10.27.2019

Nevada Days

Carson City is the state capital and the annual Nevada Day celebration. There is a pancake breakfast at the governors mansion, a free chili feed hosted by U.S. Senator Jackie Rosen, a hot air balloon launch, a parade, a beard contest....  You get the idea, a very big deal.



The single jack drilling contest. Each contestant has 10 minutes swinging a 4.5 pound hammer to drill the deepest hole they can into to this block of white granite.

The small water tank continuously fills the drill hole with water. With each blow the water splashes out of the drill hole, carrying granite chips with its 

Each contestant is allow 12 drill stills. Each steel is about and inch and half longer. The driller changes out the steels as the hole deepens so their blows are as similar and repetitive at possible. Also the next longer steel has a slightly small diameter. 

A home made steel guard protects the hand holding the steel. 
Emmit Hoyl drove his steels an astounding 13 and 28/32 into the very dense white granite in 10 minutes for the win.


Love the old cars









My buddy Cliff volunteers at the state museum. For Nevada Days he operates the 150 year old Carson City Mint's coin press that minted silver dollars until 1893. Today he is pressing commemorative coins. When minting silver dollars, blanks were loaded into the hopper on the left and shinny new silver dollars where pressed at the rate of 100 per minute. 

Vistitors buy a .999% pure silver blank for $60

A few seconds of 120 tons of pressure and presto

10.22.2019

Family Time

I had a great visit with my son's family.

Emma showing me her latest dance moves

Rachel trumped me by 20 points

Emma is in 1st and reads like a 3rd grader

After having a wonderful time with my son's family, I am drifting toward Texas to meet up with this winters Mexico caravan. We will cross the border Nov 16th at Presido TX.  We will be touring MX for four and a half wonderful months.


I have stopped in Carson City to visit my friend Cliff and get Serenity serviced. She had a slow leak at the filler tube. The leak was repaired without having to remove the radiator.

There is and extensive network of trails around Cliff's house. I am out on my morning walk trying to get in better shape for MX. We will be dong a lot of walking.

Some spectators along the way

The roads in MX are rough and last year I often found all my hanging cloths on the bottom of the closet. 

I cut a piece of 3 inch plastic pip in half. 

Cut to length

Add 3 clamps

Hopefully my cloths will remain on the bar this winter.