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I am extremely leery of that site. Here have been my observations: - There is a constant marketing push to buy from "Andy" at "EmpireTech." But, last I knew, "Andy" sources Chinese cameras, (usually Dahau brand), then inserts different firmware into the camera to claim added "special" features...

I have been thinking along these lines. Although I've used the GPS in my Polaris for altitude measurement, I have doubts about its accuracy based on simply driving around and observing. I obtained a much higher quality GPS unit and will spend time tomorrow driving around and taking some samples...

I considered pressurizing with an air compressor and listening for hissing and/or leaks, but it seems doing that is highly recommended. Something to do with making a bomb out of the pipe.

Somewhere, unknown, is a cracked or broken pipe compromising the pressure in my gravity irrigation system. The piping is 2 feet sub-grade, in well draining loamy soil, so water is not pooling anywhere on the surface. There are also some natural springs in the pastures. That is going to...

I recently shopped CF Moto, Polaris, and CanAm. I agree the price for CF Moto was much less. I pretty quickly ruled out CF Moto because I wanted a model with an integrated cab and HVAC. CF Moto didn't have one as of a few months ago-- yet it was "coming soon" while I was shopping and I believe...

You are in the strongest position if you sell your current property independently of trying to tangle it into the "next purchase" and juggle two properties at once. It would be hugely convenient for *you* to juggle one into the other, presuming everything went perfectly, but the reality is...

I went to Stihl's website to review their mower selections. They don't list any diesel powered mower in their lineup? The top of the line Ferris has a CAT 42hp diesel.

Is that an issue with horsepower, or the deck, or ??? I see the model of Ferris you use is somewhere in the mid-30hp category. There is a model with 42hp CAT diesel and am wondering your thoughts if that extra HP would make a difference?

About 25 total, but broken up into 5 different pastures.

I started this thread because what you are repeating is not uncommon at all. I don't think 40htp at the PTO is enough tractor power to operate a batwing, so I am contemplating all the options. No properties, soils, terrain, grasses, etc are alike so it's a bit if a guessing game. This was about...

Thank you and good suggestion. I will look into the Stihl mowers. The coil springs on that model are much smaller than the top of the line Ferris, but I presume that is just because it is a different model. Here is a comparison pix of the top of the line Ferris ....

Exactly why a suspension model Zero Turn is appealing. Speed of mowing plus comfort. I wish I could mow 25 acres in one day. That is not possible with the current equipment-- either the pace is too slow or my body gets too beat up from all the bumps and jostling long before that.

Appreciate all the responses. Sounds like some have good experiences with ZTR in a pasture. But also some batwing fans for high production which I understand. I have a fair number of obstacles-- fences, trees, raised sprinklers, pond shoreline. So while a batwing could quickly get a lot done...

Good point. Except I can replace mower suspension parts. Vertebrae with reduced cushion between the joints-- getting jarred by bumps-- not so much. o_O

That is really good feedback, thanks. I'm leaning toward trying out a flail mower and taking the heavy grapple off the front of the tractor and maybe the loader arms also.

My mowing is for visual appeal and to reduce fire danger. Everything is green now, but by August a lot of it will have died off. Even 1 foot tall material, when dead, is a huge fire hazard when you add in some slope and nearby forests that could ignite. So I don't need to precise/low cut of a...

I have multiple pasture areas, 15ac, 4ac, 4ac, 2ac. About 25 acres total. A lot of it is reasonably flat and smooth. But then, as you are mowing along, *wham* you hit a hole or something. Rarely any rocks. I'm really interested in a flail/finish mower plus removing the front grapple and maybe...

I just finished two episodes of mowing with the Ventrac. It handles 12-18 inch stuff with ease. I've mowed 4-5 foot tall stuff but more slowly. I have considered a finish mower to get a much shorter cut and a nicer look. And a finish mower sure would be less money. Good tip on the front loader...

I am wondering if a Zero Turn, such as a Ferris with suspension, would be a better faster smoother more comfortable mower for my pastures? All I see in promotional videos are using these for lawns, not pastures. But if a speedy ZTR could perform well, I might be more comfortable (suspension)...

Lots of interesting comments. I can add two: - About 6 years ago, we demolished a house that had been built in 1979. Then built a brand new residence in the same location and even used much of the original foundation since the floorplan design worked well for us. The original home was 2x4 frame...

I started with 3 traditional SL systems-- CA residential, NV residential, and RV roam. When the "mini" was offered at $50/mo, I bought it for the RV. At $100/mo savings it paid the cost of equipment quickly. When the mini went into service, I cancelled the $150/mo RV/roam package and that SL...

Has anyone tried the $10/mo Starlink plan yet?

Rusty that is really awesome work!

I had no idea of the depth and complexity of milling logs when I first bought a sawmill. Today, I am aware the complexity exists but still have huge gaps in knowledge. Trees growing on a slope typically will have tension induced from the extra strength needed on one side of the tree. So the...

I'm fairly new at this, but if you see certain movement while cutting, such as when the blade finishes the cut and exits the cant, it indicates tension in the log. Sometimes you can turn the cant to minimize problems. You need to figure out what the tension is doing and cut in a way to minimize...

If you could look at the ends of the 2x6x12's that warped I'd bet you would find a similar pattern to them. Maybe plain sawed near or through the pith, or something like that. I wonder if the 150lb/ft is at the bottom of the pile, with the lumber stack and weight above? Saw an interesting...

