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...

KLZU and Hikes

I hung around the airport over the weekend as usual. I did get in the air. It was a treat to be at the controls again. It is one of life's great experiences. I am still struggling with ATC. The typical air traffic controller at LZU has a Southern (duh) black accent and he speaks so fast I find it hard to understand the first time, especially when I am busy and he is giving complex instructions. I don't say this light-heartedly. I routinely host teleconferences with people all over the globe and it is common I am translating for one or more of them. English is a second language for ALL of the them (well, except my friends in Kansas). I think the air traffic controller is probably an excellent choice for the student, just like the short grass strip in Greene NY was a great place to learn how to land. Maybe this is prep for my aviation adventures abroad.

Sunday I took a great hike. I hiked over 15 miles (seemed like all uphill). I picked a great day. I think I actually got some sunburn. It was in the 70s. I hiked to the top of Springer Mtn. Georgia. Which is the actual start of the Appalachian Trail (AT-southern terminus). The short time I was there I did not witness anyone finishing the AT. I did however see/meet a sole "though-hiker" start (it's that time of year). No fanfare. No encouragement. No nothing. Just woods.

The video is a plane picking up a towed banner (second attempt). Between him, the corporate jets, and the helicopter training LZU is a exciting place for traffic. It is all on one runway. Coincidentally the same headings as Greene (4N7), 25 and 7.

Tomorrow, I am off to Fargo, North Dakota for a few days. When I get back, DJ is going to meet me at the gate in Atlanta just after she arrives from NY. That will be nice. She will be down for a couple of days.

The fishy pic is a Super H Korean Number 5. It is one of my favorite lunches. I should have propped up the octopus too.

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