Mugged in Portland

There I was on my way to a Timbers game.  I just got off the bus and like a typical Portlandier I was crossing the street in mid block while expecting all traffic to stop for me.  I jumped up on the curb and crossed the sidewalk when BAM!  The next thing I know I'm staggering around looking to see if there were any witnesses and trying to find my glasses.  I determine that no one is paying me any particular attention and my glasses are on the sidewalk.  Well, over half of my glasses are on the sidewalk.  I put them on my face (sort of) and continue to look for the missing parts.  Soon I locate the missing lens and get them back in the frame but the left temple is gone.

So I take stock of my situation and try to regain my composure.  Let's see, I last remember crossing the sidewalk when all forward motion ceased.  I was looking up the sidewalk rather than where I was going so I didn't see my assailant.  Then I remember the first thing I saw as the stars and blackness faded after the assault.  It was a tree, Maple in fact.  Funny, I don't remember that tree being there when I jumped the curb.

Further examination by the CSI team and subsequent DNA sampling confirmed it.  My assailant hit me with that tree!

BEWARE PORTLANDIA, somewhere in Portland there is a tree mugger on the loose.

Sorry, but who walks into a tree?

Back home to Redmond today; where the trees are better behaved.

Perfect weather continues but a change is rumored to be looming.

Notice the new glasses and Maple Bark like birthmark

Stay Warm?

Must.....Keep............Moving

Said good by to the Sodens, Derek to work and kiddies to school.

Molly getting in a quick climb before school.

Best buds.....now.

First a little face limbering exercise with Grandpa leading.

Then a long two days on the road home, a few Dr. appointments in Redmond and Bend. Orthopedic surgeon in Bend said knee will not need replacing, got shot and now back to bike to keep moving.

Today back to Portland.

Weather better here, almost hate to leave but Portland is forecasted good also.

Stay cool.

Denver fix over time to

Hit the road again.  Got a few chores done including a gas line for the soon to arrive cedar hot tub.

Here's the tap into the line out of the meter.

Then a short run through a PVC sleeve.

And all done; just waiting for the concrete slab and a tub.

I'll try to get some shots of the kids as they leave for school tomorrow.  Should be getting home Tuesday around sunset.

Weather continues to be perfect.

Back in Denver

Just finished dinner with Soden family at Casa Bonita in Lakewood. Amy had been there when we lived in Evergreen but it was a first for Teri and I (we think). Will get back to installing doors and such tomorrow.

On the way up to join Rog, Bill and Art in Hill City for the "fall fishing trip" I saw this coal train departing Wyoming for parts east.  Over 120 cars long, I saw two eastbound and one empty westbound train before they asked me to please stay off the right-of-way when taking pictures.

And yes, I tried to repeat my youthful practice of using trains to flatten coins but I seem to lack the knack as it fell off right before the train passed. Getting old I guess.

We fished the streams for trout.

Pretty trout stream below Deerfield Dam.

Turn the camera 30 degrees to the right and we have a large section of beetle kill.

This was the section below Pactola Dam.

Later that afternoon, we returned to fish below Pactola Dam until sunset. After a long battle of wills I managed to find the right fly and presentation to get these two guys to the net. 

Feisty guys with beautiful colors. After posing for their portrait they went back to the fish bar to tell lies over drinks about the fat guy with red hair that got away.

Yesterday we rented a boat and caught a few Pike on Pactola Reservoir .

Here's Rog with a small one and a nice Rapalla lure that we found.

While Rog and Bill were arguing over who should get to keep the newly found lure, Rog used it to catch a nice Pike. We didn't have a net near big enough. That's Bill trying to grab the only part of the whole mess that wasn't all teeth or treble hooks. This is the only photo I got as immediately after this was taken they managed to break him off and lose the fish and the lure.

I hated to leave them alone there without my help and guidance. Sometimes it is so hard to let go. But it was time to say goodby to the turkeys and leave.

All of them.

Weather continues to be perfect, wherever I go.  Can't beat that!

Fishing Again

Been working on blah blah posts but just can't get into it enough to finish one. I'll save them for when I'm feeling like giving my kids another science lesson.

Went to the Denver aquarium.

There was face painting.


And of course.......

 All aquariums have fossils and tigers right?

 The restaurant and bar.

Here's the site of future zip line.

I'm off to join Roger and friends fishing in South Dakota.

Stay cool!

That Takes a Load Off

The wheels, that is.

Since I last posted I went over to Portland.  I did a few small chores at R&J's, picked up Teri at the airport (arriving from "beautiful downtown Burbank", anyone remember where that phrase was made popular?) and went to a Timbers game. Finally got front row seats in section 207; definitely worth going early.  We see the Portland grand children every few weeks but it seems like they grow so much between each visit.  The grand children support team is holding up well but could really use some sleep.

So we have started to make plans for the winter. Finalized so far is Christmas in Denver then a month in Florida at Manasota Key.  After January we will work our way back to Redmond but details are sketchy on that part of the trip.

We decided to leave the fifth wheel and take the Prius. Effectively transferring our fuel and camp site budget into lodging.  So I took this morning to begin securing the fifth wheel for the winter.  First some bracing to get the weight off the wheels.

Next will be some tarps over the wheels and winterizing the water system as I am told that it might freeze here sometime this winter.

Now we get ready to leave for Denver.  Should be fun.  Amy says she has a few projects for me.  Nothing large; a tree house, zip line, add an interior door where there is none at present, plumb a gas line for the hot tub and after that (on day three?) make pull out drawers for the kitchen cabinets. 

I'm taking my fishing gear and want to sneak up to join Roger in South Dakota but don't think it will happen.

Loved the Daily Show coverage of the convention.

Stay cool.