Maggie’s What's Your View II

[bogeybrown]

My view this morning while cleaning the "bright work" (polished/heated) on the engine inlets. The green ring around the fan blades is a "rotor burst" ring. Keeps the pieces parts contained in the event that she comes unbuckled ​​​.

Don't you have "people" to handle those mundane tasks?

I used to to be one of those "people" and the lead mechanic and I would fuss about who got to clean aircraft. For my part I enjoyed doing something that didn't carry the risk of killing people if I made a mistake. The added benefit was that bosses rarely ever tell you to "hurry the hell up" in the aviation industry, so we could kill a ton of time on the clock detailing an aircraft.

 

[TheGerman]

Whatever you do, don't turn off that computer!

 

[tnichols]

Don't you have "people" to handle those mundane tasks?

I used to to be one of those "people" and the lead mechanic and I would fuss about who got to clean aircraft. For my part I enjoyed doing something that didn't carry the risk of killing people if I made a mistake. The added benefit was that bosses rarely ever tell you to "hurry the hell up" in the aviation industry, so we could kill a ton of time on the clock detailing an aircraft.

We have them detailed (entire ship) twice a year, but we try to do the leading edges and nose after each trip. Easier to stay ahead then let them get nasty. I can do it pretty quick and don't mind. I like nice stuff.

 

[tnichols]

when i have new gravel down, im a site to see, from, who is the fuckin pig who dropped all this shit on the rocks, or to, that wasnt an accidental burnout, the idiot knew it would happen.
but if you saw my roads now, you would be disapointed, bad need of repairs and new rock

ya T, your place gets talked about too, oh the shit they say...i keep telling them, take it easy on T, he works hard, they all say yeah yeah yeah, did you see his grass?
i dont know what to say dude, if they say anything about your wood storage, i am going to punches, that would be too much...

I'm doing my best to keep up buddy. And wood cuttin' season is coming. Need to add to my stash

 

[vh20]

I predict lost pet flyers will start showing up near Tucker's place.

Funny - I immediately thought "squirrel" when I read about the "other thing." That's what it would be for me. Destructive little jerks. There shouldn't be a season on them (then I wouldn't feel guilty).

 

[vh20]

We have them detailed (entire ship) twice a year, but we try to do the leading edges and nose after each trip. Easier to stay ahead then let them get nasty. I can do it pretty quick and don't mind. I like nice stuff.

Yep. Bugs are best handled while they're still fresh. Once they dry out they're a lot tougher. Airplane leading edges and noses can find more bugs in an hour's flight than you would ever think possible.

 

[tnichols]

Yep. Bugs are best handled while they're still fresh. Once they dry out they're a lot tougher. Airplane leading edges and noses can find more bugs in an hour's flight than you would ever think possible.

Agreed. And we don't spend much time in the buggy altitudes . Still manage to kill our fair share.

 

[1J04]

Absolutely a stunning evening the other night shared with the Mrs. Shoulda brought a Bottle of Vino dammit.




[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/Htvxpe0.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Ha, I can't remember if I had posted these or not. Too much shit going on............

 

[bogeybrown]

Yep. Bugs are best handled while they're still fresh. Once they dry out they're a lot tougher. Airplane leading edges and noses can find more bugs in an hour's flight than you would ever think possible.

Totally agreed. The number of bugs on a helicopter windshield could reach hilarious levels. We had a pilot take it upon himself to clean the windshield of "his" ship while it was in the hangar awaiting a cleaning and some final sign-offs from Inspections. He used some shit, god knows what he found, that crazed the entire thing, even the nose bubbles.

When the Dir of Maintenance jumped in it to start it and do a run-up I thought he was going to murder me, since I typically washed the ships. The lead mechanic explained that the brand new pilot with exactly zero flight hours in our company had cleaned "HIS" windshield himself. Our chief pilot was a fucking hilarious guy that I did a LOT of dirt with when we were on the road. He was an old Air Cav pilot from Vietnam, and just one of the coolest sticks you could ever meet. He just starts chuckling and looks at me and the lead mechanic and said "that's why the fucking pilots have a lounge, they're lost in the fucking hangar" and went and deducted the replacement parts from the guy's first check that he hadn't even gotten yet.

