Merry Christmas Everyone

A few video's and pictures of the grand-kids....

Mid December Pheasant Hunt

After waiting for the weather to warm up, we left for our favorite hunting spots last Wednesday and set up the trailer

We started hunting on Thursday morning with the temps in the 30's

Hunted all day, training Cody is coming along, takes a little longer with wild birds but, much more enjoyable.

We hunted some spots that we have not been to for a few years, some of our favorite spots from last year had heavy hail last summer so we are expanding our hunting areas ...

Some farmers are still harvesting corn, when we did find birds in the afternoon, they were bunched up... It is fun to see over 20 to 30 birds get up even though they get up early.

Gary got the first bird at one of our favorite spots, we approached a thick weed patch, each of us on oppisite sides, the dogs checked the patch, did not pick up any scent, we stood there for what seemed like five minutes, all of the sudden a rooster flew up right in front of Gary, Got him..

Later in the afternoon we came upon a new spot between two circles, pheasants were flying wild by the road, farmers were combining in a field across the road, we decided to walk the patch and birds were flushing wild ahead of us about 100 yards.

We continued to the end, and there was one lone remaining rooster that got up about 40 yards ahead me, I pulled up the 'ol 20 gauge, lead him by about 2 ft and nailed him.

We only bagged 2 birds. But, I was a very enjoyable day.


On Friday,

Gary had to leave early.
We hunted a large farm and Gary bagged one rooster that came out of thick CRP grass.

At noon I cleaned the bird from the morning,

Took a nap

left the trailer for some more hunting, it was getting pretty windy.

I stopped at a circle corner, started to walk on the downwind side of the trees, the dogs were going a good job checking the trees and the tall grass between the trees and the picked corn field.

A rooster got up early about 60 yards ahead, Libby worked to the edge of the grass and 3 roosters got up. I pulled up on the second one and hit him, Libby was right on him..


Later in the afternoon a saw a rooster in the ditch whole cruising past a spot. I stopped, walked in tall grass and about 25 birds got up, I shot at one. and did not hit him very hard, he did drop down in the thick grass that is about 4 ft tall.
Libby took a wide area looking and was moving fast, Cody, got in front of me and started working slowly side to side, aproaching the edge of the grass Cody stopped and pounced, and then pointed, I started to dig in the grass and found the wounded bird..

I love finding downed bird with the dogs :)

Libby & Cody on the ride home
(Libby tries to sleep with her head up)

Pretty good picture going 75 mph

led lamp project

Caught a cold today and did a little project

Changed out our old lamp that used a 120 volt light to a new fixture that uses 12 volt and 1.5 watt led

more information at our roosterpheasant.com site

...

A little more about a broken suburban

During the trip back to Waunetta from the Chevy dealer in Imperial, the suburban began running very poorly, only able to get to 40 mph top speed.

I was able to get back to the camper and decided that is was no longer an option to try and get back to Colorado and repair the fuel pump..

Harchelroad Motors has a branch shop in Waunetta, after trying to find a fuel pump for a 8.1 liter suburban. (It is impossible) I contacted the dealer in Colorado ( I had previously purchased a new fuel pump last summer). and they were able to get another pump from the warehouse in Denver.

The Colorado dealer was able to overnight the new pump to the Waunetta dealer and the pump arrived the next day at 10:30am.


I dropped off the suburban to the dealer at 11 am.

Photo of dealer




suburban on the lift,
to remove the fuel tank
and replace fuel pump







The defective pump was boxed up, and will be returned to the Colorado dealer.

The pump has a 12 month factory warranty



After installing the new pump, we ( Libby, Cody & I) decided we needed to test drive the suburban to make sure it was ok.

We drove around to couple of our favorite hunting spots the check on birds. Everything was good.


It is harvest time, after a wet early fall the corn harvest is in full swing. Photo of a pile of corn by the elevator.

We decided to not drive back after dark (too many deer)

An invitation to the Goodtimes Bar was full of fun and laughs.



enjoying the evening Jeff,Billy. Ed, Becky










Our waitress (smiley)








All of the girls posed for a "smiley" picture









One of my favorite pictures of a Brittany hunting dog












Becky having a good time....

Lots going on this week

for the last week the suburban has been acting up a little.
It would loose power intermittently, and recover, I changed the fuel filter, (still the same),
checked the evaporation system on the fuel tank (It is Ok)
It had not acted up for 2 weeks, so, we decided to go hunting in Nebraska for a couple of days before Thanksgiving.

We have come back to the little house and set up, during the trip the suburban had a couple hickups, nothing bad.

Went turkey hunting on Monday morning and the turkeys saw me move ( I need to get under better cover) no bird..

Decided to take the suburban to the local Chevy dealer in Imperial Ne. we discussed the issues with the suburban and made an appointment for Tuesday at 9 am.

This dealership had burnt down last month and they have moved across the street to a building they had been building to house new cars.

Tuesday AM...

Received a call from Gary and he had to leave early and go back to Denver, his wife was taken to a hospital overnight..

Went to Harchelroad Motors in Imperial, Eddie the mechanic hooked up the tech 2 scanner to the suburban and tested all of the sensors and electrical systems, (the only out of normal reading was the oxygen sensor reading showing a lean condition). We then next installed a fuel pressure gauge and test drove the suburban, found the fuel pump, ( which was replaced last summer) is not supplying constant fuel pressure.

Paid the bill for diagnosis, (Only $25.00 wow )

On the way back to the trailer the pump is about to go out, top speed is 40 mph.

Now, I have made arrangements with the GM dealer in Colorado, to send a new pump to Nebraska overnight.


