More winter in the North!

[wildkat]

Here we go, back from Whitehorse!

REV....don't you DARE rag on me about my dirty truck! You try driving in this for THREE straight days! :D:D:D

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0713.jpg

Watson Lake, YT

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0724.jpg

Mommy it's SNOWING!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0726.jpg

I tried for the snow at night, but it's not so good!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0723.jpg

Yukon "speed bumps"

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0732.jpg

I got to play "snowplow" for 9 hours...

God I hope there's nobody coming...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0741.jpg

I KNOW the road is here someplace!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0742.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0743.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0730.jpg

[Rev.Vassago]

That's one dirty truck.....:rofl:


j/k. Mine looks far worse. They are really pouring the salt on the roads this year.

[mike3fan]

we have our own problems down here.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p52/michaelsop/6878818588_ORIG.jpg

[belpre122]

I knew that Precious would be back out again before the winter was over! She's a truckin kitty!;)

[wildkat]

that's one dirty truck.....:rofl:


J/k. Mine looks far worse. They are really pouring the salt on the roads this year.


i want pictures!!!



BTW...I can READ upside down! LOL comes in handy sometimes! :-)

[wildkat]

we have our own problems down here.



I had heard that mike..I heard the Dakotas got like 40 inches or something?

We got over a foot in 12 hours in the Yukon, at home here we are in the process of getting our first skiff of snow... I wish it would have held off just a teeny bit longer!

[wildkat]

I knew that Precious would be back out again before the winter was over! She's a truckin kitty!;)


Funny she was practically "begging" to go...I was sure glad of the company, I missed her!

[Rev.Vassago]

i want pictures!!!



BTW...I can READ upside down! LOL comes in handy sometimes! :-)
You see, the dardest thing happened.

I misplaced my camera. Yeah....that's it.....

[Windwalker]

On this trip, I hit snow just north of Atlanta, GA. Nothing laying on the ground until I got on top of Monteagle, then nothing again the rest of the way. Paducah, St Loius, Springfield, MO, and Kansas City. Then, back home again. This keeps up, I'll be out of practice for the northern latitudes....

NOT!!!!!!!

[Orangetxguy]

Ya'all can go ahead and keep the cold up north...say north of I-40. You have my blessings!

[wildkat]

too funny Stan!

[Orangetxguy]

too funny Stan!


:bigthumbsup:

[rigidsporty]

Its pretty nasty here in Waterloo, IA right now... sure hope I get a load somewhere South!

[wildkat]

I've heard we're in for the coldest winter on record..sounds like it's on the way! So much for global "warming"!

[Jackrabbit379]

Ya'all can go ahead and keep the cold up north...say north of I-40. You have my blessings!

That aint no lie! :p

I like the pictures. Looks like pretty country. I just couldn't imagine driving in that stuff. :lol: Were those buffalo in that one picture? Not many buffalo around here these days. :p I've nailed my share of deer, and pigs, running in west Texas, but I don't even want to think about hitting a buffalo. :hellno:

[wildkat]

That aint no lie! :p

I like the pictures. Looks like pretty country. I just couldn't imagine driving in that stuff. :lol: Were those buffalo in that one picture? Not many buffalo around here these days. :p I've nailed my share of deer, and pigs, running in west Texas, but I don't even want to think about hitting a buffalo. :hellno:

I love the country up there too! The scenery is absolutely stunning, just too bad the winters are so damned long! Yes those are Woodlands Buffalo, they are larger than the Prairie ones that we have down here & what you have in the US. I've seen the results of a truck hitting one of them...it ain't pretty. Basically they are like a cow but weigh, in some cases, over a ton. The truck I saw that hit one had a Roo Bumper on it & it still wrote off the truck...nasty!

[NancyM01]

Hello WildKat. Who do you drive the Northern Ice Roads for? Your regular company or someone else? Is it as lucrative in terms of earning potential as I've read on the internet? Is it a realistic goal on my part, that after a couple of years experience (regular driving), I could apply to drive up north? (Northwest Territories Ice Roads) Your honesty is very much appreicated.
Thanks,
Nancy :)

[GMAN]

You all must be mistaken about all that snow. Haven't you heard about global warming? ;) Those are some great pictures.

