Tuscarora, NV

Went to gold mine ghost town about 50 miles Nw of Elko. Didn't see any gold or ghosts. Just a little town out in nowhere with as few as 15 houses/shacks. Junk has a way of dying gracefully in the desert. The old Dodge truck and stuff stacked in a yard like art were cool. The town did have a post office, tiny though. When I stopped by bar on the way back to have a sandwich and beer. The bartender told me I missed the old smelter, a photographers buffet. One thing that I found that I remembered from my first trip was the fake cow hoof shoes that a local rustler used for 3 yrs to fool the posse. See fake tracks and shoes were cool long before Bigfoot and plaster

Lamoille Canyon

What can I say, Lamoille Canyon is glacial oasis in the middle of the high desert. It,s only 30 minutes from Elko and is a must see. Sunday was hot and windy upper 90's, but it doesn't feel hot like at home, and up the canyon it was in the 80's. It's probably why my nose is so sunburnt it's bleeding. Look close at the brown picture and you can see a blue grouse. She and her babies crossed the road right in front of me. She froze and her camo blend perfect and all I could hear were the little peeps of her 2 chicks. I drove off and let her be. Driving up and down the canyon looking at natures wonders at there best and see a grouse and her chicks makes you slow down and really enjoy the small things in life. I have seen grouse before, but never chicks. I bet that golden eagle I saw the other day would have like to seen them too.

Elko, NV

Here in Elko, NV again. I'm not sure why I like this place so much, but I do. Scenery in top notch, I guess hanging out in an old Pony Express town, standing at the bar like the Duke, is what it is. I know in my younger years when I was riding a horses everyday, this would have been the tit's.The West at it's best. Enough of the past. The Ruby Mtns were as gorgeous as I remembered 4 yrs ago. Even though it's 90+ it doesn't feel like it, other than my burnt, dry skin. The pictures at Harrsion Pass are 8000', snow still present on Ruby Dome. I sat and watched a golden eagle soar around for over an hour. The rock formations looked as they were poured from a mold. The one rock looks like s0 much like an eagles it is why the local Indians called it Eagle Rock. So much, so little time, absorb what I can, forget the rest.

Western trip

Well I got my Elko,NV assignment, however my pal Bub had to stay home. The hotel were staying at isn't pet friendly. I was dissappointed to leave him home as his not getting any younger. He is happy and in good hands which makes me sleep sound. First cool stop was Grand Junction,CO. Grand mesa was cool and went out to see some wild horses, weren't any to be seen,but he landscape reminds me of childhood cowboy movies. The isolated barren landscape is so vast it really makes you feel small. As you can see the Bonneville Salt Flats had standing water. My brother Dennis is right it is globle weirding, no warming. Tawny's coming out in early August and can't wait to show her all the beauty's of the Elko area, Ruby Mnts, Angle Lake, Clover Valley, The California trail, Pony Express route. Too much for this western history buff. I'll be here until Labor Day when I make tracks for Maine to bag me a bear. I've been waiting around in life to "Do it someday", today and everyday from this day forward is someday. At least when I die I'll be to say, "Been there, did that!"

Lake Erie

Went on a Lake Erie walleye trip with some guys from work. What fun. The fishings was slow, but the fish we caught were big. We caught a total of 18 all 6+ lbs of fishy goodness. My friend Chris Fritz was the king the last day with 6 whoppers, I followed with 4. Steve Kindred caught the smallest, a teeny weeny perch. Walleye has to be one of my favorite fish to eat,and we each brought home about 10lbs each Mmmmmm. I think I'll start the fryer. We caught over a 100 sheepshead and are said to be they no

good to eat. I question that as I've not foung many fish I can't eat. We got so tired of catching them, Conan punched them off the boat in frustation. Worst was Conan and I got a sunburn from hell, 10hrs of full sun and 72 degrees = ouch, Aye maybe I'll tan.

Hoosier National Forest

As spring rolls in anyone how knows me knows it a time for a trip to the woods. And how better to take my brother Dennis and my trusted sidekick Bub. We found a great camp sight the first night, got settled and sat through a nearby tornado, which drenched us with driving rain. Bub was the only smart one to sleep thru it in the truck. But once passed I couldn't had a better time. Picking geodes, photographing wildflowers, deep convervation with my brother and dog. Nothing can rebuilt the spirit like a night of whipperwills singings and the gobble of turkeys in the morning. After the road were cleared we head back to Bloomington a couple days later, to be hit again with a closer tornado, that cut power and Hwy 45 for 10hrs. The trip to Beanblossom the next day was littered with trees and power lines. Had to get Bub a cortisone shot in his hip as the old guy is getting a little stiff. He won't stay home and couldn't jump in the truck. That broke my heart, as I know his years are growing short and something I'm having to deal with. There's a good chance that Bub and I will get to go to Elko, NV to work for a couple months. The high desert and mountains will be good for the both of us. We'll see, my company has dangled carrots in front me before

Spring

Went to Scott and Marsha's new pad in Freedom. Tilled garden,found 1 shroom, cooked some good grub. Went Bloomington on Subday to hunt for more shrooms, all I found was a box turtle. Getting ready for a week camping trip with Bub and Dennis in about 3wks. Did find some shrooms in Cicreo late week.