Saturday, June 15 / 2013

I arrived home from my night shift to a maze of trucks, campers, trailers and quads in the yard.  The children have arrived!!  There were a few beer cans lying in the grass and I will have to have a chat with all the little lovies about the proper disposal of empty cans later on today!!
It is still raining and actually rained really hard for a long time during the night.  I cannot imagine how far beyond "wet" the trails are!!  Of course this little fact will not deter these boys from the trails.  They came to ride this Father's Day weekend and they will ride....rain or shine!!
I managed to sit and relax for about an hour before the kids all started to wake up.  Jace was the first one into the bus and being such an awesome Mom, I had coffee ready and waiting.  He needed tylenol... said something about a headache and I wondered why he would be supporting one of those!!
Eventually all the kids and their dogs were awake and I had a few more requests for tylenol!!  Perhaps I am glad that I was working last night and not witnessing the gong show that went on in the man cave.  It sounds like John and Casey were the last ones standing.  Of course John is still in bed this morning while everyone else is up and at it!!
Once four pots of coffee were done, it was time to get breakfast ready.  Despite the fact that I was informed that I would not be responsible for feeding everyone, that indeed proved not to be the case.  I was the cook!!
I got busy and fried up bacon and sausage, then made eggs and toast.  An awesome breakfast for some hungry party animals. Everyone ate and was happy and I do believe the headaches were starting to ease.
As the kids got ready to head out into the rain for a day on the trails, I was busy quickly doing up the dishes.  Thank heavens for paper plates as there was not many to do.  While I was doing the dishes, I decided to join the kids on the trail today.  I had caught my second wind by this time and felt I could ride trails today.  So what if it was raining....I am not salt nor am I sugar....I won't melt!!
Before long, we were all loaded up and ready to go (John was still in bed!!)
We headed down the North Road to Mile 8 Trail and stopped there for the first refreshment of the day.  Man, you would think that after all the partying last night and the headaches this morning that a beer would be the last thing these fools need!!

Oh Oh.... water in Casey's belt so had to make a quick repair.

Jace had intended to do some of the Chitek Lake trails but when he saw how incredibly wet and muddy the Mile 8 Trail was, changed his mind and decide to take the cut across trail over to the Hueard Lake trail.  This cut across trail should prove interesting as well with all this damn rain.

Moose (aka Scott), Jeff, Jace and Kimmy

Our second stop was on Cut Across Trail where Casey had issues with his belt.  Once it gets wet (wonder how that happened!!) the quad just does not want to move.  He made some quick repairs and we were on our way once again.
This trail proved to be a bit of a challenge because of the rain.  The usual "wet" areas were filled with water and I prayed that the bottoms of these small "lakes" were hard.  As it turned out, the worst of the water could either be avoided or the bottom was fairly decent. Thank the Lord!!
We eventually made it to the Huard Lake Trail and took a short detour to the Lake.  Here the boys played in the water (cause there just wasn't enough on the trails)!!

Jace, backing into the culvert at Huard Lake

Chris.....adding his twist to the pic!!

Lined up at Huard Lake 

Getting deep so had to back out

From Huard Lake, we headed over to Vimy where we would stop and decide which way we were going to take home.  We haven't made many miles today but it was pretty challenging trail and with my power steering going in and out, it was tiring for my arms and shoulders as well.
When we arrived at Vimy, the week's rain had made the usually calm, babbling creek into a raging, deep torrent of water.  This crossing could be dangerous if one was not careful.
The current was enough to take your quad and carry it down the creek.  This is most definitely NOT my idea of a good time.   As it turned out, everyone got across without any difficulty.  Casey rode my quad across as I was not inclined to do it.  I hitched a ride across with Chris in his side by side!  Kimmy managed to get across and made me look bad at the same time.  She said she as scared shitless but you certainly wouldn't have know it by the way she crossed.  She is getting to be an awesome little rider - a fact that was mentioned a few times on the trail today by the other guys.  What a nice compliment for her and certainly a compliment for Jace as well as he guides her through her learning process of  "Quadding 101".
With the creek crossing behind us, we decide to head back to Mile 8 Trail and take the opposite side of the trail.  This would eventually lead us to Eddie's Trail then to Mile 3 Trail which would lead us back to the North Road and home.
Once we accessed Mile 8 trail, we met up with John who had eventually gotten out of bed,  got ready and came out to the trails to try and find us.  I was surprised to see him and he was actually lucky to find us.
We then made a bit of a detour and stopped at the new snowmobile shelter before heading to Eddie's Trail and then over to 3 Mile Trail.  It was here that I was going to leave the group and just travel the East Grid home.  I was getting tired by this time and needed to get off this stupid machine that kept challenging me with no power steering!!
John suggested that I remain with the group until we hit the North Grid, then I could carry on home while the others stayed for a refreshment.  That was probably a better suggestion than me heading home by myself just in case something "happened".  At least staying with the group until the North Road would ensure that if anything did happen on my way home, the group was behind me and would be able to help if necessary.  Alway a better thing than riding by yourself....not that I was anticipating anything happening.....but as everyone knows....shit happens.
Mile 3 was nastier than what it had been when John and I had travelled it a few weeks earlier but that was not surprising.  Once we got to the marshy part of the trail there were a few stuck quads but I was not one of them and managed the nastiness without any trouble.  We were soon at the grid and I headed home.  I had dibs on the shower!!
Once I was sparkling clean, I got the potatoes wrapped and ready for the bbq while the stragglers rolled in.   John got the bbq going and had the spuds on and cooking.   We were all hungry.... me, I needed to eat and go to bed!!
Jimmy had requested a potato salad for tomorrow's supper so while I was waiting for the baked potatoes and my steak, I got the potatoes peeled and cooked for it.  I will have everything ready for tomorrow's supper before I leave on the rally.
Once I ate, it was to bed for me and the kids and John partied into the wee hours of the morning.  I did not hear a thing the whole night!!  It was an awesome day and despite the fact that I am exhausted, I loved riding with all my kids today and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Friday, June 14/2013

