BABY GOATS
I learned you have to let the nanny goats have babies so they will give you milk.
In my homestead summer twin black and white baby kid goats were born. They played with us, running, jumping, like two more children.
We went to cut hay in an area where they let you cut it and haul iy away. All the children had a wonderful day. The boys worked and we all helped load the fresh cut grass. I remember a big cutting tool. It was an adventure to go a long way from the Homestead. I remember going to a small store in Upper or Lower Tonsina. I think that is the name of the area. We brought the hay home home and stacked it .... kind of in a stack off the truck in a pile. We were allowed to play on the hay stack before we got it all off.
We had an old truck, probably a one ton, and you could climb up on the running board, up on the fender, on the hood, up on the top of the cab and slide down the hay stacked in back of the truck. It was a ball! We were all doing it. It wasn't long before the twin goats were following us up over the truck and down the hay. It was fun having animals to play with like that. The animals on the homestead were a treat for me. I was never allowed to have animals in the house or many pets growing up. That's another story.
As the kid goats grew older they played with us less and hung around the nanny goats. That is not a good situation when you are depending on the nanny's for milk. A man from a homestead down the road came by and all the children were put in the house. I remember him joking that his knife was sharp. The boy baby goat was not a baby when he left, and he would not grow up to be a Billy Goat.
A CALF IS BORN
My brother in law Cler built a shelter for Rowdy, our big red cow, and put clean hay in it so she could have her calf in a nice place. The state cow guys would come out and check her. That was interesting ! They would put on rubber gloves that came up to their arm pits and go in side her. They said they could tell when she was going to give birth. All I knew was she did not like it. When the hay was unloaded from the truck it was stacked near the shelter.
Got to talk about RABBITS. I learned that most animals have cycles. Some years there are lots of rabbits and 7 years later there are very few. This year there were lots of rabbits, the adults stayed up nights guarding the hay with guns from the rabbits. We hoped we had hay enough to carry the animals through the winter. The rabbits had run out of food. Men from the surrounding area would come down and help our family guard the hay. The rabbits would come in throngs, hundreds. They shot hundreds of them. They had to use a front loader to dig pits to bury them.
When Rowdy had her calf she broke out of the shelter and in to the haystack and had him there. Through the years different animals had been brought to the homestead to provide food for the family. These had been named by the children and lived to an old age. SO we were told over and over IF Rowdy's calf was a girl that was a good thing. She would continue to give milk and the dairy would get a new cow. BUT if the calf was a boy ..... his name would be VEAL CUTLETS!
More Homestead stories later
Friday, March 21, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Daytona 2014 - Florida 2
We drove the route we would take to the parking lot for the race, two days before, Just to make sure our memories were working. Then we drove around the track. It is fun to see the vendors and drivers rigs all set up.
Sunday morning we left early and the traffic was not too bad. Drove to the same parking lot, # 10, where we parked last year. It is out in the country side. You get off of high way 4 and take two lane roads through horse country, past barns, county fair grounds, and plowed fields. Lot 10 is a grass and alfalfa field that has been cut down. We remarked how the recent rain had kept the dust down. Last year it was very dusty. We didn't have far to walk to catch a school bus to take us to the race track. They have a loading area set up and people to get the buses parked and you on them as fast as possible. You are off the high way, parked and on the bus as fast as you can move. They remind you to park close and lock your car. The buses drive on the sides of the roads and in the turn lanes and on the frontage roads. I counted 6 school districts. I found my self just as excited as I was last year. This is the 500 ! 250,000 fans WOW. We had pre race pit passes and went behind the pits and saw how they were set up. Found a car from Idaho, bought tee shirts and hats, a shot glass and drinks. Walked around the infield and then across the straight away into the stands. OK we all know about the high banking on the corners, but did you know from the infield .up to the stands is an up hill hike across the straight a way stretch between turn 4 and the finish line and turn 1. And then you have to climb a ladder to get up to the gate off the track into the stands ! Boy if the guard had not lent a hand I am not sure I would have made it. Our tickets were as good as last year, at the top of the first section and the people around us were happy to be there.
