Drove to Tacoma this morning, stopping at a Flying J truck stop so I could check email. Good thing. The customer sent me email asking that I call him when I reach Ellensburg (I think that was the town)... turns out that's where the truck stop was.
I called him, we met up in Port of Tacoma, talked for about 15 minutes. He's a pretty cool guy. He's one of the biggest RV and boat dealers in Washington and has a lot of stuff going on He's talking about getting another boat in 2 weeks, but hauling that one himself. He said he may have more business for me in a few months. Sounds like family vacation time!
Washington has the worst roads ever. All concrete that has shifted from the harsh winters. My kidneys hurt and I actually had a filling come slightly loose.
Drove to Anacortes, took a ferry ride over to San Juan island in hopes of seeing a whale. No such luck. I did see the Puget sound, which was cool. Checked out the night life, ate in a chinese restaurant, sleeping for a few hours in a parking lot as the campground apparently no longer exists. :/
Tomorrow I will see the fish market and space needle, then head out to Newport, OR to pick up the trailer that I need to transport to Oakland, CA.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Trip Report #3
Not much to report today. I drove from Yellowstone to Spokane Washington, taking in a few small tourist trap type sites; none worth mentioning.
Slept in a rest area. Washington rest areas suck. Not only do they not have vending machines, but the restrooms don't even have mirrors.. at least this one didn't.
I will deliver the boat in the morning and start searching for another load
Slept in a rest area. Washington rest areas suck. Not only do they not have vending machines, but the restrooms don't even have mirrors.. at least this one didn't.
I will deliver the boat in the morning and start searching for another load
Trip Report #2
Today has been one of the most incredible days of my life...
I woke up, opened the tent to see the sun peeking over 10,000 ft mountain tops and shining down on Yellowstone lake. I cooked eggs, toast and coffee over an open fire and ate it 50 feet from 4 deer. I've seen wild horses, bison by the hundreds, the Old Faithful guyser, the north rim of the Grand Canyon, inspiration point, and so much more.
I've seen mud boil, more colors of rock than I thought possible, looked 500 feet down the wall of a dam, and fell asleep to an incredible thunderstorm that was unlike anything I've experienced before. The lightening was blinding, the thunder so loud that it made the truck rattle, the 3lb latern in the tent fall over, and literally shook my balls as it echoed for 30 seconds or more bouncing from mountain to mountain and through the canyon.
... and yes, the mainstreamed Sioux indian chicks are hot!
After much negotiation and 3 different facilities, I finally managed to convince a ranger to let me park in the seemingly arbitrarily labled 10 minute parking for 30 minutes and FINALLY got to take a shower!
At about 3 am, the cold winds from the storm became too much to bare. The temperature had dropped to 40 degrees (keep in mind that only 4 days before, I was in Jacksonville where it was 100+ degrees and over 95% humidity - 40 degrees might as well been absolute zero!) and the wind was blowing at over 30 MPH. I moved into my truck, started it, probably waking half the people in the campground, but I didn't care, as hypothermia was setting in. Ran the engine for about 15 minutes (it's a diesel and takes 10 minutes before the temp guage even moves), turned it off, and slept the rest of the night in peace.
I woke up, opened the tent to see the sun peeking over 10,000 ft mountain tops and shining down on Yellowstone lake. I cooked eggs, toast and coffee over an open fire and ate it 50 feet from 4 deer. I've seen wild horses, bison by the hundreds, the Old Faithful guyser, the north rim of the Grand Canyon, inspiration point, and so much more.
I've seen mud boil, more colors of rock than I thought possible, looked 500 feet down the wall of a dam, and fell asleep to an incredible thunderstorm that was unlike anything I've experienced before. The lightening was blinding, the thunder so loud that it made the truck rattle, the 3lb latern in the tent fall over, and literally shook my balls as it echoed for 30 seconds or more bouncing from mountain to mountain and through the canyon.
... and yes, the mainstreamed Sioux indian chicks are hot!
After much negotiation and 3 different facilities, I finally managed to convince a ranger to let me park in the seemingly arbitrarily labled 10 minute parking for 30 minutes and FINALLY got to take a shower!
At about 3 am, the cold winds from the storm became too much to bare. The temperature had dropped to 40 degrees (keep in mind that only 4 days before, I was in Jacksonville where it was 100+ degrees and over 95% humidity - 40 degrees might as well been absolute zero!) and the wind was blowing at over 30 MPH. I moved into my truck, started it, probably waking half the people in the campground, but I didn't care, as hypothermia was setting in. Ran the engine for about 15 minutes (it's a diesel and takes 10 minutes before the temp guage even moves), turned it off, and slept the rest of the night in peace.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Trip Report #1
This covers Thurs, 8/11 - Tues, 8/16.
This is going to be long. I'll try to make more frequent reports.
Allow me to start at the beginning..
As some of you know, I have started a transport company on the side. I have a customer that wanted a boat hauled from Jacksonville, FL to Tacoma. I had planned to ride the Harley out to the grand canyon the beginning of Sept It didn't make much sense to take this trip (having to work my other job during the day, which means constant hassles finding wireless connections, paying "late stay" charges at hotels, etc), turn around, go back home, and leave again on another 2000-3000 mile (one way) trip.
I arranged with work to take the two weeks vacation scheduled in Sept to transport the boat, with plans to see everything I can along the way. The basic plan was to haul some serious ass (and since hauling a 8000 lb boat/trailer, that meant long hours, not going fast) out west, then take time to see a few sites, and hopefully pick up another load or two for the return trip.
The completely loose, unplanned, "wouldn't it be cool to see this shit?" itinerary is/was:
- Nashville
- Mount Rushmore
- Yellowstone
- Space Needle
- San Francisco
- Possibly Hollywood
- Quick trip down the main strip of Las Vegas, maybe stay the night (cheap buffets!)
- Grand Canyon
- Anything else of major interest along the way.
So far, I am adding the redwood forest to this. I *really* want to see them big trees.
I took Friday (8/12) as a comp day, left Thursday night, stayed the night at a rest area in Jacksonville on Thursday, got the first service on the truck on Friday morning, picked up the boat, Hit Joe's Crab Shack for brunch, stood in the ocean for about 10 minutes and was on the road about noon I stayed at Crestwood Suites in Nashville (about 5 miles from Opryland) on Friday night. I didn't see Opryland as I was anxious to get on the road, plus I'll be criss-crossing Nashville on the way back home.
Saturday saw me spending the night at the Rock Point rest area in Nemaha, Missouri, about 110 miles NW of Kansas City. Only about 4 hours sleep in the truck, approximately 600 miles covered.
