Advancements in Engineering

I understand the crew in the pit has been designing, again. There is talk of
building a fire pit pagoda - but we all know how ideas escalate at HITW.
Being asked to haul dimensional lumber from LA - 200 miles out - one
would think that it's hard to find a mill around AP. The cost will go up
drastically due to extra shipping and handling process. The shipping
isn't so bad, but the handling will include beer and a surf-n-turf dinner.
Might save the budget by flying it down.

As for Shana's trailer....

My on site inspection-once we equip it with a compatable hitch, wiring, tires, new plates, and

brake system-we'll be set. Oh yes-a tug to pull it.

Well, now that the road test is done.....And I passed!!! Offer of employment followed and it

was matched with my acceptance. Now to find a place to live, arrangements for Spike, mailing

arrangements, new drivers liscense....new identity, new phone number, improvements to the truck and the horse trailer.....

Crisis Management

I love crisis management, especially when their is no one left to manage. Work continues, but as I write a light rain is falling. That is something we do not need, the HITW is in prime shape in regards to dryness but still so much to get accomplished. had a good handle on it until my entire working staff decided they needed a sabbatical. First one sneaks off to LA under the guise they they were looking for employment that actually paid something. This gave my second helper the concept, now I understand she is slipping away under the cover of dark in the morning to also go to LA! What is this about going to LA? In three days time the entire population of LA will be trying to come to the Kenai Peninsula, no one will be home in the big city so why go there. The critical problem is that she is taking my truck, which is essential for my use on the project that I am hurriedly trying to complete. I guess with the absence of my truck, I will have to use the wheel barrow to haul my project down the hill. I would use the snow plow truck, but I still await the Homer and Plumma to fix the tailgate that they broke. A pickup is really useless when you cannot open the tailgate! "Good Day Sport Fishermen, the Anchor River is looking good for the forth coming Memorial Day weekend King Salmon fishing. The water levels is down in comparison to the previous year and slightly tinted, making it almost ideal. The Anchor River sonar counter when into operation on May 15th. The daily King Salmon count on Monday, May 21st was 165 fish which brought the seasonal count up to 756. Although, the run is in the infancy stage, in comparison to last year at the same time the seasonal count was 334 fish. How strong is the Anchor River King Salmon fishery? This little river continues to put the big boys to shame. The Kenai River sonar counter has been activated, the first day of operation it enumerated a total of 18 King Salmon. On the second day it counted a total of 60 King Salmon bringing the seasonal count up to 78! Anchor River 756 vs Kenai River 78, can we spell "effective management plan"? The Marine Troll Fishery for King Salmon has increased dramatically over the past two days, until now it has been slow but we are now starting to see the kind of fishing that we are accustomed to seeing this time of the season. It would be rated as good to excellent. The Ninilchik River has an emergency order opening the river to fishing seven days a week commencing May 26th through July 15th with a daily bag limit of two fish of which only one can be a "wild native fish". Bait permitted but restricted to one single hook. That is your sport fishing report for today, have a good day on the water and good luck with your fishing." For a more detailed fishing report, tune into KWAVE FM 105, KPEN FM102 or KGTL AM620 at 0715, 1215, and 1715 daily except on Saturday and Sunday the report is aired at 0815.

