24 Hours

Most of the time, my family's life is not that interesting (That is not to say it isn't good - just that there is nothing going on that others may be interested in reading about or seeing), however, this weekend we had an interesting 24 hours.

It started on Friday at noon as we headed up to Regina to take in Saskatchewan Roughrider football game.  I usually get to about one of these per year, but the girls had not gone in several years, so it was sort of a new experience for them. Our seats were really high up, but that turned out to be a blessing as it rained all night and we were high and dry under the roof. 

Outside the stadium....

We went to the practice field for the pre-game stuff... not many there as (1) we were there really early and (2) it was pouring most of the time.

  Game ready!

View from our seats....  warmups in the rain

 Later in the night....

After the game we piled in the SUV and headed out.... We arrived at 2:30 am.

Five hours later, the alarm was going off so that Sari and I could attend event #2.... the "Crosby Threshing Show" in Crosby, North Dakota. 

Now before you say.... "Bor-ing!".... let me explain.  They have an old town down there.  They have hundreds of old tractors.  They do a parade that lasts like 2 hours.  They have a working saw mill, blacksmith shop and a threshing machine.  They have a car show and they also have a flea market (which Sara seemed to like a great deal if you can go by how many "treasures" she bought).  Oh - and lemonade!  Can't forget that (thanks Nathan and Melanie!). 

They had rows and rows of old tractors - like hundreds - interesting to see the different ideas that they tried over the years.

 People lining the main street waiting for parade

This is a "Stanley Steamer".  If you do not know anything about them, look it up.  Very interesting and rare

They also had classic cars in the parade (older ones, muscle cars, etc) but I did not take many pictures here. Too busy just watching whatever was going by next.  If you like old-time stuff, you need to put this event on your calendar. 

Left Crosby at 4 pm so that we could be through the border and home at 5, so that I could attend the next event (and one of my favorite events around here), races at the "Estevan Motor Speedway".  We had a great night! 

 

Not a bad way to spend a little over 24 hours if you ask me.  Gotta love summer!  :)

Basketball for all y'all

It was such a nice night that the kids and I headed out to play some basketball.  I won't say who won.... you can guess in the comments section if you like.

On the way home afterwards

First Fish

Our family does not go fishing very often.  We buy licenses most years and then go out once or twice. 

During those few fishing trips, however everyone has caught a fish.... except Katelyn.  In fact, once she was helping me net one of my catches and she hit him with the net and "released" him.  Needless to say, she was starting to feel a little jinxed.

Until tonight.......

This was "free fishing weekend" in the province so she and I went out tonight and here is the result......

She named him "Freedric" because she freed him and because it was a name that seemed to fit a fish that would go after the sparkley worm that she was using (a bait that I had said she would never catch anything with).

So there you go!  The curse is over! 

Ps.  On my second cast I had one on the line but he spit the hook just as I was pulling him out of the water.... and then I caught a baby jackfish..... I tried to take a selfie of him and me but he jumped out of my hand just as I was taking the picture.  Katie saw it though and will verify that I am not lying.  :)

Down the road

That is the "before" picture of the bike that I called "Jurgen" (I called it that because I bought it from a guy named "Jurgen").   Spent the winter fixing it up and painting it and today I dropped it off at its new home.  On to the next one (actually I have 4 "next ones" in my garage.... they seem to come in faster than they leave).  :)

Gotta love Airshows

I wish I could get to one of these this year.
Cameron Airshow 2014 from Aero Media Group on Vimeo.

Dakota Modified Tour

As some of you know, I volunteer as a track official at the "Estevan Motor Speedway".  This past Monday, the "Dakota Modified Tour" came through town with drivers from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, the Dakotas and Canada (just to name a few places). 

It was pretty impressive and, if you were standing beside me, here is what you would have seen.

Stock cars on the staging lane before going on track....

A cool looking Dodge in the pits (most run Chevy bodies).....

A partial view of the grandstands......