Sunday I covered another 600 miles, ending up in yet another rest area near Rapid City South Dakota. I was exhausted at this point. I forgot to eat all day. I woke up at 3 am with my stomach hurting, found a Dennys, and an attempt was made my a 1/2 mexican, 1/2 native american to get me to commit to "the confederate way". Creepy.
An interesting stop that night was at a so-called Discount Fuel station (most expensive fuel on the trip, but I had no choice - fuel stops open past 9pm can be over 100 miles apart in this area). This is cowboy country! I was the only one without a cowboy hat, boots, and fleece-lined denim jacket. Out of 20 or so vehicles in the lot, I was also the only one that did NOT have a horse trailer. Forget about that friendly cowboy shit. These guys were friggin' RUDE, one [i]attempted[i] to walk through me. lol
Monday was the first tourist day. Mt Rushmore. Very cool. Not surprisingly, not a long stop. Maybe 2 hours MAX. It's pretty cool, but how long can you stare at a stone rendition of a bunch of dead presidents?
I picked up some pamphlets and decided that Custer state park sounded really cool. Camping, showers, and an 18 mile wildlife loop. I exit Mt Rushmore, and there's a state sign pointing to the right that says Custer Park. Can you tell trouble is coming?
.. What they failed to mention was that this is one of the tightest, twisted roads you will ever be on, complete with 1000 ft drops off the guardrail-less shoulderless side of the road, single lane tunnels, 11'6"-12' bridges, 8' wide lanes, etc. If you know NC 226A - the road we got caught in the fog on, imagine that with no guardrails or shoulders and the lanes being a foot narrower and you've got a pretty good idea
Allow me pause here to describe what I'm driving. This is a 2005 F350 4x4 Crew Cab Dually. She's about 7'2" tall, over 22 feet long, and 7'10.5" at the "hips" (flared rear wheel wells for the dual tires). I'm hauling a 27' cabin cruiser on a trailer that, from my rear bumper measures (stepping outside in the rain to measure) 35'8". That's right, the total length of this combination is about 63 feet. 10 feet longer than the longest semi trailer. Think of a semi without a sleeper and you've got the idea (only several feet shorter in height).
Ohhh-Kaaay So I've got a 63' rig that is a whopping 1.5 INCHES narrower than the lanes, with curves so tight that some motorcycles are riding 10 MPH below the posted 35 MPH speed limit
Needless to say, I was going very slow and pissing off a lot of people. I apparently cut one right hand curve a little too tight in an effort to avoid driving the truck off a cliff The right trailer wheels (tandem axle) dropped off the inside (non cliff side) of the road - about a 1 foot drop. When it came back on the road, it bent the edge of the wheel completely over, causing the tire to deflate.
When I stop for one of the one-lane bridges, a guy pulls up to tell me about the flat and that the skeg (very bottom part of the outdrive/motor) is dragging every time I take a turn.
I have no choice but to keep driving - no turn arounds, no pull-offs - for another 3 miles I finally find a place that you could park 3 cars wide and maybe 3 cars deep if bumper-to-bumper. It's also on a steep slope. I spend 45 minutes digging suitable rocks out of the ground to act like wheel chocks so the trailer doesn't roll 1/2 mile downhill into a field Disconnect the trailer, break out the jack for the truck, remove the wheel (note to self - keep trailer on hitch next time until the wheel is off). Oh yeah, did I mention that it was raining like a mofo and *hailing*. Small gumball sized. The entire time I'm dealing with the trailer situation
I make some calls, make some more calls, find a wheel in a warehouse in the nearest city 60 miles away (back to Rapid city, ugh!). The rest of the day until about 6pm (this all started at about 11am) is spent resolving this issue. I tell the GPS to give me the quickest way back, it puts me on some short-cut dirt backroad that is actually more 4x4 trail than road. There is no way in hell I would take anything less than a 4x4 with dual limited slips and off-road tires on this trail 8 miles into this bumpy, muddy, rutty mess, I'm supposed to turn right and the highway is 200 yards away.
I turn right, yup, I see it, sweet! This actually saved me about an hour of driving Shit! There'a a big ass steel gate across the trail, permanent - concreted in the ground, with no way around it. I decid to keep going the way I was headed It seemed like it would hit 16alt further down the hill - still a time saver.
After another 3-4 miles of this road, there's a gate, but it's home made and open. There's a no hunting sign.. no problem, I'm not hunting. As I get closer, I notice brown spray paint on a darkened and rotting board that says "This is private property, no trespassing, this means you, motherfucker" (yes, including the motherfucker). I almost cry, I laugh out of frustration, figure I go in just far enough to get turned around. I then notice the trailer halfway down the side of the hill (how the HELL did they get that thing in there???) about 200 yards away with a... no shit, 3 legged dog on the porch, sitting at the feet of his master, who is slowingly standing and holding something that may have been almost anything, but was certainly looking like a firearm
Ok, new plan. Back up for about 1/3 mile into what was at one time, somebody's driveway, go ALL the way back on the dirt road, take the same twisted route back - actually seemed *easy* with only the big truck.
I finally finish getting the trailer together, hitched, and on the road again around 6pm. I head to Custer state park, hit the wildlife loop, see a lot of buffalo, some gazelle, rabbits, I think some elk, a few wild burros (they call them the "begging burros" - apparently they will come right up to your car sniffing for food). This just about makes up for the hell from earlier in the day. I stop to get a camp site - They don't have anything big enough for what I'm towing, and if I park on the side of the road, they will tow my vehicle away. I laugh, explaining what I'm towing, and that there is no way the could tow it
The friendly (really) young lady says "they have some kind of torch thingy they can burn through metal with so they can disconnect it". SHIT!
New plan - on to Deadwood (as in the tv show - This is where Calamity Jane, Bill Hitchcock, etc layed claim to fame) I roll in to Deadwood about 11pm. Turns out not much has changed there. Outside of the (closed at 11pm) main tourist strip, it's a dumpy gambling town where everybody is drunk and looking for trouble, and if you can find a motel (I did, it was a dive, there was a party in the parking lot) they will fuck you out of every cent they can (they wanted $90, I laughed and left, too tired to say something witty)
New plan version 2 (or is this 3?): Try to shake the bad mojo of South Dakota and drive just far enough into Wyoming to find a rest area and sleep in the truck yet again. After driving for what seemed like forever (I'm sure it wasn't long, but I was seriously concerned I would fall asleep) I finally figure out that (at least this part of) Wyoming doesn't have rest stops/areas, only "parking areas", these are little pull-offs parallel to the freeway. Basically a 300 yard strip of pavement with a garbage can. I'm beat, I take it. I *think* I'm somewhere between Gillette and Buffalo. It turns out not to be so bad. The sky is clear, I'm 50 miles from anything, and I see more stars than I've ever seen before - except for on Ocracoke Island. The sky seems nearly white. Sleep at midnight(?).
