This Happened To Us!

The ticker says that this is post #400. When we first began this blog back in 2012 we thought a blog was just another on-line device to buy and sell stuff. Our original intent was as part of effort to get rid of the last of an unwanted litter of four male kittens of a stray cat that had taken up residence at the sanctum.

We wound up continuing along with the blog, posting some photos and videos and commenting on such as well as anything else that came to mind. We consider it a form of "gym workout for writing" to keep in tone between some script writing that we've been doin'. 

Still have the cat

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This past Thursday was officially one year since we began a six-days-per-week, 5AM cycling regimen. Daily ten miles road or (weather pending) equivalent ten miles on the home fitness bike. Only missed three days throughout. 

311 days x 10mi/day = 3,110 miles for the year

Could have ridden from here to Los Angeles, CA (distance 2,477 miles per 'MapQuest') and then some.

The fitness bike routine is actually somewhat more intense than the road ride. One hour workout. We got the resistance cranked up to simulate consistent moderate upgrade - probably could equivocate that to a bit longer distance. Will take the ten miles. 

We got the road ride down to about fifty minutes. No rush, though - too nice out early dawn and lots of wildlife: many birds (songbirds, noisy crows, near head-decapitating swifts among the various species), (too many) whitetail deer, cottontails, couple skunks (including an albino), many bats - all prelude to a usually spectacular daybreak over the ridge.

Being stuck in the house on the fitness bike is pretty monotonous, so it's gotta' be pretty sh*tty weather to keep us inside. Usually rain or snowstorm and temperatures below 38ºF.

Coincidentally, the said Thursday morning we had a wildlife encounter straight out of one of those old 'This Happened To Me!' articles published in the 'Outdoor Life' magazines we used to read as kids when waitin' our turn at the local barber shop. Always used to read those first off (unless it was just all us guys, with no one's pop in the shop. In that case "Joe" the barber would let us pull the upper shelf 'Playboy' magazines and such-like "literature").*

March, 1941

March, 1950

'This Happened To Me!' - couple reprints from some old 'Outdoor Life' back issues for those who have no idea what we're talkin' about.

So we're cruisin' a maybe 1/8 mile moderate downgrade of which ya' usually want to develop some speed for a bit of momentum leading to an approaching short hill climb. The downgrade parallels a small narrow field bordering woodland beyond. Opposite side of the road is a cemetery. There's a small herd of grazing whitetail deer far end of the field. Typical, they're usually there. Today we notice at least three small fawns in the mix. Decided to slow down and angle toward the herd a bit to shine the headlight and get a glimpse. It's still dark out, just before dawn. Always the deer just stand and watch ya' go by. Right away the fawns are spooked and start runnin' and circling every which way. This immediately gets the herd excited, which in-turn begin chase to corral the fawns. I'm still movin'. One fawn breaks from the herd. Instead of headin' for cover in the bordering woods and brush, it darts opposite toward the cemetery, crossing the road maybe ten feet ahead of my line of travel. Right away a large doe comes charging my direction. Maybe from two o'clock angle. Before I can react it low head-butts the front wheel below the axle and flips the bike right out from underneath me. Was like runnin' a cross-field pass pattern against Jack Tatum. Was ass-on-deck before I could turn around and look for the ball. All I recall is lookin' up from pavement angle and seein' the ass-end of the whitetail sprintin' for the opposite goal line.

*No mom's welcome in the barber shop back in those days. And to be caught with your mom takin' ya' in for a haircut was one of the ultimates of humiliation.

What Not: Twenty Years Solo / SUP Lite

 Considering it's been twenty years this year, figured we'd post this old video one more (and last) time:

Solo (2004)

Running Time: 34min. (Approx.)

Only regret is that we wish "the Yo" would have been runnin' a bit higher level - between 4ft to 6ft OPG (Ohiopyle Gauge)  - best level for open boating (our opinion, at least back then). Oh well - ya' take what ya' get.

Tribute to 'Strongman Matt':

Some local creekin'

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After blowing the seams out of two (bit old and well used) inflatable SUP's a few weeks back, then having to persevere a two and one-half mile rocky swim totin' 'em each back to dry dock (muscle girl Sarah and ZMan have both definitely developed "It don't have to be fun to be fun" attitudes), we figured it was time for a few replacements:

Picked up two ultra-lite boards from NRS

Pretty nice on the flatwater. 

Bit of a rockered bow and stern make 'em more responsive when negotiating a few Class I+ shoals and small drops encountered along the usual backyard run.

At 16.5lbs weight (each) they're a bit easier on the shoulders when backpacked (along with all other gear) two to five miles between the various launch sites.

