Loretta’s Flowers

Posted on September 9, 2011 by

Our subdivision’s covenants forbid landscaping—everything’s supposed to be a natural. But we both love flowers, so every year Loretta plants two large tubs and some flowerpots with petunias, alyssum, and lots of other things. By the beginning of September, they’re at their most beautiful, and you can see that in this little 37-second video slideshow. It won’t be long and the deer will be coming down out of the high country. Once they do, they’ll find that these flowers are tasty little morsels, and that’ll be that for another year.

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Wouxun KG-UV3D on APRS – Works Great!

Posted on September 9, 2011 by

I tested out my Wouxun KG-UV3D on APRS on Thursday, Sept 1st. The equipment went into my Blazer with a mag-mount antenna. As you can see from the following GPS track, the equipment performed well. This post describes my system, shows how well it works, and provides costs.

Wouxun KG-UV3D-created APRS track points

Wouxun KG-UV3D-created APRS track points. The APRS points are the blue pins, superimposed on a previously-created GPS track. Note I get solid results, even in the deep canyons and up over the pass.


I used the Wouxun KG-UV3D dual-band handheld on 144.39 MHz, the national APRS frequency, to see how well it would work. The APRS unit itself is a Byonics TinyTrak4. Normally I use this with an Icom handheld, but as it happens I have a set of Kenwood cables for the TinyTrak4, and the Wouxun KG-UV3D uses the Kenwood cables. So, without any adjustments, I just substituted the Kenwood cable and the Wouxun KG-UV3D. I used vehicle power for the TinyTrak 4, but let the Wouxun power itself using its own battery. As you can see from the tracks above, I got good results, even in canyons and up over the pass. The track points you see Continue reading →

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Gary’s Honda 90 Rides Again!

Posted on September 2, 2011 by


Gary and I were at it again today, this time at Clear Lake in San Juan County.

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I rode the Galloping Goose!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by


Galloping Goose #4 rides the rails again! I had the wonderful and rare opportunity to ride the restored Goose today. It’s been on display in Telluride, Colorado, and last ran 58 years ago. The Ridgway Railroad Museum started the restoration three years ago. Initially they were going to do a cosmetic restoration, but decided to go ahead and do a complete mechanical restoration as well. This video shows several of the restorers taking their turn operating the beauty. They have about 60 feet of track laid down, so the ride isn’t long, but it was sure exciting to be part of this historic event! For more information about the restoration, see this page at the Ridgway Railroad Museum’s website. The museum publishes a book about narrow gauge railroading in the San Juan Mountains (Southwestern Colorado), which you can find at this location on the Mt. Sneffels Press website. It has several pages devoted to the Galloping Geese.

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Sylvan Beauty: Cow Creek Rd—Ouray CR 12

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Cow Creek Road

Cow Creek Road winds through beautiful trees


Cow Creek Road is the eastern end of Ouray CR 12. The word that kept coming to mind as I rode the lengthy road this morning is “sylvan,” which comes from an old French word meaning “forest diety.” To say the area is beautiful is to miss the point. It’s Continue reading →

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Which way did you say?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Upside down sign

Huh? Uh...the road goes to the right...


Every once in awhile one encounters cognitive dissonance. In the photo I’m traveling north on Ouray CR 12 on my way to Cow Creek. The upside-down sign really caught my attention—the road actually turns right to the east.

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Clear Lake Wildflowers

Posted on August 26, 2011 by

Pink wildflower

Pink wildflower at Clear Lake in San Juan County, Colorado. I can't find this one in my wildflower book. Do you know what it is? You can tell me via the comment form below.


This morning I took San Juan, Colorado, County Road 12 up to Clear Lake. The GPS track and pictures are found by going to this post. I’d concentrated so much on the road that I didn’t see the wildflowers at first, but after the first caught my eye, it was as though they all lined up to be next. Unfortunately, not all my pictures came out, so you’re getting just a sample of what’s up there. Here they are: Continue reading →

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Clear Lake Beauty on San Juan CR 12

Posted on August 26, 2011 by

Clear Lake, Colorado

Clear Lake, Colorado, taken from a bit to the southwest at Point B shown on the GPS map below. A beautiful lake in a glacial basin. The parking area is seen in the lower right.


Clear Lake in San Juan County, Colorado, is a pristine example of a high (above tree line) lake in the bowl of a glacially-carved basin—I traveled there this morning. The lake is natural and is reached by traveling up San Juan CR 12 from Point A shown on the GPS map below. To get there, travel west Continue reading →

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Mancos Renaissance Fair: Wool Spinning

Posted on August 22, 2011 by


The Mancos Renaissance Fair was held this past weekend. I had the opportunity to spend several hours there on Saturday, August 20th, 2011. I had a nice chat with a gal who was spinning wool into yarn using an old-fashioned spinning wheel. I took video while she explained the process. I don’t know her name—if you do, please let me know so I can give her proper credit.

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Mancos Renaissance Fair: Arms and Armor

Posted on August 22, 2011 by


I had a great chance to interview these two young people, both named John, about their chain mail, swords, and other miscellanea. If you know who these people are, let me know so I can credit them appropriately.

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