MOUNTAINBORN CHRONICLES

BREEZE

2013-06-15T09:20:00.001-05:00

The morning’s chores are done, the campfire poked up, awning ran out and a bonus, mid morning cup of coffee sit’s on the folding chair’s table arm. A Macadamia Nut and White chocolate cookie wrapper is beside the nearly empty coffee cup. It is Friday and early arrivals are already starting to filter in.

Greeting each new arrival with a hearty “Hello, welcome to Roaring Fork”, do you have a reservation that I can help you find ? Or, maybe, “ are you finding everything that you need ?

The task at hand is similar to what a door greeter at Wal Mart does, except that I am in a al&l hat, tee shirt with name tag and cargo shorts with sandals. And sitting in a camo folding chair.

This evening we begin the process of rounding up our plunder to get ready to move to our regular assignment for the Summer.

DODGING

2013-06-12T11:45:00.001-05:00

Seems as though where ever we are at on our work camping tour around America’s Heartland, we be a’ dodgin’ !

Coming across Oklahoma on interstate forty during this trip West, we either sped up, drove longer days or slowed down to stay well clear of tornadic activity that we were monitoring several ways, including the internet.

To get to our campground this Spring, we had to dodge around a couple of snow closed passes.

Today’s thing that we are monitoring is a nearby forest fire that we may have to dodge, should the wind shift direction.

Next week there may well be a whole new situation that we are monitoring, just incase we need to dodge something or other.

Wow ! That’s a pretty good excuse to have lots of cool electronic toys laying around !

STREAMS

2013-06-08T09:28:00.001-05:00

As the melting snow swells the small rivulets into increasingly larger streams, and they make their way into Granby Lake, cool stuff happens.

One stream joins another,

then another. All the while the waterfall in the background begins to increase in it’s roar. As good of dam builders as Beavers are, they cannot build to withstand the relentless onslaught.

Before long the stream crosses under the hiking trail foot bridge.

The Beavers live nearby in comfort. Here is a look at their house.

The lake seemed to have risen more than the usual foot a day rate, when we looked yesterday. Click any photo for a closer view.

RISING

2013-06-05T08:23:00.001-05:00

In the Rocky Mountain Spring time, the wind shifts to the South West. This warm breeze coming up from the dessert South West accelerates the snow melt off, up at high elevations. The rivers swell with the run off and soon the lakes are rising.

Our campground gets it’s name from that runoff cascading down the nearby waterfall.

The campground is on the shoreline of Lake Granby. Here is how it looks on the map.

Our campground is located to the far right at the East end of Arapaho Bay. Here is a look at the lake level.

Does it seem like the lake is really low ? Right, but then consider what the Ranger told me the other day. The lake is rising at a rate of a foot each day ! Woo Hoo ! Now, that’s a lot of snow meltin’ off ! At that rate we will soon be fishing from our door step !

OUTHOUSE

2013-06-01T06:52:00.001-05:00

There are seven outhouses scattered out among the three campgrounds here in Arapaho Bay. The three campgrounds are, Big Rock, Moriane and Roaring fork where we are camped. It is named Roaring Fork because of the steady, sonorous roar of the water fall nearby. Here is a look at the outhouses that are here.

Those large black pipes at the back wall get warm in the sunlight and vent all odor as long as the seat lid is shut. HEY ! A outhouse with dual exhaust ! Pretty cool stuff !

Now, I used to hear the big boys talk about something or other being built like a brick outhouse, but it is hard to imagine anything being fancier than these are !

BNSF

2013-05-29T11:42:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it is irreverently called “big nasty”, by rail workers and rail fans. Most of us have seen those large letters on trains as they pass by. They actually stand for Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad.

Tonight we are parked near the rail yard with a view. Here is a look.

Being somewhat of a rail fan, I just couldn’t resist. I swung off of the interstate, and down into the industrial park where their yard is located.

Away from the highway noise and somewhat away from the rail noise, I think we may overnight here !

In the cool of the evening as the sunsets, the colors in the sky become almost magical. It’s time to drag the lawn chairs out and watch the show !