Tuesday - wake up at 8:30, surprised I slept so long. Driving to Yellowstone, which is only about 380 miles, a very easy day. So I take my time, stop by a truck stop, purchase some wireless Internet time, visit the visitor's center (what else would you do with one?), make calls to the customer and wifey, find out a shower costs $11 (campsites with showers are about the same), and being a man of principals, even though I am DYING for a shower (scroll back, it's been a long time - the longest I've ever went without one), there is no way in hell I'll pay that much.
Drive on with a stop in Cody, WY. This town is famous for Buffalo Bill and it's Rodeos. I'm curious about the rodeo, but am against that kind of treatment of animals, especially for entertainment purposes. I'm not curious enough about Buffalo Bill to stop at the visitor's center/museum/tourist trap. Find a Walmart, buy some camping supplies and a few cheap fishing items.
Drive through Buckhorn National forest. Beautiful!
Make it into Yellowstone via the West entrance. They don't bother to tell me that there is serious road construction, it's half bumpy dirt, etc.. for over 30 miles. Stop at the visitor center - closed. Stop in the store for some info. FINALLY make camp. They don't have a spot. Drive another 40 miles ot the next camp (there are NO roads in the Yellowstone. Each intersection is about 30 minutes away from the next one).
After much negotiation as to where I'll sleep, how I'll park, etc, they finally let me in the non-hookup RV section with the boat, but I MUST sleep in the tent. They have strict rules against sleeping in vehicles.
I find this odd considering that bears, especially Grizzlys, are a MAJOR problem here. You can be fined, even EVICTED for leaving so much as an empty water jug in the open (yes, the bed of a pickup counts as "out in the open). Why would they rather have you sleep in a tent than an 8000 lb truck?.. but a camper/rv is ok? Odd.
I manage to park in complete darkness, only bumping a log that lines the driveway/turn-in for the camp site. I set up my tent, start a fire, put on some coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich. Crash.
More (shorter and more frequent, with any luck!) coming soon.
This is going to be long. I'll try to make more frequent reports.
Allow me to start at the beginning..
As some of you know, I have started a transport company on the side. I have a customer that wanted a boat hauled from Jacksonville, FL to Tacoma. I had planned to ride the Harley out to the grand canyon the beginning of Sept It didn't make much sense to take this trip (having to work my other job during the day, which means constant hassles finding wireless connections, paying "late stay" charges at hotels, etc), turn around, go back home, and leave again on another 2000-3000 mile (one way) trip.
I arranged with work to take the two weeks vacation scheduled in Sept to transport the boat, with plans to see everything I can along the way. The basic plan was to haul some serious ass (and since hauling a 8000 lb boat/trailer, that meant long hours, not going fast) out west, then take time to see a few sites, and hopefully pick up another load or two for the return trip.
The completely loose, unplanned, "wouldn't it be cool to see this shit?" itinerary is/was:
- Nashville
- Mount Rushmore
- Yellowstone
- Space Needle
- San Francisco
- Possibly Hollywood
- Quick trip down the main strip of Las Vegas, maybe stay the night (cheap buffets!)
- Grand Canyon
- Anything else of major interest along the way.
So far, I am adding the redwood forest to this. I *really* want to see them big trees.
I took Friday (8/12) as a comp day, left Thursday night, stayed the night at a rest area in Jacksonville on Thursday, got the first service on the truck on Friday morning, picked up the boat, Hit Joe's Crab Shack for brunch, stood in the ocean for about 10 minutes and was on the road about noon I stayed at Crestwood Suites in Nashville (about 5 miles from Opryland) on Friday night. I didn't see Opryland as I was anxious to get on the road, plus I'll be criss-crossing Nashville on the way back home.
Saturday saw me spending the night at the Rock Point rest area in Nemaha, Missouri, about 110 miles NW of Kansas City. Only about 4 hours sleep in the truck, approximately 600 miles covered.
Sunday I covered another 600 miles, ending up in yet another rest area near Rapid City South Dakota. I was exhausted at this point. I forgot to eat all day. I woke up at 3 am with my stomach hurting, found a Dennys, and an attempt was made my a 1/2 mexican, 1/2 native american to get me to commit to "the confederate way". Creepy.
An interesting stop that night was at a so-called Discount Fuel station (most expensive fuel on the trip, but I had no choice - fuel stops open past 9pm can be over 100 miles apart in this area). This is cowboy country! I was the only one without a cowboy hat, boots, and fleece-lined denim jacket. Out of 20 or so vehicles in the lot, I was also the only one that did NOT have a horse trailer. Forget about that friendly cowboy shit. These guys were friggin' RUDE, one [i]attempted[i] to walk through me. lol
Monday was the first tourist day. Mt Rushmore. Very cool. Not surprisingly, not a long stop. Maybe 2 hours MAX. It's pretty cool, but how long can you stare at a stone rendition of a bunch of dead presidents?
I picked up some pamphlets and decided that Custer state park sounded really cool. Camping, showers, and an 18 mile wildlife loop. I exit Mt Rushmore, and there's a state sign pointing to the right that says Custer Park. Can you tell trouble is coming?
.. What they failed to mention was that this is one of the tightest, twisted roads you will ever be on, complete with 1000 ft drops off the guardrail-less shoulderless side of the road, single lane tunnels, 11'6"-12' bridges, 8' wide lanes, etc. If you know NC 226A - the road we got caught in the fog on, imagine that with no guardrails or shoulders and the lanes being a foot narrower and you've got a pretty good idea
Allow me pause here to describe what I'm driving. This is a 2005 F350 4x4 Crew Cab Dually. She's about 7'2" tall, over 22 feet long, and 7'10.5" at the "hips" (flared rear wheel wells for the dual tires). I'm hauling a 27' cabin cruiser on a trailer that, from my rear bumper measures (stepping outside in the rain to measure) 35'8". That's right, the total length of this combination is about 63 feet. 10 feet longer than the longest semi trailer. Think of a semi without a sleeper and you've got the idea (only several feet shorter in height).
Ohhh-Kaaay So I've got a 63' rig that is a whopping 1.5 INCHES narrower than the lanes, with curves so tight that some motorcycles are riding 10 MPH below the posted 35 MPH speed limit
Needless to say, I was going very slow and pissing off a lot of people. I apparently cut one right hand curve a little too tight in an effort to avoid driving the truck off a cliff The right trailer wheels (tandem axle) dropped off the inside (non cliff side) of the road - about a 1 foot drop. When it came back on the road, it bent the edge of the wheel completely over, causing the tire to deflate.