Day #1

Had a great day at the Hole In the Wall, temperatures in the 60's and everything is so nice an dry, if I had enough "blue tarps", I would tarp it over like they do the baseball fields when it rains. Got an early start, accomplished allot and drank three tall Coors - that is a lot of beer for me! Somehow, one of my maintenance workers snuck away from me and ended up in Homer, supposedly doing his laundry and blogging! As if we did not have a washer, dryer, and Internet connection for his lap top at the Eagle Nest. That was o.k., I had plenty of work laid out for him, I knew he would return around supper time. When he did show back up, he was amazed the number of times that the Golden Granny ran up and down the hill from the HITW to the Eagle Nest. But it got even better a little later in the day, it even amazed me. You can thank Golden Granny for installing electricity and water into the HITW! Ranger was amazed when he saw her laying out the extension cords down the hillside but both of us were shocked to see what followed! Did you know we have enough garden hoses to run from the Eagle Nest to the HITW, it was such fun seeing her pulling those hoses down the hill. Her reason, "that way they will not have to haul water, just yell at us to turn on the faucet".
The first person to yell at me at 3:00 a.m. is going to see just the flash of my shotgun going off. We are going to operate it much like we had to on the aircraft carriers I was on, we will have water hours! Water will be turned on twice a day for one hour - get it then or go without!
Went to clean out the fire pit, even though the Moose had a hot dog roast a couple of weeks ago at the HITW, he must have had a small fire, all the ashes were still frozen. I tried a pick on it, two much work so I burnt up a lot of wood and hopefully I will be able to shovel it out tomorrow so I can build the new hearth.
Unfortunately, the glacier is gone so there goes the concept of using it as a beer cooler. However, I have come up with a new concept for cooling beer. The "Duck House" depository is still frozen solid with ice - why can't the Plumma and Homer use that to cool their beer? After a half dozen loads of sand and a roll of anti water plastic, the "Duck House" is now well banked and we will not have that problem in the future. I did take the tarp off today, with the warm sun shining through the sky lights, it won't long for it to thaw. A much beer as I drank today, I think I helped it thaw a little faster.
Everyone can thank the Golden Granny for removing all the tarps from your seasonal homes, although she refuses to enter and clean the Wolf Den until someone cleans up the murder scene. Don't know what happened in there, but it is ugly!
When the Ranger did show back up, I demonstrated my ability with a chain saw. He is one good skidder, loader (wheelbarrow) and wood stacker! We cut up about three cords of "dimensional lumber" this afternoon, now it is time to go see our source again for more supplies. In his desire to please, he did make one small error, unknown to me he discovered another source of wood and before I realized what had happened, we had cut up the stock of dunnage that was almost neatly stowed away under a camper.
Going to move the "cook tent" this year, slightly to the south to give us a little more room at the fire pit. Did a lot of raking and clean up today, things are looking pretty good but still have some major chores to do. The "B" Wolf will be happy to know that her "beach flowers" are all up about four inches and looking good. The "Hammer Plant" is looking a little sad like it may be lacking some type of mineral. Somewhere I read that some people drink their own urine for the mineral content, so I have been helping out the "hammer" by donating some on mine each time I pass it. Looking forward to the arrival of everyone, hopefully the majority of the work will be finished prior to your arrival so you can kick back and relax. Oh, I forgot, we still have ten yards of gravel to spread - I guess there will be no kicking back to relax - I don't do gravel!!!!

Maintenance Day

Today is the day, we will be moving the maintenance crew into the HITW in preparation for the coming season. The campground host that we had contracted with, Bubba, cannot be located. His last sighting was in a blue tarp tent on the Homer Spit, I think he found another job as a "bus boy" in a local eatery. However, I am sure he will be located as the Homer Police Department is also looking for him. Because pf his lack of commitment, I have decided to terminate his contract and assume the position myself! Annabelle is also out of the question, she was using the bathroom in a truck stop somewhere in Canada, Ranger Bill finished filling up his truck, thinking that she was in the horse trailer taking a nap, he headed up the highway. He did not miss her until he was down the road four hundred miles. He is assuming she is hitchhiking back to Wyoming.
The crew I have moving in today is my reliable crew, due to the attention on illegal aliens sneaking across our southern border, her mothers maiden name, I have cleared her through homeland security and have been insured that her family are documented. As of now if looks like it will be myself and Terry with assistance from Ranger Bill if he has recovered from his bout of Alaska Flu. Dutch, Goldie and Spike will also be on hand to remove excessive sticks.
Today will be a day of minor clean up and maintenance, the heavy maintenance and improvements will commence on Monday through Thursday. I am a firm believer that if you wait until the last minute, things get completed faster if you are under pressure. Some call it "procrastination", I prefer to call it "crisis management".
Daddy Bear was the first to camp in the HITW this year, spending the night in the Bear Den the last two nights so he could get an early start on his fishing. No doubt, we will be hearing about it throughout the summer, but he did catch the first King Salmon of the season. A portion of the activity schedule will be forthcoming but please feel free to add your own ideas that can be incorporated.

I am tired of the harassment of how slow I was, My rig will only go as fast as the critter pulling me. He spooked at the sight of the Peace River and that view of Haines Junction darned near overwhelmed him. Once we encountered Alaskan mosquitos, we sped up. Yes, I have arrived.

Food and Fun

Dad is thinking facilities and I am thinking food and fun. I am working on some idea's for food, I am in for trying something new and am taking suggestions. I was thinking everyone pitch in meal items for breakfasts and dinners. Mom and I am taking donations for condiments, plates, plastic ware, paper products, and cooking fuel. I am thinking bring your own lunch, drinks, and snacks.
As for fun we have all been throwing around idea's for fun and games for a year now. What shall we do this year? Theme nights have been thrown out there, scavenger hunts, talent shows, "Poetry in Motion" contest, drinking games...what shall we ever do? Maybe a SPAM cook off?
What ever it is we plan, I am the first to sign up for any boat trips.

Time to Prepare

The season is near. The HITW will now become a top priority as we move in to prepare the the recreational area for the onslaught of visitors. The area is in very good shape, having had just a few moist showers in the area, the area is relative dry and ready to do a little back blading. All of the sites appear to have wintered well, a little erosion in the Buffalo Wallow, but ten minutes of shovel time will cure that problem.

