouldnt be an adventure would it?
The road to this weekends campsite was more difficult than expected. Sixteen miles from Colfax, through iowa hill, and down to the river - except the road didn't actually go that far. The camp is dry so we cannot stay.
The road was barely passable and the trip took more than two hours. We could not turn around and had to cut down a tree to get through. My half tank of gas is more than half gone and that was mostly downhill. Another car has a brake problem and we have a broken trailer. We are well equipped and everyone is ok but getting back might take a long time indeed. John has our coordinates and will send rescue if needed.
And we have Internet. Of all things.
Definitely the worst clusterfuck ever. Could get real expensive.
Update: yeah we had Internet but I could not post. I'm now back on pavement but the trailer has not arrived as of 2:45. Will wait till 5 and go to Iowa hill to get assistance if necessary.
Update 2: they made it with the trailer, now in Colfax regrouping. All cars having trouble but at least we can get service if needed. They want to stick it out and find a new site. Will report more later.
Bar Agricole - Oh Em Gee
Jun. 26th, 2011 07:05 pmWow. The pictures may not look like much but they have NAILED it. One of the best dinners ever. Dining alone and loving it, other people are just a distraction when it comes to food like this.
Off to Florida tomorrow. I sure love a good junket.
( Pics )
Dave Perkins of Montana and myself at Pine Flat. I suggest that to avoid confusion we call him ħ, pronounced "H-bar". ;-)
Photo courtesy of Iain Macintyre.
The giant overalls- visual epilogue
May. 27th, 2011 12:17 amGot ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
kevynjacobs to put on some overalls, and the photo reminded me of this story.
Late season at Whistler
May. 24th, 2011 11:39 amGreat snow, crap weather. High alpine closed due to avalanche danger. Better luck next season.
Well that was interesting
May. 1st, 2011 08:46 amGot up early this morning in G'ville and went for a slice of pumpkin bread at the Coffee Bazaar. No sooner had I sat down with my coffee than a disheveled looking guy at the counter next to me started banging on the wall and staggering around. In a few seconds he got tangled up in a stool and was headed earthwards. I'm totally useless at handling incapacitated people, but another customer helped keep him upright and he didn't get hurt. It was a little scary because I had to restrain him to keep him from smashing the window, and you never know if someone in that state is going to freak out and turn on you. Fortunately there's a fire station right across the street and paramedics came right away. My coffee spilled and my breakfast was soaked in the process, but I wasn't exactly hungry after that. What a way to start the morning!
Nasty, Brutish and Short
Mar. 30th, 2011 02:22 pmSpotted in a Lincoln pharmacy. About five foot two:
GOD HATES CHURCHES
Mar. 27th, 2011 01:59 pmGot into Christchurch yesterday. Life seems surprisingly normal despite widespread, if spotty destruction. We were in town less than an hour before the first noticeable aftershock - there are still several table-rattlers per day. There has been very little crime and disorder. Soldiers are present all along the perimeter of the downtown cordon and an imported Australian police force occupies the art gallery. Most citizens seem pretty chipper, But some older people still seem a little shell shocked.
Older stone buildings have the most visually dramatic damage, and here that means churches. The sometimes-successful attempt to remove the steeples intact hints at an intention to repair them. Less visible, but more devastating, is that nearly all high rises have been condemned and will have to be demolished. Most single family homes seem OK, but exceptions are numerous and sometimes dramatic.
( Disaster porn )
Paua - still disgusting
Mar. 23rd, 2011 02:11 pm
Stopped by a chip shop and tried an unusual local seafood. It's a kind of abalone, which sounds like it ought to be good, but it isn't. I thought it might be better now than on my last visit, but its not. At about half the price of a premium filet such as orange roughy, it's not expensive, and the color doesn't turn me off, but I just couldn't finish it. Not offensive, just wrong somehow.
La plus ca change
Mar. 19th, 2011 06:36 pmStumbled on "Military Weekend" at MOTAT today. There were reenactments and exhibits from numerous groups. Took many photos but will have to wait until getting back to make an album.
This one seemed particularly timely given current world affairs:
Also worth noting, one of those rare men I would totally jump despite being clean shaven:
The older guy, not the kid! As if I have to tell you that...
You'd be lucky to see this just once in your life, as the flowers only last a day. Even being an orchid freak and having dated someone that bred the things himself, I've only seen it once before. Not a NZ native but they have some at the Winter Garden.
Another hot booking pic
Mar. 17th, 2011 09:47 amCan't keep my eyes off this one. Hard to explain, I know.
Kingston ferry
Feb. 25th, 2011 09:57 amDrove right on, no wait. What good luck!
Achingly beautiful day but very cold. Amazing scenery. Makes me want to live here.