I hope y'all know I'm not ripping pilots. As someone with a tiny inkling of how fucking squared away y'all have to be you've got my deepest respect. The "hangar politics" were just funny sometimes.

tnichols, my stash will never approach yours, but I got ahold of this 36" twin-trunked monster today:



The tow tow straps in the last pic are my current method of unloading. I tie onto the logs and then drive forward, pulling them out of my truck bed. If I've got a bunch of bucked rounds I lay down a cut sheet of plywood with some eye-hooks and pull the whole damn thing out like a sled.

 

[Tucker301]

Well I can't shoot him now. He's famous.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

You dog!

I think this calls for a party at your place next weekend! Want I should post the address?

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Is that a can of FOD?

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[2ndamendfan]

Totally agreed. The number of bugs on a helicopter windshield could reach hilarious levels. We had a pilot take it upon himself to clean the windshield of "his" ship while it was in the hangar awaiting a cleaning and some final sign-offs from Inspections. He used some shit, god knows what he found, that crazed the entire thing, even the nose bubbles.

When the Dir of Maintenance jumped in it to start it and do a run-up I thought he was going to murder me, since I typically washed the ships. The lead mechanic explained that the brand new pilot with exactly zero flight hours in our company had cleaned "HIS" windshield himself. Our chief pilot was a fucking hilarious guy that I did a LOT of dirt with when we were on the road. He was an old Air Cav pilot from Vietnam, and just one of the coolest sticks you could ever meet. He just starts chuckling and looks at me and the lead mechanic and said "that's why the fucking pilots have a lounge, they're lost in the fucking hangar" and went and deducted the replacement parts from the guy's first check that he hadn't even gotten yet.

I hope y'all know I'm not ripping pilots. As someone with a tiny inkling of how fucking squared away y'all have to be you've got my deepest respect. The "hangar politics" were just funny sometimes.

tnichols, my stash will never approach yours, but I got ahold of this 36" twin-trunked monster today:



The tow tow straps in the last pic are my current method of unloading. I tie onto the logs and then drive forward, pulling them out of my truck bed. If I've got a bunch of bucked rounds I lay down a cut sheet of plywood with some eye-hooks and pull the whole damn thing out like a sled.

hang on to that for a short time. I think Santa is making a early pass over the south.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Well I can't shoot him now. He's famous.

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/t5kv64N.gif"}[/IMG2]

Unless his name becomes Cecil, eat him.

PS, did you not see my "feel good story of the day"?

 

[vh20]

Is that a can of FOD?

Cheers,

Sirhr

Only if it gets left there...and he told me what one of those engines costs!!!

 

[tnichols]

Is that a can of FOD?

Cheers,

Sirhr

If left there it certainly could be. We're very careful when working in that area to double check that nothing is left near the inlet as it's way above eye level on a walk around at 0530. One job ago I found a pink bunny rabbit (stuffed anilmal) left in a PT-6A inlet by the mechanic's daughter. I wasn't happy.

 

[tnichols]

hang on to that for a short time. I think Santa is making a early pass over the south.

Yes he is. Keep gathering Bogey you wood bugger, pressurized fluid with make short work of that nasty end . Nothing better than a good "stash". Firewood is like ammo. When was the last time you heard a fella' complain that he had too much ammo?

 

[tnichols]

Absolutely a stunning evening the other night shared with the Mrs. Shoulda brought a Bottle of Vino dammit.




[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/Htvxpe0.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Ha, I can't remember if I had posted these or not. Too much shit going on............

That is beautiful 1J04! We don't have nothing close to that out here in Pumphandleville. Very nice!

 

[tnichols]

Only if it gets left there...and he told me what one of those engines costs!!!

Amen brother, FADEC doesn't recognize FOD...until it's too late. Matter of fact, FADEC is late to the party on several resume generating events, but that's a whole nother story .

 

[Dirty D]

Let's get this going Guy's. Gotta lot of stuff to put up. Busy wet day.

Meanwhile here at SnipersNest...

 

[vh20]

Roundup time again. Usually do it 3 times each year, but this is only the 2nd and it's way late because it has rained every day this summer until this week. Of course the rain makes it necessary even MORE often, but then you can't because it's raining, and...and... On the plus side, it's so late in the year now, a 3rd application "might" not be required. Fine with me, it takes nearly a day to do the whole place.