Our only suggestion is that NRS look into stitchin' waist belts on to their SUP packs. In the mean time, we're discussing that upgrade with a local seamstress we know - we're thinkin' a few belt loops for some buckled 2" nylon webbing.

It Don't Have To Be Fun To Be Fun - Episode II

A bit over two miles into a four mile hike-in to our objective lower Yough river launch site situated at the mouth of Indian Creek valley, at confluence with the "mighty Yo". Maybe nine miles down river below the mountain town of "O-hip-o-lee". Our in-house built, "high-tech", but still experimental-phase "kayak and gear trolly" suffers a critical component failure which puts a dead halt to our march. Considering the usual competency of our 'chief engineer in charge of mobility and transportation' we never developed a back-up plan for this situation... now what? 

Subsequent inspection indicates needed repairs beyond our current capability. Considering our meagerly packed "emergency" tooling and hardware, which consisted of one serrated-edged knife with a handle end pommel designed for breaking out vehicle windows if in need of rescuing trapped passengers, we're ill equipped. Also carried the usual repair kit for punctured inflatable tubes. Of no help here. Subsequently, no items such as duct tape, an old inner tube or even a wad of chewing gum - ridiculously simple-sounding items we've used in the past to at least keep us moving until "out of the woods" (literally). 

Takin' a break before the break. The "trolly" totin' a two-man inflatable packed with a second inflatable, paddles, packs and such items. Lots of stuff that no one really wants to carry several miles by hand.

I'm thinkin' "Boy, if we even only had a roll of duct tape!" Which we actually did have - back home in a river repair kit always packed along when canoe tripping. Others are thinkin' too...

Solutions are tossed back and forth. Several suggestions are tried but stall. Muscle Girl Sarah mentions binding the failed connection with a tightly wound cam-strap and all the light bulbs immediately 'luminate... hey, this is gonna work!

Other than one additional temporary stop to re-configure and re-tighten the strapping we continued on unimpeded to the river. 

After a bit of reprimand of chief engineer Howie, we put 'em back to work this week at the drafting table and work bench to resolve the design bugs. Worked great, otherwise.

ICV launch

Time on the river

Shotgun Men

"Nobody torments an old shotgun man... Nobody!"
                                                                     - "John Beaumont", 'The Rifleman' TV show
                                        S2E29, "Shotgun Man"

Couple decent home defense shotguns we've had for a while. Hallway point and shoot. Lots of fun to periodically take out to the gun range.

(top to bottom)

Cimarron Model 1897 "Trench Gun", 12ga.

Remington Model 870, 12ga., 18.5" barrel

Century "Coach Gun", 12ga. S/S

Stoeger "Coach Gun", 20ga. S/S

Stoeger "Condor Outback", 12ga. O/U

Haven't had these out of the cabinet in a while. Almost forgot about the Condor Outback. That Model 1897 is a replica of the old Winchester shotgun. That thing will "rack fire" similar to the later Winchester Model 1912 (or vice versa). Not the best of replicas (don't even think they carry 'em anymore). Right out of the box had trouble with the 'action slide lock' malfunctioning and locking up. Took it to a pretty good gunsmith with the intent for him to disconnect it altogether. He got it working instead (albeit, a bit stiff). The Winchester Model 1897 was favored during WWI for close combat trench warfare. American troops became so prolific and deadly with that gun that Germany protested their use in combat. Hey, shouldn't have started the f*k'n war. Figured the reason why ol' Pop favored the rack firing, longer barrel Model 1912 for small game hunting after experience with the 1897 during WWII.

(YouTube video)

'The Magnificent Seven' (1960), "Boot Hill" sequence

Big Bad Bruins

Was a big fan of the NHL Boston Bruins throughout their seasonal playoff runs, which included two Stanley Cup championships, of the late '60's and extending into the mid '70's...

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... this included the big disappointment '70-'71 season when the Montreal Canadiens sandbagged 'em big time in the semi-final playoffs with a monster rookie goaltender named Ken Dryden. Definitely their best team ever (to that time). They were winning games and settin' records left and right throughout the regular season including wins (57) and points (121) while boasting seven of the leagues top ten scorers, four of which surpassed 100+ points. A rough bunch, too, with guys like Green, Sanderson, Cashman, Stanfield, Smith, Orr, Carleton... would fight at the drop of a hat. 

The only drawback those days was the lack of cable television. Internet wasn't even a word. Unless matched up against the local televised Pittsburgh Penguins (SWPA here) or an occasional weekend nationally televised game (afternoon 'ta boot, which blew), until playoff time ya' might get to catch 'em on the tube maybe three times throughout the season, if lucky. 