When I stop for one of the one-lane bridges, a guy pulls up to tell me about the flat and that the skeg (very bottom part of the outdrive/motor) is dragging every time I take a turn.
I have no choice but to keep driving - no turn arounds, no pull-offs - for another 3 miles I finally find a place that you could park 3 cars wide and maybe 3 cars deep if bumper-to-bumper. It's also on a steep slope. I spend 45 minutes digging suitable rocks out of the ground to act like wheel chocks so the trailer doesn't roll 1/2 mile downhill into a field Disconnect the trailer, break out the jack for the truck, remove the wheel (note to self - keep trailer on hitch next time until the wheel is off). Oh yeah, did I mention that it was raining like a mofo and *hailing*. Small gumball sized. The entire time I'm dealing with the trailer situation
I make some calls, make some more calls, find a wheel in a warehouse in the nearest city 60 miles away (back to Rapid city, ugh!). The rest of the day until about 6pm (this all started at about 11am) is spent resolving this issue. I tell the GPS to give me the quickest way back, it puts me on some short-cut dirt backroad that is actually more 4x4 trail than road. There is no way in hell I would take anything less than a 4x4 with dual limited slips and off-road tires on this trail 8 miles into this bumpy, muddy, rutty mess, I'm supposed to turn right and the highway is 200 yards away.
I turn right, yup, I see it, sweet! This actually saved me about an hour of driving Shit! There'a a big ass steel gate across the trail, permanent - concreted in the ground, with no way around it. I decid to keep going the way I was headed It seemed like it would hit 16alt further down the hill - still a time saver.
After another 3-4 miles of this road, there's a gate, but it's home made and open. There's a no hunting sign.. no problem, I'm not hunting. As I get closer, I notice brown spray paint on a darkened and rotting board that says "This is private property, no trespassing, this means you, motherfucker" (yes, including the motherfucker). I almost cry, I laugh out of frustration, figure I go in just far enough to get turned around. I then notice the trailer halfway down the side of the hill (how the HELL did they get that thing in there???) about 200 yards away with a... no shit, 3 legged dog on the porch, sitting at the feet of his master, who is slowingly standing and holding something that may have been almost anything, but was certainly looking like a firearm
Ok, new plan. Back up for about 1/3 mile into what was at one time, somebody's driveway, go ALL the way back on the dirt road, take the same twisted route back - actually seemed *easy* with only the big truck.
I finally finish getting the trailer together, hitched, and on the road again around 6pm. I head to Custer state park, hit the wildlife loop, see a lot of buffalo, some gazelle, rabbits, I think some elk, a few wild burros (they call them the "begging burros" - apparently they will come right up to your car sniffing for food). This just about makes up for the hell from earlier in the day. I stop to get a camp site - They don't have anything big enough for what I'm towing, and if I park on the side of the road, they will tow my vehicle away. I laugh, explaining what I'm towing, and that there is no way the could tow it
The friendly (really) young lady says "they have some kind of torch thingy they can burn through metal with so they can disconnect it". SHIT!
New plan - on to Deadwood (as in the tv show - This is where Calamity Jane, Bill Hitchcock, etc layed claim to fame) I roll in to Deadwood about 11pm. Turns out not much has changed there. Outside of the (closed at 11pm) main tourist strip, it's a dumpy gambling town where everybody is drunk and looking for trouble, and if you can find a motel (I did, it was a dive, there was a party in the parking lot) they will fuck you out of every cent they can (they wanted $90, I laughed and left, too tired to say something witty)
New plan version 2 (or is this 3?): Try to shake the bad mojo of South Dakota and drive just far enough into Wyoming to find a rest area and sleep in the truck yet again. After driving for what seemed like forever (I'm sure it wasn't long, but I was seriously concerned I would fall asleep) I finally figure out that (at least this part of) Wyoming doesn't have rest stops/areas, only "parking areas", these are little pull-offs parallel to the freeway. Basically a 300 yard strip of pavement with a garbage can. I'm beat, I take it. I *think* I'm somewhere between Gillette and Buffalo. It turns out not to be so bad. The sky is clear, I'm 50 miles from anything, and I see more stars than I've ever seen before - except for on Ocracoke Island. The sky seems nearly white. Sleep at midnight(?).
Tuesday - wake up at 8:30, surprised I slept so long. Driving to Yellowstone, which is only about 380 miles, a very easy day. So I take my time, stop by a truck stop, purchase some wireless Internet time, visit the visitor's center (what else would you do with one?), make calls to the customer and wifey, find out a shower costs $11 (campsites with showers are about the same), and being a man of principals, even though I am DYING for a shower (scroll back, it's been a long time - the longest I've ever went without one), there is no way in hell I'll pay that much.
Drive on with a stop in Cody, WY. This town is famous for Buffalo Bill and it's Rodeos. I'm curious about the rodeo, but am against that kind of treatment of animals, especially for entertainment purposes. I'm not curious enough about Buffalo Bill to stop at the visitor's center/museum/tourist trap. Find a Walmart, buy some camping supplies and a few cheap fishing items.
Drive through Buckhorn National forest. Beautiful!
Make it into Yellowstone via the West entrance. They don't bother to tell me that there is serious road construction, it's half bumpy dirt, etc.. for over 30 miles. Stop at the visitor center - closed. Stop in the store for some info. FINALLY make camp. They don't have a spot. Drive another 40 miles ot the next camp (there are NO roads in the Yellowstone. Each intersection is about 30 minutes away from the next one).
After much negotiation as to where I'll sleep, how I'll park, etc, they finally let me in the non-hookup RV section with the boat, but I MUST sleep in the tent. They have strict rules against sleeping in vehicles.
I find this odd considering that bears, especially Grizzlys, are a MAJOR problem here. You can be fined, even EVICTED for leaving so much as an empty water jug in the open (yes, the bed of a pickup counts as "out in the open). Why would they rather have you sleep in a tent than an 8000 lb truck?.. but a camper/rv is ok? Odd.
I manage to park in complete darkness, only bumping a log that lines the driveway/turn-in for the camp site. I set up my tent, start a fire, put on some coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich. Crash.
More (shorter and more frequent, with any luck!) coming soon.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Here's Some Irony for Ya!
Getting ready for my trip to Oshkosh, WI (Biggest airshow in the country). I'm planning on buying materials or a kit to build my own plane. I've been doing a lot of research and have it narrowed down to about 5-6 companys for a 4 seat plane (finances and wanting to get it in the air quickly - but with safety being the number one priority - may dictate a 2 seat plane).
I've started gathering tools. Being that purchasing all the required tools would cost $3k-$4k, and really wanting to spend the money where it counts (on materials), I decided to check out Harbor Freight to see what could be purchased there.