HOSTING

2013-05-26T22:17:00.001-05:00

Have you ever thought that you might like to try campground hosting ? Here is a link you might look into.

http://chappytrails.blogspot.com/2013/05/camp-hosts-wanted.html

SORTING

2013-05-25T05:47:00.001-05:00

Each year just before departing on our seven months out on the road in America’s Heartland, we sort our plunder. PLUNDER: That stuff that you truck from place to place thinking that you might need it at some point during the journey. Everything comes out of the truck bed and is re-assessed as to it’s likely hood of being needed. Here is a look at some heavy tools that we won’t be paying the fuel cost to haul along with us.

Here is the truck bed before the last few things are loaded.

Here is a couple of things that still need to be loaded.

The fifthwheel tripod and the satellite dish take up a lot of room in the truck bed.

As do the pile of wood blocks and the gas can for the generator. The gas can is carried empty and weigh’s little, but those blocks weight is significant. So why carry those heavy blocks, you might ask ? Because every campground we have ever managed we find small brightly colored pieces of plastic from where those light weight plastic blocks have been crushed by a RV’s weight.

DUNNO’

2013-05-23T08:35:00.001-05:00

Each year as we make our circle around America’s Heartland, it takes us right at seven months. Last year during that time I began to notice that even though I was being careful about checking the level, it just didn’t seem quite right, when we setup. The front door would be a bit “sticky” and would have to shut hard, then Betty would tell me that her sink wasn’t draining like she liked for it to.

I began to suspect the level that is permanently mounted on the 5er’s hitch. Note the mounting screw on the right of the photo. Sure enough, something had, somewhere along the way, knocked it off, just what, I Dunno’.

It was time to recalibrate it using the bubble level that I found on the beach, on Padre Island in the Winter of 2009.

Bringing the doorway to level with it, and resetting the hitch level solved the problem.

Aaaahhh, now there, . . . . all is square with the World !

CULLING

2013-05-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

Each year as we make preparations to hit the road for seven months, we carefully cull through our stuff. Our general rule of thumb is that if we have carried it for a year without using it, it is history. We will give it away, store it, yard sale it or throw it away. Now, understand that this isn’t etched in stone. For example we will be working in a different area of Colorado this year, so, our load out will be a bit different. Here is a look.

Grandma’s kindling hatchet stays this year, as does Grandpa’s machete.

A wonderful Springtime shower caught us in the midst of sorting through the tool box.

The spare 30 pound propane tank has the old style fill valve.

And it has quite a bit of rust damage. It didn’t make the cut this year, we culled it.

Here is the new style propane tank, filled and loaded. You might note that it is covered with a burlap sack to keep it from direct sunlight exposure.

Four days and counting until it’s up anchor time !

GREASE

2013-05-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

No, not the movie, but instead, the kind that lubricates the fifthwheel hitch in the bed of the Kawabunga truck. Today is the day that, during our preparations for seven months out on the road, that the fifthwheel hitch is lubed.

In this photo the hitch is unpinned, and upside down so that I can grease stuff.

Here is a look at that.

I know that it is somewhat overkill, but I like to grease the top of the hitch pin’s plate and all of the bushings.

Greased bushings, just before pinning the fifthwheel on.

Fifthwheel plate greased,

and covered so that dust and grit can’t turn the grease into a grinding compound.

Ready to roll ? Not quite, but we’re a’ getting’ there !

PAYMENT

2013-05-15T09:13:00.001-05:00

Any time we have a family get together, Betty and I are on the lookout for those special and most memorable moments. If we are not careful, we can miss a very cool chance to document a cool “memory moment”. Our last fish fry was one of those times. It was the wonderful way that Great Nephew Braxton, thanked and made Payment to Betty for her wonderful meal.

I had noticed that Autumn’s Son Braxton seemed occupied with some crystal rocks that he was cleaning and carrying around. But, I didn’t see him thank Betty for the meal and give her the special stones.

Betty carefully labeled them and put them up in a safe place.

A special family moment indeed !

MEAL

2013-05-15T08:01:00.001-05:00

A lot of preparation happens before most meals. A fish fry for Family and friends is much the same. Here is a look.

The cast iron pot and cooker.

Betty shows the fish fillets and prepares to put them in the meal mixture in a shaker.

Betty checks the heat and adjust the burner on the cooker.

After testing the oil temperature by cooking a thin sliced home fry, Betty gets a fillet ready for a test.

The first fillet rises to the surface.

Soon the others get done enough to also rise.

Just a little bit browner . . . .

Then dip them up !

Lawn chairs setup in the deep shade of a tree, and the 5er’s awning. The crowd has gathered and are visiting at about the speed of light before the meal.

