Gr8 Fish

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Nest Net Update ~ WiFi, Xfinity, And Cat5e 13Aug26

This is really an UPDATE to lame network performance musings HERE... While I was getting almost 1Gbps patched directly into the router, my WiFi experience in some parts of the Nest was not consistent. It seems time-of-day and day-of-week dependent. We know both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are crowded, which slows down WiFi when the bands are "congested." Still, I don't know yet if it's that or Xfinity itself is congested and slowing, or even throttling me... they do have this problem and this capability. I do not use their gear and they do not control my WiFi, as they do some. I need to find a free scheme to regularly test on the wired and wireless sides to see who is slowing whom. That's not say I'm not much faster, I am. Just inconsistent on WiFi. Remote areas of the Nest now get >300Mbps and decent pings on 5GHz band and the macStudio is strong on WiFi 5GHz but varies with time ~ here's 6pm, 8pm, and 11pm. I plan to do even better.

Cat5e Wired Ethernet Build @ The Nest... So my first move was to terminate the existing Cat 6 cabling with Cat5e/RJ45 jacks and plugs to at least get wired Ethernet into the Nest study and to my macStudio. I don't know why it wasn't done prior here but at least the low voltage wiring was in place. It was painful and laborious to terminate some of the rooms' runs in jacks and add plugs to the like lines in the storage/wiring closet (if one can even call it a wiring closet). I'm gonna need to clean all that up someday but right now I want function. I have rug burns on knees and elbows, and sore hands, but it was worth it.

Network Termination Tools... I asked Kala to assemble the gear & tools and plugs & jacks into a kit that Bob could tote up aboard the BMW adventure bike (as he was inbound for Sierra Ferrell). I needed an impact punch down tool, a ratcheting plug clamper, a bunch of Cat5e jacks & plugs, and a network tester.

Terminations & Test... Since I was a once a product guy at FNET, I was thankfully presented a prototype of the NetTool, which I still use. I really only was using the wiremap function today... I placed a special dongle in the jacks I punched down, went to the "wiring closet" and inserted my new plug termination into the NetTool and it tested the wires for continuity and arrangement. Sometimes I got it right, many times I did not and had to redo (see the handful of spent RJ45 plugs).

1Gbps In The Study... This is the part where we say "it was worth it." I celebrated completion with Vail's Blur.

Blog updates are so much faster now. I just wished it'd help me hike faster and jump further.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Sierra Ferrell Concert @ Dillon Amp ~ Stellar Despite The Rain 11Aug26

Steve, Bob, and I headed to Dillon Amp to queue early for the Sierra Ferrell concert; we wanted position A seats in front of the sound man. 90 min before doors maybe part of the price for GA these days but it's tougher in the rain. Nonetheless, we were 6th in line and nearly assured of great spots for this sold out show.

The VIP doors opened at 5pm and we entered @ 5:30, but our ticket was 1/3 the price of VIP... NP. We got the spot we wanted just in front of the sound man 10 rows above the mosh pit. We mostly prepared for rain and howdy did we get it. Bro Brown had to dispatch to buy a poncho though. We grabbed nosh & brews and settled in for the show.

Aurelia Anne Cohen... First up was Aurelia, a self-taught country and Irish singer/songwriter. She was good/interesting with Irish-derived tunes, despite the country gal outfit. Cool resonator & accordion artist. Not much rain yet, but it was threatening.

Brudi Brothers... Next to stage were the primary current touring partners with Sierra, the Brudi Bros. These guys were fine harmonizers, good instrumentalists, and a fun primarily country/Americana band from Seattle... far from grunge. As their set finished the rains came and rarely let up ~ Steve had to buy a poncho but Bob and I donned my raincoats.

Sierra Ferrell... We came to see Sierra and her band, and everyone else did too... it was SRO the rest of the concert. The crowd was filled with women in unusual garb, and flowers abounded. As always we expected a unique outfit from Sierra and she didn't disappoint in pretty white dress with feathers and sequins, with 6" white heels. The show and Dillon Amp sound was stellar start to finish ~ studio album hits had added transition and sections for the concert that were cool. She played stuff from across her repertoire including recent Grammy offers. For one she was joined for 4 part harmonies by the Brudi Bros. The band, as ever, played tight, and the lead & mandolin dealt nice callback and harmonies many times. Sierra herself was, also as always, a great showman and bandleader, with great songs and a powerful voice (for dB and for good in the world).

Great show enjoyed with great friends. Thanks for coming out in the inclement climes.