 

[1J04]

That is beautiful 1J04! We don't have nothing close to that out here in Pumphandleville. Very nice!

Thank you Buddy. The first picture was taken where my Wife n I were standing during Deer Season last year that posted up in the "Hot Girl Friend" thread,or something like that. She spotted a fresh pile of Bear Scat just before the pic. It's why we were there. The lower pic is the leftover pilings of one of the old Cannery's on the Altoona Road looking at Astoria Oregon and the Megler Bridge. The divide between Washington and Oregon on the Lower Columbia.

 

[1J04]

Meanwhile here at SnipersNest...

That's not funny. Only cuz it hertz.

 

[tnichols]

Roundup time again. Usually do it 3 times each year, but this is only the 2nd and it's way late because it has rained every day this summer until this week. Of course the rain makes it necessary even MORE often, but then you can't because it's raining, and...and... On the plus side, it's so late in the year now, a 3rd application "might" not be required. Fine with me, it takes nearly a day to do the whole place.

Good Lord vh, that's not spraying Round Up but fire hosing it . As my dad would say, "That'll do".

 

[1J04]

Good Lord vh, that's not spraying Round Up but fire hosing it . As my dad would say, "That'll do".

lmfao That's 'watering'.

 

[vh20]

lmfao That's 'watering'.

Nah. I've got a lot of places where I have to reach out 20 ft, plus I have a lot of ground to cover. You just keep it moving fast.

 

[1J04]

I can't believe my Kids didn't tell Momma and I about Sasquatch.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Watering, you say???

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Mullhead]

[No message]

 

[Threadcutter308]

If left there it certainly could be. We're very careful when working in that area to double check that nothing is left near the inlet as it's way above eye level on a walk around at 0530. One job ago I found a pink bunny rabbit (stuffed anilmal) left in a PT-6A inlet by the mechanic's daughter. I wasn't happy.

What are PT-6's going for these days ? Slightly north of $300K ? Big fan of them in PC6, PC12's, 208's and Kodiaks. Oh, and the guys in Oregon (Scappose, I think) making the "Porter killer" (looked it up, it's a "Sherpa"). Looks insanely fun.....too much glass and not enough aluminum for my tastes. But, it does climb at 2K+/minute, so it's fun in that regard. Oops, it's a Garrett/Honeywell TPE 331, not a PT6......

https://youtu.be/0mrJ5_LnF0Q

 

[tnichols]

What are PT-6's going for these days ? Slightly north of $300K ? Big fan of them in PC6, PC12's, 208's and Kodiaks. Oh, and the guys in Oregon (Scappose, I think) making the "Porter killer" (looked it up, it's a "Sherpa"). Looks insanely fun.....too much glass and not enough aluminum for my tastes. But, it does climb at 2K+/minute, so it's fun in that regard. Oops, it's a Garrett/Honeywell TPE 331, not a PT6......

https://youtu.be/0mrJ5_LnF0Q

Honestly, I don't know what they run these days. A safe guess would be half to three quarter of a million. I'll ask on Monday when I'm at the hangar, the Chief would probably know. I'm just a lowly line Captain and fortunately don't deal with maintenance.

 

[MtnCreek]

I bet whatever that was dropped like it was struck by lightening.

 

[tnichols]

For you fitness types, I'll share a pic of my treadmill. It's one of the older models, but still works fine. What little maintenance it requires is done by the county on a need basis. I've never had to replace it in 12 years, has few moving parts, and has served me just fine. It does NOT come with ear buds, a flat screen TV to watch, and the "climate control" can be a bit rough based on the season.

My veiw, 3-5 days a week from the "fitness center" in Hooterville.

 

[tnichols]

I bet whatever that was dropped like it was struck by lightening.

Agreed. DRT!

 

[1J04]

For you fitness types, I'll share a pic of my treadmill. It's one of the older models, but still works fine. What little maintenance it requires is done by the county on a need basis. I've never had to replace it in 12 years, has few moving parts, and has served me just fine. It does NOT come with ear buds, a flat screen TV to watch, and the "climate control" can be a bit rough based on the season.

