Driving through Colorado back roads...

Driving the back roads of Colorado in the winter presents itself as extreme driving.

The run from Montrose to Dallas and back goes to Gunnison, then South on Colorado 114 to Saguache, then across the San Luis Valley to tackle LaVeta Pass, then Raton Pass. With these passes behind you put her in the wind for the downhill dash across the corner of NM into the TX panhandle and into Dallas for delivery. Hawks has been in trucking in Montrose for near on 100 years. I am proud to be a part of the team .

Amateur sled dog training tips. In response to my nieces call for help I must say there are no bridles for dogs unless you consider muzzles a bridle. Dogs being different than horses you want a dog to pull with their chests not their necks. These harnesses seem to put the pressure and the load where it needs to be, on the chest. Now if you want to train the dog to pull, they are not like a mule where you can drive them. Most trainers train a dog in a team and with a team-sort of like ponying a horse. If you lack a team, you become the team. Know this a decent size dog has amazing strength so don't just attach a brakeless sled behing them because in the panic they and sled will be off and out of sight and tangled and ---well the result is one helluva wreck. Secure the dog first-you will lead it and keep it on a lead separate from the harness rig. Next the load, if too light, put a slight well secured load on the sled. Then lead the dog to get them used to a load or person behind them.

I do not normally post lingerie but for my brother, I could not resist. It would make a nice addition to the collection of brassieres he already has. Come out of the closet bro.

A dumbass decides to stretch out on the center line somewhere up North. Fatigue and driving can give you the urge I suppose,

What he failed to take into consideration was the log truck coming

up the road behind him. I found him, flatter than a fritter.

The boobs have nothing to do

with the other two photos.

Just a cheap trick to get your attention, I call one boob Denali and the

other Mt. McKinley. As for the other two

photos real cool-flying salmon.

Don Sheldon

Famous Alaskan bush pilot died January 26. 1975.

He didn't need to walk in the steps of his father in law, Bob Reeve.

He made fresh tracks as he proved each time he landed on Denali.

Cancer claimed him finally but boy, what a legacy he left behind.

Tang Hua Meets American Ingenuity

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Now why do they need compact editions of these bugs anyhow? I still think a rotor should be added but then I remembered that Hughes Helos had something along the same size and shape.

American technology wins again. The earlier American version of the tang hua was fully a recreational vehicle-tops that China.

The Tang Hua-

We will soon look like a space age Barney Rubble. To drive this makes you the laughing stock to the world. Now add a rotor on top-great helo, Port holes-submarine.

Lets see what China produces next-The TangK

Another Oh Shit Moment, where did this happen-port of Anchorage?

Give me the damn gaff, the gaff I said, the gaff.

Season was for catch and release only, threw it back.

I stalked this beauty several miles...

When I think of Don's place, this is what instantly comes to mind.

It's almost time for the winter fun and games to begin. Yukon Quest starts in Fairbanks on

Feb 9. And it's only 44 days to the Iditirod, March 1. Stan needs to haul snow to Anchorage

for the ceremonial start, they claim a lack of it. Share from your bounty Prattler.

Walker Lake, Nevada

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My load of onions which I picked up in Parma, ID and hauled to Buena Park, CA led me down a course through Nevada backroads, in this case US 95. I left Fallon behind me and when I came upon Walker Lake, I checked my GPS to make sure I was still in Nevada. A beautiful and rather large lake it was that I was driving along. This lake may rival Klaune in size. Supposedly some rather large trout have been caught here. Signs indicated one should watch for desert big horns as well. How deep-I am not certain but the nearest town of any size has the U.S. Navy Undersea Warfare Base located in it.

First we had Dukakis in a tank. Now it is politician in a pulpit.

Look at Hillary and Obama and you wonder why every one is upset with

Huckabee (who actually happens to be a minister).

Let's get this record straight for once.

George W. Bush was trained to fly the F102, an interceptor aircraft

often seeing service over Alaska and the Gulf (Mexican Gulf)Coast.

