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September 25, 2020

Ute Creek and Cascade Creek

Today, I decided to go scout out some local trails I used to ride back in the day. Ute Creek and Cascade Creek intersect with Squaw Pass at mile markers 5 and 6, roughly. So, if you leave Idaho Springs heading south on Squaw Pass Road, you'll hit Ute Creek at mile market 5 and Cascade Creek at mile marker 6.

Both of these are dirt roads, but somehow, over the last 20 years, they'd sort of merged together in my mind. The distinction is that Cascade Creek has a shooting range a short distance in.

Ute Creek
If you go south out of Idaho Springs, at about mile market 5, you turn right off of the paved road and head west up Ute Creek (County Road 118). There is no shooting range on Ute Creek that I'm aware of. If you go up the dirt road about 2.3 miles, you'll see the rock painted with directions to Lamartine (turn right to go uphill to Lamartine on County Road 712.2A).

Ute Creek Trail

Cascade Creek:
So, if you go south out of Idaho Springs, at about mile market 6, you turn right off of the paved road and head west up Cascade Creek (County Road 116). About .3 miles up the dirt road is a shooting range, with a turnout for parking. If you continue up Cascade Creek (County Road 116), at about 1 mile, the dirt road splits, and makes a sharp cutback to the right. This is Forest Service Road 710.1C. (If you keep going up the left fork, it dead ends into private property.)

Here is a better map that shows Ute Creek and Cascade Creek.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd570785.pdf

I'd like to save a local copy of it because I don't trust that the trails won't just disappear one day, but I can't figure out how to save a local copy. Perfect.

In any event, it looks like I would be OK to go up Cascade Creek (County Road 116), park the Tahoe at the Cascade Creek shooting range, unload the ATV, and head up County Road 116 on it about 1 mile, and when the dirt road splits, make a sharp cutback to the right on Forest Service Road 710.1C. Then, it looks like this road will connect me with Ute Creek (County Road 118).

Then, I turn left on CR 118, and head up until I see the painted rock that says LAMARTINE. Here, I'll turn to the right, and go up hill to Lamartine. At that point, I should reach the T-intersection, where I'll turn left, and see if I can make it to the top of Saxon Mountain.

https://www.4x4explore.com/rds/cnty_rds/clear_crk_118_ute_crk_map.jpg

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 25, 2020 at 8:50 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink

September 24, 2020

Fire on Stags Leap Trail

Reportedly, there was a fire on Stags Leap Trail in Homestead, Colorado.

It appeared to me that the house that burned was 8182 Stags Leap Trail.

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 24, 2020 at 9:43 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 22, 2020

Red Letter Day

Today, for the first time in a long time, I got some things done. Basically, in a nutshell, I decided that I'd pretty much ridden every mountain pass I wanted to within riding distance of my home. At this point, the passes that I haven't done is because I'm not suicidal. I'd like to hit some more difficult trails, but I don't feel comfortable hitting them on the Africa Twin. It's too big and heavy and, if I drop it, I can't pick it up. And, if I don't have cell coverage, and no one else is riding, then I'm sort of hosed.

Also, as summer winds down, I feel like I need to be out riding every day, as it will soon be snowing.

So, I started thinking that I'd like to ride one of my ATV's. But, this presents a whole slew of problems. Like, my Tahoe has sat in the same spot for....I don't know how long. Years. It has a flat front passenger side tire. As in, rim is resting on the asphalt driveway. But, I have several vehicles: Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Wrangler TJ, BMW X3. But I can't tell you the last time I started the Tahoe. Like....it's just sitting there, suspended in time. As far as motorcycles, I think I currently have the following: 2017 Africa Twin, KTM 990, 2 XR-650L's, a Honda Rancher 350 (green), and a Honda Rancher 350 (red).

So, like, I have all of these vehicles, but no money to keep them plated, insured, etc. So, all of the plates on these vehicles are expired. But, I want to go ride an ATV in the mountains. So, I get the Tahoe running, air up the one flat tire. I also replace the broken rear tail light. I drive around to a couple of different tire places, but no one in interested in putting a tired on my Tahoe. Like, it's just not going to happen.

So, finally I give up and just drive home in the Tahoe. I get the green Honda ATV running, and load it into the U.S. Army trailer.

The ATV sort of has a hop when it's running, which makes it feel like maybe the axle is bent. So I run it down to B&B cycles in Evergreen. They're covered up/swamped with work, so I don't unload it, but they do sell me an OHV permit for it. They're the coolest people on earth, I swear.

So I drive home in the Tahoe, pulling the trailer, with the ATV in the trailer. The plates on the trailer and the Tahoe expired long ago.