I have done some research on this. Many people feel the Virginia Tech design is the best for a solar kiln. Also, its pretty universally accepted that a solar kiln can dry wood, but not sterilize it. Due to temperatures. Apparently you need to heat the stack (including the center boards) to...

In case you need even more material about drying lumber, here is yet another publication. Regarding weight on the stack, Page 33 says: "The common loading level is in excess of 150 lb/ft2" There is no way I can reasonably do that, or even close. So I do what I can.

btw I recently added this DRO to my hobby mill. Now have 2 days of experience using it. I am making more precise cuts (thickness) than ever before. Whether due to parallax error or whatever, I never like the Woodland Mills magnetic gauge. This isn't perfect, but it has greatly improved the...

I wish I had that. In about 6 years of hobby milling I've made probably every possible mistake and likely invented some new ones. I cannot describe how disheartening it is to cut beautiful but extremely heavy slabs, wait years for them to dry, experience severe cracking and bugs, then get out...

Here is the document I referred to earlier. Quite in depth about air drying wood. Methods and techniques way beyond a small hobby operation but I do like to understand the concepts even if I don't have what is needed to always follow them. I also forgot to mention, in addition to constructing...

I was told wood boring beetles are either the "soft wood" or "hard wood" type. So he uses softwood pallets for hardwood stacking, and the reverse. It would contain the beetles to one pallet only. Using the same stickers makes sense. I didn't realize that after kiln drying you have to wait a...

I am a novice only slightly ahead of you in years with a sawmill. Hobby only. To me, your stickers look "pretty good" and similar to mine. But careful readjustment to make sure they are perfectly in line is recommended. You have the pile up off the floor for airflow which is good. What might...

In Northern CA I've been battling bugs in the wood. Milled up a bunch of beautiful sugar pine a while ago. Typical 1" thick and up to 24" wide. Giant tree. It came off the mill looking fantastic, beautiful, and no bug holes. After drying, I went to use it. I wound up burning at least 50% of it...

It is considered poor practice to mix species or even mix varied wood moisture content in a kiln ...

Just circling back to comment that my heat tape is installed, also some snow guards to prevent sliding ice and snow from stripping it off where it has been fastened. I appreciate all the positive comments and help. I used 230V Raychem/nvent Wintergard wet, one segment up a downspout then across...

Perhaps it has grown back by now? 😀 This past summer, I was standing on our back lawn when I heard a crack and a second later a mighty crash in the forest. I went to find a 22" diameter pine tree had snapped about 4 feet off the ground. From a canker. It happened on a perfectly still day with...

Enclosed is a very interesting part of history in the Sierras. Many people know Virginia City, NV had extensive silver mining. What most don't know is that the mines consumed 100 cords of firewood per day. Think of that for a minute-- that's 3,000 cords of firewood in one month. So in a desert...

Thanks for the narrative and the great pictures. Having lived nearby for decades, I'm familiar with nearly everything you posted. Glad you enjoyed the beauty of CA. Since I live over the border in NV, I get to enjoy CA without contributing to the tax system and associated chaos there! If you...

Buppies, sorry to learn of the tragedy. Prayers.

My uncle told me: "if it doesn't hurt, it doesn't work!" :) Suprisingly, had yet another wildfire scare yesterday. About 11am a brush fire broke out. Winds were gusting to 60mph and blowing straight from it to us. It was moving rapidly, went from 1 acre to 100 acres pretty fast. 11 homes...

I once had a tree from my (California) property fall across a property line and cut a neighbor's shed in half. No injuries, but an expensive repair and that triggered a decision about whether my insurance or his to cover the loss. In CA, if the tree was healthy there is no liability back on...

Very helpful, thanks. I have a downspout on each end of the gutter, giving me the option to do two 120V runs, one up each downspout meeting in the center. If 120v need to split it up due to limits on total footage run. My installer recommends looping the bottom of the "W" pattern down into the...

Rigby wanted out at 4:15 but I was already up. A crisp 21 degrees outside so he expedited "taking care of business" lol ..... I need to trim off the tops of fence posts from Rigby's new cedar backyard fence. The posts are steel pole, wrapped with cedar. Not exactly sure how to get a straight...

That is very interesting, thank you. Also did not know about a special GFCI device. The roof pitch is 4:12.

Ice sliding off the roof of my metal garage damages the gutter every year. I want to prevent this in the future. The building is insulated, but the overhanging eave is not. It's the roof area above this eave where I accumulate ice, which is within 3 feet of the gutter. Farther up the roof is...

Now there is a problem most of us are no longer dealing with! :) Everyone have a great day !!!

Oh yes-- time for new rubber on my truck considering how frequently I drive through Donner Summit in ice and snow. Finally got Rigby's new fence finished. Did a marathon session yesterday applying the sealer and UV protection to the cedar wood. Feeling it today-- I'm not as young as I used to...

That is crazy aren't you glad it didn't happen while running? Been quite busy working on Rigby's fence in the back yard, and a lot more. Hope everyone has been doing well. I'll post some fence pix when I get a minute ... it's one of those projects that turned into a *lot* more work than I...

Kyle, hope your son is doing better! It froze last night, but not bad, down to about 30F. Rigby likes being in my lap if I am sitting on the ground, although he's a bit big for that now. Back when we visited him as a pup, he and the other 2 males from the litter all fell asleep in my lap. I...

