Yeah, retirement. I am way out ahead of the people who don't know what day of the week it is. I was like that years ago.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I don't know what retirement feels like. But lately I know what semi-retirement feels like
I could not wait till Taco Tuesday
El Loro Authentic Mexican curbside on a bloody Monday.
The glass table is for more than just modeling. Burritos Rancheros with Spanish rice, two Hard Shell Tacos with rice and beans
Nobody will ever take Judy and my Special Monday Lunch away, ... Not on my watch!
TF
Good morning from the not so wild West where it is sunny but cooler than it has been, currently 12c.
We had at least a dozen Bald Eagles circling over the house this morning eyeing the two 7 week old puppies we have. There is no way we can leave them out unattended or they would be gone.
Not a lot going on today, I have a video conference with a lawyer about this estate I am responsible for and that is about it, what a nightmare it is becoming from a legal standpoint, it is sure burning through her estate that is for sure, good thing there are the assets to cover it.
I have spent a fair bit of time in the Rockies and fortunately for me my wife and kids would rather go to the more remote parts of the country and hike with the dogs rather than stand in line for an hour with a bunch of hot, sweaty people for a two minute ride at some amusment park. The kids do not mind at all not having cell phone service for days at a time, they will be the first to admit how rejuvinated they feel when we do get home as their brains actually got to slow down for a rest.
One morning on one of our trips up near Glacier I hopped on my mountain bike and rode for miles along the C.P. mainline. Riding along between the illecillewaet river and the tracks, off to my left a Grizzly was about 20 metres away down in the river having a drink so I decided to just keep peddling Eventually I stopped and found a nice rocky perch to park my butt on to watch the mainline action. Out of the blue I could hear the unmistakable sound of a steam whistle and thought "no way" I had no idea but 2816 was coming through to the West Coast that day and I had a perfect seat on a rocky bluff to watch with not a soul within miles that I would have to elbow out of the way.
It must have taken close to an hour from the time I heard the first faint whistle until she past and was over all to fast. It was without a doubt the best train watchin day I have ever had. I did have to ride back to camp and was hoping the bear was gone from where I had seen him and he was, although I made sure I had a full head of steam approaching the area. It was one of the few times I did not have my bear spray with me.
Here is a video of my favourite part of the world with some good music to boot. Go to full screen and turn the sound up.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Sooo cute!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
BATMAN I did have to ride back to camp and was hoping the bear was gone It was one of the few times I did not have my bear spray with me.
I did have to ride back to camp and was hoping the bear was gone It was one of the few times I did not have my bear spray with me.
Oh come on Brent! Your Batman for crying out loud. I've been under the impression all these years a Superhero has a spray and a repellent for everything!
Image from Batman the series.
From now on you must remember to have Robin pack the bear spray when you venture out into the woods Brent
I did enjoy your story, Thanks
Track fiddlerFrom now on you must remember to have Robin pack the bear spray when you venture out into the woods Brent
TF,
My usual Rocky Mountain kit. We also will have bear bangers if we go in spring when they are really hungry.
Found out this morning that some miscreants broke into my house in Mississippi , the busted through the glass window in the back door and go in, we don't know what they did or if they got anything as I cannot go down there yet. I do have someone boarding up the door.
MLC: That is terrible news. I hope it does not become a huge headache for you to deal with.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
MLC
It's too bad Mille Lacs Lake dock house security systems of the late 60s early 70s we're outlawed
They were very effective stopping outboard motor theft back then. These security systems would still be a very effective today if criminals didn't have more rights than the violated.
House demolition is done and the dumpster is finally out of my driveway.
This is what we have, I guess it is not all the way done, I still have about 120 square feet of thin set to get off the slab.
Kevin looking great, although I hate demolition. Too much dust!
I have an elating story for you. I went to the post office today and my usual guy took care of me. After I explained to him my eBay order came from Florida sent to me is being sent back to Florida, he smiled and believed me because I look like an honest guy and he pulled some strings. Your package is being sent down for $3.89 or something like that.
The only drawback is he said it's going to have to catch a plane and won't be there for 6 days, that's okay though it's still the same when it gets there
So, no mold anywhere? Lots of work!
Brent, that was excellent! I'll have to remember Michael Cusson, and see what other music and scores he's done. Ranks right up there with Hans Zimmer, as far as I'm concerned.
Oh, and, tell who ever owns the farm buildings @6:40, I'll take them down for him, I have a use for reclaimed wood. I'll get those old things out of their way.....
Mike.