I'm generally of the mindset of "buy the right tool, buy the best, buy it once, and take care of it"... I've been burned way too many times by cheap tools. Now, if y'all know anything at all about Harbor Freight, you know that their stuff is dirt cheap.. in no small part due to the Chinese slave labor used to make the tools.
Here's the irony. every single customer in there except for me, as well as 2 of the four employees were african-american.
Now you would think that since they are still throwing the whole damn slavery thing in our face 100-200 years later like it's MY fault... they would be the last ones to support something like this.
I guess slavery and forced labor is only bad if affects your own people?.. or all they all just full of shit about the importance of their rights, and buying a hammer for $3 instead of $8 is a higher priority.
Either way, whatever the reason, it's fucked up.
I've started gathering tools. Being that purchasing all the required tools would cost $3k-$4k, and really wanting to spend the money where it counts (on materials), I decided to check out Harbor Freight to see what could be purchased there.
I'm generally of the mindset of "buy the right tool, buy the best, buy it once, and take care of it"... I've been burned way too many times by cheap tools. Now, if y'all know anything at all about Harbor Freight, you know that their stuff is dirt cheap.. in no small part due to the Chinese slave labor used to make the tools.
Here's the irony. every single customer in there except for me, as well as 2 of the four employees were african-american.
Now you would think that since they are still throwing the whole damn slavery thing in our face 100-200 years later like it's MY fault... they would be the last ones to support something like this.
I guess slavery and forced labor is only bad if affects your own people?.. or all they all just full of shit about the importance of their rights, and buying a hammer for $3 instead of $8 is a higher priority.
Either way, whatever the reason, it's fucked up.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Morse Code and personality types
With the new truck comes the desire to get back into CB, which ain't what it used to be. I've already installed the old radio into the minivan.
I've got a couple of 102" whips for the pickup, and have ordered a peaked, tuned, aligned Galaxy DX959 (Possibly the best non-export (that is, 10 meter converted) radio you can buy).
I could pass the no-code Technician license off the top of my head (I went to school for 1.5 years for electronics. I know enough about electronics to get the General class license with a night or two of studying... I wouldn't even attempt the extra class. It's just too damn geeky to begin with, and all the freqs I want to work are available to general class anyway.
There is no way I'd get the no-code Technician, I'll get the Technician + code instead, and if I'm going to do that, since the code test is the same, I might as well get the General class (General class requires code - there is not a "no-code General Class" license).
All that is required is 5 wpm (words per minute).
Now, here's the problem - I don't know morse code (and I've already found links to dozens of study methods and software programs) Being the Type A(+) personality I am, there is NO way I'm going to satisfied with 5 wpm. That's just lame. Most people that have been around for a few years are doing 10-15 wpm and I don't want to look like no newbie. I want to talk with the big boys. That means I need to know 15-20 wpm. Not just copy, but transmit. To do this accurately, I need to study at about 25 wpm. According to most of the info I've read, it is much better to start off at this speed than to try to gain speed later - if you learn to slow, you create a sort of "look-up table" in your head.. you translate everything. By learning it at higher speeds, "..." and "S" become the same in your head, no need to translate.
So, now I've spent three nights trying to get clean copy on 4 letters: E,I,S, and H. That's ".", "..", "...", and "....". Sounds easy, doesn't it?
Here, give it a try http://www.aa9pw.com/morse/sound/13173.au
If that link doesn't work, go here, , set it to generate 1 group of code sent at 25 wpm using character speed of 25 wpm farnsworth, select letters (a-z) and select the "eish" letter group, then click "create morse code" and download the uncompresssed AU file".
Keep in mind, you need 90% or better the *first time* you listen to it. You can get the answers (no cheating!) by clicking the link in step 2.
Not so easy, eh?
I *SO* need to come back in the next life as a Type B personality. It's maddening having someone tell you that you can't start a fire with water and trying to engineer a new type of water just because they told you it can't be done. Argh!
I've got a couple of 102" whips for the pickup, and have ordered a peaked, tuned, aligned Galaxy DX959 (Possibly the best non-export (that is, 10 meter converted) radio you can buy).
I could pass the no-code Technician license off the top of my head (I went to school for 1.5 years for electronics. I know enough about electronics to get the General class license with a night or two of studying... I wouldn't even attempt the extra class. It's just too damn geeky to begin with, and all the freqs I want to work are available to general class anyway.
There is no way I'd get the no-code Technician, I'll get the Technician + code instead, and if I'm going to do that, since the code test is the same, I might as well get the General class (General class requires code - there is not a "no-code General Class" license).
All that is required is 5 wpm (words per minute).
Now, here's the problem - I don't know morse code (and I've already found links to dozens of study methods and software programs) Being the Type A(+) personality I am, there is NO way I'm going to satisfied with 5 wpm. That's just lame. Most people that have been around for a few years are doing 10-15 wpm and I don't want to look like no newbie. I want to talk with the big boys. That means I need to know 15-20 wpm. Not just copy, but transmit. To do this accurately, I need to study at about 25 wpm. According to most of the info I've read, it is much better to start off at this speed than to try to gain speed later - if you learn to slow, you create a sort of "look-up table" in your head.. you translate everything. By learning it at higher speeds, "..." and "S" become the same in your head, no need to translate.
So, now I've spent three nights trying to get clean copy on 4 letters: E,I,S, and H. That's ".", "..", "...", and "....". Sounds easy, doesn't it?
Here, give it a try http://www.aa9pw.com/morse/sound/13173.au
If that link doesn't work, go here, , set it to generate 1 group of code sent at 25 wpm using character speed of 25 wpm farnsworth, select letters (a-z) and select the "eish" letter group, then click "create morse code" and download the uncompresssed AU file".
Keep in mind, you need 90% or better the *first time* you listen to it. You can get the answers (no cheating!) by clicking the link in step 2.
Not so easy, eh?
I *SO* need to come back in the next life as a Type B personality. It's maddening having someone tell you that you can't start a fire with water and trying to engineer a new type of water just because they told you it can't be done. Argh!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Crazy Week
On vacation since last Friday. I've driven and rode nearly 2000 miles, bought a new truck, started a new company, picked up the jet ski from MI and all but rebuilt it today, saw the entire family, and.. I don't even know what else. It's only Wednesday. Yikes!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Top Ten at Work
It's shortly after 9 am and I've already found the need to use almost all of these phrases:
Most Useful Work Phrases
10. Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.
9. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.
8. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
7. You sound reasonable...Time to up my medication.
6. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
5. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
4. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
3. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
2. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
1. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
Most Useful Work Phrases
10. Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.
9. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.
8. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
7. You sound reasonable...Time to up my medication.
6. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
5. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
4. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
3. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
2. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
1. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Photographer Pics from Deals Gap
Of course the photographer didn't get any pictures of where I was *really* leaned over, but this picture isn't bad.