[Walking Eagle]

Right GMAN, should write to Al Gore and he will tell you that all that snow is just a figment of your imagination.
Must have been getting close to, or just leaving, Toad River to see the herd. I came around a corner up there one night, probably to fast, and there were Buffalo all over the road. Was kinda interesting for a while :) Duno who was trying to dodge who :( Hand behind me said "Those are some interesting tracks (tire marks) in the snow :)"

[Walking Eagle]

Great pics. WildKat, sure miss it but have gotten kinda used to being warm in the winter :) :)

[belpre122]

Ya'all can go ahead and keep the cold up north...say north of I-40. You have my blessings!

Hey Stan! I hadn't heard about your castration! :p:rofl:

:spam:

[wildkat]

Hello WildKat. Who do you drive the Northern Ice Roads for? Your regular company or someone else? Is it as lucrative in terms of earning potential as I've read on the internet? Is it a realistic goal on my part, that after a couple of years experience (regular driving), I could apply to drive up north? (Northwest Territories Ice Roads) Your honesty is very much appreicated.
Thanks,
Nancy :)

Nancy, I am a Lease Operator (I own my truck) for Byers Transport. The money IS very good, about 2 1/2 times normal rates, but it's only for 6-9 weeks/year. Most of the companies (the reputable ones) who run on the Ice Roads will not hire anyone without about 10 years experience to run those roads & the majority have their drivers return year after year so it's very hard to get into unless you are already working for the company to start with. The main company that hires for them is RTL Robinson, but again they have drivers that return each year & most of them are fuel haulers & as for the majority of them you need to be pretty mechanical as well & also you would have to be able to chain-up daily...not the pretty little singles but 90 lbs triples.

My advise would be to go out & get several years under your belt & then check into it again.

[wildkat]

Update time...just back from Yellowknife...and man was it COLD!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0755.jpg

On the ferry....

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0754.jpg

Sunrise...10 AM

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0758.jpg

Frost on them short, short trees...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0761.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0772.jpg

Near Enterprise, NWT

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0775.jpg

[mike3fan]

-32C ? holy smokes,btw keep the pics coming. really enjoy them. more Mandy too!

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p52/michaelsop/021407_18551.jpg

[wildkat]

Yeah...that was in the middle of the day...once it got dark the temps dropped to a frigid -48 http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/28_3_101.gif http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/28_3_101.gif...but my gauge thermometer only goes to -40 so all I had was 3 dashes across the temp display! I really HATE seeing those three dashes. http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/36_1_261.gif

Mandy is staying home now... I don't like taking her with me when it gets this cold...too dangerous!

But... here's one from last fall just to hold you over! http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/01.gif http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/anluorlapjekitten.gif

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Mandy/100_0336.jpg



GOD! I just went outside...at HOME...it's THIRTY freaking below out there! http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/36_1_631.gif http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/36_1_631.gif

[Orangetxguy]

Hey Stan! I hadn't heard about your castration! :p:rofl:

:spam:

NOW Gary...You just STOP being so Cantankerous!!! I moved down here to the Gulf Coast to be WARM. If I wanted to get snowed on, I would have stayed in Seattle!!!


Now...for whatever reason...I missed this years WINTER here in Orange! I was on the road to LA and say a brief spit of snow in San Antonio, but that was it.

Keep the thermal weather up north please.

[Jackrabbit379]

We are supposed to have some of that white stuff this week. Or atleast, it's in the forecast. Today's high is supposed to be 31. I don't care who you are, that's cold right there! We are supposed to have freezing drizzle after Midnight, tonight. (whatever freezing drizzle means) That aint 30" of snow, but it's enough. :p

I'm sure we will be running our air conditioners by next week.