My You Tube
Track fiddlerKevin looking great, although I hate demolition. Too much dust!
There is dust on everything in my house. In the picture what you see will become the Master Bedroom, Master Bath, and my wife's Walk in Closet. My closet wil be claimed from the living room later.
I will let you know when it shows up.
mbinsewiSo, no mold anywhere? Lots of work!
Nothing. No mold, mildew, termites, carpenter ants, rot, or cracks anywhere. That was all very pleasent to find out.
The only surprise was the Gecko eggs in the wall.
There is one load-bearing post in the wrong place. The contractor putting in my new rear door is going to have the engineer look at it for a solution.
SeeYou190 I will let you know when it shows up.
K....
So more news on my South House. It appears the only damage done was to the door, nothing inside was touched or moved or messed up that we can tell from pictures sent. So that is good news. Bad news is I have to get a new door.
I just don't have anything to steal down there for this very reason.
mbinsewiBrent, that was excellent! I'll have to remember Michael Cusson, and see what other music and scores he's done
Glad you enjoyed it Mike, I never get tired of that watching The Rocky Mountain Express.
There are a couple more snippets that don't do the movie justice. This one talks about the loco's hitting a hundred miles an hour heading down the East side of the Rockies. If you manage to see a "making of" video they talk about how the deseasal chaser engine could not keep up with 2816 and gave up trying.
And then there is Peter, Paul and Marys' contribution.
I have been doing renos myself and have been held up by not being able to get the shower pan I ordered. The layout has been covered as there is no escaping the dust. It use to be covered in Pepsi cans to hold the plastic in place but as the Rum flows the pepsi cans have been disappearing.
Had a long talk with the lawyer on our plan of attack to deal with the U.S. banks that have no idea of the legal treaties in place between Canada and the U.S. I think Bank of America is the most stupid institution I ever ever dealt with in my life. Wells Fargo is without a doubt the best of the five I am dealing with and the others are not too bad either. Time for a walk as it is now 18c in the sunshine.
Afternoon Diners
Flo, give the gang a Ed a crown royal, I take a and a unemployment check and give Dirk a half a dog treat.
Police shut down our store Sunday! Marvin try to convince the Police Lieutenant for 45 minutes we where a Essential Business. Boy I bet the cop was just rolling his eyes and shaking his head listing to Marvin over the phone.
Mixed feeling about being out of work.
Timing, good and bad. I haven been doing good on paying down bills and saving some money. Right now I could go 19 weeks with no pay check. That does not count any unemployment I may get.
Bad I was ready to apply for the Home Equity Loan for need repairs. Not sure what I am going to do there?
Personally I am glad the store was shut down. Fewer pepole I have to inteact with, the better!
Brent Dang Puppies are cute!
LMC Sorry to hear about the door.
Going to sit outside with Dirk, so later Ken and Dirk say's Woof, Woof.
I hate Rust
There was a thread about multiple tracks on a bridge, well here is a bridge with more than one track on it over the river Thames.
Howdy!
Brent, That puppy is the cutest thing I have seen in ages!!! Too bad I don't want to add a pet in my life at the moment. I would buy that little puppy from you folks in a minute!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
I am amused that someone in the state of Maryland thought to do a study. Can an electric ferry substitute for a 3rd Bay Bridge. There is a dual span at the mouth of the pay form Norfolk to the eastern shore. There is also a dual span, a 2 lane 1952 bridge and and a 3 lane 1970's bridge acrosss the middle of the bay.Since the last bridge was built, the Eastern shore had become a bedroom community for Annapolis and D.C. the the ocean front is now wall to wall multistory condos.
The study concluded there are no electric ferries big enough to accomplish the goal. The news reports didn't even mention how long it takes to load and unload a ferry, compared to zipping across the bridge at 50 mph.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I'm out for a while. Not just because of certain circumstances, could be an anxiety disorder
Another Monday almost out of the way
I hope everyone is getting along OK.
While spending time on the layout I have been transferring some of my old 8mm movies to digital formats. I've been uncovering some fun stuff.
Here's a few screen-grabs from a memorable trip my dad took me on from, IIRC, Windsor to Chatham, then Sarnia, Ontario.
6218_Chatham-curve by Edmund, on Flickr
Yes, I got a little ham-it-up time in
6218_Chatham-pilot by Edmund, on Flickr
and even an invite up to the cab!
6218_Chatham-cab by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm hoping Rapido gets a chance to make some of these beautiful U-class Confederation engines!