We enjoyed 30 + laps before it started raining. The race stopped as soon as the rain started. We sat in a down pour for three hours. I know crazy - crazy. Well finely my underwear was soaked and I had had enough. If the school buses were not running we were going to take a cab back to the car. The crowd getting out of the track was awful. Pushing, shoving, the bleachers dripping, rain coming through.the cracks. I felt very short. We made our way out to the tram. It took us from the front to the back of the track. There we caught a school bus back to the parking lot. I am so glad they were running the buses, we were not the only ones leaving. The people at the gates reminded us to hang on to our tickets. They would be good when they started the race.
Our wonderful farmers field was now a swamp. We are lucky we were among the first to arrive at the lot. I was wadding in water and mud up to my ankles. Black mud, grass, rocks and trying not to get my shoes sucked off ! Our rental car was a Dodge Avenger and my traveling companion is a race car driver. That combination got us out of that quagmire. We drove out behind cars being pushed by people, trucks driving back and forth trying to find their way out. Just because you drive a big truck dose not mean you know how to drive. As we approached the road out of the lot, a driver in an Impala stopped and signaled us to go ahead. He could see we were going to make it if we didn't stop.We maneuvered around and over obstructions , shifting and keeping our momentum up and bounced up in front of the Impala. I'll bet AAA was busy that night. We were covered with mud and grass from the truck ahead of us. I saw one girl standing by her car with the rear quarter panel hanging off. Thank you Impala.
Back at the hotel it took a few hours, a tub, and lots of hot water to get me warm and in a good mood again. " do you want to go back ? Our tickets are still good." I will not print my response. They started the race after a 6 and 1/2/hour delay. They ran in the dark.The race was on TV. That was good enough for me, "hello room service ....." Can you imagine that parking lot in the dark after 3 more hours of rain .....
The next morning I began my trip south. I planed on seeing the coast of Florida down to Key West. As soon as we got south of Orlando the weather was better. Only a few hours of rain a few days later.
More later. Thanks for tuning in.
Sunday morning we left early and the traffic was not too bad. Drove to the same parking lot, # 10, where we parked last year. It is out in the country side. You get off of high way 4 and take two lane roads through horse country, past barns, county fair grounds, and plowed fields. Lot 10 is a grass and alfalfa field that has been cut down. We remarked how the recent rain had kept the dust down. Last year it was very dusty. We didn't have far to walk to catch a school bus to take us to the race track. They have a loading area set up and people to get the buses parked and you on them as fast as possible. You are off the high way, parked and on the bus as fast as you can move. They remind you to park close and lock your car. The buses drive on the sides of the roads and in the turn lanes and on the frontage roads. I counted 6 school districts. I found my self just as excited as I was last year. This is the 500 ! 250,000 fans WOW. We had pre race pit passes and went behind the pits and saw how they were set up. Found a car from Idaho, bought tee shirts and hats, a shot glass and drinks. Walked around the infield and then across the straight away into the stands. OK we all know about the high banking on the corners, but did you know from the infield .up to the stands is an up hill hike across the straight a way stretch between turn 4 and the finish line and turn 1. And then you have to climb a ladder to get up to the gate off the track into the stands ! Boy if the guard had not lent a hand I am not sure I would have made it. Our tickets were as good as last year, at the top of the first section and the people around us were happy to be there.
We enjoyed 30 + laps before it started raining. The race stopped as soon as the rain started. We sat in a down pour for three hours. I know crazy - crazy. Well finely my underwear was soaked and I had had enough. If the school buses were not running we were going to take a cab back to the car. The crowd getting out of the track was awful. Pushing, shoving, the bleachers dripping, rain coming through.the cracks. I felt very short. We made our way out to the tram. It took us from the front to the back of the track. There we caught a school bus back to the parking lot. I am so glad they were running the buses, we were not the only ones leaving. The people at the gates reminded us to hang on to our tickets. They would be good when they started the race.
