Remember “‘Mater“ from the Disney movie, “Cars?” He was the rusty old Tow truck, hence his name from Tow-Mater. Well today we were on our afternoon ride on “Purple” when we passed a big shiny new Red and White ‘Mater and his big brother Big Blue ‘Mater. Big Blue ‘Mater had his cable strung out into the desert near Mojave, California. In fact it disappeared into a very deep drainage ditch alongside Highway 14. Read More
Author Archives: Gary
‘Mater Goes Fishin’
January 7, 2012
Orange Julius Cookies
December 17, 2011
Orange Julius Cookies from Joanne Flukes “Plum Pudding Murder”
From Kathie Van Winkle
preheat oven to 350 degrees
2 1/2 c flour (not sifted – just pack in the cup)
1/4 teas salt
3/4 teas baking soda
2 sticks softened butter
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 beaten egg
3-4 teas grated orange zest (I used 4+)
12 oz bag white chocolate morsels
In a large bowl combine flour, salt and soda.
In another bowl beat butter & 2 sugars, add egg and zest.
Combine w/flour mixture and add chips
Flatten with a fork – bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes until lightly browned.
Makes 5 dozen.
Charlotte’s Web:
November 13, 2011
Up until now we have stubbornly refused to have a pet. We adore our friends’ dogs and cats. We even keep a bag of doggie treats in the front window so we can run out and pet their dogs as they walk them. One, it is a great way to meet people, and two, we don’t have to get up with them at 5:30 to go on the morning walk. Read More
An Adoption:
October 29, 2011
Regal Jug is our 23 foot sailboat. It has been in the family since 1974. For many years we had an annual vacation somewhere in the San Juan Islands of Washington, or the Gulf Islands of Canada. The last couple years we have not done any major trips in Regal Jug.
This year Regal Jug was adopted by our son, Glen’s family. Two weeks ago they met us in Oregon and picked up the boat. They spent last weekend cleaning and updating the maintenance on the boat. This weekend we arrived in Gilroy and we formalized the adoption by going to a local lake and launching the boat and having an inaugural sail. Read More
Tandem Migration:
October 24, 2011
It is not what you think. We are not riding the tandem bicycle south for the winter. This year for the first time we are taking our Honda Civic, “Little Blue,” south with us. Since I still insist on taking my trailer with my shop along, that means Judy has to drive the Honda in tandem with the coach. Read More
Tandem Milestone:
October 5, 2011
Today I finally was able to install the key assembly in the power train for the new tandem. This assembly is a jack shaft that allows the blending of power from the rider and the auxiliary electric motor. That is the rider can power the wheel with no auxiliary power. The auxiliary motor can power the wheel and the rider can coast. Finally both can power the wheel at the same time.
At the same time the shaft itself functions as the pivot for the rear wheel suspension. This is good because the chains don’t vary in length as the suspension flexes. Read More
Bee Line:
August 17, 2011
Well here we are making a bee-line back to the Pacific Northwest. I guess we just reached our limit of hot muggy weather and afternoon thunder showers. Read More
Oshkosh Fly-In:
July 31, 2011
Breriot XI bis, First US Air Mail, 1911
Read More
Tourist Destinations:
July 16, 2011
Yes, we often show up in odd ball destinations like Wickenburg, AZ, visiting obscure attractions like the “Jail Tree.” This week, however, we set our sights on a top tourist destination, Mackinac Island in the Mackinac Straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in upper Michigan. By the way up here it is pronounced “Mackinaw,” the “c” at the end of the word is silent. The name is a shortening of the original Indian name Michilimackinac which means “place of the great turtle.” Read More
The Attic:
July 11, 2011
Here we were drifting around the nation’s rust belt, Detroit and Dearborn Michigan, when we stumbled into America’s attic. Maybe not exactly stumbled, more like encouraged by long time friends Jim and MaryKay and their daughter Kati and hubby JT. We arranged a rendezvous in Tipp City, Ohio and enjoyed a long visit. Read More
