Sometimes we get into some really deep stuff but then thats why we were issued tire chains.

Christmas Greetings You All

It's been a busy week since orientation, the Harrington team started with a load from Salt Lake City and delivered it to the yard in Aurora, CO. The next load picked up in the same yard took us to Hurricane, UT via our home base. We then picked up a load into Fontana, CA arriving in what resembled a hurricane indeed. Wind blown rain and at night we made our way down El Cajon Pass into our yard. We picked up a hot load and delivered it to Fife, WA. A load out of Spanaway took us back to Sacramento. We then deadheaded to Fresno for a load and beat our way back North to Redding, CA where we swapped loads with another driver. We took his load on to Kent. And here we are on Christmas eve, enjoying a comfy hotel room and some deserved down time. Merry Christmas you all and to all a good night.

The new look on the little trailer, tan over brown with horseshoe design.

Now parked on my Colorado

homestead even if not owned, I have the key to the security gate.

No nothing new, but hey, at least its a picture.

Since I am still unable to post photos, I indulge your patience till I resolve this technical issue.
You might say I am blogging for the sake of blogging but that is not exactly true. Here I am in Western Colorado, been here working on some health issues that will lead me back to the road from which I can report in detail of life on the road as seen from the driver's seat.
Stay tuned to this blog for future reports soon to be released.

Crime Scene:

Your Alaska polling place may have been the scene of a crime. If anyone witnessed a Murkowski supporter wearing her wristband within the 200 foot limit, please contact
the Alaska Elections Department to report the violation of 15.15.170 and also note
15.15.160. Feel free to look it up yourself....It's the law.....And not even Princess Lisa is
exempt. She has no respect for the process as proven when she could not graciously accept
defeat in the Primary. This may be an opportunity to take her down a notch or more.

This billboard located in Grand Junction. Isn't it odd when we think of the Carter years as the good old days.

Proper response to such mounties as in the previous post while tempting to do a Mad Trapper on them would actually be to explain the use of hand signals but these are not recognized in Canada.

You have all heard my story by now of how the mounties in Watson Lake would not let me proceed until I had properly wired my trailer with turn signals. Dispite the fact that I had over a 1000 miles of AK highway to do and had no intention of turning from it, I had to come up with a creative idea. I am a sign man and I was prepared to explain that my wagon was a sheep camp since I was changing my profession from CDL driver to sheep herder. That sheep camps are agricultural equipment and only need a triangle mounted on the rear. I sneaked past Sgt Preston in early morning hours and made it to Colorado without further ado.

Homeland security since the last ice age!

A great shot taken by Dana at the AK Wildlife Conservation Ctr

I think I will start watching football again dispite the disappointments of watching the Denver Broncos.

In Defense of Sara

I tire of the Sara bashing by Hollywood and media sources.

She has taken way too much crap for her statement-"I can see Russia from my backyard".

1) she was not speaking literally, a long time cliche put forth by Alaskan geographers was somewhat figurative.

2) but if you consider that while not her actual backyard, Alaska does have a view of Russia on a clear day from Diomede Island. Yes Russia does share a boundary with the United States. In fact Russian terra firma is only 2.4 miles distant.

She was critisized for not having foriegn policy experience which was unfair. Likely had more than any other Governor-No other state borders two foriegn countries and has relations with both Russia and Canada. She had more experience than Dan Quayle had.

I D I T I R O D E O

Before leaving on the most recent run to MN we took in the rodeo at the AK state fair in Palmer.

True to Alaskan form the rodeo was unconventional and creative. There were events I have never before seen and variations on others to make things real interesting. Good ride Cowboys and Cowgirls, Good Ride

GREED

A word or two on travel through Canada.

Get used to an unfair exchange rate, unfair and inconsistent.

Some will exchange dollar for dollar on American but many

have their own formula not based an actual and very public

exchange rates. The American dollar as of this week is stronger

than the Canadian by about 5 cents but many along the Alaska highway

seem to think it is opposite of that. Then they say that their banks levies

a fee for exchanging American to Canadian-a fee that they claim wipes out

any difference and they are only too happy to pass along.

Consider that they signed the NAFTA and you wonder why the

hassle of exchange rates at all but you can't argue with clerks who have

no clue.

I am still trying figure President Obama's grand plan for his own advancement. I don't think he is

content with the Presidency anymore than he was with the U.S.Senate. I believe now that he has aims on something bigger-if not the United Nations Secretariat then perhaps heading the looming North American Union. To make the North American Union a reality he first must shape the USA into such a mess that the people won't resist such a change. To do that he must bring our economy to a place somewhere between Canada and Mexico. To a place where we start raving over the Loony and the Toony and not look upon the Peso with such disdain. I don't think he is far away.

