Into the Beartooths
Comments added to Memories have temporarily delayed my next major entry – The Canning Sisters: Frail or Tragically Flawed?
Matthew went to bed early yesterday and missed this on the answering machine, ìHi, this message is for Matt Miller from Leonard, Alpha Automotive. Your car is done, believe it or not, it is running fine.î Suppose heÃll smile when he hears it this morning?
The flywheel must have been machined correctly and the new throwout bearing, though different in size, a good fit. Next comes inspection, a new muffler and body work to prepare it for a new paint job.
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ìIt was time to pack up the tents and head down out of the tundra country. We said goodbye to the goats and hiked through our lush water-filtering meadow, turned from the misty Aero Lakes, and crossed the col leading down Cardiac Hill.î Read Into The Beartooths by Ed Schmahl
Ed undertakes real back country trips, not the namby pamby, lie on the beach, eat until you explode, where’s the hot shower, donÃt forget your cellphone, kind of pampered, pedagogic, junkets The Maine Guys have a penchant for pursuing. Even if you are not interested in dramatic mountain sunsets, wild flowers, hikes up boulder strewn trails, you have to read about the goats.
One’s instinct is to sigh, “Aaah, youth”, but the reverse is soberingly the case. Hardy souls who generally keep themselves up, but train to boot, whatever additional years may be behind them, and then go stunning places for what must be rich food for the soul. Lush website as well — kudos to The Fogies, for their exploits, and for the detailed exposition.
And Michael, you may need to reassess your relationship with that hack writer, one Adam Kibbe — I note an alarming affinity for alliteration appearing in your prose……..
Comment by pampered — October 30, 2003 @ 8:16 am
Michael,
I am glad to hear that Matt will soon be on the road in his vintage BMW! I remember my first car at 16, and was so excited to drive it to school. Matt, enjoy yourself, but please be careful and concentrate on driving when you have friends with you (safety disclaimer).
We have sent two crews of 4 with two fire engines to the fires down south, and one Strike Team leader. They went down last Saturday, and will probably be relieved by 9 more of us this Saturday. They sound exhausted, and have seen more than enough fire for a lifetime. I doubt that I will go, as I have more overtime hours than most. Because of Red Flag Warning weather I have been working since last Saturday, went home Tuesday evening, and was called back Wednesday morning to work until Sunday morning. This will undoubtably be my longest stretch at work in 20 years, 8 days. We have been very busy, but I am getting lots of Captain experience each day. I worked on the Ladder truck yesterday and today, then back to my station and crew Friday and Saturday. Please say a prayer for our crews down south, and tell Matt I am happy for his car being done. Please email the progress, and if you have any questions about auto repair, send me an email. Hopefully I can help!
Dave Stochl
Comment by Dave — October 30, 2003 @ 9:39 am
Thanks for the enthralling update, Dave. We here on the right coast have far more mundane concerns, like why does the sun now set at 1:30, who is going to rake all those leaves, and what will New England look like as a rain forest. We could lose half our precipitation to southern California and not notice it.
The longest stretch in twenty years? If circumstances forced me to write that sentence, it would be from a hospital bed.
We pick up the car today, after what will certainly be a disturbing debate about the ìextraî costs.
Comment by Michael — October 31, 2003 @ 6:10 am
Ed, quite an entralling talking-picture-postcard of the Beartooths (BearTEETH?).
Hard to image a camera not only totted but seemingly always handy, to capture galaxies, goats, and grasshoppers.
One gripe: no place to leave comments! (And a couple of broken picture links).
Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Dan — November 2, 2003 @ 7:28 am