House Work

Busy weekend. Friday, tore up boxes, no into the recycling bin. Sat & Sun picked up 2 more bookcases. Got one assembled. Framed my horse ride photo and hung a couple other photos. Still, have another bookcase to assemble.

Saturday treated myself to a brat and 2 pints of beer at the Blue Grasshopped. Tried Isotope's Slammin Amber - very smooth beer.

Left knee and leg did not act up over the weekend.

Electronics Bench

The hobby room (just thought of the name of the room) is taking shape in the New Mexico house.  I got the electronics work bench and shelving assembles and staged into the room.

I am looking forwarding the learning and experimenting with my electronics.  Want to play with, learn, and build devices using Raspberry Pi. Arduino, Microchip, and discreet components.

When I went to work with General Motors, I had to shelve my electronics design interest.  With retirement, health issues under control, and moving into my New Mexico residence, I have been able to finally experiment and rekindle my interest in electronic design.

There is a little more work than needs to be done in this room.  Then, I need to change emphasis to my ham radio hobby - getting antennas up and the station on the air.

Roofing Supplies

Earlier in the week, he had the heat and humidity.  While the thermometer only topped up at 95, the heat index was over 110.  And that heat was accompanied by winds of 20-30 mph!  Sure glad they contractor had not planned roofing those days.

The materials were delivered yesterday (see photo).  Have not heard from him about when they plan to start the work.  Still waiting to hear from him about a second painter estimate and information on when his crew will get the broken window repaired. 

Driveway Re-worked

The driveway has been getting pretty bad - specially at the end where it meets the road.  Combination of packing from driving over it for years and the county adding more gravel on the road, there was a low spot there.

Of course, the spot filled with rain water.  It would be muddy.  A pain.  So, when a guy came by the house yesterday, looking to repair the driveway - I was all ears. 

We talked for a while and eventually he gave me a price ($450) for the end of the drive to the road.  Grading, layers of stone and "oil", and rolling.  He was offering to do the rest of the driveway, as long as he had enough material on the tank.  Keep saying - "we will do a good job for you".  But could not pin him down on a price.  I wo;ld him I needed prices, I was not going to give him a "blank check".

The crew started on re-working the drive.  I stopped them when they were cutting too much away from the grass.  Though there was gravel under the grass -- it was an old field road - and I did not want the area into a drive.

Anyway, they did what they could to restore the area.  Then went to work on the rest of the drive.  Graved the whole think from the concrete apron to the road.  Feathered the transition to the road.  Then started layers of "oil" and stone, rolling in the stone after every layer.

When that was done, the boss (previously I was dealing with the "salesman"), it was time to see what deal he was going to offer me to finish the job.  All the time, the "salesman" said they were hoping there was enough material to finish my drive.  I asked the boss, did they have enough to finish the drive and what would be the price.

He checked the tank - and said they had the material.   We haggled on the price for a while and eventually settle.  So, I have a re-worked drive.  Looks much better.

Missouri Rising

Yesterday, as I took my bike ride, I dropped off the Lake Manawa bicycle trail to check the water level at the mountain bike trails. From water near the trail, I could see that the river was higher. Sure enough, it is. (See photo).

On the news, I heard that the Corp of Engineers will have to release more water from flood control dams because of the fast snow melt in Montana. This is the 3rd year in a row that the singletrack at Manawa has been flooded.

An article in the Omaha World-Herald confirmed what I heard. Basically, we can expect that the river level will continue to rise in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area.

After that disappointing scene at the river, I headed on over to the Western Historic Trails Center. They were having their Thursday "Jam and Bread" so just stopped in to sign the guest register and using the bathroom.

On over to Xtreme Wheels. Visiting a bit and talked about printing note cards. Watch for news about sale of note cards with scenes of the Wabash Trace.

After my ride, it was time to start up the lawn mower and begin harvesting the hay crop that is my lawn. Had to stop to refill gas - and the mower now will not start. Have to find out the problem.

More Scoping Out My Property

A nice morning yesterday, except for the wind - very windy. Not a riding day. I decided to hike down to the bottom of my property to scope out possibility for my singletrack.

I took my GPS to see what the altitude change down the hill. The GPS could not seem to make its mind, but it looks like about 50-60 ft from the bottom to the top. There's a area in the bottom with possibilities - through some trees, dead fall, and gully.

For information, the property is about 350 ft deep and about 750 ft long, with the yard cut out from that.


So, just have to think about flagging a trail...

Nauga Ranch Singletrack

Over the last couple days, I have been giving some thought to a singletrack and skills area on my property. I have about 5 acres to play with.

The top of the property is mostly flat, with some scrubby trees. Good areato build a skills area - see the mowed area. I have landscaping timbers, railroad ties, and old concrete to work with.
Since the riding mower was fixed last winter, I can use it to haul stuff around the property and mow a track.

Now, once I ride/hike down to the bottom of the property, I will find out what the vertical is. I know it is a pretty good hill.