[Rev.Vassago]

We are supposed to have some of that white stuff this week. Or atleast, it's in the forecast. Today's high is supposed to be 31. I don't care who you are, that's cold right there! We are supposed to have freezing drizzle after Midnight, tonight. (whatever freezing drizzle means) That aint 30" of snow, but it's enough. :p

I'm sure we will be running our air conditioners by next week.
31? OMG!!!!!!


(it was 45 degrees when I went to bed last night. It was 2 degrees when I woke up, with a -15 wind chill.)

[Jackrabbit379]

31? OMG!!!!!!
Yeah, tell me about it! I thought the same thing when I first saw the weather forecast. I could not believe it!
(after I posted that, I thought, "someone will say something about that". :p)


(it was 45 degrees when I went to bed last night. It was 2 degrees when I woke up, with a -15 wind chill.)

That would be a rude awakening. :lol:

[Rev.Vassago]

I'm currently parked at a dock in Sheboygan, WI, and my truck is facing the wind. The coolant temp is reading 125 degrees. LOL.

[Jackrabbit379]

I'm currently parked at a dock in Sheboygan, WI, and my truck is facing the wind. The coolant temp is reading 125 degrees. LOL.

Dag gum, man. That's amazing how that wind chill makes a difference like that.

[Orangetxguy]

The temp has dropped from 73 at noon to 57 right now, but headed to 41 before sunset!

[wildkat]

Oh you guys are SOOO spoiled...Right now it's -22 with a windchill of -40...now that's COLD!

[Orangetxguy]

Oh you guys are SOOO spoiled...Right now it's -22 with a windchill of -40...now that's COLD!


:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:


AND THAT is why I don't ever plan on moving home to Montana! Take me there to bury me...but I'm gonna live where it is warm!!

:clap::clap::clap:

[wildkat]

My sister just emailed this to me...very appropriate I think!

Alberta Poem


It's winter in Alberta
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At twenty-nine below.

Oh, how I love Alberta
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And you nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Alberta

My ass is frozen to the ground!!

http://www.classadrivers.com/forum/c:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Kathy/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/IM/Runtime/Message/%7B92FC59C4-AC55-4B9E-B559-E4B23C74C658%7D/Show%5Cimage0011.gif

[jonp]

Wildkat: when you post the temp is it always in Centigrade? I know that -40C = -40F. Love your pictures and Mandy is the cutest!

[wildkat]

Wildkat: when you post the temp is it always in Centigrade? I know that -40C = -40F. Love your pictures and Mandy is the cutest!


It's a Canuck thing jonp...I'm old enough to remember the conversions, but mostly I try to remember to show both...but sometimes I forget...so in my threads cause I'm Canadian just take it as a given the temps are in Celcius, unless you see a conversion right with it! :lol::lol:

Thanks for the cudos on my pictures...Mandy IS an absolute sweetheart too!

[Orangetxguy]

You've been doing a good job keeping winter up there north of I-40 Kat. Keep it up!!

[wildkat]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/26_7_81.gif http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/36_1_631.gif

[Orangetxguy]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/26_7_81.gif http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Smileys/36_1_631.gif


LOL.....Cute. :nana: They need a sunbathng smilie!! It was 74 here today....56 right not!! :clap::jump:

[jonp]

ok, it's supposed to be 73 here today with a little rain. Think I'll go for a motorcycle ride.

[jonp]

Geez Wildkat, Your reply about bikes went right by me. Both you and your husband ride? What bikes do you have?

[wildkat]

Geez Wildkat, Your reply about bikes went right by me. Both you and your husband ride? What bikes do you have?

I HATE you! :lol: :lol: We' are lucky most of the time if we can ride from May till October! Depends on the snow & the frost...then we have to wait till the get the gravel cleaned off the roads...cause that can be deadly, specially if there's too much of it.

Yes, both hubby & I ride...
Hubby has a 2003 Harley...Heritage Springer
I have a 2004 Honda VTX 1300...bought it brand new with ONE mile on it in 2004...I have 3,000 miles on it now...I wish I had the TIME to ride...but truck payments take priority

Now my truck on the other hand...I bought it brand new in Oct of 2006... it had 10 kms (6 miles) on it...it now has 680,000 kms (408,000 miles)! Guess that kind of tells you what my life consists of doesn't it!

