Where oh where is The Goat?

“I've been broke for too damn long. So much time, so not enough cash.

Made it to Utah in September. Had to borrow money to get home from the wedding in San Antonio. Started training for a job shortly after that. Wasn't able to make it to Red River Gorge in November. Damn, I really need to get there again.

So, guess what. I'm probably going to have to bail on another trip. Today, I got word that I must be in Wyoming for a job interview next Monday. This means that I wont be around for dinner at Lenneys Friday.

Sounds like this job is going to be one of the best situations that I've had for a damn long time. The work will not be easy. It is outside most of the time. Temperatures can be down around -20. But I'll be working for 16 straight days and then off for 12.

Ahhh, what can a goat with a camera do with 12 days and some money?”

“Good luck man - i've heard that the oil/mineral/gas (ok the mining) bus up in WY is going great guns - its boom time again adn there is money to be made, if your willing to work hard for a while.”

“good luck dude.”

“What kind of work, wildcatting?

With business booming would it not be better to run a cat house??

That would at least keep you out of the weather.”

“Be careful out there!

We'll miss your viking horny self on the trip but could probably be convinced to make a toast in your honor :-)”

“LMAO, his "viking horny self!"

So what would the job be doing? Something with that nasty coalbed methane???? Ahh, whatever.

Where would it be? Northeast area... maybe Gillette? Or elsewhere? I continue to want to explore the Thunder Basin Grasslands a little more -- so yeah, get your butt out there!! lol”

“That is Viking with a capital "V", thank you.
You may also capitalize horny if you wish.

As long as everything goes well during the meet-n-greet and the tour of the facility, I'll be working far far away from almost anywhere in the south of the state.
Perhaps our schedules will allow us to be together again at (place GPS way point here).”

“The Goat appears to have migrated for a short period of time to his old haunts near the Root River.

I have a feeling there will be some brewskies involved! LOL

And he could do the Polar Plunge tomorrow. Encourage him!~~!!!!!!”

“Gotta kill some time in Oregon next week. What to do, what to do...”

“Kill a badger???????”

“Oh.. damn, that is right, I need to thaw that damn thing out before departure.”

“Tell me if you'll ever be around El Paso”

“Ok, surise tanker... I'll let you know when I visit Big Bend again. Tanks for the invite.

After hitting that badg.. errr, deer in Minnesota, I had to find some sort of headlight system to make my truck legal to drive. Napa wanted $280 for a headlight assembly. Instead, I purchased the least expensive headlight, a couple of cans of expansion foam, duct tape. Built my own assembly and put it into the cavity that use to contain a headlight.

Drove back to Wyoming to work my shift. Opened the hood and found all the dambage inside. Decided that a drive back to Indiana was in order. Parked the truck in a friends garage and was able to get aftermarket parts to fix the truck. New headlight assembly, hood, core support, grill, turn signal, and a few stay nuts and small things for less than $300!!

Back to Wyoming to work my next shift. Dealing with the Mormon Foreman has been a task. Began looking for another job.

During this next time off, I plan on touring northern California and the Oregon coast.”

“WOW, I must say... The State of Jefferson is G-Damn beautiful.”

“howdy viking!”

“Hello D... how are things near the wild onion field?

Well, my tent was left at the campground yesterday noon. Had been storming for several hours prior to my departure and is suppose to be snowing when I get off work, so I made sure that it was staked down well. Rarely do I leave my tent up all day.

The wind kicked up a few times while I was away, so I made it a point to check on my Mountain Hardware during my drive to work. Was good to see it still standing.

Sorry to report that not more than 60 ft away from my tent, 2 camper trailers had been tossed on their sides!”

“He's baaaack:



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,269918,00.html”

“Will the baby goat be his heir?”

“I slept in a campground for a couple of weeks in late March. Just days before I went out to the BLM lands, a 147mph wind gust swept across the land.
Pictured here is my Mountain Hardware shelter. Only one pole was bent slightly. All else is fine.

”

“That is absolutely hilarious.”

“Hey Dave!

I was out in WY early in July. Couldn't remember where you were (check the thread, yeah, duh! But I didn't think to)

Was in Buffalo, Tensleep, Greybull... then back. I think you're in southwest, right? So not close...”

“Lizs.... Right, I am out west. Thanks for thinking of me though.
I have some tme off now, and am headed to South Dakota for a few days. If my time off is extended, I'll go to C'ville to see the family. May be in your area Sunday night or Monday.”

“That is a classic photo...you approach MH about using your photo in an add?”

“Hey, I have a new place for you to check out: Slim Buttes. It's maybe 20 miles west of Buffalo in NW SD. Cool rocks.. cool pines on small, rocky buttes. Was on a PIT there. Don't have photos posted yet from any of that trip west, which also included a day at TRNP (first time in ND! 4 new tires!! I hate ND! LOL, just kidding...)

So... maybe in C'field (what is C'ville??)

Western Days is weekend of Aug. 10-12, with the big play starting Aug. 9. I hope to miss the parade (hahaha). Am trying to scam my way into an Effigy Mounds National Monument currenty FULL trip to rock art somewhere on the Lower WI River that Saturday.