What a great investment, although expensive. Thanks!

Prayers for your son Kyle. Hope it clears quickly. Got our first rain in months yesterday. Was kind of nice-- we needed it. An overnight freeze is coming with a dusting of snow Saturday. Fall is here! Rigby was introduced to a darling little 10-month old female mixed breed. His new girlfriend...

About 98% again, thanks for asking. Wife is about 95%. +1 for experience today. Returned home from a recent motorhome camping trip with the RV holding tanks still full. I have an "RV dump" inside the garage where I park the motorhome, but I have never used it. Got the drainage hose connected...

Sorry to hear about Ginty. I am sure Ginty provided a great deal of enjoyment for you and vice/versa. It is so hard to lose a pet. We are scheduled for a rain shower this morning-- first precipitation in months. Might be a dusting of snow this weekend. Fall is here! Everyone have a great day !!!

Hope you feel better Buppies. Everyone have a great day !!!

Too much information, but when Rigby goes outside to "do his business" we add it up. After he comes back in, my wife will ask: "what did he do?" Answer- #3 (#1 and #2.) High score so far (single trip) is a 5. 😀

Many times, when online, you encounter something that requires you to divulge an email address in order to continue. Personally, I find lots of times where I want to continue, but don't want to give them my email address. To get around this, you can make up any name .... @ privacy.net Such...

Dang I don't do prime but would purchase if I could. Maybe next time I guess.

If you make it up to Hutchinson, KS you can see the world's largest ball of twine. Ask me how I know. 😀 Everyone have a great day !!!

Agreed. Thanks for the kind thoughts about others, Buppies. The aftermath from guests at my home who all caught Covid continues. Everyone will survive, nobody hospitalized, just some dealing with it more than others. Our friend from Oregon has lung issues so she has had the roughest time. Both...

I am apparently the world's worst host. Had a houseful of friends/company which is a Fall tradition for us. Friends traveled long distances and brought gifts, food, wine, liquor, and more. And Rigby very much enjoyed playing with a dog one of them brought. In return, I gave them all Covid. One...

Last 2 days were 99% in bed sleeping due to cold/flu. Not used to such severity of symptoms. I'm guessing for a repeat today. Everyone have a great day !!!

I don't remember because you usually stop at numerous points along the way. Allocate a half day minimum, maybe a full day and you should be OK. Be sure to stop and see the spillway in Tahoe City. Over 100 feet long, the "normal" flow is 6 feet of water flowing over the entire length of the...

Spent 99% of the last 24 hours in bed sleeping. Flat out hammered. My wife is juggling 100% of the chores to host our company at a time when she isn't feeling well either. Fever broke about 2am. Hope I can salvage some time with friends this morning before they leave. Everyone have a great...

For your trip there are two good ways in/out of the Tahoe Basin. (actually 3) From Reno, head south on Hwy 395 then west on Hwy 431 over Mt. Rose into the Tahoe Basin. Or, from Reno, take I-80 West to Truckee, then south on (267?) to Kings Beach. I would suggest planning on of those "going...

Not-so-good news. Wife's flu/cold bug has harpooned me-- rough night plus I have a houseful of company awakening soon. The good news is our visiting friends have a dog. She and Rigby became fast friends and they run, run, run and play in the pen I made in the pasture. So nice to see this since...

Hmmm I was wondering about that !!! Out-of-town friends arrived yesterday. Will be here a few days. Had nice dinner meal except wife still under the weather and worn out from getting everything ready. She should be better today since I woke up to find she gave it to me!! :( Everyone have a...

Great pix Drew, thanks! Della is a lucky dog. I am also looking forward to Rigby seeing snow for the first time. Didn't know you were going to NYC. Have a good time! :D Nice weather here is timed perfect-- friends are arriving tomorrow that will fill the house for a few days. Always fun...

I am not an electrician but I think this is all correct: 30A RV (120V) has a hot, neutral, and ground. Just l like a household 15A plug in your house except will carry more amps. (black white green) 50A RV has two hots, neutral, and ground. 240V. 120V from each of the two 120v hot legs. (black...

What's an album? (lol) Drew- anyone who posts a picture of a pigeon is a certified tourist!! Will make a quick run to CA and back today. Check on our place there before hosting company most of next week. Good weather ... Everyone have a great day !!!

Ron- great bird pix yet again! Checked the camera at our CA ranch and found a buck mowing the lawn this morning ... Solid rain overnight. Slept through most of it as the entire household went to bed early. Wife was not feeling well yesterday-- we'll see how she is doing later this morning...

Dang I would not want to live there! :D

+1 on Discount Tire. I had a tractor tire go flat so I called them. They said "bring it in" and fixed it for me for free.

Been awol a few days, just caught up, oh my how much everyone is doing!! Drew, I am sorry the Ag museum was closed. Not like you can just say OK I will come back next week instead. I'll put it on my list to get there for some pix and to share some impressions. Not the same though ... As with...

Drew-- hope you have a "high revving morning!!" Looks like good weather. As you drive up Donner Summit, notice the recent road repairs. When pulling the grade in snow conditions, the chained up trucks, over time, grind ruts into the concrete. Those ruts can get quite deep just like in a dirt...

You have him 110% figured out!! Nice to see you Drew!

I'm probably passing through Verdi later today headed back home in NV. Will probably be late in the afternoon, not sure. If you PM me your site number I will stop by and say hello!