[jonp]

Boy...my back is stiff. Just got back from a long ride. hehehehe
I've got a 99 Softtail Custom and Bought my girlfriend a 1200 Sportster this summer after the Vulcan she was driving got totaled by a kid t-boning her. She didnt get hurt but it sucked alot. Nothing like hearing brakes squeal behind you, a big thump and looking in the mirror and seeing your significant other on her back in the middle of the road with her bike on top of her.
All's well that ends well, though.
oh..found the Sportster for sale on a bulletin board. It's a 2000 with 5,000 miles on it. Went to check it out and found out that the guy that had it bought it new, rode it one summer and went blind. The last few years he'd go out to the garage once a month or so and start it up and sit on it. Finally got up the courage to let it go.
Now that is a sucky story but he was glad to sell it to someone that would appreciate it and take care of it.

[wildkat]

Boy...my back is stiff. Just got back from a long ride. hehehehe
I've got a 99 Softtail Custom and Bought my girlfriend a 1200 Sportster this summer after the Vulcan she was driving got totaled by a kid t-boning her. She didnt get hurt but it sucked alot. Nothing like hearing brakes squeal behind you, a big thump and looking in the mirror and seeing your significant other on her back in the middle of the road with her bike on top of her.
All's well that ends well, though.
oh..found the Sportster for sale on a bulletin board. It's a 2000 with 5,000 miles on it. Went to check it out and found out that the guy that had it bought it new, rode it one summer and went blind. The last few years he'd go out to the garage once a month or so and start it up and sit on it. Finally got up the courage to let it go.
Now that is a sucky story but he was glad to sell it to someone that would appreciate it and take care of it.


Let's see...did I mention I do most of my stuff solo? Specially DRIVE...can't stand being in the passenger seat & I don't like people enough to have someone in my truck for more than a few hours...except Mandy! LOL

Anyway, hubby got holidays once about year & 1/2 ago...before he got off the rigs & decided he wanted to drive a truck! That's when we bought the 2nd one...

I traded my old Suzi in on the Honda...had the thing for 14 years, but she was a one lunger...no good for the highway... town bike only..and once the kids left home we bought an acreage, so town bike was definitely OUT!

Ahhh well only 5 more months...then I can take her out of the basement...and MAYBE I'll get to ride more than ONCE this year!

[jonp]

I hear you on the solo. When the last company I worked for got bought out I had to take drive with someone from the new one to prove that I could drive. Just got back from a run to Minnesota so that should have been a clue but whatever. anyways, the guy immediately asks me if I ever considered being a trainer. I looked at him and said " are you f****ng insane?" I won't let anyone, including my girlfriend, into the truck with me. Just funny like that. Looks like we see eye to eye on that one, lol!

[wildkat]

I hear you on the solo. When the last company I worked for got bought out I had to take drive with someone from the new one to prove that I could drive. Just got back from a run to Minnesota so that should have been a clue but whatever. anyways, the guy immediately asks me if I ever considered being a trainer. I looked at him and said " are you f****ng insane?" I won't let anyone, including my girlfriend, into the truck with me. Just funny like that. Looks like we see eye to eye on that one, lol!

One of the reason I have my own truck...everywhere I worked when I was still a company driver they wanted me to train...NO WAY. I did a stint as an instructor, I lasted 6 months...I did NOT like going to work PETRIFIED every day!

[jonp]

What? Didnt like the idea of trying to sleep with a rookie careening down the highway at the wheel? You lightweight. If your not living on the edge your taking up space. lol

[wildkat]

What? Didnt like the idea of trying to sleep with a rookie careening down the highway at the wheel? You lightweight. If your not living on the edge your taking up space. lol

No no no...you don't understand...I was TEACHING them how to DRIVE a truck...most of them had never even driven a standard transmission before....