Our wonderful farmers field was now a swamp. We are lucky we were among the first to arrive at the lot. I was wadding in water and mud up to my ankles. Black mud, grass, rocks and trying not to get my shoes sucked off ! Our rental car was a Dodge Avenger and my traveling companion is a race car driver. That combination got us out of that quagmire. We drove out behind cars being pushed by people, trucks driving back and forth trying to find their way out. Just because you drive a big truck dose not mean you know how to drive. As we approached the road out of the lot, a driver in an Impala stopped and signaled us to go ahead. He could see we were going to make it if we didn't stop.We maneuvered around and over obstructions , shifting and keeping our momentum up and bounced up in front of the Impala. I'll bet AAA was busy that night. We were covered with mud and grass from the truck ahead of us. I saw one girl standing by her car with the rear quarter panel hanging off. Thank you Impala.
Back at the hotel it took a few hours, a tub, and lots of hot water to get me warm and in a good mood again. " do you want to go back ? Our tickets are still good." I will not print my response. They started the race after a 6 and 1/2/hour delay. They ran in the dark.The race was on TV. That was good enough for me, "hello room service ....." Can you imagine that parking lot in the dark after 3 more hours of rain .....
The next morning I began my trip south. I planed on seeing the coast of Florida down to Key West. As soon as we got south of Orlando the weather was better. Only a few hours of rain a few days later.
More later. Thanks for tuning in.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Daytona 2014 + Florida
I leave for Orlando tomorrow. 2-19-14 Daytona !! yay I can not wait!! I will have a few days in Orlando so I can shop and explore. I found out one of my favorite stores is there Soma Intimates.. They have closed in Salt Lake. I will see if I can find them.
Wish me luck with the weather and the airplane !! Our weatherman is saying it is going to snow here.
I confirmed all the hotels today for our stay.
I am going to miss my nieces wedding on the 20th. But I got them a nice room at a great hotel in Salt Lake.
Thursday 2-20-14 Orlando !! 82 degrees ! The flight from Salt Lake City left on time as a cold front was moving in. It was bumpy as we climbed through it then Sunshine on top .
I sat next to a mom who with her family was returning to Ormand Beach after a week of Skiing at The Canyons . Ormond is next to Daytona.We picked up clouds again coming in to Orlando.
The residence Inn Marriott was nice for one night. Lake Mary Marriott was great. They upgraded us to the 10th floor,with concierge service.
It rained cats and dogs for two days. Could not find the stores I wanted. Ate at Crabby Joe's. Found a great little ice cream parlor and had a wonderful chocolate shake.
Mobil 1 Race guys were staying and Tecking and entertaining the Stewart Racing Troops at the Lake Mary Hotel. Lots of stickers on the entrance glass, large floor mats in the lobby and check in area and a large conference / out side bar, entertainment area going for three days and nights.
Sunday, 500 day, broken clouds, ignoring the weather man. Hope Springs Eternal.
I wanted to post this from the road as I travel. I have not mastered my ipad, I am reading, and wifi is not reliable. So I am working from notes. I will edit and post daily for a while.
To be continued.
Wish me luck with the weather and the airplane !! Our weatherman is saying it is going to snow here.
I confirmed all the hotels today for our stay.
I am going to miss my nieces wedding on the 20th. But I got them a nice room at a great hotel in Salt Lake.
Thursday 2-20-14 Orlando !! 82 degrees ! The flight from Salt Lake City left on time as a cold front was moving in. It was bumpy as we climbed through it then Sunshine on top .
I sat next to a mom who with her family was returning to Ormand Beach after a week of Skiing at The Canyons . Ormond is next to Daytona.We picked up clouds again coming in to Orlando.
The residence Inn Marriott was nice for one night. Lake Mary Marriott was great. They upgraded us to the 10th floor,with concierge service.
It rained cats and dogs for two days. Could not find the stores I wanted. Ate at Crabby Joe's. Found a great little ice cream parlor and had a wonderful chocolate shake.
Mobil 1 Race guys were staying and Tecking and entertaining the Stewart Racing Troops at the Lake Mary Hotel. Lots of stickers on the entrance glass, large floor mats in the lobby and check in area and a large conference / out side bar, entertainment area going for three days and nights.
Sunday, 500 day, broken clouds, ignoring the weather man. Hope Springs Eternal.
I wanted to post this from the road as I travel. I have not mastered my ipad, I am reading, and wifi is not reliable. So I am working from notes. I will edit and post daily for a while.