Something to consider: I have seen ankylosing spondylitis reduce in severity from a regular stretching and light exercise program. I am also not an MD, but I have learned from practical experience that if the body has internal inflammation, it can lead to lots of future problems plus can drag...

Scotty-- great pix! It does look like divine intervention. Kyle- regarding gas prices, a gallon in NV has been $4.50/gal +/- for years. Add about .50c to a dollar a gallon if over the State line in CA. Regarding Cabelas in Verdi/Reno, some people also recommend Scheels. HUGE outdoor/sport/gun...

Drew, a couple of things of interest on your journey West. As you get around the Fallon / Fernley areas, you'll probably find the semis doing at least 75mph, often 80. When you see the "Mustang" exit from I-80, that is the exit to the "world famous" Mustang Ranch brothel. Lots of history...

Wow Della is getting BIG! As they grow up it is sad to lose a puppy but nice they start learning commands and behavior. 45F going to 85F here in California. Today I am going to split some firewood for this winter's supply. Everyone have a great day !!!

A peach fell off our tree. Rigby grabbed it and started wolfing it down. Wife and I chased him trying to take it away so he wouldn't swallow the pit. No luck, he swallowed it. So, off to vet emergency again ($$$.) The vet got him to throw up but the pit didn't come out. The pit might pass...

Years ago, at a campground in Southern CA, I connected to someone's unsecured wifi. It was painfully slow. I found 12 other people also using it. So I put a password on it. That fixed that. :cool: The nearby fire is now under control. 12 hours to prepare to bug out was too long. Part of what...

Thinking of you Buppies and hope things improve. So sad to hear.

40F headed to a nice 75F today. Predicting fire behavior must be difficult. Yesterday, the National Weather Service put out a "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning." First use ever for that sort of warning, triggered by strong winds, low humidity, and the nearby Davis fire...

Hope everyone is doing well. No time to catch up, will do that later. Started prepping to evacuate at 3am. 11 hrs later finally sat down, ahhh. The forecast high winds are now here. Makes predicting fire behavior impossible. Authorities are making grim predictions but neighbors and I are not...

Only because it is hauling fuel, I'd opt for a better built trailer than anything Harbor Freight offers. Just too risky imo. Good luck with your project!

Wow there is so much going on here, and so fun to read! Great pix Drew, keep them coming! Scott congrats on new pup! They are so fun and so much work! Kyle, lots fires in CA but this one is near our residence in NV. Can't imagine losing our home we built only 4-5 years ago. Yesterday morning...

Might check the board very carefully to find an FCC ID number on it. Sometimes you can reverse search based on that to find a replacement. Good luck!

Quick update: when it got light, I was amazed that the fire had settled down so much. Great excuse to post a picture of the sky in background with Rigby in foreground lol. On his favorite-- the teeter totter. Still some smoke visible but not anything like 12 hours ago. Fire size 6,500 acres...

House prices vary so much by area. The absolute cheapest home on the market in Arrowcreek right now is $1.3M. But the "big money" is next door in "Montreux." A .44 acre lot there is advertised for $750k- bare land only. Wife's phone blared yesterday-- emergency alert-- emergency alert--...

Nice bird pix Ron. Presume that is a cardinal? Looks like he has a racing stripe! The "Davis fire" is burning south of Reno, NV. Ignited at 2pm yesterday and was 2,000 acres by midnight. Yikes we have a "red flag warning" for high winds as of 11am this morning. Smoke everywhere, we could see...

That is really nice cherry wood Phil. I've cut slabs of Oak and Madrone but with miserable success. Most crack badly over the 2 years of drying. A few oak slabs are salvageable but the madrone is a real mess. 55F going to 90F today. Today is flood irrigation day which is good because I need a...

The problem with a private contractor on your property using drones is you don't know what they are recording or exactly how they will use it. It may differ from what you are told, and how would you know? My experience with PGE is their contractors "run wild" without supervision, often doing...

Wngs, great pix of Della! Thanks for posting! Phil, spectacular woodwork. It's what we expect he he. I like both, but the top one best! Been doing a little "outdoor" woodwork. Not to Phil's impressive standards but oh well. Building a fence to keep Rigby near the house. I wanted to be able to...

Drew, never seen an RV do a "wheelie"-- wow! At $10/night I wonder how many times they have paid for that concrete pad? 😄 Let Rigby out at 3:30 and immediately smelled smoke. This is from the Bear fire in CA, which is close to 2,000 acres now. Weather conditions will be better for a few days...

Hope everyone is well. Been away in CA at our ranch bucking rounds and splitting wood. Now I'm sore in places I didn't know you could get sore in. 😄 We saw two fawns, on the back lawn, very close to the house, and all by themselves. No doe in sight. Seemed very odd. Wife and I were worried...

Only 80F at 10:45am but already dripping with sweat and ready to quit for the day. I just finished "dressing up" about 80 cedar 1x6 boards through the jointer and table saw getting ready to build some sections of cedar fence. I milled the boards over in CA, a year ago, on my sawmill using...

That is terrible and prayers for him and your family. Modern prosthetics are amazing, but you never want to have to find out.

I saw $7.29 in Truckee, CA not long ago. So gas up in the major cities. And Truckee isn't exactly small ....

Sorry to learn that Buppies. Less doctors is good, more doctors not so much. 50F headed to 90F here today. Contractor's two workers got 14 postholes dug yesterday for new cedar fence to keep Rigby in. Then they "ramset" affixed 2x4 cedar onto steel poles, then set the poles in the hole and...