It is overcast again this morning but so far......no rain!!  I am sure the Rain Gods are not done with us yet.
I have lots of things to do today to get ready for the kids and this weekend so I had better get my arse into gear as I also have to work a night shift tonight.  I think I had to work a night shift last year too if I remember correctly!!
I made a "to do" list so that I remember everything that needs to be done.  I started inside the bus, cleaning and what not then,  headed outside to get what needed to be done out there completed.  Before too long, my jobs were finished and John started on the emptying of the black water.  Now that is a job I did not volunteer to help him with!!  It would have been so much easier to just move the bus but with all the damn rain that has fallen this past week, I don't think we would have been able to move the bus. The ground is saturated and I am sure we would have got stuck just trying to get out of the yard.  So.....John got the maceration pump out and used a couple of gas cans to empty the tank into.  It was rather stinky but it worked well!!
With all our jobs done, it was time to sit and relax for a bit.  I have to head to work tonight and the kids will be arriving soon.
Chris and his pooch Yogi were the first to arrive.  It was about 7:00 p.m. when they arrived and I had to start getting ready for work.  Bummer but not much I can do about it.  Tonight will just be a matter of everyone arriving and the real fun will not start until tomorrow.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho. it's off to work I go.......

Sunday, June 16 / 2013

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there.   I awoke bright and early this morning, rested and feeling not too terribly bad.  My shoulders are sore and I just cannot see myself riding my quad today in the rally.  I will see if anyone is riding with either Chris or Jimmy in their side by sides and will see if I can hitch a ride as a passenger.  If not, I do not think I will go today.  That in itself is not a bad idea as I would love to just sit and do nothing and recover from my silliness of yesterday!!  Who in their right mind goes quadding after working a 12 hour night shift?

Jimmy O and John

As it turned out, I had my choice of rides as neither Jim or Chris had anyone riding with them so I guess I am headed off down the trails again today.  One good thing.....there is no rain!!  What!!!
Breakfast was a repeat of yesterday with bacon, sausage, eggs and toast but first there was some Tylenol needed again.  When are these "children" going to realize that too much alcohol leads to one feeling rather "under the weather" the next day.
Casey required a bit more than plain Tylenol this morning.  It was Tylenol 3 for him.  His back was really bothering him last night and again today.    I guess he is finding out just how much damage he has done to it and how riding his quad this year impacts those fractures.  Although they are healed now, I am afraid that this young  man is always going to have "issues" with his back.  The price one pays for poor judgement often has long reaching effects.

First refreshment stop - on Eddie's Trail.

We were soon loaded up and over at the community hall to get our tickets for the rally.  Then.....it was down the trail for us.  Despite the shitty weather over the last week, there were a fair number of quad registered.

Kimmy, Jill, Scotty , Jimmy and John at one of the many stops

As suspected, the trails were waterlogged and with the increased number of quads, that only made them worse.  I was sure glad I chose to be a passenger instead of riding my own.  My shoulders and wrists could not have handled today's ride.

Casey, Jace, Mike and Chris and part of Kylee.  I am not sure
who is standing beside Mike.

A puddle many could not pass up.  It was deep but many
were not deterred.

Kylee was in this puddle with his side by side and it was so deep
that his box in the back of it floated away.  Here his is getting
it back!!

This idiot has tipped!!   He was able to recover and drive it out.

