ATVs and Dogs

I got to ride my ATV yesterday... had to chase two moron dogs around the block. Let them off the chains to bring them back into the house, they immediately made a run for the end of the driveway. Bear and Shy came racing back when I called them, good puppies, but Lucky and BeBe ignored me (not surprising since they're actually my nephew's dogs, not mine). They went tumbling down the street and I had to run after them. Realizing they were not going to come back when called, I dashed back home and got the ATV and a chain. No gloves, so hands got *COLD* and it was all for nothing.

I ran down the road to where they had last been seen, followed the prints in snow down side road, lost them when they went into woods where the ATV would not fit. Okay, it was at least pointed back toward house so I went around again and there was moron in the driveway, his sister was out back tearing up some trash she had found. Sometimes I think it's a shame you can't spank a dog and tell them not to do something again, but that never gets anything but a cowardly animal, so I'm moving to stage two. They get on leash between here and their tieout until they learn to behave as nicely as Bear and Shy do.

At least I got to ride the ATV though, which made me very happy all things considered.

Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tools

I suppose I am lucky to have grown up with parents that had no fear diving straight into the task of building their own home when needed. I have helped in the building of several homes over the years, as well as a good number of sheds and other building projects.

I've found that many people look at power tools in an uneasy manner, but I look at power tools and think how cool they are. The range of Pneumatic tools from Stanley Bostitch only emphasizes this. From a wide range of Nailers to staplers, box closers, specialty Pneumatic tools... if you have a spring construction or remolding project, then chances are there is a Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tool that can help you get the job done.

Not just for construction, Stanley Bostitch also has tools for industrial and home improvement use. Stop by the website above, www.bostitch.co.uk, and explore all of the various Stanley Bostitch Pneumatic tools they have to offer.

Lots of things to get done around here this summer

As I sit here watching the snow melt off the work shop out in the yard, I think of all the work that needs to be done around the place this summer. There was a lot of things that got neglected the past few years, weather or taking care of family getting in the way of taking care of things around here. That needs to change this year, so I'm making a list of things I want to get done, and what I need to get them things done.

Eager to get out there and ride the ATV again

I came very close to riding the ATV up to check the mail today, but decided that without a snowsuit it is just too cold to take off riding around even in the spring time. The temperature outside right now is 37 degrees F and dropping, but it is still warm enough that the snow is melting off the roof of the workshop for what I think is the first time this year. Not much longer, then I will be able to ride my ATV all over the place once again - and oh gawd I can not wait for that.

"Hey, bub, wanna buy your own snowmachine?"

Okay, so maybe that's not how it went exactly, but I really did have to wonder how the conversation went when I read the Daily News this morning and reached the small article on page A-4, where the Alaska Digest section reported on a Sterling lad that allegedly tried to sell a man's stolen snow machine back to the owner.

The blurb was not exactly detailed, at least not detailed enough for me, so I went looking for more information. I found the report of the theft buried in the Trooper Dispatches for March 22, 2009.

According to the report, the 2003 Polaris Pro-X 700, with an estimated value of around $4,000, was hotwired sometime during the night of March 17 or early morning of the 18th while it was in the owner's yard at his residence near Sterling.

Additional digging through the dispatches uncovered some details of the arrest that the Daily News had failed to note. Such as the detail that the kid who was arrested on Monday under charges that he tried to sell the snow machine, valued at $4,000, back to the owner was asking for $100.

No, that's not missing a zero, not unless the Trooper's lost one too. The kid was asking the owner for a hundred bucks. ::shaking head::

Motorcycle Community: Cruisers

I'm sure that I am not the only one that slows down to take a nice admiring look at those pretty cruisers that we all see in the summer. The sleek motorcycles with the raked out springer front end. Paint that catches the eye with stylish designs and artwork that ranges from flames to eagles and everywhere in between.

I may not be the kind to hop on a cruiser for the weekend, preferring to explore the back trails on my nice muddy ATV, but that does not mean I don't admire the cruisers and daydream of riding a sleek Harley down the Alcan Highway.

For those of you who do have sleek cruisers waiting for spring, the motorcycle community at Cruiser Customizing offers a place where you can connect with other motorcycle riders who share your passion, upload unlimited videos and pictures, share your stories with a like-minded community and lots more.

Membership is free, so check out the Cruiser Customizing community while you wait for the snow to melt.

Su Valley Winter Trail: Big Lake to Denali National Park

I'm sorry for the delay in getting this up, yesterday was a hectic and overly long day of sitting in the optometrist's office waiting for them to see my dad to try and get him some new glasses. By the time I stopped by Wal Mart and got home I did not even want to look at the computer, much less do research on it. I got my work done and went to bed.

But! I really want to look more into this Big Lake to Denali National Park snowmachine trail, so let's see what they have going there.

..... okay.... after much research I have come to a conclusion. Even the snowmachine websites are hush hush on this one. Or do not yet know about it. Hmmm...

Okay, not even the DNR website has anything on this trail yet, ::snickering:: So, back to the Frontiersman and Daily News Websites for more information on the Su Valley Winter Trail... okay, make that to the Frontiersman, since ADN only links to the article in the Frontiersman.

I'm nothing if not persistent. - aka: GOT IT!!!

Here we go folks, the origin of the information for the Susitna Corridor Trail Project can be found at the WACO AK website... look under "trail news". Unfortunately they tell you to "Check the State Parks web site for maps and information." Great advice, but in an hour of looking I am still missing this information, so...

Maybe I didn't get it. While the name keeps changing based on where I look, and there seems to be virtually no information out there on this trail, here is what I can compile...

Su Valley Winter Trail
AKA: Susitna Corridor Trail Project

Length: 120 miles
Location: Susitna Valley
Connecting: Big Lake to Denali National Park
Trail heads:
Big Lake North Shore Recreational Area
Mile 131 Parks Highway Parking Lot
Condition: Groomed, signed, mapped and marked trail
Open to: Snowmachines
Trail Open: March 14th (see below)
Trail map: Trail Map (I will work on a map for Google maps when I have more time, for now this one is only one I can find.)

The official opening for the Su Valley Winter Trail will be March 14th. Riders will gather at the trail heads in both Big Lake and at mile 131, for a 10 a.m. departure for the grand opening dedication ceremony. The dedication is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. at Ron's Riverboat Lodge at the Susitna Landing.

Big Lake's Chamber of Commerce Secretary Dee Loesche told the Frontiersman that Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to be there to cut the ribbon, otherwise there is not much known about possible events that might be scheduled. Although it sounds like there will be vendor demonstrations and maybe maps to be passed out.

The trail has been made possible by funds given, as grants, to the area snowmachine groups and snow machine registration fees that go toward such projects.

Want to help dedicate the trail? Those interested in joining the fun are welcome, according to Loesche, to join in at any of the many access points along the trail.

I will not be on hand, however, I will hopefully be able to send a few spie... err... emmassaries that will let me know what they think of the trail. We'll see how the people with the snowmachines feel about taking a trip, and maybe a camera or two. Those of you that can participate, have fun and ride safe.

Big Lake to Denali snow machine trail

The Big Lake to Denali National Park snow machine trail is set to be dedicated March 14th in a ride along that will start at each end of the 125-mile trail and meet up at the Ron's Riverboat Lodge at 2 p.m. for the official dedication.

I'm running late getting to a appointment right now, so will research this more in depth later tonight and post full details complete with a map of the proposed route so that anyone wishing to ride along for the trail dedication will know where they need to go. So check back this evening for more details.