There was a TV advertisement here some time ago regarding a vintage Chris Craft wooden boat. Beautiful boat, about 70 years old. The owner was talking about it saying "everything on this boat is all original." Then the camera panned to his older wife, wearing a bikini and sunning herself on the...

Your question reminds me of the melt value of nickels sometimes being above the 5 cent face value of the coin. This person bought a million dollars worth of nickels based on that ... https://coinweek.com/the-nickel-hoarding-billionaire/

Is the big sale at REI when they mark everything down to normal retail price? 😄 I love that store but find them a bit pricey ... Our heat has returned, so its back to working outside in the morning then finding something else to do. I was really surprised to read the campground breaker...

I am soon to install a cedar wood fence. I consulted with a professional fence company about size of wood posts. They suggested not doing wood. Their solution is a 2" metal pipe for a post, with 2x4 cedars on one edge and 1x6 cedar on the other dimension. So you get the strength and durability...

Looks a lot like a Blue Heron that fishes in our pond in CA. Nice weather - 55F going to 90F. All the counter culture people at "Burning Man" should have a nice week of weather. Burning Man is not too far from here. We call them the "Burners." It is an annual "pilgrimage" for thousands of...

You have a tendency to sugar coat how things really are, eh? 😄

Hmm I think I also need a permanent guard for the little escape rascal. Actually a permanent wood fence construction is underway. Should look nicer but he won't bounce off a wood fence as well as he did with plastic! 😄

Oh, I wish I had it on video. Wngsprd-- what snake is that? Rigby earned a "Novice Trick Dog Title" ribbon. He is not enrolled in that class, but twice we have let him watch the other dogs from the sidelines to give him positive exposure around other dogs. Yesterday, half the class...

I did not realize how true this is until relocating to Nevada. Now I enjoy all sorts of things going on with the weather. Being on the ""back side" of the Sierra Nevada mountains guarantees quite a variety of weather and I like it.

Same story repeats ... now Elon Musk and X are fleeing San Francisco. I noticed these two quotes in the article: "San Francisco’s long relationship with X is nearly over — and city officials are far from heartbroken. ... Mid-Market is looking better than it did in the depths of the pandemic...

That has also been my experience in California. Probably a consideration is the amount of water a tub can use. The tub I added when we built a new home was 77 gals.

There was snow in the Sierra mountains this weekend. So unusual, never seen that before, sort of like a very hot place freezing over! A cool 38F this morning, headed to 70F. Really nice weather today! I will finish Rigby's new pasture pen today by adding a gate. I made the new fencing more...

Congratulations! Surprisingly cool temps right now-- high today is forecast at 62F. About 45F now. Snow is forecast over the Sierras above 8,000ft. Very unusual. Rigby is big enough where he needs more room to run than just on the fenced lawn. Over the last 2 days I set 40 T-posts in the...

I was surprised from the rescue sheet that the batteries are 1,000 volts.

Not to be left out, NTSB is also now investigating. https://www.kcra.com/article/ntsb-investigating-tesla-semi-crash-fire-i-80-placer-county/61941946

Rescue Sheet from Tesla regarding their big trucks. https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/downloads/2022_SEMI_Emergency_Response_Rescue_Sheet_en.pdf

Got tangled up with responsibilities for a few days and, oh my, how much is going on with everyone!! Good to catch up, read the posts, and hope all are doing well. That's quite a challenge to juggle all of that. Hope you get it worked out and I am sure you will. I cringe when the gold dig...

The accident was reported at Laing road. That is a mild to moderate upslope, not bad. Two lanes eastbound with shoulders on each side. Trucks are usually running full speed at Laing road because the upslope has just started after a pretty long downslope section that lets them build speed. I know...

Now it is being reported that Cal Fire brought in air assets to fight the fire ... https://mynews4.com/news/local/big-rig-fire-closes-portion-of-i-80-near-emigrant-gap#

?????????? Last I saw the CHP was investigating if the driver fell asleep while the truck was rolling down the freeway .... At the Laing road offramp from Fwy 80, I'm pretty sure you are far away from any recharging stations. I don't own and EV and cannot say for sure, but I sure haven't seen...

"The big rig went off eastbound I-80 near the offramp for Laing Road and crashed into trees, CHP logs show." "CHP said they are investigating if the driver fell asleep."

Interstate 80 (I-80) is a major transportation artery over the Sierra mountains nearby. A 2 hour shutdown is considered a major event. In this case the freeway was shut down for 16 hours. Not a small deal. The report I read said people were kept 1/2 mile away due to toxic fumes, and that Tesla...

I will check under the sofa cushions. Maybe one of my past guests dropped one out of their pocket. I certainly don't have any! 😄 "Burning Man" festival will start soon near me in NV. It's always a very interesting week because you bump into all sorts of counter-culture people and vehicles. It...

Very sorry to learn this and prayers for her. My wife's mother went through that years ago. It unfortunately is progressive but fortunately there are some things that can be done along the way that can alleviate things. Yikes. A few days ago, my wife said Rigby swallowed something sort of blue...

I have a Farmi 351P winch and am very satisfied with it. I wish I had experience working with a seasoned operator, but I just go slow and have never had a problem nor anything too "exciting."