Actually the funniest experience I ever had...my 2nd or 3rd student...he was introduced to me...I made him for a closet chauvinist right off the get go...he looks me up & down all 5' of me & I could tell...what can this piece of "fluff" possible teach me? was written all over his face...shoulda seen his expression change when I got behind the wheel of that old Western Star & proceeded to explain HOW to double clutch, I never really learned how...but I could "fake it" pretty good! :lol: THEN we drove about 3 blocks & I pulled over & told him it was HIS turn! Too funny! Anyway...here instructors don't do the road test, so when it came his turn for that about a month later.. I was just as nervous as he was...anyway he came back from his test..he passed.. I walked over to congratulate him...next thing I knew I was wrapped in a bear hug I couldn't get out of! I WAS happy he passed, but embarrased just the same... but he was sure happy!

[jonp]

great story! You know, the best backer that I ever saw was a female. She put a trailer into a spot on one shot that I wouldnt even attempt to try. You do know that my last comment was meant as a joke, right?

[wildkat]

great story! You know, the best backer that I ever saw was a female. She put a trailer into a spot on one shot that I wouldnt even attempt to try. You do know that my last comment was meant as a joke, right?

Of course I KNEW it was a joke... LOL :rofl::rofl:

Speaking of backing up...you know what a Super B train is? 8 axle configuration...mostly flats, tankers & grain trailers... tractor & 2 trailers anyway...up here they gross about 135,000 lbs...

Anyway, I used to haul grain years back, & I used to have to BACK into some of the most awful places.. anyway one time I was down on the docks in Vancouver, BC...like Seattle only smaller I think, I had to load these pellets in my grain trailers...anyway I was waiting my turn...watching guys split their trains up & back them under the hoppers one at a time...now I DO know how to back them up together... so when my turn came I just pulled up & proceeded to back the whole unit under the hoppers...by the time I was done I not only had every damned truck driver standing around watching me, but the whole bloody staff at the place I loaded at.. anyway about 2 weeks later I went back to the same place to load & there was a driver I had seen do the split & back in one at a time thing & lo & behold he was backing them both in at the same time. He saw me pull up & walked over to my truck...He looks at me & says I hope you don't take this as an insult, but I saw you back both them trailers up the last time I was here & I thought to myself...damn if she can do it sure as heck I can too...so apparently he went back to his yard & did not come out again till he could back the 2 trailers together. Actually, I took it as a compliment & told him so.

[jonp]

That is a great compliment! I know what a B-Train is, I saw some when I went up to Whitecourt for a load of paper once. About the same as a Turnpike double down here.

I watched a guy, a teacher at a truck-driving school back up a set of triples once. I swore it couldnt be done but he did it and I have not seen it done since. I have trouble backing my single trailer up.

Good for you being able to back a full set up. Maybe my girlfriend and I will take a vacation up there and you can teach me how to do that, lol.

[wildkat]

That is a great compliment! I know what a B-Train is, I saw some when I went up to Whitecourt for a load of paper once. About the same as a Turnpike double down here.

I watched a guy, a teacher at a truck-driving school back up a set of triples once. I swore it couldnt be done but he did it and I have not seen it done since. I have trouble backing my single trailer up.

Good for you being able to back a full set up. Maybe my girlfriend and I will take a vacation up there and you can teach me how to do that, lol.

Yeah...good old triples...I HATE those things...wiggle wagons...turnpikes...those are 2 48's or 53's but same concept if they are saddle mount...most are not...mostly A trains or C trains...

Mostly I pull Rocky Mountain Doubles...one 48 & 1 28 to 30 ft pup behind...101 ft overall length...

[wildkat]

More of winter...it just keeps SNOWING!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0857.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0813.jpg

And COLD! It was -52 I heard...my thermometer craps out at -40!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0827.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Winter%202008/DSCF0853.jpg

[jonp]

You ARE insane! :)

[wildkat]

Are you old enough to remember... Alice Cooper...how did the song go?

They're coming to take me away ha ha
They're coming to take me away!