Our group was fairly large and of course the kids just couldn't stay out of all the water puddles so John, Jimmy and I often rode on ahead of them and found ourselves waiting further down the trail.  They didn't take to long most times as we had many of the refreshments!!
At one stop, Mindy and her husband Frankie arrived with a quad in tow.  Mindy was quite hyper and mentioned that they had tipped over in a huge water puddle while towing this quad.  It was a good thing no one got hurt but she had to run down the trail to our guys and get them to help put their side by side back onto its wheels.  There was all kinds of excitement of this kind on the trail today.
At one point while waiting for the kids to catch up to us, we were passed by several quads on tow ropes.  For some reason, these riders just can not stay out of the water.  Water and motors often do not like each other as many found out today.
We eventually made it to the half way point of the rally and the wiener roast.  We waited for at least an hour before one of the kids finally arrived.  He wanted to make sure that the organizers where still going to be around for when the others arrived.  They had two quads on tow ropes by this time and were hungry!!  It was already close to 6:00 and we were only half way through the rally.
I suspected that this would be the end of the rally for many of our kids.
We met up with Dave, Shirley and Gary at this point.  Shirley's quad had been heating so they had decided to take the North Road back to town and forget about the rest of the rally.  It is no big deal for them as we can ride this trail anytime and hopefully the next time we do, it will be much drier!!
Realizing that the kids were not even going to make the wiener stop, we got back on the machines and headed back down the trail to meet up with them.  When we got to them, they had decided to just head down the grid towards home.  Jace's new machine was on a tow rope as the engine had quit while he was in some deep water so had sucked water into his engine (not a good thing).  He was using Kimmy's quad as a tow vehicle.  The huge big side by side Commander was also on a tow rope and since they had managed to get it to the grid, decided to leave it there and go get the truck and trailer to get it home,  It is just too much to tow unless it is another Commander doing the towing.

After the ride - a redneck car wash!!  This is the creek at Vimy!!
The water was rushing but had slowed down a lot since yesterday.

From here, we decided to head into Vimy which is just a short detour off the road.  It is here that the guys decided to get some of the mud off their machines and drove them into the water.  This actually worked well for the most part until Tyson went a bit too far in and almost lost his quad to the current.  It took four guys to save him and his quad but by the end of the whole ordeal, his quad was sparking clean!!

Full of mud but still smiling!!

Kyle is now nice and clean.  The guys had to go and save Tyson
as he had managed to almost lose his side by side in a deep part
of the creek and with the rushing water......well he was in trouble
before he knew it.  They managed to save him and the quad!! 

Excitement over - now lets get the hell out of this water!!

With some of the quads clean, it was time to head home.  There are two designated refreshment stops along the way so off we headed.  No one was concerned that we had only done half the rally which told me that the "boys" had their fill of water, mud and nonsense for the day!!
By the time we arrived home it was close to 8:00p.m.  Some of the guys had to head back to Saskatoon so were anxious to go.
I was so glad that I had our supper ready as all I had to do was re-heat the BBQ pulled pork I had cooked on Saturday and add mayonnaise to the potato salad.   In a matter of minutes it was ready and whoever was hungry ate.
Several of the guys left for Saskatoon and the rescue squad (for the Commander left in the bush) returned.  Soon everyone was fed and watered and ready to sit and relax around the campfire.
There was still no rain so John was able to start a fire and we all sat around it and enjoyed the heat and shared stories of our wild adventures of the day.  It was awesome and another day I wouldn't trade away for anything.

Thursday, June 13/2013

It is so very overcast this morning that I am sure it won't be too long before, once again, the skies open up and drop more rain upon us.  There is thunder today and poor Hogan is not too impressed by that.
Wow, the skies have opened and it is really pouring.  There will be no fence building going on today in this rain.  Hopefully it stops later on and we can get out there and do a bit more today.
The rain did slow at one point today and John and I were able to get out and finish off the one little piece across the front of the yard.  It actually looks pretty darn good.  Even John mentioned that the town will get a look at our fence and ask us to be the official town fence builders!!  I don't think so so it was a good thought.
We were only able to do the small piece in front before the rains came again and we were forced to stop.
It was then into the man cave for a beer before I headed in the bus to make supper.  Spaghetti and meatballs is what was on the menu for tonight.
The rain continued throughout the evening and John mentioned that there was a rainfall warning issued for this area.  WHAT!!!  I cannot imagine just how muddy the trails are going to be when the kids come up here this weekend.  I think there will be some mud slinging going on!! The ball tournament scheduled for this weekend has officially been cancelled because of the rain forecast but the quad rally will go on.  Looks like the rain suits will be out in full force.
We spent a quiet evening watching TV and just relaxing as it sounds like this weekend is going to be busy.