Great pix of Sophie! They grow so fast. Yesterday I wrote that pup Rigby practiced his "protective bark" on a buck and some turkeys. All 32lbs of him must not be too fearsome since shortly thereafter they all appeared together for a photo!! Nice weather here-- starting to transition into Fall...

Thanks for all the build pictures. Really enjoy them. Also the pix of the glass cockpit in the Citation. We are at our CA ranch now. From the safety of the patio, Rigby practiced his "protective bark" looking at a large buck with a doe yesterday evening. Then repeated it this morning as 5...

Why didn't he just back the tractor off and let the rear wheels of the truck come back down? At least he had the foresight to have the emergency flashers on. 😄

Really enjoy all the pictures. Keep them coming! Headed to our CA ranch today. I will check trail cams to see if I have any wildlife pix to share .... Rigby did better at puppy class yesterday, a relief. Good interactions with other pups but still not 100% confidence. We turned him loose in a...

50F headed to 85F today. Rigby has a puppy training session this morning. We are hoping he will overcome fear of other puppies and dogs. We've been trying things to help with that-- he is totally fine with people, just fearful of other dogs. Everyone have a great day !!!

Be careful and don't run anyone off the road! 😄 Beautiful weather-- 55F going to 90F today. I'm going to tackle the impossible-- cleaning and organizing the garage. It has years of accumulated "stuff" so no telling what I will find in there. Everyone have a great day !!!

Found another pix of the Pantera from a different car show. We took our previous Golden Retriever to that car show. At that time, he was pretty close to the age Rigby is now. They even look similar but Rigby is a little darker. Tragically, we lost him at the end of last year. He was the...

Nice Pantera! OK could not resist ... pix from car show a while ago ... mine is the red one on the left.

Excellent picture! Water pictures are always fun. Thanks for sharing! On Sunday we took Rigby to a "tricks" dog training class. He is not part of that class-- we took him just so he could sit on the sidelines and watch. We are trying to overcome his fear of other dogs with positive exposures...

Just call it a "wheelie caster" like they have at the dragstrip behind funny cars. 😄

Ford reported losing $132,000 for every electric vehicle it produced. If the segment is not profitable now, how is going to change once China's BYD low cost EV's start entering the US market and start pushing prices even lower...

Back in NV where it is a cool 55F. Feels great, going to 93F today. Bill, that e-trike sure looks impressive. I looked up the manufacturer website and they had a very good explanation of its many features. And the battery diagram was interesting-- so many smaller batteries joined together. Will...

Agreed. My high school class reunion committee sent out a list of my former classmates sorted by living versus deceased. The deceased category was amazingly large. Still in smoky CA but headed home to NV today. About 65F going to mid-90's, not bad except for smoke. I'll tow my new Aluma tilt...

Back in CA now. Friends are here, staying in their RV. Security cams showed that at 5:15am a large cougar walked right up to their RV then went under it. That was about 30 mins before they got up and stepped out. Not to mention they have a small dog-- ahhhhh. Rigby did better in training...

Glad both of you have improved this much. Last week, wife and I each had a sore throat for a few days plus mild fatigue. I think we had a mild dose. It's odd when you have an illness where you can lay down for 20 mins, then feel normal, and say: "I need to get up and get to work!" But then...

We have knob and tube in the old farmhouse. Plus added romex. Much of it is a wiring mess-- opened a wiring junction box and found 4-5 black wires (hot) also connected to one green wire. Green is typically ground but not for whoever wired THAT up. lol Wife and I are back in NV this morning for...

Sorry to learn that RNG. I recently contributed to this problem although I didn't want to. A tree went through the roof of our ski cabin. I thought about DIY repair but eventually did turn it into insurance. Wow. $57,000 claim is their estimate just so far. Prices for construction in rural areas...

Until the recent forum brouhaha over "likes," I had no idea my post about Big Boy Locomotive generated 20 likes. Or such things are even ranked or scored like that. I went looking-- did find that part of the forum-- thank you to all. It was a nice reminder of how lucky I was to see an icon of...

Are these 1157 incandescent bulbs or LED?

Maybe "do your own thing" applies to cops too ... 😀

I wrote earlier that the City of Berkeley, CA tried to expand the DUI checkpoints to search the detained vehicles for weapons. The officials were requiring drivers to open compartments and pop the trunks for inspection. It went to court and was deemed unreasonable search and seizure.

There was a class action lawsuit against Watts over this. They sold rubber supply hoses for washing machines, with a phony metal braid that was apparently ornamental only. Lots of those failed and caused extensive damage. Ask me how I know. 😀

Really glad we don't have to worry about typical violations. Only egregious ones! 😀

Oddly enough, if you can believe it, home inspectors are not required to be licensed in CA. Somehow the "land of regulation nation" has overlooked this. I learned this when a would-be scammer home inspector, working in tandem with the buyer, was brought in to the sale of my residence in CA. He...

I've watched the meddling hand of government regulation screw so many things up .... If this passes, an instant population boom. Then roads will be inadequate, grocery stores will be inadequate, power inadequate, increased winter accidents from people who don't know how to drive in ice and...

According to the story, Tahoe property owners are pushing back against the proposed parcel tax if not occupied frequently enough. This is the first I have heard it must also be a legal domicile where you are registered to vote, or you get taxed. Never heard of that? But here is the catch: it...

Very creative and looks great. Quite impressive .... 65F going to 85F with a scattered thunderstorm in the forecast. I read about rain elsewhere ... but on the West Coast once the rain stops after Spring it's pretty much done until Fall. Everything is now solid brown except what is irrigated...