My veiw, 3-5 days a week from the "fitness center" in Hooterville.

Any Rooster's to be had in that stretch?

 

[tnichols]

Any Rooster's to be had in that stretch?

If you're referring to Pheasant, not anything like it used to be. Coyotes, Red Tailed Hawks, and decreased habitat have severely lessened their numbers. They are just starting to make a comeback, but it will take years to return to the population numbers we had in the 60's and 70's. In just the last year or two, we hear them again in the evening, and see one once in awhile.

 

[1J04]

If you're referring to Pheasant, not anything like it used to be. Coyotes, Red Tailed Hawks, and decreased habitat have severely lessened their numbers. They are just starting to make a comeback, but it will take years to return to the population numbers we had in the 60's and 70's. In just the last year or two, we hear them again in the evening, and see one once in awhile.

Looks like perfect Pheasant country for sure. Good to hear they're coming back to some degree. Never been to the Dakota's, but it's on the Bucket LIst for a Rooster Hunt fo sho.

 

[1J04]

Fire formed Norma 300 WM Case. Beer box is fixed and TAF now.



[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/hrJn85w.jpg"}[/IMG2]

 

[MtnCreek]

Check out Aberdeen. Good German stock there and they like Southern accents / charm. We'll leave it at that.

 

[1J04]

Check out Aberdeen. Good German stock there and they like Southern accents / charm. We'll leave it at that.

Aberdeen? Aberdeen is a shit hole.

 

[Terry Cross]

Taking a break outside and spotted this behind my shop. Worried that it might be one of the martian walkers from WOTW, I went down the street to check it out.

 

[Duc]

Taking a break outside and spotted this behind my shop. Worried that it might be one of the martian walkers from WOTW, I went down the street to check it out.

Shouldn't you be fix'n that LongSword?

 

[Veer_G]

So we're on the road yesterday, for my wife's birthday. Her family is up north, and we usually meet up somewhere in the middle, to avoid long drives. I'm happy as hell to avoid the SMIL's cooking, even if it means Roy Rogers fried chicken on the turnpike. It's just that bad.

This time, it's in Wilkes-Barre, south of what's left of the downtown. I didn't know it going in, but when we got there and saw the Crown Chicken, the "Chinese store," and the hair-braiding/extensions shop, I knew we were deep in the pure 'hood, NEPA or not. I shouldn't have expected much different. She wanted Dominican food for her birthday, so that's what she got, at the one and only spot in town. Her family was a bit freaked out by the surroundings, but they've been freaked out for the whole time we've been together. My pursuits have always had me in and out of questionable areas, and decidedly dangerous ethnic dining is second nature for us.

Anyway, NEPA (note this, 1J04 ) is fine country for all manner of Wookies, Sasquatch, and Ewoks, outside of its few built-up areas. It's got trees, and reasonably-sized mountains, and fish, and game, and all sorts of things that bipedal beings of questionable genetic makeup would like. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"866","width":"650","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/e2QrC17.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



It being her birthday, and having forgotten her glasses, I get to drive. Now, I used to live up that way, and I'm familiar with parts of town, but I've never had to come in from off of the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike. It was always on state two-lane highways, coming from a different direction. The missus is a technocritter, and loves nothing more than to blindly follow the advice of gadgets. Go here, do that, do this, etc., etc., so to keep her happy we're using Google Maps. Me? I would have dead-reckoned it and done okay, since I know where the highway goes in relation to the town, and we were going to an address on one of the the main north-south streets. Pretty simple stuff. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/NW67MrZ.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



So, we get off the highway, and I want to go left, and come on in to town from the north end. "But, but, Google Maps says ..." So, I make her happy and listen to the Informational Overlords, going right, and following directions to make a right a little ways beyond where I notice a government building of some sort with a sign indicating that the elevation at that spot is 1,931 feet. What goes up has to come down, right? And the town is down in the valley, as is our destination, and that idiot program is sending us by the most direct route possible.