I wish he would have got one of the really leaned over ones.. would have made a cool poster for the garage.
I wish he would have got one of the really leaned over ones.. would have made a cool poster for the garage.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Wowie!
I just don't know how else to describe this week, especially today. It's motorcycling nirvana. I rode the loop - the
Cherahola (sp?) skyway to 360 to 72 to the dragon/129. Checked out Fort Laudoun and spent the rest of the day riding the dragon.
Spent some time with Lori - semi-cute redhead whose boyfriend is the dude behind killboy.com and the main keeper of "the dragon". They are nearly celebrities.. even the factory reps know them.
I got to follow her for a while and learn some decent lines. Got my pic taken with both of them, etc.
The Rennsports (track tires with no grooves on the sidewall - do not ride in rain) are on along with the brake pads and race fluid. Shit that fuckin' bike rocks. It is *so* much better than I will ever be. I have completely fallen in love with the zx-10 and want it to have my baby.
I've been sticking to my diet pretty well, but drinking a *lot* of beer. I expect to have gained weight this week. :(
Miss y'all
R
Cherahola (sp?) skyway to 360 to 72 to the dragon/129. Checked out Fort Laudoun and spent the rest of the day riding the dragon.
Spent some time with Lori - semi-cute redhead whose boyfriend is the dude behind killboy.com and the main keeper of "the dragon". They are nearly celebrities.. even the factory reps know them.
I got to follow her for a while and learn some decent lines. Got my pic taken with both of them, etc.
The Rennsports (track tires with no grooves on the sidewall - do not ride in rain) are on along with the brake pads and race fluid. Shit that fuckin' bike rocks. It is *so* much better than I will ever be. I have completely fallen in love with the zx-10 and want it to have my baby.
I've been sticking to my diet pretty well, but drinking a *lot* of beer. I expect to have gained weight this week. :(
Miss y'all
R
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Slip Slidin' Away
Another beautiful day. Slept in until about 10. Woke up Chris so we could leave about 10:30. Hit the dragon and did one pass up and back. Stopped at Wheelers to see some of the guys from the other house and just hang out. There was a long line to get things done and as luck would have it, my tires were greasy enough that the back of the bike started sliding on me - I needed to get them changed; ASAP!
Rode back to the house, loaded the bike on the trailer and brought it back (this had to be done so I could have bike and tires in the same place at the same time.
I got to ride a pocket bike (super tiny motorcycle powered by a 50cc engine). That was pretty cool.
Ended up hanging out at the shop until 9pm. Ended up putting my race brake pads in front and putting the race fluid in and bleeding the brakes as well. Also did a dyno run. 147 HP at the rear wheel with the tire slipping on the drum, not too shabby (out of about 20 other bikes, the next highest was 110 HP)!
The rest of the guys were going on a night run. I told them that I would stay behind - I don't see that well at night and it was my turn to buy beer anyway.
Went on a beer run - dry county, so the "run" took 45 minutes. Picked up some beer for (Ken) Wheeler - The mechanic. Hung out with him for about an hour shooting the shit and drinking beer in front of his shop. Very relaxing evening. He's a good guy, and a helluva mechanic. Somewhat of a legend around here. Good person to know. All seemed right with the world.
Back to the house. Somebody has came in, set the air conditioning to 58 degrees, erased most of the marker board (people have been putting stuff up there all week, it was kinda cool.. Almost a graffiti wall), taken the DVD I was supposed to watch tonight, and just generally made themselves at home.. I need to find out who this is and have a little chat with him.
So here I sit all by myself with 2 cases of beer (the guys aren't back to the other house yet) and not a damn thing to do. Hmm, I get the feeling I'm going to be drunk tonight. lol
Here are some pictures from the trip. If you can't see them, let me know and I will download and post them.
G'night world. Pray for good weather!
Rode back to the house, loaded the bike on the trailer and brought it back (this had to be done so I could have bike and tires in the same place at the same time.
I got to ride a pocket bike (super tiny motorcycle powered by a 50cc engine). That was pretty cool.
Ended up hanging out at the shop until 9pm. Ended up putting my race brake pads in front and putting the race fluid in and bleeding the brakes as well. Also did a dyno run. 147 HP at the rear wheel with the tire slipping on the drum, not too shabby (out of about 20 other bikes, the next highest was 110 HP)!
The rest of the guys were going on a night run. I told them that I would stay behind - I don't see that well at night and it was my turn to buy beer anyway.
Went on a beer run - dry county, so the "run" took 45 minutes. Picked up some beer for (Ken) Wheeler - The mechanic. Hung out with him for about an hour shooting the shit and drinking beer in front of his shop. Very relaxing evening. He's a good guy, and a helluva mechanic. Somewhat of a legend around here. Good person to know. All seemed right with the world.
Back to the house. Somebody has came in, set the air conditioning to 58 degrees, erased most of the marker board (people have been putting stuff up there all week, it was kinda cool.. Almost a graffiti wall), taken the DVD I was supposed to watch tonight, and just generally made themselves at home.. I need to find out who this is and have a little chat with him.
So here I sit all by myself with 2 cases of beer (the guys aren't back to the other house yet) and not a damn thing to do. Hmm, I get the feeling I'm going to be drunk tonight. lol
Here are some pictures from the trip. If you can't see them, let me know and I will download and post them.
G'night world. Pray for good weather!
Monday, May 16, 2005
A Perfect Day
This has been the most awesome day. 4 trips up, 4 trips back on "the dragon" in Deals Gap, plus a trip up and back on the Cherohala Skyway. I miss the hell out of my wife, my dogs, and to be perfectly honest, I miss my gf a fair amount as well - haven't seen her in a month or so, but anyway - today was just about the perfect fucking day.
For those of you that are bikers and understand this sort of thing - once every 6 months to a year, you have one of those "zen moment" rides... I've had two of them *today*. My tires are worn out, I'm exhausted, but gimme a quick fuck and this would be the perfect day.
G'night.
For those of you that are bikers and understand this sort of thing - once every 6 months to a year, you have one of those "zen moment" rides... I've had two of them *today*. My tires are worn out, I'm exhausted, but gimme a quick fuck and this would be the perfect day.
G'night.
Deals Gap day 3
Took the minivan, trailering the zx-10. Arrived Saturday afternoon in Robbinsville. Raining on and off. Rode the dragon, dropped off the scooter wheel and tire at Wheelers Performance shop. Hung out at the deals gap resort for a while, checked out the tree of shame. Everybody back to the house. Soak in the hottub and watch some bike videos.