Dicey sets up a table covered with goodies !

Florine smiles in anticipation of those golden fillets ! Note those Mother’s Day corsages !

It’s official, let the Summer time begin !

FRY

2013-05-12T12:10:00.001-05:00

The burner under the old cast iron pot is making a gentle roaring sound as the heat waves begin to shimmer up off of the surface of the deep frying oil. Our tradition has been to have several fish fry’s out on the lake while we are jug fishing each Spring. The weather cycle this year just didn’t work out for the weekends. However as soon as we leave the lake, we have a nice sunny weekend where a good number of friends and family can make it. We will miss those that are tied up at work or other stuff.

Betty has had me running errands and dragging chairs most of the morning !

Fish, we’re fixin’ ta’ fry em’ !

STILL

2013-05-08T09:44:00.001-05:00

Last evenings twilight gently faded into dark as we sat quietly in lawn chairs around the campfire. The fire was dwindling down to nearly nothing, yet, we didn’t put on another stick of firewood. It was our last evening at the lake. We were enjoying the still of the evening, and would make sure that the fire was dead out.

The evening visit to the grassy area near our campsite revealed that the resident geese’s brood had dwindled down to three from six.

A disturbance during the night, by the adult geese woke us briefly. Then the early first hint of light revealed to us that indeed the brood count was down to two juvenile geese.

Before the sun was ready to pop over the horizon, and was showing just the faintest halo of light at the far side of the lake, we heard it in the distance. Louder and louder it came rapidly towards our campsite.

The glassy lake’s surface reflected light like a mirror. As last nights serenade by loon’s calling in the distance, faded into history. The morning quiet was shattered by the scream, of a bass boat, passing within fifty yards of camp at one point five times the speed of light ! Every day at the lake is a good day.

LURE

2013-05-04T07:05:00.001-05:00

It has been several years since we fished Lake Ouachita’s North river fork. Things have changed quite a bit. The hydrilla is gone. That really changes things up for our style of fishing. In particular, the bait fish catch. Changes for the bait fish also mean changes for the game fish.

We are trying to adjust to the changes, and we are trying out some gear that we have never used before. Here is a look.

An Alabama style umbrella lure that we can use different jigs on.

Most people cast a jig with a grub of some type on it, one at a time. However, with the Umbrella rig it is five baits at a time.

We’re going to try these, like this.

Click on photo for a better look.

It should look like a small school of bait fish with one straggler. We hope. I wonder if this crazy looking thing can catch fish half of a limit at a time !

BOOK

2013-05-01T06:32:00.001-05:00

It has been a habit of ours to keep a book rat holed away somewhere for a rainy day’s read. It is nice to be in the 5er with the absolutely quiet catalytic heater keeping it warm and cheery inside as the rain pelts the window panes. Here is a look at my latest borrowed read, SERVICE, by Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell.

His first book, a best seller titled LONE SURVIVOR, was a quality read wherein his down to earth heartland of America values shone through.

Today may be cool, cloudy and drizzly as we look out the picture window,

But, still it will be a good day at the lake,

besides we got’ fish in the freezer !

Change

2013-04-27T08:05:00.001-05:00

The Bait Fish catch improved, a change for the better. Then the fishing improved, also a change for the better. We moved the bait traps, and we moved our jug casting area. Sometimes, change is good, and in this case it was. After a couple of days of good catches in the morning, it is time to clean fish for a change.

The hourly forecast for this morning was that it would cloud up and the wind would kick up to fourteen miles per hour, at mid morning. Where we are casting now, we have to cross a open stretch of water, so we left out at first light, in order to be back at camp before the lake got rough.

In this photo it is just before 10 A.M., and it is already starting to blow as we clean fish. The weatherman nailed it again ! Thanks, Weather forecaster’s, for helping us plan our outdoors activities to maximize our fun !

HAULING

2013-04-25T14:03:00.001-05:00

Primitive camping for extended stays is a thing that we truly enjoy. Our 5’er’s solar power, a blueboy black water tank and a fresh water tank make it possible. Here are a couple of photos from our last water haul.

Our water source is the U.S. Corps of Engineer’s hydrant at the Little Fir filling and dumping station.

It is early in the Corps. camping season and the water smells a bit of chlorine when filling, but dissipates quickly in the tank. Here is a look at all of the containers on the trailer.

The brown barrel is ours and the other containers are for our neighboring three campsites.

