Kala's GR8 Tree Replacement Project 13Jun22-13Sep22

We've long had and enjoyed 4 dwarf Alberta spruce adorning our front exits at Blodgett. They are not supposed to get too big or tall but ours grew to 12' diameter and 10' tall with 14" diameter trunks! With this came overgrown dead spots in the limbs and such. We agreed to replace them and Kala took on the months long project using multiple vendors and nurseries. We first had the old trees cut down. We then had those trees' stumps ground down for replanting. Ultimately that phase was very insufficient to support replanting as the grind depth was only 4" (we weren't in town to supervise). She then, just in the nick of time, got sprinkler problems resolved to the area needed (drip system had leaks and blockages). My contribution was tracing & marking all of the 11 solenoids controlling our vast (and old) sprinkler system. The nursery where we bought the new trees had contracted with a capable team and upon arrival they called bullshit on the grind depth and was contracted by Kala on the spot to remove the stumps as needed. See those 3 foot jaws on the tractor they used; they broke off at our house on one of the stumps - removal work was completed strictly with the chain and manual digging. Sheesh. They then planted the fine new dwarf Alberta spruce trees we bought and we are all set. Whew.

The Interrupters @ Dillon Amphitheater ~ Awesome SKA & Punk Concert 10Sep22

Kize came out to Summit to join Yoho & me for the Flogging Molly/Interrupters concert at Dillon Amphitheater. It was completely excellent with Skints leading off, Tiger Army kicking some ass, then my fav, The Interrupters, blowing folks away, and finally Flogging Molly closing us out. We started at the Vue (atop the new Hampton Suites) in downtown Dillon. They had glitches but we scored free beers as a result. We left without having ordered after 40min. Nice view though ~ Jim pointed out it is ironic that folks in Dillon complained about losing their view due to the Vue. We moved on to Scrappy's across the street and had decent pizza and paid-for beers.

Even with arriving a smidge later than planned (and we missed the Skints entirely) we scored very good seats and immediately grabbed beers as well. Kicking off for us was the excellent psychobilly LA band Tiger Army. The mosh pit was immediately firing with circles.

The Interrupters were next and opened strong with "What's Your Plan." I'd heard the setlist they followed for most of the night (at the DTS Sound Stage), which included tons of favorites throughout their 1st three studio albums. They also performed several from the latest album, In The Wild, but not really the ultra-Jamaican ones or the keen Alien. I was fortunate to be gifted cool Interrupters merch from the show from Kize, which highlights the tour and the excellent album. We kept drinkin' and I kept singin' & dancin' all the tunes ~ it was a really fine 65min non-stop show set which also included a "Bay Guy" cover in SKA styling.

I captured "Judge Not," "In The Mirror (new)," and "Let 'Em Go (new)."

 

 

 

 

Flogging Molly played next. They are a huge and cool Irish punk band. I loved the many instruments but not being a close fan, I could not always understand the lyrics... I could get the angry sentiment however. Song Of Liberty.... they were very good.

We rallied and took the bus back to the Nest part way through the FM set. We had to as we were grabbing the last bus. The sound at Dillon is very good and the view and vibe are outstanding. Both garnered comments from the bands ~ Summit, we are lucky. The concert was great as was enjoying it with Scott and my #1 concert guy Yoho.

The Rodfather's RODFTHR On Airstream 11Sep22

I received my personal license plate for the BC20X. Only seven letters are allowed so I left out the trailing vowels. Also, for trailers, one is not allowed to get one of the fancy plates with images and tag lines... hmm. Still, cool.

 

Gunny River Basin CoWW Outing 06Sep22-09Sep22

Yoho & I met up with Bro Brown @ Rosy Lane CG in Taylor Canyon for the somewhat annual fall CoWW fishing trip to the Gunny & its tributaries. The drive was simple over Cottonwood Pass; the BC20X pulled nicely again and measurements indicate I get about 10mpg average when dragging the camper over mountains and on highways... sometimes it's 3.5 and sometimes it's 35. Jim & I dined at Elkhorn Pizza in BV before the final climb and descent into Taylor Canyon ~ nothing else was open. We scored one of the better Rosy sites this time, #7; it is two-tiered and right on the Taylor.

Unfortunately we are weeks early for the salmon run this year, so we planned trout outings. The first such outing was on the lower Taylor just above the campground. We just fished from shore but flows were kindof high, though we did learn of planned reductions, which did occur. I managed a couple of tiny browns.

For dinner we enjoyed a number of brews and Asian spicy veggies with noodles and chicken from the skottle. Field test of the new LP distribution system worked well.

After a nice fire from fire-master Brown and some tunes on my new boom box nearby, we slept well. Outing #2 of trout pursuits was on the Gunnison. We started @ Neversink and felt the high flows - here, if Brown is mid-thigh deep you know Jim & I were waist high on the inner channel. We encountered 4 drift boats right off ~ hiking around them upstream required some dreaded bushwhacking, and it was very hot. I even had to skip the first great hole. Nonetheless we caught quite a few browns and 'bows, but not as strongly as we've done in the past here. Sorry for the images ~ I didn't notice my camera lens was smudged.

We clamored back to the Crusher Too for lunch and decided to head back toward Gunnison for different water. We tried the guardrail hole in hopes of an early salmon pod ~ we did nothing. We returned to Rosy Lane for some more beers, gear tests, and some dinner. The fire pit worked well even though I still need an $9 adapter to connect it as I want to do. The toaster on the other hand is kindof like a bread drier ~ still work to do there but the BLTs were yummy. Bro Brown brought fire and ice as he rummaged the forest for firewood and stoked a mighty flame again, AND he served Brown bourbon sours with ice (much better to remember the ice)!

Trout  pursuit # 3 was on the Taylor where we started (with the crowds) at the hog trough, the Taylor C&R. This finicky section was teeming with bugs as we arrived so we were a smidge late. We managed some nice fish, including this super-orange brown. We're nearing the brown trout fall spawn and the boys are starting to show their colors. I had an even larger one on but he lept five feet in the air, shook his head and broke me off at Barr's emerger he'd eaten.

We dined on the road @ the Crusher Too and decided to head downstream to the lower Taylor in search for fewer folks and dumber fish. We stopped across from Cold Spring and managed just a few small browns.

Back at camp again I had pre-gamed the night's dinner in making Dave's Thom Ka Gai soup. It's a concoction of chicken, lemongrass & other spices, veggies and noodles. The team was happy and sated as we hit the riverside for fire and debates. We enjoyed Yoho's special sipping tequila as well as awesome full moon light allowing moon shadows.

 

 

We awoke and decided to cut the fishing trip a smidge short given lower than hoped weekend CoWW attendance, no salmon, and a strong concert alternative at Dillon Amphitheater, Flogging Molly & The Interrupters! We scored tix and laid plans. Outing #4 was up for debate but we chose to make the drive to the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. It was well worth it as we had the most prolific day fishing of the trip on the LF. Flows were decent and we ran our typical play at Seay easement of hiking downstream 1/2 mile and fishing back up. Jim generously allowed me the lead which yielded me 15 good fish on the #16 chubby or the green wire with CDC beadhead caddis or the MHFBPT. The fish were all pretty strong; I even managed a nice 18" brown from this small water.

Jim & I ate at High Alpine on the way back to camp and decided to pack and head to Summit Friday night. We did so, capping another fine, though salmon-less, outing to the Gunnison River basin. Thanks boyz for coming out.