Sunday (yesterday) it rained most of the day. We did manage a nice ride across the skyline. Great road, lots of sweepers. Perfect road for the 10. Built a fire, hung out in the huge 30x50 foot garage at the other house drinking beer and playing pool, in bed around midnight.
Up at 7:30 this morning. Bob, John and Greg have left for home already leaving only Chris and myself in this huge house meant for 12 people. I get the feeling we'll be spending most of the evening at the other house. Chris and I plan on hitting the dragon a few times and watching "the circus". The circus is all of the squidly happenings at the deals gap resort.
80 degrees and sunny today. Yes, this is motorcycle heaven.
Sunday (yesterday) it rained most of the day. We did manage a nice ride across the skyline. Great road, lots of sweepers. Perfect road for the 10. Built a fire, hung out in the huge 30x50 foot garage at the other house drinking beer and playing pool, in bed around midnight.
Up at 7:30 this morning. Bob, John and Greg have left for home already leaving only Chris and myself in this huge house meant for 12 people. I get the feeling we'll be spending most of the evening at the other house. Chris and I plan on hitting the dragon a few times and watching "the circus". The circus is all of the squidly happenings at the deals gap resort.
80 degrees and sunny today. Yes, this is motorcycle heaven.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Spring Ride
Spring Ride is finally here! I'll be leaving in the morning for a few glorious days of riding in the mountains with about 50 or so of my old riding buddies. I don't talk to them that much anymore as they live a long ways away, but I make sure to meet up for this ride every year.
Between Spring Ride this weekend, Deals Gap next weekend, and a trackday in June, I may just wear out the sides of the tires faster than the center.
Regarding the comment about the P22.. yes, they have a reputation of being buttery-smooth or jamming like crazy. Most guns I've had, if they jam, you just work a few hundred rounds through them (as frustrating as that can be), by then they will loosen-up and wear-in properly, or you will have left enough clues (in the form of scrapes on the interfering parts) that a gunsmith with file in hand can fix it up in 5 minutes. It's the lightest .22LR with the smallest grip I could find, and it's the one she wanted, so here it is.. If it was for me, it would have been a Browning Buckmaster.
Hope everyone that hangs at the resort is doing well. Looks like it's going to be 3 more Sundays before we make it out there. :/
Between Spring Ride this weekend, Deals Gap next weekend, and a trackday in June, I may just wear out the sides of the tires faster than the center.
Regarding the comment about the P22.. yes, they have a reputation of being buttery-smooth or jamming like crazy. Most guns I've had, if they jam, you just work a few hundred rounds through them (as frustrating as that can be), by then they will loosen-up and wear-in properly, or you will have left enough clues (in the form of scrapes on the interfering parts) that a gunsmith with file in hand can fix it up in 5 minutes. It's the lightest .22LR with the smallest grip I could find, and it's the one she wanted, so here it is.. If it was for me, it would have been a Browning Buckmaster.
Hope everyone that hangs at the resort is doing well. Looks like it's going to be 3 more Sundays before we make it out there. :/
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Gabby
Gabby is the chocolate lab that we semi-rescued from down the street. We got her on Sunday night. She's spent 6 years chained to a crappy plastic doghouse, a few years of that, in the mud. Never had a bath. Yesterday was her first vet trip ever..and boy did it show. All shots, possible ear mites, and heartworm. Poor thing.
I just hope the heartworm treatment doesn't kill her. It's a newer treatment and isn't as dangerous as the old one (IIRC, the old one used arsenic), but it's still pretty dangerous.
As you have probably figured, this dog (being an outside dog it's entire life) has never been housebroken or trained at all. Considering all of that, she's doing fine. I'm crate training and she hasn't had a chance to have an "accident". She's starting to learn to walk like a civilized dog and generally just calming down a bit now that she's getting walked several times a day (including a long walk in the evening).
The only real problem we've had is that (being an only dog) she doesn't like to share her toys. We are making some progress there. We went from fights over toys the first two days to her and Amber taking turns (with some prompting from me) with Gabby's favorite (and Amber's second favorite) toy without so much as a growl.
I never realized just how different chocolate labs are from yellows and blacks. Their eyes are different (shape, color), their head is a little different, even their demeanor is a bit different. It's almost a separate breed,.. so says the vet.
The other dogs are slowly warming up. they still aren't quite sure what to make of her. Buddy actually wants to play with her. Pup wants to co-exist peacefully (both fights were with Lil' Pup), and Amber wants the good-for-nothing, attention-stealing, master-hogging, toy thief gone,... she's just to nice to say it to her face. It's obvious Amber is somewhat concerned that she might lose her throne as daddy's princess.. wish I could tell her she has nothing to worry about.
I just hope the heartworm treatment doesn't kill her. It's a newer treatment and isn't as dangerous as the old one (IIRC, the old one used arsenic), but it's still pretty dangerous.
As you have probably figured, this dog (being an outside dog it's entire life) has never been housebroken or trained at all. Considering all of that, she's doing fine. I'm crate training and she hasn't had a chance to have an "accident". She's starting to learn to walk like a civilized dog and generally just calming down a bit now that she's getting walked several times a day (including a long walk in the evening).
The only real problem we've had is that (being an only dog) she doesn't like to share her toys. We are making some progress there. We went from fights over toys the first two days to her and Amber taking turns (with some prompting from me) with Gabby's favorite (and Amber's second favorite) toy without so much as a growl.
I never realized just how different chocolate labs are from yellows and blacks. Their eyes are different (shape, color), their head is a little different, even their demeanor is a bit different. It's almost a separate breed,.. so says the vet.
The other dogs are slowly warming up. they still aren't quite sure what to make of her. Buddy actually wants to play with her. Pup wants to co-exist peacefully (both fights were with Lil' Pup), and Amber wants the good-for-nothing, attention-stealing, master-hogging, toy thief gone,... she's just to nice to say it to her face. It's obvious Amber is somewhat concerned that she might lose her throne as daddy's princess.. wish I could tell her she has nothing to worry about.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Ketchup
No, not "ketchup", "catch up".. as in I went out to lunch with a co-worker/friend for the first time in many months. Did some real (as in more than 10 miles) riding, cleaned-up email, paid all the bills, digested the various processes and procedures for work the next few weekends, and a variety of other things.
May be going out with some newly made friends tonight. If not, then it's more studying for me and an early bed time since I've got to be up at 6am for a DR test.
I need to find a table and a pair of chairs (comfortable enough to sit in for several hours at a time) that I can put on the deck so I can work outside.
I'm still trying to get up to speed on the 1,000,001 little tidbits of information relating to flying. My only real weaknesses at this point are airpace - which sectionals and my GPS show me, and weather - which I need to learn for my next certificate, but for now it's not that critical since I'm doing all "fair weather" flying anyway.