The "Kroc Pond" is drained except for the engineered reflection pond constructed by the Moose Clan. Best estimate time for completion of chores is four days but it will be expedited this season as we do have an expert "wheel borrow driver" inbound which I fully intend to utilize his abilities to haul sand. Cannot expound on those chores that are expected to be completed, but it will be for the improvement of the area, maybe! I do need a "straw poll", the "Duck House" took on a little water this spring, perhaps a new location would be better. The site I have chosen is in the center of the bowl. That way no one will complain that they have to walk further than someone else to use the facility. An additional benefit is that this area has always been hard to drain, if we dig a depository in this area, the hole will be constantly filled with water (just like a real toilet in your home) and the area will remain dry. Drainage will be underground into the drain ditch along the side and eventually drain into "Lower Kroc Lake". It is win, win situation. Let me know your opinions on this plan.

Will keep you posted.

Hey it works. This photo is not from the WWW.

This one I took. Enlarge it and you will discover the name of this is the "Virginian" hotel located in Medicine Bow, WY it was subject material to the book by the same name. Remember "Trampus" he likely hid out at the HITW(in WY not in AK). This sign is full of local brands.

Blogging from Calgary today. Be in BC by nightfall I hope.

Well what can I say, my truck overheated on Georgetown

summit just before I got to Soda Springs, ID. While they were

repairing me at the Chevy dealer, I walked the lot and drooled over the new trucks. Sure enough I could no longer resist, I got the nice Chevy Colorado like this one except blue and it

pulls the horse trailer very well. So I am pulling a WY horse trailer which I bought in Colorado, with a Chevy Colorado purchased in ID and my credentials are Colorado and am headed to Alaska. The geyser is Soda Springs itself. Stopped over in Butte for two nights and visited Lanny's daughter Shirley. Am bloggin from Great Falls, MT, fuel and back on road. Be in Canada tonight.

Pocketbook slim, the menu drastically changes for upcoming sabatical at HITW

Dig out old family recipes.

We may need to get creative to feed the clans this year.

Ode to SPAM(tm)

author unknown

Oh SPAM(tm)!  Oh SPAM(tm)!  Gourmet delight!
My food by day, my dreams by night.
To carve, to slice, to dice you up -
pureed in a blender and sipped from a cup.

What shining deity from Olympus knelt
down to the earth and hog butt smelt?
Creating then man's eternal desire
for swine entrails congealed by fire.

On some corporate farm, a pig has died.
Eyes, tongue, and snout end up inside
that cube of SPAM(tm) hidden in the can
I now hold in my trembling hand.

More than mere food, SPAM(tm) is for me
a hedonistic expression of gluttonous glee.
Mottled with pork fat, the pink cube engrosses.
My mouth takes it in, my intestine disposes.

Long have my arteries clogged to the sound
of sizzling SPAM(tm) when there's no one around -
furtively chewing or swallowing whole.
Triple bypass by forty, my medical goal.

Other processed meat products I've tried or declined
Vienna Sausages, Treet, even pig's feet in brine.
Though each may be tasty in different ways,
none matches SPAM(tm) for gelatinous glaze.

That glistening pinkness beckons me
with gristle, fat, and BHT.
Oh SPAM(tm), my SPAM(tm) - the taste, the smell!
The sacred meat product, from Hormel.

Tonight, I am on edge of Bear Lake in Utah. Such a beautiful bluish

lake. Big also. Straddles the Utah and Idaho state line. Deep! And some

big fish have been taken from it.

Had to replace tires on horse trailer after a blow out blew one of my tires and blew my

confidence in the rest of them. That repair was done in Rock Springs shortly after I

visited Desert Wind. Spent last night in Evanston. Got my business done there this morning as well as a visit to Mother Mae's Main Street sandwich shop. Mother Mae is one our cousins on

Uncle David Riley's side of the family. Saw her and Vicky(another of Uncle David's daughters).

Then my planned stopover on Bear Lake at the KOA-wonderful campground by the way.

Today is the day I start down the road. My planned route is to go West from Cheyenne to

Evanston, WY. Then Northerly to Montpelier, ID up on US 30. Overnight there.

Tomorrow I hope to be in Butte, MT to spend some some time with Shirley.

Then from Butte to Spokane and into Yelm, WA for a "layover"

Then to Bellingham to check ferry prices then to laugh at those and cross into Canada

just Northeast of Bellingham. Then up Heart Highway to Charley Lake.

Then up Alaska Highway working my way to Anchor Point just in time for your

birthday. That all depends on the quality of the layover in Yelm. Do you suppose

Amber would fly South to drive up with me? Would you ask for me?

Cheyenne to Homer

The adventure will start soon. Time to prove once again the Harrington's can find

their way as far West as you can go with a vehicle without loading it on a boat.