Where I normally stand during cautions and before races.  Note the Canadian and American flags that they are carrying - a "Salute to the fans" before the race actually starts

My buddy Dave waiting to go and gather the flags from the modified drivers as they drive by so that they can start the race....

 Drivers being introduced and getting ready for the last race of the night.

If you have never been to the speedway you ought to check it out.  One of the best things about being in Estevan.

Black Hills Bike Trip

Lots has been going on in our family lately.  I will say more about this in days to come, but since I have a little more time let me start with this.....

For the last 4 years (thanks to our lovely wives) my brother and I have done a week to ten day long motorcycle trip somewhere.   The first year we went to the Black Hills.  Then we went to BC.  Then to Montana and Idaho.  This year, because it was so much fun the first time around, we decided to go to the Black Hills and tack on a few nights of stock car races in North Dakota.  Here are some pictures.

 The traditional "start of the ride" pic.....

 

Our hotel in Underwood, North Dakota. Went there for races and when we told the lady at the desk that she said, "Oh.... all right!" as if no one in the history of the world has come to Underwood specifically for their races.  We also walked the town and everyone stared at us because they did not know who we were or what we were doing there (at least that is what we told ourselves). 

 
 Came across a "Show and Shine" in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota.  Always fun!

On the shores of "Devil's Lake" in North Dakota on a nice day

In the hotel in Jamestown - all geared up to go ride in the pouring rain.  Stayed in the room as long as we could hoping the rain would go away.  Got on the road and 15 miles down the road we drove out of it and had sunny skies the rest of the way.

A slight delay on the Wildlife loop in "Custer State Park"

Lenny and a donkey in "Custer State Park".  Can you tell which is which???

The reservoir in the middle of the Black Hills

We only stay in the classiest joints (As classy as you can find for $70 or less that is).  Here is our room in Leed, South Dakota.  Note how the two single beds almost touch in the middle of the room - that will tell you how small the room was.  Nice place.  Great owners.  Very budget friendly.

One day we climbed to the top of the highest point in South Dakota.  Supposed to be a 4-6 hour hike.  We got there late in the day and decided to do it anyway so we got to the top in 1 hour and 58 minutes (including a detour that cost us 20 minutes).  Back to the bikes in under 3 hours (a new world record????)  and I was wearing biker boots and a 68968459689 pound motorcycle coat!.   Big ranger stand at the top.  Cool view!

 View from the General store patio in Custer state park.  Nice place to grab a drink and hang out

Car museum ("Motion Unlimited") in Rapid City.

Me after 8 days on the road (I am happy on the inside.... just too tired to show it).

I guess it is a small town

You know that you have booked a small town hotel when you have this conversation.....

Hotel person:  "Hi!  You have reached the ______hotel.  This is Rhonda.  How can I help you?"

Me:  "Hi, Rhonda!  About two months ago I booked a room with you guys and I am just calling to confirm my reservation".

(Without missing a beat and without asking my name):  "Yep!  Two double beds...  this Thursday night. See you then".

I guess it is not hard to keep track of reservations when you only have one a month!

Some times you have to wonder

I heard that my buddy Justin is coming to town this weekend, so I wrote to him and asked if he would lead singing at church on Sunday.  Here is his response......
____________________
It is fully my intention to grace your city with my presence.  I submit to you a list of my demands.

1. I would like a basket of puppies, they all have to be golden retrievers at precisely 5 months of age.  The basket should be wicker with a soft pillow filled with only British Goose feathers. 

2. I would like an oaken barrel filled 38% full of only green peanut M&Ms.  

3. I need the my room to be held at precisely 68 degress Celsius.  Any temperature variance may inhibit my vocal performance. 

4. I would like my room painted a soft blue and all furnishings, decoration, and anyone entering the room to see me be likewise colored. 

5. I demand that until the performance is complete, nobody should look me directly in the eye or to try and gain my attention in anyway.  It is important to mentally prepare and I do not want my meditations to go to waste. 

6. Finally, I would like to be able to win at least one crib game over the course of the weekend.  It sucks that I always lose.  You would think they would at least toss one game my way.  Sometimes it makes me feel sad.  And I don't like to feel sad. 