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[dobry4u]

Those beautiful snow covered mountains make it all worth it. Absolutely breath taking. Thank you for sharing

If I was to drive in your parts, I would definitely have to have a heated seat! :thumbsup:

[jonp]

I think you should bring Mandy and put her on your head as a pair of ear-muffs. lol

[wildkat]

I made a weekend trip to Vancouver, BC... now I remember why I have done my utmost to AVOID the place the last 8 years...give me the wild isolation of the far north anyday!

Anyway I had been home about 10 minutes & happened to glance out the window at my parked truck... and this is what I saw...

Look on the hood of my truck...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/The%20Brood/100_0387.jpg

Is there any question as to why my husband named him "Diesel"?

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/The%20Brood/100_0388.jpg

And if you look real close you will see he is now taking a NAP!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/The%20Brood/100_0386.jpg

[belpre122]

Is there any question as to why my husband named him "Diesel"?

Diesel will be ok.......we always are.

Where's my baby girl?

[Orangetxguy]

:bigthink:

Kat...Ya'all are doing a good job, keeping winter up north of I-40! I thank you!!!


:bigthumbsup::bigthumbsup: :bigclap::bigclap: :bigthumbsup::bigthumbsup:

[mike3fan]

my question is didn't you guys build a nice new barn to park those trucks in?

[wildkat]

We did Mike, but my hubby was working in the shop when I got home & I didn't want to freeze him out opening that big door & when I went in there he had the old plow truck we use to plow the yard in pieces all over the shop...so had to wait till he was done & besides we've had a minor heat wave up here for the last week & it was nice enough to leave them outside for a bit with no troubles...hell I even got to sleep the last 2 nights with my truck shut OFF! I slep like a baby...never could sleep with the truck running!

[wildkat]

Is there any question as to why my husband named him "Diesel"?

Diesel will be ok.......we always are.

Where's my baby girl?


At this very moment she's draped over my shoulder purring in my ear!
:clap::clap:

[jonp]

winter finally got to North Carolina. 2-4 inches of snow today and 20degrees or so. Of course they shut down the whole state and everyone is in a panic. I went to the Wal-Mart last night and it was packed with people buying milk, bread etc.. Delivered to a place 15 miles from here this morning and counted 9 accidents. My company recommended that i take the rest of today and tomarrow off to let the roads clear. I agreed and forgot to mention that I'm from Vermont and grew up driving in this stuff. :)

[joettanne]

Hey Wildkat! Great pics! I can relate to them now. I'm way up in Northern Alberta now. Just went through a long cold spell. Wow. I never seen roads glaze over with ice all the time, like they do here. No sand or salt works here. One highway to the oil fields. And it is crazy with traffic. The cold sure does crazy things to machinery and equipment after a long time.
And talk about dirty trucks! Ha! I have never seen trucks so dirty as here. Can't even tell what make or colour they are. And try to keep the headlights clean let alone the windshield. lol Cheers!

[wildkat]

Hey Wildkat! Great pics! I can relate to them now. I'm way up in Northern Alberta now. Just went through a long cold spell. Wow. I never seen roads glaze over with ice all the time, like they do here. No sand or salt works here. One highway to the oil fields. And it is crazy with traffic. The cold sure does crazy things to machinery and equipment after a long time.
And talk about dirty trucks! Ha! I have never seen trucks so dirty as here. Can't even tell what make or colour they are. And try to keep the headlights clean let alone the windshield. lol Cheers!

Well Holy Cow joettanne...I get up to Syncrude usually about once/week...we should try to get together! But my days tend to start at midnight, so I'm usually up there between 4 & 6 am. No kidding about the traffic! Just crazy isn't it?