To be continued.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Daytona 500 2013
Daytona 500 ! It has a magic sound. I have watched it on TV for years.
I belong to The Rovia Travel Club. They had a package tour for two to the Daytona 500, they call it a Dream Trip. It was for a three star hotel, race tickets, transfers to and from the airport in Orlando Florida, the race and hotel. My travel agent could not touch the price. I wanted to go.
I have a new friend and he is an old drag racer. He knows all the cars,teams and owners. I have been going to and participating in drag racing since the 1950's. I convinced him getting out of Utah in February was a good idea. The package was ours.
We arrived at the airport at 4 am for a 6:30 am flight on Delta Airlines. When we got on the air plane it was snowing HARD. They deiced us twice. As we started to taxie the 2nd time the cabin filled with smoke. They held us up and the crew turned on fans , the smoke cleared. We decided the smell was the deicing fluid. After deicing us again the 2nd officer came out a looked out the window at the leading edge of the left wing. The captain said he was looking for ice. At least he looked older, maybe this was not his first flight. Off we go, we are going to take off this time. OK, settle down Florida here we come. SMOKE again this time it will not stop. An alarm goes off. CLANG !!! CLANG !!! The flight attendant sitting in front gets up and opens the restroom door, it was full of smoke and the alarm in there was going off. She slammed the door. It is not a good sign when the crew loses their cool. She opened the cockpit door. We had been able to see out of the front of the plane as we loaded passengers. Now the cockpit was filled with smoke and we could hardly see the pilots. The captain announced we were returning to Salt Lake City as he made a steep right hand turn. We did't have a choice, FAA REGS say when a fire alarm goes off you put the plane down. Now people were breathing thru their undershirts. I had a big scarf for my friend and I to use. Jackets were over heads. Some people were looking on their smart stuff to see if this could cause cancer. Kids were crying. It was not a fun place to be. You could not see the seats in the back of the plane the smoke was so thick.
Back at the airport they got every one off the plane , " please take all your carry on and personal items with you. You will not be able to get back on the plane." Delta ask us to hang around the gate area. Salt Lake City Fire Trucks arrived and parked behind our plane. Also the Haze Matte Fire Department crew with Que Tips arrived. They were going over that plane inch by inch. Even inside the engine intakes. A different plane arrived, a new crew was found and we left around noon. This cost us a day in Orlando. Delta gave us $25.00 to spend on food in the airport and $50.00 Airline credit months later when I called and complained and not before. I do not believe they would have given it to you if you would not have asked. They said it was a weather delay. It made the local news in Salt Lake City. The Delta Flyer Card personnel were helpful in getting our credit vouchers when I called and complained. Talk nice and carry an air line card.
The Avis Rent a Car people were fast and we did not spend a lot of time in the airport in Orlando. My friend was raised in south Florida so he thought he knew how to get around ..... well there are new roads and highways, toll roads, some just numbered different. He is old and male, men do not ask for nor listen to directions. A deadly combination I learned. The Avis man explained where Lake Mary was and how to get out of the air port and what numbered highway to take. I paid extra for a GPS, I knew I didn't know where I was. I was tired and put him in the drivers seat, Mistake. I had no idea where we were, getting out of the air port was fun, it was like the Kingston Trio's MTA song, round and round. With no horizon - it was dark - we took off on the wrong highway in the wrong direction. "I know where we are, I just have to find ..." After the 2nd toll booth I had had all the fun I could stand. I ask if we could ask the toll taker if we were headed toward Lake Mary ? Oh No we can't do that, why ? Just 'cause. Bull - when I saw the next toll booth I told him either we are asking or I am shutting the car OFF. OK ? I can see the keys in the ignition ! OK ! So the toll lady told us to flip a u turn and go back and catch the next exit. We found Lake Mary and our Hotel.