So we wind up on this grungy two-lane with a severely eroded berm on either side, and after a wee, wee little stretch of somewhat level and straight road, all of a sudden the shit gets absolutely vertiginous and twisty: crumbling berms, worn-out pavement, minimalist, rusty 60s-lookin' guardrails here and sometimes there. We're about three feet beyond the apex of the highest rise on the roller coaster. I'm giddy. I've got good brakes, decent highway tires, and an off-road suspension, even if I am in a pickup truck. I'm not gonna push it, but this shit, even at a crawl, is better than an E-ticket ride at fuckin' Disney World. I look over. She's gone green, her eyes are rolling around in her head, she's just about pierced her thighs with her fingernails, and she's trying to form a scream but the only thing coming out of her mouth is big puffs of panicked air.

So I go to stop on the side of the road, Mistake. "MY GOD, MY GOD, MY GOD, YOU'RE GONNA TURN US OVER!" But I'm careful, and we come to no harm. I send her out to take a breath of air, if she can, and to get a picture of the mountains across the valley. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"869","width":"652","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/8MJ8x7t.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



She scrambles back up into the cab, none the better for the pause. "Honey, how much more of this IS there?" "Dunno, sweetie, probably about 1,500 feet worth of descent to go?" Luckily, we weren't in the rig with the gauges. She notices these things. So we go on a little more. She's half-hyperventilating and I can't get this stupid shit-eating grin off my face. We get around a few more curves, dropping like a rock, and the downtown heaves into distant view (not hove, mind you, that's past tense). [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/noeOWAN.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



She just squints downhill, visibly perturbed. "Sugar, we followed Google Maps, right?" I think to myself, if you do what they say, you can never be wrong, okay? Yeah, right.

Eventually, we get down the hill, the roadway becoming noticeably more civilized, until we roll into town and proceed to the restaurant. She's starting to breathe normally.

Lunch is good. I'm translating and explaining. SMIL loves the food, which is weird, because this chick is Mikey with the Life cereal; she doesn't like anything. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/sfpyaEF.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Me, SMIL, FIL, BIL #2 (#1 is in OH), and the missus.

So, we get home to the Shire, passing under the mountains and observing folks who seem to be fairly cowbell-sated. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/t1ZC81n.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/OS5rB8J.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



And then it occurs to me. That hill. Why, all of a sudden, was the last stretch so relatively well-maintained?

Heh. Heh heh heh. Google is my friend. Now, I'm laughing. We just did a rather infamous route in reverse, except we did the whole thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giants_Despair_Hillclimb

The racers only run a mile, that last bit that was much better groomed. Good grief. No wonder she was screaming.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M9uIsuqd7R8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Fucking fucker, indeed.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UPv1gaQfpcM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uue9vkOqgtQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[1J04]

So we're on the road yesterday, for my wife's birthday. Her family is up north, and we usually meet up somewhere in the middle, to avoid long drives. I'm happy as hell to avoid the SMIL's cooking, even if it means Roy Rogers fried chicken on the turnpike. It's just that bad.

This time, it's in Wilkes-Barre, south of what's left of the downtown. I didn't know it going in, but when we got there and saw the Crown Chicken, the "Chinese store," and the hair-braiding/extensions shop, I knew we were deep in the pure 'hood, NEPA or not. I shouldn't have expected much different. She wanted Dominican food for her birthday, so that's what she got, at the one and only spot in town. Her family was a bit freaked out by the surroundings, but they've been freaked out for the whole time we've been together. My pursuits have always had me in and out of questionable areas, and decidedly dangerous ethnic dining is second nature for us.

Anyway, NEPA (note this, 1J04 ) is fine country for all manner of Wookies, Sasquatch, and Ewoks, outside of its few built-up areas. It's got trees, and reasonably-sized mountains, and fish, and game, and all sorts of things that bipedal beings of questionable genetic makeup would like. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"866","width":"650","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/e2QrC17.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



It being her birthday, and having forgotten her glasses, I get to drive. Now, I used to live up that way, and I'm familiar with parts of town, but I've never had to come in from off of the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike. It was always on state two-lane highways, coming from a different direction. The missus is a technocritter, and loves nothing more than to blindly follow the advice of gadgets. Go here, do that, do this, etc., etc., so to keep her happy we're using Google Maps. Me? I would have dead-reckoned it and done okay, since I know where the highway goes in relation to the town, and we were going to an address on one of the the main north-south streets. Pretty simple stuff. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/NW67MrZ.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



So, we get off the highway, and I want to go left, and come on in to town from the north end. "But, but, Google Maps says ..." So, I make her happy and listen to the Informational Overlords, going right, and following directions to make a right a little ways beyond where I notice a government building of some sort with a sign indicating that the elevation at that spot is 1,931 feet. What goes up has to come down, right? And the town is down in the valley, as is our destination, and that idiot program is sending us by the most direct route possible.