FORECAST

2013-04-20T08:20:00.001-05:00

We have been hearing about the Canadian front that was heading our way for about three days. Then, while sitting around the campfire, chewing the fat with the neighbors, we saw one of the campground regulars come flying down the lake. He had his John Boat wound up, and he was running just ahead of a heavy, pouring, rain storm. The forecast storm was right on schedule. So, here is the plan for the rest of the day.

We pulled the boat out because of the heavy wind yesterday, and refueled it, so it will be ready for the next round of fishing. Since it was so windy, we took the opportunity to haul water, get up firewood and other small chores. Though windy, good sunshine on the solar panels, had topped off our battery bank, so we will be able to catch the TV news, ect..

Dark clouds and heavy downpour reduce the reading light enough that I have pressed this little led reading light into service.

Now, it’s time to den up and wait out the weather, with a good book !

GOING

2013-04-17T06:46:00.001-05:00

So, how’s it going, one might ask, over at Lake Ouachita, jug fishing this April of 2013 ? Drastic changes to the Lake have occurred since we fished here years ago. The hydrilla is all gone and the baitfish are almost non existent. The fishing is slow, but our style of jug fishing is productive. Here is a short 22 second look at what’s in the live box.

Mostly Channel cats in the live box

And, you know the rest of the story, with the catch in the live box, the work has just began. A look at the fish cleaning station by the lakeside.

Just look at that dishpan full of cleaned fish ! Spring time jug fishing on the lake. Loving it !

GRID

2013-04-13T15:37:00.001-05:00

Our latest move in the 5er is to a cool off the grid campsite on Lake Ouachita. It is out on Housley Point, in the Big Fir primitive campground. Here is a look.

Friends Jeff and Glenda are camped nearby . We both have solar power so this remote campsite isn’t much inconvenience at all. We have 3g signal for the mifi, send and receive text messages and make phone calls as needed . The solar panels and battery bank power a small inverter and there is plenty of power for charging cell phones and lap top, as well as power the tv and satellite receiver. Here is a look at Jeff and Glenda’s campsite.

The Deputy Sheriff stopped by to say that some campers over at the little fir campground were going to have to move as the lake rises after the last rain.

FAMILY

2013-04-07T14:38:00.001-05:00

Family, Fishing, Food, Fun, Fantastic !

Lunch time. Betty grills !

Nap Time. Kyle crashes !

Maddie has lunch. But isn’t ready for a nap just yet !

Poco says, “ common’ Ma’ don’cha’ have just a tiny bite for me ?

Hey, Maddie, lets test out that recliner of Gran pa’s !

Steph finishes up Maddies feeding time, now if Kyle can get her to nap !

CRATES

2013-04-06T11:04:00.001-05:00

We have camped on nearby lakes to fish for many Springtime ‘s past. There is one thing for sure about it. We just don’t go without an ample supply of tarp straps, Duct Tape, Bailing Wire and Milk crates. As the trailer is loaded each stage is tarp strapped down. In this photo straps hang at the ready as loading progresses.

Blueboy, Water tank, Fishing jugs, bait traps, livebox, and on and on, are loaded and strapped in place for the short trip to the lake. Here is a look at the trailer, nearing half loaded.

Milk crates, because of their durable nature serve many uses, this one carries a few tools and the chainsaw lubricants and fuel.

The supply of tarp straps dwindles as loading progresses.

As I sit in my folding camo camp chair sipping on coffee, It occurred to me that if I won the lottery, I couldn’t buy a better trailer for our purpose, than this ugly little one that we have used and abused for so many years.

ESCAPES

2013-04-04T18:19:00.001-05:00

Friends Jeff and Glenda started communicating when they were ready to head this way from spending their Winter out in the Dessert South West. They were in Cloudcroft New Mexico when we talked, instead of texting, for the first time. It was raining here and the forecast was for several days more of it. Glenda has a blog named CASITA ESCAPES. Here is a look at their setup as they stopped for fishing license, on the way to the lake.

As you can see it was still raining as we showed them the way out to the campsite. In this photo Jeff and Glenda stand in front of their Casita.

The rooftop water bladder on their truck was filled at the Little Fir dump station on the way out to Big Fir. They have a couple of solar panels and are ready to fish for awhile.

We pulled our boat out to Housley point since they will be there with it. We will move our 5er out tomorrow.

It’s jug fishing time again this Spring !