Happy New Year 31Dec20

Well, as with many others, we aren't sorry to see 2020 go. Kala & I hanged at the house and played a ton of backgammon - we did make it awake to 2021 and I even ate into Kala's substantial lead in gammon. I prepared a couple of appropriate cocktails for us for the occasion. Kala likes tequila so I themed our first, the Dumpster Fire, around that. Shake all ingredients but the bubbly over ice and pour strained into glasses. Fold in bubbly. Enjoy.

[2020 Is A…] Dumpster Fire

• 0.75 oz Heradura anejo tequila
• 0.75 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• 0.75 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• dash orange bitters
• tsp agave syrup
• ~1.5 oz bubbly (Veuve du Vernay)

Our second tasting, FU Wuhan, is more themed around Asia with ginger, lemongrass & lime tones. It is similarly prepared but take care adding the bubbly with this one - the egg whites will froth the whole thing. I think this silky one was better but Kala actually preferred the Dumpster Fire. Neither is too sweet, as neither are we.

FU Wuhan

• 1.25 oz Woods dry gin
• 0.75 oz Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur)
• 0.75 oz lime juice
• tbsp lemongrass infused simple syrup
• 1/2 egg white
• ~1.5 oz bubbly (Veuve du Vernay)

 Here's to 2021 and riddance of 2020.

Rodfather YAGGI Handle 29Dec20

Yet Another Great Grip Instantiated (YAGGI). I had leftover parts from prior fly rod builds so I thought I'd get out ahead on my next rod build, probably a 9' or 10' fast single handed 5 weight. I am rife with rods in the category but the grip is cool and there's a blank company I'd like to try. We'll see. For now I just show the handle development process from existing cork sections and rings to final grip. I started by laying out an idea; I then glued it all up on my mandrel and let it dry in the handle vise; once dry, I placed the loaded mandrel in my lathe and got the vacuum and tools all set out; I turned the handle down to my favored slightly large (I have bigger hands) full wells shape; after cleaning it up and removing it from the mandrel... it is done. Note how mostly useless the vacuum is - I set it up every time but there's always a lot of "cork-dust" to clean up anyway.

 

The Incomparable Molly Tuttle 26Dec20

Awesome covers (I know - I can contradict myself if I want) from the incomparable Molly Tuttle. I love the NorCal ska punk references & the Dead, born from her northern California rearing, and heard from her pandemic offer of covers. Her guitar performances are mind-bending. I've included several examples. - just click through: big sound from just guitar & voice at Paste, best cover of White Rabbit since Grace, doing her real full-on Americana originals (or classics) at one of the best radio studios we have (WGBH Boston - frequent there), giving guitar lessons and analyzing her influences. Then diving on YouTube will net you many more, especially bluegrass/Americana collaborations and musicianship... the rest is her story to tell.

Molly Tuttle Live @ Paste Studios Nashville Dec 2020

Molly Tuttle Sings White Rabbit Nov 2020

Molly Tuttle Live @ WGBH Jun 2019

Molly Tuttle On Guitar Player Feb 2020

She's made two albums and an initial EP, all really fun and worthy. The 1st is Rise - great songs, great playing and great dynamic range. The first from a couple years back and full of Americana; the 2nd born from sequestration during the pandemic and full of "just" covers. This lady is a gift with mad skills and much more. The dynamic range of the albums are different with the debut studio being a bit too loud but the covers offer unexpectedly excellent.

 

 

Droppin' Into Breck With Dave Sheldon 21Dec20

I was able to join Dave Sheldon for a pretty day on lower Breck. We had a nice day covering the entire mountain from Pk 10 to Pk 7 on mostly bombing runs. We found some lift lines but manageable.

A Hoot With Brantleys & Courtney 18Dec20-20Dec20

The Brantleys and daughter & our friend Courtney came to party in Summit this weekend. 'Court' is in CO sequestered from Georgetown MA work and it was great having her come to Silverthorne for some nosh, wine, conversations and hiking. We broke Friday with some nice Scott-catered vino and Dave's fra 'd avlo... yummy. After breakfast at the Nest we hit the snow-packed trails in the Arapaho NF. We trekked sans snowshoes and donned boots and micro-spikes or yak-traks. Coming down from above Dillon Rez and Frisco the leaders did posthole through some big drifts to get back to civility. Of course we stopped at ORB and later had great Margaret fish tacos. Ultimately the Nest Theater was put to test on multiple occasions - to approved curated notions. And, we caught opening day at the Ice Castles with Peggy's foresight - alsway cools - we all rode the "adult" slide but Kala was the slickest. Great weekend weather and friends.

Plus, what's not to like about a wine-themed exchange with Scott - he'll sport a resveratrol t-shirt and enjoy some of Edgar's tempranillo and I scored a fine pinot noir, one of my favorite grapes... Merry Christmas.

Ski Time With Brother Brown 14Dec20-16Dec20

Steve and I reserved several consecutive days in the Northern Mtns of CO. While the temps were pretty chilly in the low 20s and overcast much of the time we had some stellar runs and a good time. In Summit we dined outside but in Eagle Co we were allow to be inside. We started at Keystone with not much new snow, but sunbreaks - we finished the day there @ Pizza On The Run.