CN ran some fantastic steam fan trips and they were lots of fun to be part of. I remember we were permitted to wander all over the yards like a bunch of curious kids (um, well, I really was a curious kid)
Fun Stuff!
Cheers, Ed
Great looking pictures Ed!
I opened up my mail from Friday. I received a package with nine brass signals I bought on an eBay auction. These are nifty, and I am happy I won this auction.
I only needed 7, so I have two spares. These will be great on my layout, and one more of the "must have" items has been checked off.
I am very glad I held off on making this purchase until exactly what I wanted became available.
Ray, we have two at the house for evaluation right now and they were planned and spoken for a long time ago. They are both destined for other parts of the planet, however, with the current situation in the world, getting them to their new homes is going to be challenging as the new owners need to come get them. I think the one in the first Pic is going to Italy.
It is always a fight for good couch space at our house.
Nice looking signals Kevin.
We have new neighbors across the road... renters.
The house was rented by an older couple, not much older, but retirement age.
Unfortunately, they are in the current group of retirees, which is not a good group at all. They have a Harley-Davidson Tricycle and a Hellcat Challenger in the garage. Right now they have all their windows open blasting Foghat and Jethro Tull.
We have two new burnout marks on the road, I didn't see them get there, but I think I know who did it.
I know a lot of people on here like to complain about Millennials and GEN-Z, just let me say this... take a look in the mirror at our generations... we are not following the examples of the retirement groups that came before us. This group behaves as badly as any younger generation.
I can't imagine in 10-15 years when we Generation "X" people start to retire in mass. We'll be all dressed like extras from the Thriller video and blasting Van Halen at 2:00 AM. I can't wait for the "retro" Novas, Vegas, Mavericks, and Pintos to come out so we can relive our High School days.
Right now I am listening to the Pal Joey album by Frank Sinatra on my I-Tunes and wishing that the World War 2 generation was still with us and retired. That generation had class and knew how to retire in style.
The following was off-topic in a different thread... moving it to the diner.
fmilhauptIn recent years, he and one of his buddies would buy a table at the two local train shows just to have a place to sit, put out one or two items that might nearly pay for the table if they sold, and just have a place to sit and talk with friends as they came by.
I do pretty much the same thing at the Scale Rails of Southwest Florida annual train show in Fort Myers. I get a table for $40.00, and Randy and I sit there and talk to old friends and probably don't sell anything.
That sucks
My burnout stripe is much longer than my friend Erv's with the blower on his hood.
I had him send a pic to me today.
I'm kind of proud of it too because I didn't red line.
His is on the left from a 4-4-2 Olds, Mine is on the right from a 351 Windsor,
Canadian that is to you
P.S. When I got up to County Road 42 I noticed everybody at the intersection was laughing and I didn't understand why Erv told me his wife was coming back from the Chinese restaurant and it looked like Cheech and Chong was in my car from all the smoke coming out
SeeYou190We have new neighbors across the road... renters.
Kevin,
I am sorry to hear that you have just gained some less than considerate neighbours. I'm sure you have noise bylaws so if they keep it up all night then call the cops!
The house next door was turned into rental units a few years ago. Fortunately so far the tenants have been pretty quiet. Of course, that can change any time. Actually, we used to have to call the cops on a regular basis because of the original owners so I guess we are better off with the renters.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Kevin
I'm sorry to hear you may have a problem neighbor
Although Scottish I am you may have noticed my Italian last name from my Great Grandfather that adopted my Grandfather
If you have any problem that persists, ... I can take care of that for you
Nothing too serious of course
gotcha, ... neighbor problems can be troublesome! I've had my share. I hope things get better for ya.
Hopefully it is just a move in day celebration, but I really do not like the look of that Hellcat. It is 1:45 AM and now I have two neighbors blasting music.
The police still are not repsonding to anything other than emergencies, and all code enforcement has been suspended.
Maybe tomorrow I will post pictures of the way my neighborhood has been turning into a dump in just six weeks.
There really is only a weak rusty pin holding our decency and humanity together.
Maybe that is too extreme. This is really only the second loud night we have had since the lock-down began.
I like where I am for the most part. I can wander out from the house a few hundred feet at midnight with a rum and Pepsi and lay down on the lawn and watch the heavens with nothing but dead silence for my ears. Of course once the old dog next to me starts snoring it is a different story, but by then my drink is usually empty anyway.
I have said it before, here are my two houses. The first one on a small lot in the city and the one where I live now. Same price, it was a no brainer moving to the sticks. Can you say trainroom?
Maybe you should head for the country Kevin.