OK.  Let me know when my demands are met and I will let you know when you can expect my arrival.  Oh, and I want a Panda to greet me at the city limits with a sign that says, "I am not Endangered, You are,  You awesome fellow you."  

Looking forward to blessing you with my angelic voice this coming Sunday.

Justin

______________

Maybe I need more normal friends.  :)

Opening Day

It was opening day at "Estevan Motor Speedway" today.  It turned out to be a great day!  Lots of cars.  Lots of fans.  Lots of fun.

I volunteer out there as a track official so I thought I would post some pictures just so you get to see what the races look like from my point of view.

This is just a nice looking car on an "old school" hauler

Here is the new style "car over" hauler. (Note the steering wheel sticking out of the back of the car that allows the driver to steer the car as he pushes the car into the trailer or rolls it out)

This is my normal point of view.... on what we call "The staging lane".  This is in front of the grandstand where we line the cars up before they go onto the track.  One of my jobs is to let them know when it is time to go.

These two are from the end of the front stretch wall.  I get to stand here and wave caution flags, wave black flags at people (to disqualify them from the race), I check damage on cars when there is a caution and I throw debris off the track

A couple more shots from around the pits.....

 On the staging lane with the dude that I am training.....

And, lastly, a video just so you get the idea of what it is like.....

Watch this!

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Snowbird pilot.  I LOVED the Snowbirds (of course I grew up in Moose Jaw which is their home base so we saw them a lot).

A buddy sent me this video.  It gives a unique perspective on the team and their formations.  Enjoy!  :)

Boys - find a wife life this!

Some women demand diamonds.  Some rant about roses.  Some prefer perfume.  Some tirade for trips. Others are monsters about money.

But who can find a wife like mine?

I bought her a gift today.  It was a secret!  I walked her out to my truck and then (in front of all the neighbours - even though I knew it may make their wives SUPER jealous) I unloaded this bad boy.......

Now I know what you are thinking....... "How can you spoil Sari like that?" and "What are you trying to do???  Now our wives are going to expect the same thing!"

But you know what?  Too bad!!!  Sari deserves it!

The best part..... and I am not even making this up (Ask the girls who watched the whole thing from the living room window)..... Sari's reaction was as if I had bought her a new diamond ring.  :)

Boys - find a wife like that!  One who is happy when you give her an obviously stupid present.... one who is happy with the simple things in life.... and especially one who is excited about doing yard work!!!!  :)

Then, as I looked at it, I found the other best part of this deal.  Look at what the tire says on it.....

Now, I am not sure where you live nor what condition you have to be in to look at a wheelbarrow and go..."Man, that looks good!!! I bet it can do 60!"

But I am glad there was a warning on it.  I may have done something really stupid otherwise!

A Spring Tradition

I know it is spring when I get to go to the "Majestics Car Show" in Regina. 

Every year the group that I go with seems to change a bit (we add a couple of guys, others can't go) but it is always a good time. 

For me, part of the fun is talking to exhibitors.  Most people just walk up, look at the car and move on, but the really interesting part is the story (how the guy found the car, what shape it was in, how much work it needed, etc).  Of course they are always eager to talk because (a) they have a lot of time and money invested in these things and they are proud of them and (b) they get bored silly just standing there watching people walk past. 

As an added bonus, I got tons of free tickets to stock car races, drag races, mud races, etc just because I stopped and talked to them - so that was good too. I have my summer entertainment all lined up and it is free!!  :)

This year the car club added a "Motorcycle Experience"... and that, in my opinion, was the best part of the show.  Here are some of my favorites.

 And then these last two are for Sari who always says that she would like to have a "Little Red Wagon".  How about this one?  It has 1/2 of an old go cart tire under the seat for suspension and dude said that it goes about 70 mph.  What do you think????  You could get to school in no time flat on that thing.

Getting ready for Spring

Spent part of the day replacing fork seals in a 1980 Honda so that it will be ready to sell when spring comes. 

Spring is coming right????