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Brewery Bikery 2026 ~ Drinking & Riding Annual Was Fun With Some Noobs 08Aug26

Steve rolled down from Eagles Nest; Jim and I headed down in the Crusher; Dave drove the Subie; Kize with Kyle & Evan straggled in in the Jeep. We convened at Angry James @ 10am, and would finish back there tonight. A few technical eBike issues thwarted the start but we finally got every thing started well at the top of the serpentine on the dam. The Brewery Bikery is a mostly annual ride to every brewery in Summit Co with a pint or so enjoyed at each one. This years run was an "out & back" as Swan Mtn is closed. The core plan was a 1st ~20mi leg to the far end of Breck, to Breckenridge Brewing when they open at 11am, and then to trundle back the same way hitting each brewery as we passed by. It worked and the weather held but for an increasing headwind from Breck to Highside.

We were somewhat challenged up the serpentine path to the top of the dam but ultimately convened and bounced Yo's bike to 'fix' it and put more air in Kyle's tires. We rode pretty quickly through Frisco and on to Breck, with a few stops for water or Gatorade.

We enjoyed Breck, and folks were noticing our efforts and team jerseys, but soon headed down to Broken Compass, excellent brewery on the other side of Breck. We were joined by Kelly, Scott's friend, who'd done her own enduro ride before joining us. Soon enough we left for Highside in Frisco, unfortunately with a headwind... easier with eBikes, less so for the regular troops... I broke wind for a bit for Bro Brown.

With a bit a delayed start, and some lollygagging, we lost our main stud Sheldon at Highside. He headed back to Denver for a visit with his kid there at 4pm. Thanks for coming out buddy. After a beer and some nosh at Highside, accompanied by tunes from a troubadour (again with shout outs), we headed to ORB for some IPAs, if you know how to order here. I think Scott is providing a running total. Again a band to boot, and a visit from Evan's friends Cole & Tiara, who were cool, and had just done Chihuahua Lk. Evan and Cole were brothers in guns... I see why Evan didn't wanna wear the long sleeve event shirt... "sun's out; guns out." Good repping us PA natives. Thanks for meeting up with us, youngsters.

We headed next across the dam to our Steep stop at the Tiki Bar on the lake. It was packed as there was a concert at the amp and we got caught in the crosswind. We ultimately scored some brews and I was able to get an update from the Dillon Marina GM ~ they are not too impacted by the low lake levels as the other marina is shuddered and Dillon is a deepwater spot. Good for them but still glad I flipped Mon Ami. Tiki only had pints so Evan got screwed on his credit card... heh heh. We rolled easily down to Dillon Dam Brewery for another pop.

Scott's (and Evan's) still counting but he and his tribe left us for a ride back to Keystone... whatever will we do now without the finger show. Thanks for coming out my friend, and brining the noobs. The core team made it to Syndicate and then back at AJ's for some good beers and ultimately very good enchiladas in green at the Old Dillon Inn. Too, we had to guarantee Brown a ride up the hill to get him to stay for dinner. NP, we engineered a solution atop the Crusher for the "slow" ride up Wildernest.

BB26 was another excellent version of drinking and biking with friends at altitude. Thanks all being game for another year.

Friday, August 7, 2026

Mayflower Gulch & Gold Hill Trundle ~ Then Keen 1st Fri Festival In Silverthorne 07Aug26

Gold Hill... Jim, Steve, and I started the day driving past Copper toward Fremont Pass and grabbed a lucky, recently vacated, parking spot at the Mayflower Gulch TH. We hiked straight up the rocky road, oddly closed this season... it was our plan all along but odd. The cirque of the Pacific Crest and surrounding ridgeline is spectacular, and dotted with mining remnants. Yet, we had more in mind and headed up to acquire the Gold Hill ridgeline. We then looped back to the car across the ridge and through a couple of lesser known turns right to get us back to Mayflower Gulch. Yoho found an AirBnB along the route back. The weather and friends offered a great moderate hike. After the hike we hit Thirsty Pika for a second chance... hmmm.

1st Friday... we returned to Eagles Nest and rested in the afternoon some. Then we hit the monthly 1st Friday gathering in Silverthorne in late afternoon - and stayed all night. We wisely rode public transportation, which in Summit Co is excellent. This was the biggest 1st Friday event I'd every seen/heard. We saw 13 bands on 6 stages and drank discounted beers due to Brown bringing us reusable 1st Friday cups from prior outings. There were art booths all around us to boot. It was awesome. We found out what Cody, prior owner of Baker's Brewery, is doing ~ playing bass for Obnoxious Weeds! Our favored band, whom I blind picked to see from their name alone, was the Pinheads, a local SKA band. There were many alternative genres represented and most all the bands were locals ~ I didn't get every artist's pic clean but I did get quite a few. We capped the night at Angry James and had some food from Mountain Melt, along with a night cap.