We checked in to our Marriott Hotel at 11:30 pm my time. Their night clerk was a hoot. He would not look at me as we checked in. He was very busy typing." Yes mam your room is ready" Typing typing. Every time I ask a question he handed me a room service menu. I decided he was taking inventory. Do you have a restaurant in the hotel? "Here is our room service menu you hang it on your door and we will deliver breakfast to your room between 6 and 8 am. Typing typing I ask if they had bell service ? Yes. .... Did he think it was a rhetorical question ? More typing. Is the bell man on the property ? Yes. ... Could you call him ? Oh, do you want a bell man? yes.
I have worked in hotels and I carry a Marriott Card so I know how this works, but I will tell you we were on my last nerve. I now had three room service menus. My friend was trying not to laugh out loud. He finely turned his back.
So here comes Bob the Bell Man. He is driving the Marriott van, he has on slacks, a shirt almost tucked in and I swear he is 60 +. He shows my friend where to park and takes me with our bags up to the room. We talk about how much we will enjoy the race. I give him a nice tip. The next morning I talk to the front desk staff. Bob is the security guy, he drives the van around at night checking the parking lots and out buildings.They treat us to breakfast each morning we were with them and dinner at a very nice restaurant. Remember to talk softly and carry a Marriott card !
We drive to The Daytona Race Track. WOW The traffic is thick and backing up but they handle it. The over head highway reader boards get us off the main roads and run us thru the country on back roads past horses, cows ,beautiful homes and farms.They park us in a field with hundreds of cars and temporary lighting. The parking attendant is quick "Pull over here, be sure to lock your car, take your coat you won't be back until after the race.See the flags over there that is where you catch the school buses to the race. And he is off herding cars and trucks. We run in to a man selling tee shirts and buy one. At the flag site they are loading school buses as fast as they can. I counted 6 school district's buses working this Sunday. The drivers go fast and use the shoulders, turn lanes and lanes not open to traffic. They drop us off on the back side of the track and a tram takes us around to the front. We stood in line about 15 - 20 minuets. We found our seats and were pleased to be just 18 rows up from the track, so we could see all the cars as they went by. Our seats were also across from where the cars slow down to go in to the pits. I do not think I sat down for 10 minuets during the whole race. We were in the first section with a wall behind me so I was not standing in front of any one.
I have watched this race on TV many times. It goes by much faster in person. There were 5 guys behind us from all over the east coast. They were college buddy's. They come to Daytona every year and hang out for a week. One had Bush/M&M stuff on, they all had their favorites and were betting on everything, when the 1st caution would come, how many cautions, what color under wear the guys were wearing. Who would crash first, who would go out of the race 1st. They would not bet with me on Danica, they saw her as a wild card. We all enjoyed having my friend with us - he knew why the cautions were called, why destroyed cars are allowed out on the track to finish the race.They told him he needed a beer to keep up with his screaming lady, he is not a yeller, and he needed, no earned a beer for all the good information.They wished us well and hoped to see us in 2014.
The buses were waiting for us after the race. Back in the parking lot we put the seats back and slept for an hour or so while the traffic thinned out.The drive back to Lake Mary was easy.
The next day we enjoyed our breakfast and headed out to see some of Florida. I drove on Daytona Beach !! The sand is hard, it is made of coral. Years ago the 500 ran on the beach and in town. We ate lunch at Crabby Joe's and just enjoyed the sunshine. Back at the hotel that evening we got dressed up and went to dinner at Bones Restaurant.
Tuesday we drove to Cape Canaveral. OH BOY this was worth the trip. The theatre reenactment of the landing on the moon was wonderful. I got goose bumps. They load you on busses and show you the gantry's and the huge equipment that moves things around, WoW. They dropped us off so we could see all the rockets. Ya baby ! That's what it is all about....no I think we saw the rockets 1st ... anyway the Saturn 5 Rocket is soooo big It blows your mind. I bought lots of stuff in their gift shop. It was a great day.
The trip back to the hotel, back to the airport, back to Salt Lake was OK.
I am going back this year, 2014, more later.
I belong to The Rovia Travel Club. They had a package tour for two to the Daytona 500, they call it a Dream Trip. It was for a three star hotel, race tickets, transfers to and from the airport in Orlando Florida, the race and hotel. My travel agent could not touch the price. I wanted to go.
