Then: More of January 2009 Now: June 27, 2011

Lori - first-time target practice

Then: More of January 2009


Repairing MAX was not done as quickly as I had implied, so here is the rest of the story:

It turns out that we need more parts than just the axle to repair MAX. So we get the parts ordered, and once again, Larry brings them up to us. JB is spending most of his time outside working on MAX, while I am doing chores and baking inside unless he needs my help. Dinga is sure than any time we sit on the ground, it could only be to play with her. So every time JB has to sit down to work, he gets his face washed.

By January 26, we have the axle fixed and the tracks back on MAX, but none of the wheels will turn. We look at the chains and they are encased in ice! Snow had melted into the body and frozen and we had not pulled out the plugs that allow water to drain out. MAX is made to go into water like a boat and it was still set up that way. By this time it was getting late, so we decided to get rid of the ice the next day, then JB would go to town on the 28^th.

On the 27^th we tried chipping out as much of the ice as we could and then I poured hot water on the ice to melt it, but it was another very cold day and the water froze again too quickly. Okay, we will all walk down to the car tomorrow and go to town just for mail, prescriptions and few perishables that we can carry back up the 3 miles from where we park the car.

On January 28^th, we start off on our 3 mile hike down the mountain at 9:00 a.m. The snow isn't deep, but there is some ice along the way that we really have to watch for.  Dinga thinks it is a great adventure! It takes us 2-1/2 hours to get to the car, but going downhill makes it a great adventure for us too. We were back from town and parked the car at 2:30 p.m. Now, this being winter, it gets dark early. It takes us 3-1/2 hours to get back up the mountain, and it was NOT a great adventure any more, except in Dinga's mind. We hike the last ½ mile in the dark with no flashlights and arrive back home at 6:00 pm. But it is a clear night and with snow on the ground, it is never truly dark. The next day was strictly for recuperation and reading all our mail, magazines and newspapers.

Of course on the 30^th, we got MAX all ready to go with no problem.

Now: June 27, 2011

Sometimes when I read what I have written in "Then", I want to ask myself, "What are you nuts??!!" But then I think, life should be an adventure and ours certainly is.

This weekend was so much fun! Ann, Jeff and his girls, Lisa and Lori, love the out-of-doors and thought sleeping in the tipi was quite the adventure, if not a bit chilly. It was about 40 degrees when they got up Sunday morning, but soon warmed up to 60, and we had a fire going in the house to thaw everyone out. On Saturday afternoon we went down to my brother's place to do some target shooting. He was unable to be here due to a death in the family. Lisa is 18 and quite the "old hand" at shooting. Lori, at 11, had never shot a gun before and got to try her Dad's .357. Should have put a .38 load in it, as it almost knocked her on her patootie. Two rounds was enough for her. But we had fun, and are all pretty good shots - must be because we are related to Annie Oakley!

The weather cooperated all weekend with sunny skies and a cool breeze. We went for a long hike yesterday morning, but didn't see any wildlife. Upon zooming in on the photo Jeff took, the bear we thought we saw down in the canyon turned out to be a cow. We did see a large tom turkey that the dogs shagged out and made it fly up into a tree. However we did not see any rattle snakes. And Jeff so wants to at least see, if not shoot, a rattle snake. But they left at noon with their official "I Survived Rose Camp" certificates and hope to return again next year, if not sooner.

The post script to this story is that on our evening walk, I shot the first rattle snake of the year. . . (see photo below)