 

On Tuesday we hit Vail and were very glad we did. Despite a report of just 5" of new snow, we found much deeper fluff dropping into Game Ck bowl. We hit that hard several times and then went east to ski the other open runs. We hit the excellent Mountain Standard for inside dining to cap our day in Vail.

On Wednesday we went to Breck and were surprised at the crowds. We only got a couple inches during the night before but the lift lines betrayed that. Nothing in the treeless tops was open but we skied all over 7, 8 & 9 in search of stashes - to little avail. We wrapped amidst the "outside dining" experience at Sevens but the wind smashed a table umbrella on my head so we got the to-go box for our pizza. I still had my ski helmet on fortunately - it did score us one free pizza. No on-mountain pic.

Spending The Golden Ticket @ ORB 12Dec20

With Summit Club membership at Outer Range Brewing I get a Golden Ticket - all you can drink beers for two, complimented with dinner for two at Bird Cafe. Brother Brown joined me for the afternoon of debauchery but I was stoked to see my friend DD join there for a few toasts as well. Hubbs and son Connor did designated driving for us. What a blast!

The Crusher Too 11Dec20

While I've now owned a 2019 Land Cruiser for a couple months, I still own the Crusher (make an offer).

The Crusher Too is now dialed in for new activities. I first remounted my ARB Awning, Titan Rod Vault and Rocky Mount Ski Racks and Bike Rack aboard the OEM roof rack bars. It's amazing how quickly gear racks and pig stickers can move a lux car toward ghetto - yeah baby. The Crusher Too's rear spoiler doesn't serve as a grab handle to get me to the roof as the '98 did, so I installed a $6 handle on the back of the rod vault.

I used Slee Offroad, a Toyata-focussed aftermarket 4x4 provider and modification shop, located in Golden, CO, to install storage and electrical modifications. I know from wiring the fridge in the '98 that I'd rather leave that work to focused professionals. First out were the 3rd row seats and first in were the ARB storage system pieces. On the driver side I speced a rolling floor above a large locking storage drawer and on the passenger I went fixed floor. The roller assures that I'll have full access to the fridge. On the surfaces of the ARB storage I had tie down rings installed; they hold the fridge and other gear solidly. Even these are pretty cool as I can remove them if I need to have a flush surface to carry something.

To assure I power the fridge, and anything else I want, without ever impacting the start-ability of the car, I installed an AGM deep cycle auxiliary battery. To get the right size AUX (Group 35 at least) though I had to have the START battery moved to the passenger side of the LC200 (and move the power steering vessel to even fit it), and then install a new larger tray in the original battery location. In order to manage charging both from the alternator, and accommodate solar charging of the AUX I chose a Redarc (another Aussie company like ARB) charger manager. To fuse and distribute the new AUX power throughout the vehicle a small fuse box was installed in the rear area.

 

With power rejiggered and distributed I added an inverter (to get full pure sine wave 120v AC from the AUX). The inverter is installed beneath the passenger side ARB fit kit in the back and turning it on is via a simple panel. The 120v AC outlets are located in the top of the same fit kit and are covered when not in use making margaritas or running the microwave and the lathe.

I also added a number of additional 12v DC outlets of either the dual USB variety or the standard female "cigarette lighter" kind. Some are pointed out the back of the car in the driver side ARB "fit kit" and some are installed in the console pointing toward passengers in the back seat. Everybody, and then a few, can charge their phone in Crusher Too. The far rear ports also have an AUX battery gauge.

Of course I added a trailer brake controller for towing the camper, etc.. I chose the Redarc again as the only stuff showing is a little switch on my dash instruments - the rest is hidden away. I am also plumbed to the roof rack area to install my Zamp solar panel but it's not installed during winter, in deference to my ski rack... I couldn't get both installed up there at the same time without risking roof or solar panel integrity. See, I swim upstream but I'm none too careful flopping my ski bindings around up there.

At the end of the day it just looks like a modern stock Land Cruiser; we now know it's a Crusher Too.

UPDATE - Solar Panel Mount Epiphany 11Jan21...

I had an epiphany concerning mounting the solar panel on the Crusher Too. I did some measuring and some ciphering and ordered a new larger Rocky Mount ski rack and installed it on the existing OEM bars. Yes, I did pay $20 less for the all black version rather than buying matching brushed aluminum. Anyway... I now have a very secure, easy to use, but temporary mount for my solar panel (mostly for use in summer) and no compromise or work required to fit the car for winter (skiing). Wow.

 

UPDATE 2 - Sold The Crusher 11Jan21...

Well, not only did I fix the solar mounting issue on the Crusher Too but I sold the Crusher for cash to a good home - the $5 Craig's List ad worked. The guy already owns a '93 LC80 and will be a good owner for my old '98 LC100. We had the three main LC series there but I didn't get the pic. I am stoked to be a one car owner but saddened to see the Crusher move on from me - it was such a gr8 car. I got plenty more than the trade-in value, even at 325K miles.