I have a new friend and he is an old drag racer. He knows all the cars,teams and owners. I have been going to and participating in drag racing since the 1950's. I convinced him getting out of Utah in February was a good idea. The package was ours.
We arrived at the airport at 4 am for a 6:30 am flight on Delta Airlines. When we got on the air plane it was snowing HARD. They deiced us twice. As we started to taxie the 2nd time the cabin filled with smoke. They held us up and the crew turned on fans , the smoke cleared. We decided the smell was the deicing fluid. After deicing us again the 2nd officer came out a looked out the window at the leading edge of the left wing. The captain said he was looking for ice. At least he looked older, maybe this was not his first flight. Off we go, we are going to take off this time. OK, settle down Florida here we come. SMOKE again this time it will not stop. An alarm goes off. CLANG !!! CLANG !!! The flight attendant sitting in front gets up and opens the restroom door, it was full of smoke and the alarm in there was going off. She slammed the door. It is not a good sign when the crew loses their cool. She opened the cockpit door. We had been able to see out of the front of the plane as we loaded passengers. Now the cockpit was filled with smoke and we could hardly see the pilots. The captain announced we were returning to Salt Lake City as he made a steep right hand turn. We did't have a choice, FAA REGS say when a fire alarm goes off you put the plane down. Now people were breathing thru their undershirts. I had a big scarf for my friend and I to use. Jackets were over heads. Some people were looking on their smart stuff to see if this could cause cancer. Kids were crying. It was not a fun place to be. You could not see the seats in the back of the plane the smoke was so thick.
Back at the airport they got every one off the plane , " please take all your carry on and personal items with you. You will not be able to get back on the plane." Delta ask us to hang around the gate area. Salt Lake City Fire Trucks arrived and parked behind our plane. Also the Haze Matte Fire Department crew with Que Tips arrived. They were going over that plane inch by inch. Even inside the engine intakes. A different plane arrived, a new crew was found and we left around noon. This cost us a day in Orlando. Delta gave us $25.00 to spend on food in the airport and $50.00 Airline credit months later when I called and complained and not before. I do not believe they would have given it to you if you would not have asked. They said it was a weather delay. It made the local news in Salt Lake City. The Delta Flyer Card personnel were helpful in getting our credit vouchers when I called and complained. Talk nice and carry an air line card.
The Avis Rent a Car people were fast and we did not spend a lot of time in the airport in Orlando. My friend was raised in south Florida so he thought he knew how to get around ..... well there are new roads and highways, toll roads, some just numbered different. He is old and male, men do not ask for nor listen to directions. A deadly combination I learned. The Avis man explained where Lake Mary was and how to get out of the air port and what numbered highway to take. I paid extra for a GPS, I knew I didn't know where I was. I was tired and put him in the drivers seat, Mistake. I had no idea where we were, getting out of the air port was fun, it was like the Kingston Trio's MTA song, round and round. With no horizon - it was dark - we took off on the wrong highway in the wrong direction. "I know where we are, I just have to find ..." After the 2nd toll booth I had had all the fun I could stand. I ask if we could ask the toll taker if we were headed toward Lake Mary ? Oh No we can't do that, why ? Just 'cause. Bull - when I saw the next toll booth I told him either we are asking or I am shutting the car OFF. OK ? I can see the keys in the ignition ! OK ! So the toll lady told us to flip a u turn and go back and catch the next exit. We found Lake Mary and our Hotel.
We checked in to our Marriott Hotel at 11:30 pm my time. Their night clerk was a hoot. He would not look at me as we checked in. He was very busy typing." Yes mam your room is ready" Typing typing. Every time I ask a question he handed me a room service menu. I decided he was taking inventory. Do you have a restaurant in the hotel? "Here is our room service menu you hang it on your door and we will deliver breakfast to your room between 6 and 8 am. Typing typing I ask if they had bell service ? Yes. .... Did he think it was a rhetorical question ? More typing. Is the bell man on the property ? Yes. ... Could you call him ? Oh, do you want a bell man? yes.
I have worked in hotels and I carry a Marriott Card so I know how this works, but I will tell you we were on my last nerve. I now had three room service menus. My friend was trying not to laugh out loud. He finely turned his back.
