New parking, rodeo

Life goes on, and thankfully I am still blessed with Connie's presence, at least for a while. In case you are wondering, she is aware of my adventures, but chooses to grace me with her presence from time to time anyway.

Connie wanted to see the bridge over the Owyhee, So I took her down there and while we were there met Jack, who owns the Pillars. I asked for permission to take Connie down there. I had a new spot that I wanted to take her, and there was no time like the present.

It has been raining a bit and the ground here is a bit gooey. I made it up the bank, but Connie wasn't prepared and sat down. Brick was right there with her to comfort her however.

After we finished our walk we went over to Rome Station to see if they had gotten the gas pumps installed. They had, and while I was a bit saddened by the price for non ethanol, at least there was some available. These are set up with airplanes in mind, and one can taxi right up to the pump.

On Sunday we went back to Jack's place for a branding, as Connie likes to watch. The way all this works is that a group of Ranchers get together and each helps with the others branding's. Each week until all their calves have been branded, and worked, they help each other at their places. They all gather at the designated spot, the host provides refreshments and a dinner afterward. All the kids come along and are allowed to learn how it is done from the older ones. They are allowed to take their turn at roping either on horse back or on foot. I have never heard even one get yelled at for anything. It is all encouragement. The really small ones can play there in the dirt and help as they want to. Just a bit unlike my childhood. The level of patience is both remarkable and commendable.

Sunday Connie and I went over to the ranch and picked up a tractor with a brush hog on it, and I "hogged the brush off the spot that I want to put the plane parking. Today I went back and got the road grader and leveled it out, then took the quad and a drag and smoothed it out. Now I will only have to install some cables for a tie down.

Now if I can get a good rain on the ground, this will set up nicely and the planes will not have to be pulled to the top of the hill so that they can take off with out all the dust storm that has accompanied it.