They have already designed the Amero with which to replace the Dollar.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

The latest news that the last combat units have crossed from Iraq and into Kuwait have captured the attention of many. This was followed with some questioning whether our efforts in Iraq were successful or not.

The regime of President Obama would like to further snatch defeat from the jaws of Victory by second guessing what so many of our soldiers, airmen, and sailors have paid the ultimate for.

To contemplate success or failure you have to look at the goals going in and the outcome of having gone in. I say success was ours and Victory was honorably achieved.

The rest and the future of Iraq is entirely up to the Iraqis-we have given them a prescious gift of choice-and they must choose whether to continue with the Democratic government they have established and whether they consider it worth doing so at all costs. I have no doubt the blood

of American servicemen and women was not spilled in vain.

Here may the answer to operating a tour bus

in a green world. I can bus service provided

by Greyhound using these-Hah. We are going ladies and gentlemen exactly 30 miles.

Thats it 30 miles to the next outlet. That

Toyo however is pretty slick....put running boards on and you have an Al Capone car.

Now if you want economy the horse drawn version is by far wiser. As for this other-he will look real good with this buried up a moose's butt.

Can these be used to replace commercial vehicles as we know them now? Here is a flatbed version and a

cargo version perhaps. Hell put fifth wheel on the flatbed version and you might be able to pull a little red wagon. Of course there is still that 30 limit between recharges. And deliveries will tak a bit longer with that 25mph max. Then the restrictions to roads posted less than 65 will require some rerouting. I don't think I can do one of these on the Alcan run. Not enough outlets and no sleeper.

After some additional research I can see and maybe we should see the Anchorage Highway Patrol doing the Glenn Highway in these. Hell I think I could outrun it.

Shortly after arriving back at the home terminal in Anchorage I noticed

one of these in the staging area with Park Service decal. I assume since this will only do 25 mph and has a range of 30 miles per charge that it will be loaded on a flatbed for shipment to Denali. Who in their right mind in the federal government would order these for Alaska. Their purpose-none I can think of. It is not even streamlined enough to be inserted up a mooses rump.

Truckers Guide to the Alaska Highway

Anchorage to AK/Canada Border

for the purpose of this guide, the distances referenced in this guide are from

the intersection of Muldoon and Glenn Highway in Anchorage, AK

Total distance 403 miles

Next turn/Junction Distance Comments

Glenn/Parks Hwys 30.5 E-146 miles to Jct Richardson Hwy W-30 miles to

Anchorage

Glenn/Richardson Hwys 176 W-146 miles to Parks Hwy E-14 miles to Tok C.O.

Richardson/Tok C.O. 190 W-14 miles to Glenn E-122 miles to Alaska Hwy

Tok C.O./Alaska Hwy 312 W-122 miles to Richardson E-91 miles to border

AK/Canadian border 403 W-91 miles to Tok C.O.

Grades/Conditions

From Muldoon-Anchorage to Jct Glenn/Parks the highway is multi lane freeway, rolling hills, river deltas, and urban traffic

From the North side of Palmer for the next 70 miles East bound the highway is 2 lane, narrow, sharp curves and steeper grades.

From the Junction of Richardson/Tok Cutoff the highway is much more rough, a few sections of newly built highway offers welcome relief.

Weigh stations and DOT presence

6 miles E of Anchorage there are scales on both sides of the highway. 3-4 miles E of Tok a scale is located E of the Tok River bridge. It serves both E and W bound sides. It is newly rebuilt to handle inspections. Until it is complete expect roadside inspectors from Northway Jct to Tok and again from Tok South for at least 20 miles.

Truck services- Tesoro, Sutton, AK -truck parking, showers, fuel

Tesoro, Glennallen, AK-truck parking

Fast Eddys, Tok, AK-truck parking, restaurant, motel

Northway Jct, AK -truck parking, showers

Border City-Truck parking, showers, restaurant, fuel

Yet another option for trick my flatbed

I would like to get a box like the one on this box perhaps. With that on that Chevy truck and a rebuilt Cummins diesel engine and a total work over- I might drive it North with a load of mules in it.

I am not comforted that in this day when we are still engaged in a war on terror that NORAD is mostly associated with tracking Santa Claus.

Of course one only remember that Obama has decided to not utilize Alaska's strategic position to fully and efficiently defend the continent. In fact he decided that the anti missile systems were bargaining chips to be given up to appease the Russians. This President is train wreck and it a matter of time we get hit again like on September 11. We are more concerned with tracking a fat man in a red suit that we have taken our eyes off those flying in from Russian airspace, or Korean, or Chinese, or Middle Eastern.

My Case in Defense of the Military Record of

George W. Bush

Yes this is a bit belated but I figure maybe critics of President Bush will stagger onto this and trip over the truth for once. Who knows but what they might even cut him some well deserved slack.