So here comes Bob the Bell Man. He is driving the Marriott van, he has on slacks, a shirt almost tucked in and I swear he is 60 +. He shows my friend where to park and takes me with our bags up to the room. We talk about how much we will enjoy the race. I give him a nice tip. The next morning I talk to the front desk staff. Bob is the security guy, he drives the van around at night checking the parking lots and out buildings.They treat us to breakfast each morning we were with them and dinner at a very nice restaurant. Remember to talk softly and carry a Marriott card !
We drive to The Daytona Race Track. WOW The traffic is thick and backing up but they handle it. The over head highway reader boards get us off the main roads and run us thru the country on back roads past horses, cows ,beautiful homes and farms.They park us in a field with hundreds of cars and temporary lighting. The parking attendant is quick "Pull over here, be sure to lock your car, take your coat you won't be back until after the race.See the flags over there that is where you catch the school buses to the race. And he is off herding cars and trucks. We run in to a man selling tee shirts and buy one. At the flag site they are loading school buses as fast as they can. I counted 6 school district's buses working this Sunday. The drivers go fast and use the shoulders, turn lanes and lanes not open to traffic. They drop us off on the back side of the track and a tram takes us around to the front. We stood in line about 15 - 20 minuets. We found our seats and were pleased to be just 18 rows up from the track, so we could see all the cars as they went by. Our seats were also across from where the cars slow down to go in to the pits. I do not think I sat down for 10 minuets during the whole race. We were in the first section with a wall behind me so I was not standing in front of any one.
I have watched this race on TV many times. It goes by much faster in person. There were 5 guys behind us from all over the east coast. They were college buddy's. They come to Daytona every year and hang out for a week. One had Bush/M&M stuff on, they all had their favorites and were betting on everything, when the 1st caution would come, how many cautions, what color under wear the guys were wearing. Who would crash first, who would go out of the race 1st. They would not bet with me on Danica, they saw her as a wild card. We all enjoyed having my friend with us - he knew why the cautions were called, why destroyed cars are allowed out on the track to finish the race.They told him he needed a beer to keep up with his screaming lady, he is not a yeller, and he needed, no earned a beer for all the good information.They wished us well and hoped to see us in 2014.
The buses were waiting for us after the race. Back in the parking lot we put the seats back and slept for an hour or so while the traffic thinned out.The drive back to Lake Mary was easy.
The next day we enjoyed our breakfast and headed out to see some of Florida. I drove on Daytona Beach !! The sand is hard, it is made of coral. Years ago the 500 ran on the beach and in town. We ate lunch at Crabby Joe's and just enjoyed the sunshine. Back at the hotel that evening we got dressed up and went to dinner at Bones Restaurant.
Tuesday we drove to Cape Canaveral. OH BOY this was worth the trip. The theatre reenactment of the landing on the moon was wonderful. I got goose bumps. They load you on busses and show you the gantry's and the huge equipment that moves things around, WoW. They dropped us off so we could see all the rockets. Ya baby ! That's what it is all about....no I think we saw the rockets 1st ... anyway the Saturn 5 Rocket is soooo big It blows your mind. I bought lots of stuff in their gift shop. It was a great day.
The trip back to the hotel, back to the airport, back to Salt Lake was OK.
I am going back this year, 2014, more later.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Rowdy and the Wolves
Rowdy was a big red cow, very pregnant, and hard to keep track of . We had a lot of fun chasing her. "She can not have her calf out in the brush, she must be up here by the cabin, so we can help her." My brother in law tied a large rope around her neck, and hung a small log on a rope so it would drag on the ground and tangle in the bushes and slow her down. She also had a large bell around her neck. She would still wander off.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
First Aaska Story. Early 50's
My parents sent me to Alaska from Ogden, Utah when I was 11 or 12 years old. I flew from Salt lake City to Seattle-Tacoma Airport with 2 or 3 stops between. They called it a milk run. I had a layover in Seattle, then on to Anchorage, Alaska. My uncle was living in Anchorage, working for the bureau of Land management, he met me at the airport and I stayed with his family for a few days. My cousin Mike and I played out side until 11:30 pm, the sun was still up. It was a blast !
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