We now have power for the
camper in our favorite spot for hunting

The city cut down a cottonwood tree
to keep it from pulling down power lines

Pretty big tree

Trip two pheasant hunting

Camp spot for our Nebraska hunting adventures..












Hunted for two days, encountered some birds but,( knocked one down), the dogs could not find him in the very thick CRP grass, all others were, very spooky.
No corn has been harvested making finding birds difficult, we will return after harvest and hunt again..

Opening day of Pheasasnt Season

On Oct 30th.
After waiting for  interstate 76 to open after the blizzard on Friday

After about 9:30 am the interstate was opened from Denver to Nebraska

Libby, Cody and I left for the southwest area of Nebraska, with the camper in tow and anticipating a slow drive.

We drove the whole route, only to find just wet and dry roads, the trip was uneventful (thank goodness)

We are set up at a new spot for hunting from, I will post a picture latter.

With the very wet roads, we managed to get around, (only sliding into the ditch once) a total of 10 pheasants were harvested despite standing crops, very good opening weekend..

Cody trying to sit on friend Gary's lap about to fall off

Couple of tired dogs laying next to the wood stove, staying warm

Libby relaxing next to the fire

     Abandoned place typical of our hunting spots

First major snow

Cody's first major snow

The Store is Closed for weather reasons.  Soooo I have decided to work on the suburban replacing rear axle seals, all of the brake pads, and replacing the front rotors

There are advantages of having a store away from the house, we now can have our vehicles inside in inclimate weather and work on them.


Below is a picture of the Pontiac inside for the first time of its life

The area in this picture "was" the sales and showroom in the last 9 years.











Even though I have alot of stuff around while working on the Suburban this picture is for Brad in Arkansas Enjoy!

Elk Hunting 09

Have spent the last week
Elk Hunting in the Colorado Mountains near Fairplay (Jefferson)

A few pictures of early mornings waiting for some elk action

Last morning early picture after a previous day snow, notice the fog laying in the mountain valley on the upper left of the picture, before sunrise

Grandkids trying out Halloween costumes

 

Tnkerbell & a kitty

Travel back to Colorado

We are currently parked in North Platte, Ne (at wal-mart lot) due to freezing mist and light rain.

We stopped in time to watch the last quarter of the Denver Bronco's game and watch the overtime win..  Both the Broncos and the Vikings have unbeaten records so far, kinda cool (My two favorite football teams)

Now watching the Minnesota Twins vs the Yankee's

Waiting for the Rockies ice-ball. baseball  game.( DirectTv & modern RV's are wonderful things)

Our parking spot

A little snow here

In Mason City

We are in Mason City Ia, tending to family matters.

Camped in a remodeled campground on the east side of town near the Winnebago River, Very  nice place called Margret McNider camp ground..

 

No MLB baseball on serius radio

The Rockies will play tomorrow at 2pm, I have checked the schedule and there is no satellite radio broadcast.

Our back up plan is to use the Verizon air card in the suburban and using the laptop computer, we will attempt to pull up the Denver radio station for the local broadcast. and listen on the internet.

Traveling to North Central Iowa

Left Brighton about 2:30 this afternoon, currently parked at Wal-Mart in Lexington Ne.watching Rockies baseball.

How do we watch baseball in a parking lot?

We have direct tv, 4 six volt batteries, an inverter that changes 12 volt battery power to 120 volt household current... It is awesome 

This weeks highlights

Monday,
We had a visit from friends from Canada (Dave & Pat), they are traveling in the US for a while this fall in the western part of the country. We met them In Yuma, Az. last winter staying out of the winter weather for the month of February.
We had a very nice visit, telling stories, and of mechanical RV repairs.

Wednesday,
Came home from the store, and the direct tv did not work, called the company, it was determined that the tuner is bad, a new one has been sent, have not received it yet so far, but I took the one we use in the outdoor gazebo, and hooked it up, as a backup..

Thursday,
Watched the Colorado Rockies win the wildcard spot in the playoffs.
Since our political climate is in the shitter, I decided this year to watch more sports (as a diversion) It has helped, I watched too much television news anyway.. Go Rockies... It's Rocktober.....

Today,
We have changed our store hours of operation for the winter months. we are now open from 10am to 4pm during the week and open 10am to 2pm on Saturdays and Closed on Sundays...

We had a good freeze overnight last night good news for allergies, for both me and Libby, the flies should be toast..

Smokin' on the Beaver

Good friend Jeff, in Waunetta, Ne extended an invitation to attend a BBQ competition in Atwood KS. last Friday, & Saturday.

Grilling, smoking... of course I will go !

Sign that greets everyone
(Click On Pics to enlarge)

There were venders with pellet feeding smokers and digital timers, and thermometers

 Checking out the friendly competition

Smokers of all shapes and sizes (I like this one because of the pheasants)

Photo of one to look like a full size helicopter
(this fella is the one who started this event 7 years ago)
and also was giving out samples of BBQ alligator tail .. Good..

 This is his sign

some signs of participants

BBQ Boys

John Deere or Harley ?

Old scooter, not a Cushman

Our neighbors had a big dog he had to weigh about 100 pounds

 
Billy & Jeff the ones who invited us (Thank You)

Ed and Becky Cutting the brisket that we cooked for 20 hours on low heat, even using the stove in the camper to cook while we slept.

Not bad

Photo of Becky after turning in the meat and beans to be judged, time to relax,  listen to the live bands, or watch Colorado Rockies Baseball, and visit with other folks.

I took Cody with me to keep an eye on him after the de-con episode, he did very good and I had a super good time.