[joettanne]

No Way!!! Well, I work some nights, so it is long and boring at times. Would love to get together for a coffee! I drive locally, so just PM me and I could give you my phone #. Going to Syncrude between 4 and 6am is about the worse time. Whatcha think of Supertest Hill? I heard of it closing down a few times this winter already. And the heavy loads. Some awesome ones went through just in the last few weeks. One was 2.2 million lbs. The whole load with trucks was 369 feet long. It is so interesting the configurations used to haul those oversized loads.
I can sure have some admiration for you and what you drive in. It is no easy task to drive these roads. If you land in the ditch here, could be 3 or more days before a truck can tow you out. And the weather is so unpredictable up here. Like today. Sunny, warm, +6. Heat wave! Gotta love it! Cheers!

[wildkat]

Well here we go, just got back from Yellowknife last night & thought that maybe I'd bore you all with a few more "ICE ROAD" pictures!

The "portage"...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0950.jpg

Out on the ICE...

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0952.jpg

It's 3 kilometres (about 2 miles) to the other side!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0954.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0955.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0957.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0960.jpg

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0961.jpg

And crossing at night!

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s160/katparadis/Feb%202009/DSCF0962.jpg

[BlooMoose]

Those are breathtaking shots!

[wildkat]

Thanks Bloo!

:D :D :D

[belpre122]

Nice pics Kat! Looks like a lonely ride?

Why not take Dicky the X-rated cat with you next time?:clap: That young man is always getting in to trouble somewhere!

[wildkat]

Lonely? Naw just peace & quiet! Just the way I like it...

Dicky? Dicky was killed by a pack of dogs last week :pissedoff: :pissedoff: :pissedoff: :tears: :tears: :tears:
I think they must have caught him out in the open too far from the shop to run & not close enough to the trees to climb...
I found his body after I got home... Still coping with that one...

[Orangetxguy]

Great pix Kat! Nice to see that you didn't cause a surge.


Sorry to hear about the cat.

[wildkat]

Great pix Kat! Nice to see that you didn't cause a surge.


Sorry to hear about the cat.

Thanks on both counts Stan...There's a very good reason WHY the speed limit is 15 mph!

For me it was heartbreaking to lose him...and Dave..the other young cat, is just lost without him...he has no one to rough house with now!

[Orangetxguy]

You have done a real good job, keeping winter north of I-40 Kat. Now I need to ask a favor. Could you move the winter line north...say to the tip of Michigan? Maye pull the cold all the way up past Albany NY??

Heade to Hamilton ON, tomorrow AM...deliver Wednesday the 18th, there. Would be nice to do the day and a half steam time, with decent weather to enjoy....say mid 30's to mid 40's!!

Load Thursday in Selkirk NY to come home....so you can send the cold back to I-40 area on friday.


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Thanks for the favor, in advance!!!


:lol2::lol2::lol2: :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[jonp]

Geez, sorry to hear about your cat, kat. :(

[wildkat]

Thanks jonp...we have had some trouble with neighbourhood dogs the last month or so...we got some new neighbours last fall & they seem to think they can let their dogs run all over the place...now normally I couldn't care less...but lately they have been forming packs & killing small animals & bothering the wildlife...so it was time to get the county involved...they did...now the dogs are locked up or will be destroyed...IMO everyone's pets have a right to live in THEIR yard in peace!

Unfortuneately, it was too late for Dicky...

[wildkat]

You have done a real good job, keeping winter north of I-40 Kat. Now I need to ask a favor. Could you move the winter line north...say to the tip of Michigan? Maye pull the cold all the way up past Albany NY??

Heade to Hamilton ON, tomorrow AM...deliver Wednesday the 18th, there. Would be nice to do the day and a half steam time, with decent weather to enjoy....say mid 30's to mid 40's!!

Load Thursday in Selkirk NY to come home....so you can send the cold back to I-40 area on friday.


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Thanks for the favor, in advance!!!


:lol2::lol2::lol2: :rofl::rofl::rofl:

:rofl::rofl::rofl: Stan...that''s WAY too far EAST for me to control..now if you were coming to Alberta....

[Orangetxguy]

:rofl::rofl::rofl: Stan...that''s WAY too far EAST for me to control..now if you were coming to Alberta....