Had a (usually) dependable alternative though - a small portable transistor radio of which was able to pick up the (Boston) local WBZ radio broadcasts. One major drawback. The radio would receive the broadcast only when positioned at one location within the sanctum of home. This area was an approximate 3ft x 3ft "radio free" zone located within the kitchen. The radio had to be aligned at a specific "azimuth angle".  Wasn't the best reception, and ya' occasionally had to make minor angle adjustments throughout the broadcast. This "zone of reception" was additionally located about 2ft beyond the refrigerator door. Open the refrigerator door and immediate static. Always figured that it had something to do with the interior refrigerator light coming on when the door was opened. Shut the door and all was fine. Wasn't usually a problem there - positioned that close to the (opposite opening) door, ya' couldn't get into the refrigerator, anyway. The folks never complained and always waited until commercial breaks or between periods, if needing to access the "fridge". Besides, was home and not out getting into any mischief, so figured no complaint there. 

Boston was playing the Vancouver Canucks one evening late February, '71. Johnny Bucyk had just put the Bruins up by one goal following a 2-2 tie early in the third period. "OK Mom!" (who'd been patiently waiting) "You can get into the refrigerator now - but HURRY UP!!" Maybe five minutes pass following the goal and subsequent short commercial break. Mom's out of the fridge. The radio is back in position and "on line". "And the score, 4-2 Bruins, we'll be right back!!" announces broadcaster Fred Cusick.

What?!! - it was just tied up! How could it be 4-2?!! Well, the Bruins Ed Westfall scored seconds after the face-off (and 12 seconds after Bucyk's power play goal), all the while mom was tyin' up the fridge.  I'm thinkin' - "F*K! - missed it!!".

Mom, sensing a short break in the action following the score - "Can I put this back in the refrigerator real quick?" - "OK - BUT HURRY UP, YA' MADE ME MISS THAT LAST GOAL!!. She replaces whatever it was, I reset the small table and re-tune the radio just as an excited Cusick's announced "AND THE BRUINS NOW LEAD IT 5-2!!!". I'm now thinkin' "What the f*k - it's only been like two minutes?!!!

Here it turned out that Ted Green scored a third goal immediately after face-off; eight seconds regulation following Westfall, and subsequently twenty seconds following Bucyk,  which set a new NHL record for the the three fastest team goals (twenty seconds regulation). The record still stands to this day.

And missed it all because of mom. And what is ironic is that she was whipping up a Boston Cream Pie.

Motile Meditation

 "Meditation in the midst of activity is far superior to meditation in stillness"

                                                                                               - Hakuin Ekaku 

Axis Mundi

Early dawn breaking over "the ridge" - in several aspects the veritable apotheosis of our early AM "under big sky" cycling route. Reaching enlightenment "not through learning, but by unlearning of all preconceived notions of life and reality".

Antarctic Nazis Are Back!

 FROM EDGE OF THE EARTH OCEAN DEPTHS TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON!

SEE... Giant creatures born of the beginning of time battle mechanical Nazi horrors spawned of the atomic age!

SEE... Daring aerial Ace play airborne jet-speed tag with monstrous flying beast!

SEE... Mysterious remote island destroyed in fiery nuclear annihilation!

DARE YOU LOOK INSIDE... HERDEGEN'S LOCKER?!!

'Commander Herdegen's Locker - Chapter III, Phantom Island Thompson' 

Running Time: 11min (Approx.)

Lots of fun producing this third installment of the continuing saga of Commander Herdegen's Locker. Is a bit of a challenging light narrative while limiting ourselves to under twelve minutes running time. Sort of an old Castle Films film short style 'one reeler', with narrative excerpted from not a full length feature, but here from a full length work-in-progress spec script.

Other than keyed computer-processed compositing,  this is all stop motion model and miniature prop work. As for the 'creatures', we like to give 'em an old school bit of caricature-type appearance.

Disclaimer:

Music and sound effects we acquired from Pond 5 with licensing. We don't even look anywhere else anymore beyond those guys. They have quite the library. A background plate or two we obtained on-line from content tagged royalty free. All work is "experimental" for on-line/private viewing only. No monetary compensation is involved. Mainly honing our stop motion skills.

Many thanks to our beautiful and talented actress. She's not really a Nazi jet fighter pilot - she just plays one in the movies.

Here's Chapters I and II (descending order) to save ya' from searchin', if interested:

'Commander Herdegen's Locker - Chapter II, Professor Trygg'

Running Time: 10 min (Approx.)

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'Commander Herdegen's Locker'

Running Time: 12min (Approx.)

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(Internet Image)

Antarctic Nazis will return!