Wake up Blogger

Just another 'fake' post to let blogger know that I did publish a new blog yesterday - which it completely ignored.  So - please read the previous blog!!!!

Right on Schedule ;-)

It appears that I am exceeding my goal of blogging at least once a month during the summer!  But only by the narrowest of margins.

First, a young moose that was hanging around the home place, browsing it’s way along the river bank. 

My number got drawn again for an all expenses (and wages) paid  trip into the northern foothills for some fire tower work.  This time it was two separate towers for about a week each.  Both were drive-in locations, so Hailey’s helicopter flight count is holding at eight.

But drive-in locations are good because you don’t have to leave any essentials behind, as sometimes happens with a fly-in location.  The first place we were at was a brand new 100’ tower, with even a distant lake view.

As a bonus, it was on ‘real’ electrical power.  Fire hazard was generally low, so there was not much action in the area.  On the ground, there were a couple of visitors that paid us a call.

As usual, Hailey did her best to assist in the record keeping and fire weather index calculations each day!

The next tower was only an eighty footer, and one of the oldest variety.

Like many of the lookouts, it is located alongside a (now decommissioned) airstrip

 

Lots of oil, gas and logging activity in the area, but not a smoke to be seen.

Between lookouts, we had a room at one of the fire bases, but Hailey wasn’t welcome there, so we set up the tent and stayed there instead.  Though she camps almost full time in the 5th wheel or camper, it was her first time tent camping.

Had a few days off, so we trucked on over to Drumheller area to camp out with some friends.  Apparently, the only photos I took were from the small ferry we were on just north of town.

And nearer to home, with the lawnmower finally repaired and the grass all cut, the deck finally finished, there was time for a quick paddle on a local lake.  Check out the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hertBSN5igY

Nothing to blog about here!

Decided that I’d better manufacture a blog posting, just so everyone doesn’t think that I’ve fallen off the map or moved to Outer Mongolia for a spell.

But really, there has been very little happening.  Just boring work in the fire camp, and some exciting deck building at home on days off …

Of course, I did take a few photos …

The deck re-construction project got back underway.  Still needs railing and stairs – maybe by September?

The time-lapse of the deck project refused to load in a timely fashion 

Meanwhile, back in camp, the flowers were blooming.  Strangely, very few mosquitoes (so far) this year.

One day I found this coyote pup laying right beside the road, and only 100 yds from my house.  I pulled up alongside with my diesel truck running and he didn’t even move.  At first I thought perhaps he was injured, but as soon as I opened the truck door, he was up in a flash and dived into the end of a nearby culvert.  Just young, and unafraid.  I caught a glimpse of another sibling who was much more shy and would not come out of the culvert while I was there.

A couple of days later I was walking in the area and spotted something in the tall grass …

Their den is nearby, but they seem to spend most of their time hanging around alternate dens (culverts), waiting for parents to come back with a fat gopher  for them.

Around that time there was some severe weather in the area, including a tornado or two that touched down not too far away.  Fortunately, little damage resulted. These shots were taken at sunset.

Video time-lapse of storm these clouds building!

Check out the video above, or else.  Just spent an hour getting it uploaded on a very slow connection, and then Youtube tells me that I’ve ALREADY uploaded it!

 

Nope, that’s not my house exploding.

One day at home Hailey was minding her own business, walking across the kitchen table (!), when without warning, one of the placemats leapt up to attack her!

The battle was vicious, the placemat showed no mercy.  It had her pinned down a couple of times, but eventually, she came out the winner!

That’s all for this time.