Why-to thwart the Russian Bear bombers that kept entering our airspace. This aircraft saw limited duty in SE Asia-why-because there were better aircraft and it was due to retire. The last F102 left the theatre in 1969 so George could never have flown in Vietnam for that reason alone. The f102 was fully retired from service in 1976 so President Bush's 1973 departure from military duty fits the facts. To keep him in the service would have required more training in another aircraft and high costs. I imagine the choice was given him-pursue that training and extend for umpteen years or take an early discharge. I would hope this puts his critics abuse to rest but alas I know better. I would match Bush's record against many others-Bill Clinton for instance or John F. Kerry.

4 F's

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I am but the innocent and youngest of our family, my brother offered timely advice and I am not sure how it went I only remember how he had titled it. Could he have meant 4 f 16's.

Oh well, I digress. I have had the good fortune to meet a real nice lady friend that for now will remain nameless but will be revealed to friends and family in time. My brother could never meant that advice to apply to her. We have had so much fun over my birthday, during Thanksgiving, and over the course of recent road trip into Wyoming, down into Colorado and back to Utah. A bit my senior in age, she has proven that the older the violin the sweeter the music. Is it true what they say of blondes-certainly. Her canine and my mine get along nicely.

We seem quite compatable all the way around. Sharp witted, classy and sense of humor. Hell, she even laughs at my jokes, listens to my stories with rapt attention, thinks I am a hottie,

and tries to keep my focus on my driving when we go on road trips. Stay tuned for future updates.

Tribute in Aspen

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No I did not plant them, neither did Larry. But they are tributes to someone and may be found

at Chepeta Park in Montrose, CO. I 'll lay claim to them for Dad, Mom, Tad and Don.

Or perhaps it's best to remember this time of the year for where their spirits and ours can best link up. For Don, I feel closest when I passed the turnoff to his cabin on my last run through

Western Colorado. For Mom and Dad, same route, I thought of them as I glanced up the Soap Creek valley near Blue Mesa. And Tad, Soldiers Summit, Utah. Those wild growing Aspen

are tribute enough and that is how the good Lord intended it. Check out Iditipoem for Don's cabin poem. Happy Holidays you all, picked up an accent in Texas. Came back out of Texas via Hoxley County. Looked for Fred. Passed close to Crawford. Delivered into Albuquerk and am now headed to Farmington, then to L A. My birthday was GREAT and so was Turkey Day.

I found this excellent Tundra/Beach rig. Perfectly suited to Alaska, it will do a trucker proud. This one is located near I35 in Oklahoma.

Two types of chief emblems.

Yatahey from Henohavename

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About to complete orientation. Will be in my own truck tomorrow and under a load to some destination. It will be good to get back to work and into trucker routines. Check out the new blog attached to this profile-"Iditipoem"

Mistakenly put one poem on the "Librarian" so glance at that also.

I passed through Beaver, UT today and am now in St. George, UT for orientation starting in the morning. With Iraqi plans put aside, I am once again concentrating on compliance the law and the DOT here on the highways of our great nation. These three examples of what too much or improper loading can do. The semi on it's side -too fast, too top heavy on a curve no less. THe semi in the ice hole-too heavy for conditions. The other in the desert-not American I might add-way too heavy, improperly loaded.

I selected a company that will keep me busy and out West where I prefer it. Feel fine and doing well. In about two months I'll be back on my feet. Chagrined but wiser for the the experience I guess.

Medical update

Well it's back to Colorado for testing by a Cardiologist. My EKG showed a

unusual heart beat pattern and my Wyoming physician thought it serious enough to put the brakes on my plans. (He may need a specialist to remove my boot from his arse).

I feel fit a fiddle and no different than back two years ago.

Mexican Trucks arrive at our borders

A couple samples of what to expect.... The one in the middle is for Stan. Once you have been in a foriegn country-you start missing all things American. This is the real test, does he miss America enough to kiss this old hag(hint-this old hag is a White House correspondant, none other than Helen Thomas)

For those contemplating the drive between Alaska and the other 48 states, I have provided an array of photo to let you see what you are in for. Steep grades, dropoffs, falling rock, tunnels, run a way truck ramps and hairpin turns. Drive safely.