Wyoming and Idaho

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We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...

Things have been a blur lately.

I had a flight lesson the other night. I am gaining confidence. I remeber some of the things that I struggled with before I am now comfortable and confident. I have a ways to go still for sure.

The big thing was though, I called a missed approach (go around) because I was too high and didn't feel comfortbale with the rate of decent. I gave it the gas and went through the process of a go-around and the engine skipped a few beats on the climb-out! I let my instructor have the plane and to be safe we did a 300 degree turn and landed downwind. That is the second time the plane has hiccupped on me during climb out at low altitude. We agreed this time it was a bit different than the loss of power we had last time with a scored cylinder. This seemed electrical. The plane is being looked at. My instructor says I have bad luck with the plane. We had an extended debrief and talked about options. We both agreed that the golf course was the best place to go if the power quit entirely. More experience. Turning back to teh airport with a power-out condition is a common mistake. Concentrating on landing the plane is a priority.

I went to a student music recital in Greene on Sunday. That was different and simple.

I mowed the hay-field-to-be Saturday. It took me about 6 hours to mow 17 acres. That was a speed record for me. I still managed to hand carry a bunch of rocks I found with the mower to the hedge row. I plan on mowing that field 4 times this year. Some of my other mowing plans are under review.

I am getting some expert advice on my silo of whether it is safe and/or usable.

I am working on one of my Evinrude outboard motors. I don't remember where I got it. Possibly I got it from the trash years ago. It turns out it is a 1948-1951 1.5 HP model. It looks like it is all there. It will go well on the canvas canoe since it has an internal gas tank and it will look period.

The garden is going in with a different setup this year.

I am behind on my firewood. I need to get going.

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Wyoming and Idaho

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