Wednesday June 12/2013

I am finally home and finished my night shift.  It was a good shift and I feel pretty good this morning.  And...it is not raining!!  In fact, the sun is shining and it is supposed to be an awesome day today.
After making the coffee, I head to bed to catch a few hours and am awake by 2:30 p.m.
The sun is still shining although the darker grey clouds are once again building with the promise of more rain.  At this rate, we will never have to worry about forest fires!!
I decided to head into Spiritwood today as I don't think John and I are going to go into Saskatoon before the weekend so I needed a few things from the grocery store and I thought I would check out the local hardware store for some more fence building supplies.
With that in mind, Hogan and I got into the truck and made our way into Spiritwood.  When I crossed the bridge over Big River, I noticed three big cormorants fishing off the rocks.  They are a large bird and I wished I had brought the camera. It would have been an awesome pic.
I managed to find a few more fence building supplies so now John and I can put up a few more boards. I made a stop at the grocery store and then stopped and chatted with Shirley for a bit then headed home.
Once back at the bus, John was just finishing cutting the grass so we started on the fence.
Well, what a gong show that turned out to be.  With me somehow always managing to stand on the electrical cord and disconnecting the power supply (I think John  just puts it under my feet so he can say "get off the damn cord" and roll his eyes) or John accidentally (I think it was on purpose) slipping with the drill and smashing the shit out of my thumb (that hurt), I was soon ready to call it quits.  It was either quit or John just may find himself impaled on one of the fancy effin 16 foot treated 2x4s....it was close.
Realizing the wisdom of us stopping for the day, we then sat outside in the sunshine (man it is good to feel the sunshine again) enjoying a beverage and looking at the fancy new fence that now stands along one side of the property.
As the evening drew closer, the sun went down and the chill in the air returned.  It looks like we are finally going to get that rain.  John started a fire and that chased the chill away.
Gary came over for a short visit and once he left, the rain started so John and I got the big umbrella out and we sat under it enjoying the dying campfire while our steaks cooked on the BBQ.  It has been a long time since John and I enjoyed a campfire under the umbrella with the rain falling around us.  It was awesome.
With the steaks done, we headed into the bus to eat and then it was time to call it a day.  Hopefully it will not be raining all day tomorrow and we will be able to get more of the fence boards up.

Tuesday, June 11/2013

Hogan woke me up at 6:00 a.m. this morning needing to go out.  It is still dreary outside but no rain.  I was still tired, so once he was back inside, I crawled back to bed and didn't hear another thing until 9:00 a.m. when the ringing of the phone woke me up.  Wow, I have not slept in this late in ages although I had such a coughing spell last night that I took a ton of nighttime cough medicine so perhaps that had something to do with it!
I feel well rested this morning and I think,  I am not coughing as much and my throat is less sore!!  Could it be that I am finally getting over this hellacious cough/cold/sore throat thing that has been going on for way too long?  It could happen!!
I have to work night shift tonight so I sure hope that it doesn't set me back in this battle against this cold.  It is still really overcast outside and I would not be surprised if we didn't get more rain today.  What the hell!!  I think my feet are starting to become "webbed" and I swear I am sprouting water wings!!  Enough already.  The only good thing about all this rain over the last week is that the forest needed it and anytime the threat of forest fire is lessened, well, that is a good thing.

Monday, June 10/2013

It is still rather dreary and overcast this morning and it looks like the rain is not done with us yet.
The garden is now what I would consider saturated and will take a good week or two to dry out.  Despite all the rain, the rows are very visible now and things look "happy" out there.  Now I am sure I will have to deal with a few weeds this coming week!!  Ray (our neighbour from Arizona) would be green with envy if he saw my garden!!  Perhaps I will send him a picture.
It is finally time for me to take the laundry over to the laundromat.  I have managed to do several loads in our little washer/dryer here in the bus but only on the days when I could hang the stuff on the clothes line to dry.  The little machine handles my nurses uniforms well but struggles with t-shirts and blue jeans so it is time to bite the bullet and head to the big machines.
I have a few things on the agenda today so I had better get my arse into gear.
Once the clothes were done, I headed over to the store and bought the replacement molasses and took it over to the home.  Now I am square with them.
Once back at the bus, I put the clothes away and then sat for a bit reading my book.
The wood arrived for the rest of the fence this afternoon and John and I are now able to start on the it.  If only the weather would cooperate.  It was pouring out when Roland arrived and it is a good thing that he had a roll off truck.  The unload was easy!!
Chicken and rice for supper then we watched more TV.  Wow, we are certainly getting our TV fix with all this bloody rain!!
Nothing else to do but go to bed!!