So we wind up on this grungy two-lane with a severely eroded berm on either side, and after a wee, wee little stretch of somewhat level and straight road, all of a sudden the shit gets absolutely vertiginous and twisty: crumbling berms, worn-out pavement, minimalist, rusty 60s-lookin' guardrails here and sometimes there. We're about three feet beyond the apex of the highest rise on the roller coaster. I'm giddy. I've got good brakes, decent highway tires, and an off-road suspension, even if I am in a pickup truck. I'm not gonna push it, but this shit, even at a crawl, is better than an E-ticket ride at fuckin' Disney World. I look over. She's gone green, her eyes are rolling around in her head, she's just about pierced her thighs with her fingernails, and she's trying to form a scream but the only thing coming out of her mouth is big puffs of panicked air.

So I go to stop on the side of the road, Mistake. "MY GOD, MY GOD, MY GOD, YOU'RE GONNA TURN US OVER!" But I'm careful, and we come to no harm. I send her out to take a breath of air, if she can, and to get a picture of the mountains across the valley. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"869","width":"652","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/8MJ8x7t.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



She scrambles back up into the cab, none the better for the pause. "Honey, how much more of this IS there?" "Dunno, sweetie, probably about 1,500 feet worth of descent to go?" Luckily, we weren't in the rig with the gauges. She notices these things. So we go on a little more. She's half-hyperventilating and I can't get this stupid shit-eating grin off my face. We get around a few more curves, dropping like a rock, and the downtown heaves into distant view (not hove, mind you, that's past tense). [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/noeOWAN.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



She just squints downhill, visibly perturbed. "Sugar, we followed Google Maps, right?" I think to myself, if you do what they say, you can never be wrong, okay? Yeah, right.

Eventually, we get down the hill, the roadway becoming noticeably more civilized, until we roll into town and proceed to the restaurant. She's starting to breathe normally.

Lunch is good. I'm translating and explaining. SMIL loves the food, which is weird, because this chick is Mikey with the Life cereal; she doesn't like anything. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/sfpyaEF.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Me, SMIL, FIL, BIL #2 (#1 is in OH), and the missus.

So, we get home to the Shire, passing under the mountains and observing folks who seem to be fairly cowbell-sated. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/t1ZC81n.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/OS5rB8J.jpg?1"}[/IMG2]



And then it occurs to me. That hill. Why, all of a sudden, was the last stretch so relatively well-maintained?

Heh. Heh heh heh. Google is my friend. Now, I'm laughing. We just did a rather infamous route in reverse, except we did the whole thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giants_Despair_Hillclimb

The racers only run a mile, that last bit that was much better groomed. Good grief. No wonder she was screaming.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M9uIsuqd7R8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Fucking fucker, indeed.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UPv1gaQfpcM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uue9vkOqgtQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nice road trip man. I kinda figured you were up to 'something'. You're really gonna have to work on that 'bird'. It's hard to take 'that one' very serious.

 

[MtnCreek]

 

[Veer_G]

Nice road trip man. I kinda figured you were up to 'something'. You're really gonna have to work on that 'bird'. It's hard to take 'that one' very serious.

I take it that you like your "bird" more erect and extended?

 

[2ndamendfan]

Damn Veer_G, 20% grade is no joke. Trying to remember the steepest I have been on and I think 12% would be it.

 

[Veer_G]

Damn Veer_G, 20% grade is no joke. Trying to remember the steepest I have been on and I think 12% would be it.

That's the maximum on the part they race on. It's worse higher up still, past the finish line, believe me. Almost wish we had taken the FJ Cruiser instead.

 

[vh20]

MtnCreek - What model Husky is that and what bar length?

 

[Veer_G]

https://video.fztf1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/...dc&oe=59A465BC

MtnCreek

And you say I don't care. Tsk, tsk ...