Aaaaaaah Gee Kat!! And there I was....thinking you are "The Goddess of the North" !! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Well....the weather isn't to bad ...yet...sitting in St. Clair MI, will hit Hamilton tomorrow. Thanks Ya!!! :D:D

[wildkat]

Aaaaaaah Gee Kat!! And there I was....thinking you are "The Goddess of the North" !! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Well....the weather isn't to bad ...yet...sitting in St. Clair MI, will hit Hamilton tomorrow. Thanks Ya!!! :D:D

Be safe Stan & have a good trip!

[BlooMoose]

I am so sorry to hear about your kitty...that IS heartbreaking. I have a mean ass cat but it would still be heartbreaking to lose him, expecially like that.

I can send Lucky up to you as a replacement. He aint scared of dogs! And he's an attack cat. You should see my hand this morning...and he doesn't even have front claws! He's a little turd!

[wildkat]

I am so sorry to hear about your kitty...that IS heartbreaking. I have a mean ass cat but it would still be heartbreaking to lose him, expecially like that.

I can send Lucky up to you as a replacement. He aint scared of dogs! And he's an attack cat. You should see my hand this morning...and he doesn't even have front claws! He's a little turd!


Thanks Bloo...I think the dogs must have got him separated from the rest, cause the older cats aren't afraid of dogs either...I have seen them chase ONE dog out of the yard they would just gang up on it...but this was a pack of them...five or so...that's pretty hard to defend against, especially for a cat.

[BlooMoose]

I talk smack about my cat, but when I dog-sit my mom's dogs at my house and if they are both running around the house, I put the kitty up unless I;m able to stay right on top of them...mainly because of "pack dog" mentality. A group of dogs will do things a single dog would never attempt. That's the one thing I don't like about dogs, in general.

[wildkat]

I talk smack about my cat, but when I dog-sit my mom's dogs at my house and if they are both running around the house, I put the kitty up unless I;m able to stay right on top of them...mainly because of "pack dog" mentality. A group of dogs will do things a single dog would never attempt. That's the one thing I don't like about dogs, in general.

That's just it exactly Bloo...My grandfather had a saying about dogs...One dog is great...2 are a 1/2 dog & over 3 are just plain stupid. Which is probably the reason I am just "not" a dog person.

[BlooMoose]

I love dogs and cats both...but I have always kept my dogs close by...I've never let them run loose so they can gang up with other dogs and wreak havoc. I've seen too many good dogs end up dead because of poor owners. I know living in the "country" might be a little different but I'd still not let my dogs run loose for fear that something would get them.

[wildkat]

I love dogs and cats both...but I have always kept my dogs close by...I've never let them run loose so they can gang up with other dogs and wreak havoc. I've seen too many good dogs end up dead because of poor owners. I know living in the "country" might be a little different but I'd still not let my dogs run loose for fear that something would get them.

Hear that...when we had a dog she never left the yard...ever. But some of these "city slickers" :D :D that move out to the country...well, "some" of them are none to bright when it comes to animals. Now we have to listen to them yap all day long cause they are penned up all the time...but it never ceases to amaze me how some people think they can just let they're dogs run all over the place...they know damned well they'd never get away with it in the city...so what makes them think they can get away with it in the country.

I feel bad for our nearest neighbour...he has an ancient old collie...poor thing they would go to his place & just torment the hell out of her...even if they wouldn't have killed Dicky I still would have called the county about it cause there was no cause for the torment that poor old dog was going through.

[BlooMoose]

I have a sweet spot for old dog's, too. I'm watching the lady-across-the-street's dog...AGAIN...this week and that poor baby has macular degeration. There's no way I'd stand for her kenneling him in a strange, sterile place while she was gone, that would be cruel. But I nearly cry every time I go home because he pines for her when she's gone (he's half lab, half pitbull) and is so excited to see me when I go to her backyard to let him in...but he runs in to everything...he ran into her grill this morning. She loves him and can't bear the thought of putting him down (I understand that, I guess, he's all she has) but he could knock himself stupid one day just because he's happy to see you.

I feel sorry for your neighbor's old collie, too.