Yeah, that is a great photo. Make some moola on it! :-)”

“hope nobody was hurt.

wow!”

“Goat - WHERE are you now????!? Am looking at Wyoming opportunities, perhaps not that far from you.”

“haven't heard from his goatness in a while...any body know what's up with him?”

“Sorry, since the change of ownership, I rarely visit this site anymore.

Ahhh, Thanks for asking!
What am I up to... Broke my ankle a couple of days ago while at work. No hiking for me for a while.

I am living in a tipi at the base of the Wind River Mountains. Many of the locals said that I would not make it through the winter. January, low temperature was above 0 only once. Temperatures got down to -39 in February. I've been in the area just over 1 year now, and recently was told that I am a "Local Legend". LOL... I tell you this because I think it is funny too.

I work almost every day. After taking care of things that humans need to do in order to live in harmony with other humans, very little time left for hiking, let alone backpacking. I have done a couple of day hikes into the Winds.

The Rainbow Gathering of Living Light was held in the Big Sandy area of the Wind River Range in early July this year. I did hang out with them a few times. Learned about their way of life. Interesting it was. The Feds and local law enforcement were way out of hand. I did what I could to make the hippy gathering more enjoyable for those I encountered.

A friend will be visiting me soon. She wants a couple of nights in the tipi and a tour of Wyoming. Broken ankle and all, I think I can give her more than she is looking for. hehe

My father will probably not make it through the weekend. Like my mother, it has been a long time coming. I'm ok with it. Silly Jehovah Witness', cain't inconvenience anyone. Gotta wait until the state convention is over to have a funeral.

Lizs, I'll probably be visiting C'ville within the next 2 weeks.
last edited: 8/08/08 7:32:14 AM”

“Good to hear from you Goat. Sounds like your living a good life up there.”

“Geez, I almost didn't read this. Sorry to hear about your father, Dave - and the broken ankle, too. (and potentially happy about pending female visitor - LOL!) Give me a call if you're in town. Western Days was this weekend. I need to do up a bunch of photos from it. I take it ya mean CF, anyhoo.”

“Hey, Dave, sorry about your dad. Was just looking on the Post-Bulletin website now to double check the funeral time today for my co-worker's dad... and saw the listing for the memorial service.

Hope I didn't miss ya if you were around here. Have had cell problems. Have a new Tracfone cell, but A) not sure if it's operating right (had to transfer minutes to it, BUT minutes still showing up on old, nearly inoperable tracfone; OR B) stupid operator error!! LOL!

Take care!”

“hey Lizs...
I will leave central MN as soon as the service is over Saturday. Arrive in C'ville Saturday eve. Will leave C'ville Monday noonish.

You know where my tent will be. If I am not able to contact you via phone, stop by Gramps home and ask about my where abouts. I should be somewhere in the village, or no further than the valley rim. Most likely, a bar!”

“hey, I think a few of us are planning on camping out Saturday night, maybe at Isinours, outside of Ptown. LOL...

Check in on here. And I think my phone will work. I'm messing with two phones. (it just sometimes doesn't show up a message till later!)

The lborough couple from our canoe trip a couple years back want to get out. And I will be there, and maybe a friend.

Would be fun! I've written a note to Barb to check on more specifics. We had talked about going up top, at Isinours Forest Unit, but could camp below.

Call... and keep checking in here. Should be cool (if we can get ya away from bars you dance on top of!!!) :-)”

“bad ankle, I ain't hiking nowhere.
My brother will be in town only one night. Rarely get to spend time with him, so I think I'll be sticking around town instead of camping.”

“Perhaps I could meet y'all Sunday, eh?”

“We could camp close to cars, if you wanted to. Otherwise, we'd hike up on top of the hill (that is under a half mile)

Barb is having a hike Sunday at that location. Meet at 10 a.m. Say we leave by 10:30 (ya know how THAT goes, lol) She and I can do that hike in maybe 50 minutes, the exterior loop, easy. But we may stop to snack, blah, blah, yadda, yadda. Maybe something like meeting there at noon to BS might work. Or 11:30 a.m. ?? Not sure what's up the rest of the day Sunday. Saturday I think we'll be down in Decorah, working on my place to prepare to sell.

How long are you around? Oh and typically Barb and Tom sponsor an open mic night in Lbourough at Pedal Pushers at 6 on Sundays. That could be a good place to go...

OH - and I have a NEW cell phone number. G-DM'D tracfone people!!!!! Will try to give you a call so you get it in your system... and I hope to change it!!!!! maybe not the old number, but try to get the last four digits to be the same. Have written a long, POed letter that's basically ready to go...”

“I'll be free early this afternoon. I'll try to get down to Lbourough for the singing thingy.”

“Good to talk to you! Sorry, the head/eyes were not cooperating to make that in person. After 4 ibuprofen and two Benadryl tabs, I'm sorta better.

And you get that ankle better! And have a good trip...”