I think next month I may take a lesson or two toward my next (instrument) rating so I can practice relevant skills while logging the necessary cross-country time. Hopefully by this time next year I'll have my instrument rating. Then it's just a bunch of studying to get my instructor rating.. which builds hours quickly. Once I have some hours in (500?), I can fly (cargo) boxes around and get paid for it. Yeah!
May be going out with some newly made friends tonight. If not, then it's more studying for me and an early bed time since I've got to be up at 6am for a DR test.
I need to find a table and a pair of chairs (comfortable enough to sit in for several hours at a time) that I can put on the deck so I can work outside.
I'm still trying to get up to speed on the 1,000,001 little tidbits of information relating to flying. My only real weaknesses at this point are airpace - which sectionals and my GPS show me, and weather - which I need to learn for my next certificate, but for now it's not that critical since I'm doing all "fair weather" flying anyway.
I think next month I may take a lesson or two toward my next (instrument) rating so I can practice relevant skills while logging the necessary cross-country time. Hopefully by this time next year I'll have my instrument rating. Then it's just a bunch of studying to get my instructor rating.. which builds hours quickly. Once I have some hours in (500?), I can fly (cargo) boxes around and get paid for it. Yeah!
Monday, April 11, 2005
To Be Rich...
.. and I don't mean in any way other than monetary. Save all your "count your blessings" speeches. I count them every day and yes, I'm damn fortunate.. but what I'm talking about here is having money. I don't mean dirty-stinking-filthy-buy-a-50-caret-diamond-studded-24k-gold-ass-wipe-roll-holder-just-because -you-can rich, I mean having the money to follow your dreams and your obsessions (if you are, like me, the obsessive type).
I'm back into flying now, and I'm already beginning to remember why I walked away from it for a while (other than the heart surgery). It is expensive. Not super expensive, but in order to do any REAL flying - where you get to go away for more than a day, you need your own plane.
To make those trips with any level of comfort, you need a decent sized 4 seater, and a 6 seater isn't beyond reason (realize that just because there are that many seats, it doesn't mean you can carry that many adults AND full fuel tanks). We are talking between $75k and $125k for this kind of plane; and I don't mean new. I'm talking about a well-maintained 25-45 year old plane.
Frustrating! I've promised myself since I was 16 years old that this (my 35th year) would be the year that I own an airplane. All the planets came into alignment giving me both a well paying job and super low interest rates at the same time, in the correct year, and yet it still won't happen until at least next year. Did I mention that this is frustrating?
How nice would it be if, within reason, you could have what you want? I don't think I'd want it without a *small* amount of work, as it doesn't get appreciated. But somehow, some way, always being able to work it out. Want to tour the world on a motorcycle? Do it. Want to buy a plane so you can go where you want, when you want? Go for it! Want to join the peace corps and (hopefully) make a difference in the world, without losing everything you have? Sure, no problem.
Want degrees in archeology, anthropology, genealogy, and design so you can try your hand at breeding mini pink-polkadot dinosaurs? It's your dream baby, hell yeah!
Are y'all as restless as I am?
I'm back into flying now, and I'm already beginning to remember why I walked away from it for a while (other than the heart surgery). It is expensive. Not super expensive, but in order to do any REAL flying - where you get to go away for more than a day, you need your own plane.
To make those trips with any level of comfort, you need a decent sized 4 seater, and a 6 seater isn't beyond reason (realize that just because there are that many seats, it doesn't mean you can carry that many adults AND full fuel tanks). We are talking between $75k and $125k for this kind of plane; and I don't mean new. I'm talking about a well-maintained 25-45 year old plane.
Frustrating! I've promised myself since I was 16 years old that this (my 35th year) would be the year that I own an airplane. All the planets came into alignment giving me both a well paying job and super low interest rates at the same time, in the correct year, and yet it still won't happen until at least next year. Did I mention that this is frustrating?
How nice would it be if, within reason, you could have what you want? I don't think I'd want it without a *small* amount of work, as it doesn't get appreciated. But somehow, some way, always being able to work it out. Want to tour the world on a motorcycle? Do it. Want to buy a plane so you can go where you want, when you want? Go for it! Want to join the peace corps and (hopefully) make a difference in the world, without losing everything you have? Sure, no problem.
Want degrees in archeology, anthropology, genealogy, and design so you can try your hand at breeding mini pink-polkadot dinosaurs? It's your dream baby, hell yeah!
Are y'all as restless as I am?
Thursday, April 07, 2005
It's Dark In Here!
It seems that almost everybody has fallen off their blogs. Not much to say here, just the usual goings-on:
Working too much, practicing my putting, studying aviation stuff, craving smokes and having to fend off awful snack-attacks because of it, missing eating red meat as much as I used to (that is to say: at least once or twice a week).
Bought a cheap desktop to use for flight simulator so I can practice my radio navigation without racking up a crazy flying bill.
Going flying this Sunday.. a short 75 mile trip. Just enough to log as cross-country time (50 hours cross country time is needed before I can get my next rating, so it's important to make every trip I can count towards it) and grab something to eat.
The little voices in my head have been extremely quiet lately, which is good, but makes for a serious lack of blog entries.
Hope anybody left out there that may be reading this is doing well.
Working too much, practicing my putting, studying aviation stuff, craving smokes and having to fend off awful snack-attacks because of it, missing eating red meat as much as I used to (that is to say: at least once or twice a week).
Bought a cheap desktop to use for flight simulator so I can practice my radio navigation without racking up a crazy flying bill.
Going flying this Sunday.. a short 75 mile trip. Just enough to log as cross-country time (50 hours cross country time is needed before I can get my next rating, so it's important to make every trip I can count towards it) and grab something to eat.
The little voices in my head have been extremely quiet lately, which is good, but makes for a serious lack of blog entries.
Hope anybody left out there that may be reading this is doing well.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
The eagle has landed
Went for the flight portion of my BFR (Biennial Flight Review) today and passed. I'm now a fully fledged private pilot again (woo-hoo)!
I've still got a bit of studying to do (doncha just hate re-learning the same thing 3 or 4 times?), and need to practice a few things (nothing I'm doing wrong, just things I could be better at), but I'm legal. I've rented the plane on Sunday morning, so I'll get the practice in then and do the studying over the next week or two (it's several hundred pages).
.. and in my tiny little corner of the world, that's about as good as news can get.
Over.
I've still got a bit of studying to do (doncha just hate re-learning the same thing 3 or 4 times?), and need to practice a few things (nothing I'm doing wrong, just things I could be better at), but I'm legal. I've rented the plane on Sunday morning, so I'll get the practice in then and do the studying over the next week or two (it's several hundred pages).
.. and in my tiny little corner of the world, that's about as good as news can get.
Over.
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