Greetings from the Riviera Maya

Even though this is not an official TW activity I've had some requests for pictures so here are a few.
The view from our private pool. Not too shabby.


The oceanfront palapa. J and I were going to sleep in the hammocks but it turned out beds were more comfortable.


It's hard to tell from the photo but this cinder block pile was full of iguanas. The all ducked down when J and I approached then popped their heads up one by one to see if we were still there.

Pollo tacos from Loncheria Akumal. The roasted peppers were a nice touch. Also, a little hint I picked up today : If you encounter an unfamiliar habanero hot sauce labeled "exxxtreme piquante" maybe you should take it easy with the first pour.


Uncle Bill and his fruit plate. We celebrated Bill and Karen's 40th wedding anniversary tonight with a lovely dinner, margaritas, then some speed scrabble and a few rounds of a French card game called Mille Borne, good times, and here's to 40 more!


Cousin Callum at the playa.

Rickreall Rampage pt. 5

video by Uncle Bill

Project Underpass

I had some great pictures of people working, riding, tractors, etc. but that memory card seems to have failed, neither computer will read it. I found another card and tried to recreate the excitement by getting Natty to pose. She's a trooper.

The work party turned out smaller than expected, just me, Uncle Bill and Tad and Meghan from Team Veloshop, but we got it done. 

The tractor broke again, blowing a hydraulic hose and also breaking some welds on the bucket. Bill was able to fix the hose and take one more smoothing run and we finished it with hand tools.

It's a lot more solid than it looks. After a few setbacks Tad and Bill did some improvisational engineering and came up with a 3 piece design that we bolted in place. The 4X4s are socketed deeply into the hard earth and the pressure of the ramps on both sides keeps the whole thing rock solid.

This week I plan to add some logs to the ramps and make some steps. I might buy some long hoses and water and reshape the ramps. I think it'll need a winter of rain and lots of shoveling before it will be rideable but as a run up it's almost ready and as a ride under it's superb, fast and fun.

getting ready for the work party

Uncle Bill fixed the tractor and we gave it a trial run before Project Underpass kicks off tomorrow. It scraped up the hard dirt a lot faster than I had imagined.


Natty was a big help, as usual.

The Make Out Ladder with new and improved run-around.

Bad Day at Coffin Butte Landfill

My multiyear plan to clean out the garage and shed finally culminated in the maiden voyage of the Blue Honey and it was not a happy one.

I did get one large load of stuff dumped but then she wouldn't start. Why didn't I just leave it running? I don't know. She had started right up when I stopped at the post office and gas station in Rickreall.
I jiggled the battery wires and tried it in park and neutral then called Uncle Bill. He suggested I let the starter cool down and try it every 15 minutes. So I sat there for over an hour while an unending line of trucks dumped the detritus of the mid-valley area. Several giant bulldozers with spiky steel wheels prowled around the whole time. Whenever they got close the ground would vibrate. The air was filled with thick garbage dust and the wind whipped it about, creating new scent combinations all the time. Flies and yellow jackets were thick, poor Natty's ears were constantly twitching. She finally retreated to the floorboards and tried to hide under her tail. I briefly entertained the idea of just leaving the truck and hiking out, across the endless hills of entombed and plumbed garbage. Instead I called Aunt Karen and she graciously arranged for a tow truck and came to pick us up. That's the second time she's rescued me in the last month. Thanks Karen!


I never knew this machine existed. I always assumed garbage just traveled in garbage trucks.


Natty was not amused. The smells must have been even smellier for her.

A complete lack of wedding photos

I had a great time at Disco and Matty's wedding. Jaden took hundreds of photos, some of them good, but I can't find my memory card reader so they are trapped in silicon for now. In the meantime please enjoy some random images that have been accumulating on my desktop.

Uncle Bill and his faithful cat Bungie.

I'm not sure how I ended up with this photo but it must have been taken right before the opening alleycat of the Westside, and apparently I'm having a minor seizure out of nervousness.


This photo was from an article on how playing cricket messes up peoples bodies. Look for a similar expose on bike polo in about 20 years.

This must be fake but I still find it amusing.

A day at the Polk County Fair

Jaden and Uncle Bill discussing the bows J made out of Filbert wood and twine.


There is no corndog quite like a county fair corndog.


That is a sweet tractor.


Nice plumage.

Bill pointed out that this rabbit had a built in pillow. Photo by Jaden.

Photo by Jaden.

A boy and his cow.


Jaden took this and announced "This one's for Dabby"


Photo by Jaden.

Photo by Jaden.

Photo by Jaden.

J and Uncle Cleanhead.
J on the zipper, I felt nauseous just watching.


Our farm really needs a new tractor.

Apparently this is for making corn into silage. Very impressive.


Bill interfacing with a "robot".

Jaden finally worked up the courage to explore the secret room behind the shower.



Photo by Jaden. He found these dessicated remains among other things.