I've always carried $1k deductible on policies. Like someone else wrote I found very little savings going above $1k. Had a tree go through the roof of our ski cabin this past winter. Contemplated whether to fix it myself, out-of-pocket, or turn it into insurance. Insurance is so difficult to...

Here we go again ... After 100 years of being headquartered in CA, Chevron announced it is moving to Texas and taking 2,000 jobs with it. I guess being repeatedly sued by the State of CA was considered "unfriendly?"...

Couple of quick things regarding spam calls: 1. I set my iPhone to ring only if the caller is in my Contacts list. That makes a huge difference since unknown numbers no longer ring. 98% of spammers do not leave messages. 2. If you really want to get nasty, here is a trick. Get a whistle-- a...

If traveling in an RV and looking for looney toons, grab a ticket to Burning Man festival in Nevada! Pix below. Oh yes this RV is a rental ... 68F going to a smoky 98F here today. Smoke is tolerable-- for everyone's sake I hope they get that fire out. We will be in it all next week at our CA...

Here is the location: Hawkins says the other ruling now requires that the exact location of a checkpoint be revealed at least two hours ahead of time. It’s set up on Highway 174, between Clark and Henderson Streets. The checkpoint is from 6 this evening until 2am on Friday.

San Francisco mayor proposes $400 cash each month "extra bonus" for welfare recipients. Requirement? Stay sober ... https://nypost.com/2024/08/01/us-news/san-francisco-mayor-london-breed-proposes-giving-extra-100-a-week-to-welfare-recipients-to-stay-sober/

How to lose your constitutional rights, one chip at a time ..... Grass Valley, CA PD just announced an upcoming traffic blockade which will check for DUI. That is common now, but this time they are adding: "aggressive driver license checks." Brief history: 1. DUI police...

I sympathize with those who have to deal with humidity. 65F going to 100F today. A little humidity today, enough for a threat of thunderstorms, but not like the midwest. Since Rigby is/was small I built a temporary fence on the lawn to keep him away from foxtails. Pvc pipe and plastic netting...

Good morning! Let Rigby out at 4:15am and smelled smoke. Then I remembered the wind was supposed to shift and blow the smoke from the Park fire toward us in Nevada. It did. Can you believe some idiot purposely caused the fire? It's raging out of control. One person responsible for incredible...

Wooly Bully! :D Agreed 110% Had two small ribbon snakes in the yard recently. Fortunately Rigby did not see either one! Rigby's formal obedience training starts on Thursday. He already knows commands like sit, stay, down, and roll over. We enjoy training him and he likes to learn and get...

It was one reason for going to 12V refer. The other was better cooling in hot weather. Compressor does much better than ammonia / absorption. On a 100F day, the original Norcold refer temp would rise to 58F. We were leery of eating the food after that. That would be fantastic. Surprised she did...

In case any RV owners are interested, here is my motorhome refrig modified to a 12v compressor unit. The new 12v compressors draw less power than the old ones did. The factory Norcold refrig was terrible. So I replaced the "guts" on the back of it-- converting from ammonia / absorption to...

That is a gracious way to look at it. Thieves are the bottom feeders of society and I wish there was more instant karma for them. Sorry you lost the equipment. A cool 55F this morning, headed to 90F today. I tested the motorhome's new 12v compressor/refrigerator by running it solely off the...

That's a great picture Scott. You are a lucky man! Contractor finished the RV lithium battery upgrade yesterday. He returns this morning to walk me through everything that was changed. He seems to be a perfectionist so everything he installed looks nice and tidy. Lithium batteries can accept...

Ron, isn't it strange how variable wildlife can be? I've noticed many species at our property that seem ebb and flow, appear and disappear, seemingly without reason. Today is the last of the motorhome upgrades. Upgrade to lithium batteries and a supplemental Victron battery charger. It's...

I bought an aluminum trailer!! An Aluma 8216 anniversary model 16 foot tilt trailer. So, good bad right or wrong I will try it out and see how it goes. My missions for it will be to haul a Honda Fit, a Can Am Defender ATV, and assorted small tractors and equipment. I bounced back and forth...

Puppies can generate a lot of excitement. Good and bad. 6pm last night, right before a Zoom call with breeder, wife took Rigby out back, came back and said: "Rigby ate something. I don't know what it was but there are some maggots crawling around where he ate." Oh great. I looked at the area...

That is a very nasty last minute high risk change. It happens often, but that doesn't reduce the risks involved. For example: are you prepared to purchase a landlord's insurance policy to cover a catastrophic loss, such as if they burn the house down in the 7 day period while you own it and are...

Was in CA last night. Rigby needed out at midnight and at 4. Was on maximum cougar alert based on recent sighting. L4N I’m with ya re: the vampire. Sitting here at Quest waiting to be jabbed. Little sleep, then a jab before coffee!! Everyone have a great day!!!

Agreed and thanks for posting. I appreciate the kind words about the Big Boy Locomotive video. My friend and I were so lucky to see it. A few hours ago, a cougar visited our ranch house in CA. Based on slightly smaller size, I think this is a cub I saw earlier this year. Even so, it's bigger...

I figured out how to post a video to Youtube and the link is below. Here is the Big Boy Locomotive video from last week in Elko, NV. Such an awesome sight and my friend and I were lucky to see it!

