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This year's camp out is now part of the annals of history. It was probably the wettest we have had to this point. I can remember four: 1. Juan Miller above Clifton 2. Mt. Graham plane crash 3. Flagstaff Lava tubes 4. The White Mountains Three of these had rain in significant quantities (Mt Graham being the exception). With my history of choosing dry days for this festivity, maybe next year I will just camp in my shower. It will require less planning, less driving, and the water will be warm. Anybody want to join me?

While it is undeniably fun to just "hang out" with family, I think the best campouts have been those where we "did" something (aircraft hike and lava tubes [even though they were difficult with small children]). Is there agreement on this point? What activities might be appropriate? Anyone interested in getting a kite out on a mile of string? Or how about butchering and pit barbecuing a turkey? Or...

So, we need to come up with a plan for next year. There is usually less percipitation during the months of May and June, and there is a proposal to move the date to somewhere in those months. That would require some to take vacation in order to attend. Any thoughts on the matter?

We also need a location. Are we going to make previous camping spots "off limits" or is the idea of re-visiting previous locations viable? Sooo many questions...

I don't particularly like the idea of someone coming by to tell me where I can or cannot pitch a tent, or what I can or cannot do in my camp, but the trade-off is maintained toilets, which some find quite desirable (even a bad as they smelled).

Still, all things considered, it was an enjoyable time (or at least the memory will be after I forget the wet and cold parts...)

It is always fun to play with grandkids, and tease their parents.

While I didn't document it photographically, AJ really got in to swinging an axe. He chopped bunches of firewood (which we gratefully burned--in addition to the load that Wyatt and Ameilia brought), and has the blisters to prove it.

As usual, Barbara brought stuff for the kids, which gave them something to do under the shelters.

Ameilia was the lone brave soul that cooked using a dutch oven this year. AJ, who finagled the dessert assignment, wanted to use mine, and after I was packed to leave, informed me that he had changed his mind about needing them.

Still, cooking on a stove is an activity that carries less risk of failure, so that wasn't completely a bad thing.

AJ played with the dutch oven tool in the fire, heating it to a dull red then using it to create "signature art." I object to treating a dutch oven tool like that, but am unable to articulate a reason for that feeling. Perhaps it is because the tool could be easily bent when that hot.

He did manage to acquire a nice burn on his hand, but I certainly wouldn't wish that on him for any reason, let alone something a trivial as heating tool. Since I have no reason to complain about glowing steel, perhaps I should just back off and let the children play...

Again, I failed to document it photographically, but Symantha did join us the morning of the last day. She complains about her job as a supervisor, but I think she really likes being in charge.

Sabrina and Braxton seem to have their share of transportation related problems, and this trip was no exception. They managed to limit the damage to blowing off what I took to be a heater hose. It was exciting, but there was no damage, and nothing that couldn't be corrected with the judicious application of a worm clamp.

All the grandkids there enjoy being read to, and I guess that is a good thing. I have trouble relating to that activity, because being read to for any length of time makes me want to starting climbing the wall.

Wyatt missed his calling in life when he declined to choose sales as his occupation. He talked Barbara into bringing home a 2004 Kia Rio. I suspect that wasn't too hard, as Barbara has been wanting to change horses for some time now.

While it is a nice little car, there basically was nothing wrong with Barbara's Saturn (other than the fact that it is a American-made car constructed primarily of plastic and advertising hype).

Since I have disliked the Saturn since it came on the place, I can't say I'm unhappy to see it go. I just didn't want to spend the time and effort to prepare it for sale. Is that lazy, or what?

So, I spent this last Saturday working on cars. The Saturn's serpentine belt squeals until the engine gets to operating temperature. After much effort (and a small, but apparently efficacious, amount of swearing) I rectified that problem by installing a new belt. Let the record show, I very much dislike the idea of transverse mounted engines, and in particular, the amount of room left to service the components mounted on the engines "front." Professional Grade Engineering? Not in by book!

I also set out to correct the heating (or, more precisely, lack thereof) problem in my Ghetto-Mobile. After removing the front seat and placing pillows so I could lie on my back and access the heater core, I crawled in and surveyed the problem at some length. After much thought and few preliminary screw turns, I concluded that I would rather freeze in the dark than tackle that problem.

I can't see things that are six inches from my eyes without bi-focals, and wearing glasses while standing on my head in a confined space just doesn't work. My manual dexterity (while still adequate) isn't a good as it once was, and when I can just barely make the screwdriver to reach, but can't tell which way the slot in the screw heat is pointed, things tend get tense. I have surprisingly little tolerance for lack of skill in myself. I guess that what I actually concluded is that I am no longer capable of making that repair. That is a sad statement, but at least I arrived there with the vehicle still in one piece.

So, I fell back on plan two... I bought some radiator flush, removed the heater inlet and return hoses (inside the engine compartment), and filled the heater core. This product is a concentrated solution of sodium citrate. On first glance, I concluded it would be worthless, but after reflection, I realized that citrate is a chelating agent (it is used as an anticoagulant in certain blood draw tubes and acts by binding calcium). Since the crud blocking the radiator channels is mainly limestone (calcium and magnesium carbonates and sulfates) a compound that solublizes divalent cations might just dissolve this stuff. At this point, the heater core is in the middle of an overnight soak. Stay tuned for late breaking news... I am also having an adventure replacing the tensioning pulley on the Geo. Typically, I go in a parts store and wade through a lengthy explanation, only to be rewarded by a blank look followed by a, "That must be a dealer part..." recitation. My options include: dismanteling the pully and replacing the bearing, or haunting the local (and perhaps regional?) auto recyclers, or getting lucky on the internet, or actually visiting a dealer. As a matter of honor, I have never stooped to paying dealer prices on parts, but perhaps there is a first time for everything.

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