George W. Bush served in the USAF Texas Air Guard in the

period of May 28, 1968 to October 1, 1973.

He was trained for flight duties specific to flying the Convair F102, an interceptor aircraft. To understand why President Bush never flew in Vietnam you must also know the history of what he was trained to fly. The F102 was an aircraft that the Air Force used in the 1950's but were

phasing out in the 60's. The F102 saw limited duty in Vietnam being replaced with the F4 Phantom. As the Air Force phased out their own use of the F102 it reassigned many of them to Air Guard units in the U.S. This aircraft was tasked with defending the U.S. at the call from NORAD-scrambling to intercept prowling Russian Bear Bombers. That would be the mission to which President Bush was assigned. No Viet Nam service because there was no role for his aircraft. Even the President to be can not write a change to his assigned mission.

Now as to his early release from the Air Guard you once again have to follow the history of the aircraft he was tasked to fly. The F102 was being phased out at the time of his discharge in favor of the F101 Voodoo and then the F4. To fly those would require additional retraining and the military was under pressure from a post Viet Nam era to cut back costs. His discharge was actually in the best interest of the service.

There has been must ado over his miltary record containing N.O. in his evaluations. N.O. means the evaluating authority did not have sufficient information on which to base an evaluation-it has nothing to do with being absent. President Bush served his nation and Air Guard of Texas with honor and should be respected for that. Just as he would serve our nation as President-he did so with honor.

At Last It Has Been Revealed.

This is that flatbed I often brag about. I am looking for suggestions and ideas on

how to 1) get it North 2) what to do with it when I get it here and 3) how to modify it

Just an idea I have been toying with for my flatbed. I am certain the North country may get a glimpse of me around Memorial day or just after. I may stay if permanent offers of employment are secured but until then it is just a seasonal committment.

First you take hay grown on ranches and farms in Utah, Idaho, or any of the other Mountain states. You then aggressively market it and export it to China, you ship it out to the Asian markets while hay prices in the U.S. remain at high prices. Those high prices for feed have

put the crimp on the horse market in the states.

Beef one direction

Trees back the other

and we do that in a refrigerated rig pulled by a KW tractor.

Beef from out of Greeley to the West coast and nursery stock the other direction

to Colorado markets.

Found some of Andy Thomas paintings on display at a store in the Ft. Worth stockyards.

Quite interesting-to former living presidents, of the other deceased presidents all were recent except for Lincoln. The democrat version is the same-two former living presidents, recent presidents and then Old Hickory to represent the past.

Watch Out for Wildlife

I have been considering a booklet of advice and information for those who need to know how to avoid vehicle wildlife encounters which result in damage to vehicles, injury to drivers and passengers, and fatalities for the wildlife. I came across this photo which demonstrates that some wildlife is not of the meek variety and they actually demand the right of way.

The single best way to reduce your risk of such encounters is to drive slower and when visibility is at its best-during daylight hours. Habitat awareness is key. Look for indicators that wild life is present-manure on roadway, tracks, road kills, warning signs, past experience, other vehicles.

In future blogs I will add to these to help you make 2010 a year without roadkill credits.

While not a photo of my taking, I discovered this pic from the net.

Now this is trophy moose and what a pose. Bet Holly Bull would be smarter than to put it to a buffie statuesque. Bet his woodie is a bit

sore from the experience.

Remember this picture

Whose country is this? I am among the many who definitely believe it belongs to us,

and not to a few in Washington D.C. who would give us the bird. Dingy Harry

likely believes this is the National bird. Make it your aim to suprise them in November

by voting these bastards out. If your senator is not up for election-send your contributions to

the states that are electing new representation. Hell, use Harry's bird against them

and let it be our standard-up yours Harry and May God Save America.

I am hoping that someday I can wake up to news of his resignation. But then horror of horrors we would have Biden to deal with or San Fran Nan. When I start thinking he can't possibly do anything else to bury the United States he proves me wrong again. A wise cowboy once saidwhen you find yourself in a hole-stop digging. So here is my President-Barak Urkel Obama.

For Sale

But not this one, one quite like it (less the plow). Will deliver for the right price especially

if it is to Alaska. Or will trade for a Spit Rat's bus or other hippie vehicle. If I can't sell it I am seriously considering joining the carnival circuit-save me from myself.

Picked up my last load in Dubuis, ID-a load of hay bound for China.

I delivered it not without problems to Carson, CA. But I could not have done it without the assistance of my trucking buddy and girlfriend-Dana.

Being overweight was the least of our problems-the load not Dana.

Working our way through blizzard and congested city freeways we left some highway damage in our wake. But hey-we got the damned load there on a New Year holiday weekend.