That is spectacular! Nice job ...

You had top of the line Oldsmobiles!! Bet you wish you still had them. My '70 Olds Cutlass excelled at one thing-- burning gas. Even at cheap gas prices I noticed how much it cost to run that. Headed to 97F today. This has been a very hot summer in the Western USA. Difficult to keep up with...

Agreed. I don't recall ever seeing a Norton Commando with a fairing but it looks very nice! Headed back to 100F today. Lots of 100F days this year which is unusual since it is only July. At least it's a dry heat. I sympathize with those who have high heat and high humidity. Been in that while...

I've bought real estate and paid high, paid low, bought in rising markets and falling ones. One property I bought sold for $3,000 less than what I paid. It was the odd duck in the bunch and if I had held it the property would be worth 3x or 4x now compared to what I paid. All the others were...

Nicest motorcycle I ever had was a Norton 850 Commando. Wasn't the best at everything, but was powerful, sounded great, and handled well. Forecast back to 100F today. Aahhh, it was nicer in the low 90's. Rigby and I just enjoyed sitting on the patio watching the sun come up while it is cool...

Can't get a video posted but I will look into it. Here is a pix from the video ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Big_Boy

Well, only about 1,000 ... 😀

Good morning all, The Great Big Boy Locomotive chase was a success!! A friend of mine and I did a crazy thing yesterday of driving over 1,000 miles to pick up a trailer in Utah and return back to Nevada. We were trying to sync up our driving schedule to connect up with Big Boy-- and it...

Very sorry to learn this LS. Been down that road, not as severe, but it's a tough journey. Prayers for his quality treatment and recovery. Wngs, Della is getting huge! Nice water pix! Same for Rigby-- we have had him a little over a month and he has gone from 12lbs to 26lbs. Buppies-- glad...

Yikes that sounds scary to say the least ... Have a safe trip Buppies ... Weather has moderated a lot here, mostly due to some cloud cover. Forecast for 93F-- much cooler than 105F recently. Might see Big Boy locomotive after all! Tomorrow at first light, a friend and I are heading eastbound...

We have a father in our neighborhood that drives a 3-wheeler with his child on his lap. Twisty dirt road with vehicle traffic. Everyone in the neighborhood is holding their breath. One person commented to him about it, and he got in their face with heated comments.

Ron, nice pix! Presume a woodpecker with strong beak and red head? Oh it was wonderful here yesterday with cloud cover and an occasional thunderstorm. Temps in the mid-80's after so many 100F+ days. Going to 93F today. A disappointment-- Big Boy locomotive did not make it here yesterday for a...

Glad you and Della had a good experience. Rigby is settling into a pattern. Out at 4am to conduct a few "transactions." Then back into his pen until daylight. Then out for the day. Works well since I am up at 4 anyway. My wife gets a couple extra hours of sleep. Forecast for 90F with...

Might be a little difficult to digest a diamond studded collar. 😀

Hard to say we beat the streak of 100F days when today's forecast is for 99F. Oh well I guess you take what you can get!! Surprising how different weather patterns are. In CA and NV, once summer sets in there is virtually zero rain until Fall. So that also means at some point you are done...

Yes it is! We have "Big Boy" in Northern Nevada on Sunday. Going to go see it! https://mynews4.com/news/local/sparks-hosts-free-viewing-of-big-boy-the-worlds-largest-steam-locomotive-on-sunday#

I followed a big rig / car hauler full of junked wrecked vehicles on Interstate 80 a few years ago. Various parts were falling off the wrecked vehicles and then skidding down the freeway in trail. I had to dodge several parts. After one large chunk of sheet metal flew off the truck I called the...

Here is one of two Marmots that were recently on my property. I trapped them in a drainage pipe by sealing off the only exit. Then dropped rat poison in through the drain grate. btw-- that is an 8" pipe and those are 12" pliers in the pix. Today is our last forecasted day of over 100F. Just in...

Dang it sounds like lots of thunderstorms, and some rain, in so many places. Oh, for some rain! It's so, so dry here ... 103F again today. We stopped the days of 105F or higher at four. Still a couple more hot days then it cools down. Everyone have a great day!!

I believe there is a lot of diverse versions of foxtail. The type on the bottom of the picture is what the veterinarian dug out of our pup's ear.

Where does the madness end? A retailer gets threatened with a fine for reporting retail theft? It takes a new law to prevent harassment for reporting a crime?

It's "free" for the muni PD or Sheriff to write a citation. But gets quite expensive trying to go to court and overturn against a presumption of guilt by being the landowner.

I looked up the ordinance. Here is the wording. As with any, if fireworks are going off, it's easy to cite the property owner then let them pay the money and expense to go battle that they had no idea who was going to do what. “Host,” as it relates to this ordinance, means a person who...

Well, there goes due process and presumption of innocence again ..... I've never heard of a "social host ordinance"-- but apparently Sacramento County, CA has passed one. From the article: "As illegal fireworks for yet another year lit up the sky over the Sacramento region on the Fourth of...

Nice pix-- thanks! I've been lucky to live in towns with good locomotive museums. Carson City, NV is not far and it has a very good locomotive museum. The craftsmanship is outstanding both on the engines and the passenger cars. Northern Nevada broke a record yesterday-- 4 straight days of 105F...

Not sure of your setup but if it was me I'd be taking some precautions against whiplash if some came out and then it broke. But then again I don't know if aluminum stretches or not.