Then, when I get home, I decide to get my chainsaw working. So, I drive up to Chainsaw Bob's in Conifer. They get my chainsaw started, sell me a new can of fuel for about $8.00. So, now I've got a working chainsaw. I get back home and fire up the chainsaw. Go into the back yard and cut down two dead pine trees. Somehow, they fall without crashing into the other trees on my property. Now, I need to cut the trees into sections and split them up with the log splitter that I apparently sold to Mark at some time in the past. Like, I don't really imagine that I'll ever burn any trees in my fire place, but I might could burn them in a campfire if we ever get any rain and/or snow so that the fire ban is lifted. It feels good to have them on the ground because it seems like they're less likely to catch on fire at this point.

Also, I check the oil and the water/anti-freeze level in the BMW X3 because it was overheating sporadically for some reason last week. At this point, it now has anti-freeze and oil in it, so it shouldn't be over-heating at this point, anyway.

I stop and talk to Travis and Bailey. Then later, stop and talk to Travis and Bailey, and later to Lynae and Brock.

Mark and I go and walk the goats. We were walking them at 7:30 pm, but now we're walking them at 6:30 pm. That's the new schedule as the days get shorter.

Then, I put the trickle-charger onto the Honda ATV battery because it was having a hard time shifting between gears for whatever reason. So, in theory, the battery should be charged by the morning.

In any event, I'm glad that I got some things done today. Weather permitting, I will take the ATV up into the mountains tomorrow and hit some places like Ute Creek and/or Cascade Creek up to Saxon Mountain (but not down into Georgetown). Or, alternately, I'd like to hit Argentine Pass. Or possibly make it up to Loch Lomond Overlook.

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 22, 2020 at 7:53 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 5, 2020

Permanent Eviction in Evergreen

About 2 years ago, a local man was having issues with a tenant/roommate that he was trying to evict, and the guy ended up dead. Not sure of the details, but it looks like he was arrested, but later acquitted/exonerated of the charge.

David Claussen was reportedly arrested for shooting his roommate Alexander Hudspeth at 7781 Highway 73 Evergreen, CO, but subsequently exonerated.


Posted by Rob Kiser on September 5, 2020 at 10:56 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 4, 2020

Cleaning out iPhone 6s Port

So, I had dinner with Mark, and told him my situation with my iPhone and, as it turns out, he's had similar problems, apparently. He generously gives me some little fancy plastic tooth pics which he uses to clean out his port on his iphone. Also, he has a wireless charger. Now, his wireless charger won't work for my iphone because we have different iphones. Mine is an old school iPhone 6S Plus, and his is newer, I think. But, as it turns out, there are wireless chargers available for the iPhone 6S Plus. So, maybe things aren't as bleak as I'd thought. Like, trust me when I say that the people at the Apple store were as useless as tits on a bull. I made an appointment, went down there to see them, found the store, announced my presence, and they promptly told me to go pound sand. Apparently, they expected that I would have backed up my iphone before I went down to the Apple store. And they wouldn't touch my iphone. Woudn't even look at it. Shocking, really.

So, since my charging port quit working completely, I've been keeping my iphone turned off, and watching my power go down whenever I dared to turn it on. Thinking that, when it got to zero, it was game over. But just now, I was able to clean out my iphone charging port with the little plastic toothpick things Mark gave me, and now I'm able to get it to charge again. So, all is not lost, perhaps.

The next steps are:
- copy the data off of the phone and onto my MacBook Air
x order a wireless charger for the phone from Amazon
Wireless charger is ordered. It will be here Monday.

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 4, 2020 at 9:33 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Backing up iPhone to MacBook Air w/out USB Cable

So, my iphone is dying. It won't charge with the USB cable. And the Apple store is as useless as tits on a bull.

There's supposed to be a way to back up the iphone to the MacBook Air without a USB cable. So, that's what I'm going to try to do before the iphone dies completely.

According to Apple, there are two different ways to back up your iphone:
1) Use iCloud
2) Use your computer

For option 2 (Use your computer) you have to connect via USB, which I can't do. So, I'll try option 1 (Use iCloud).
------------------------------------------
How to back up with iCloud
Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
Go to Settings > [your name], and tap iCloud.

Tap iCloud Backup.

Tap Back Up Now. Stay connected to your Wi-Fi network until the process completes.
You can check the progress and confirm the backup completed. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Under Back Up Now, you'll see the date and time of your last backup.

Get help making a backup or manage your available space in iCloud.

So, Apple has a plan for syncing the iPhone to the MacBook wirelessly, but you have to connect it via USB first. But that's not possible. So frustrating.

About Backups for iPhone

So, let's say we wanted to go with the iPhone backup.

At this point, it looks like we have to go with 3rd party software, as Apple has missed the boat on this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZnqQBK8s3A

This looks like an App that will let you "Wirelessly Transfer Media from iPhone to Computer without using iTunes". This might allow me to copy over my photos, But, I need to also back up my contacts, etc.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203977

How do I mirror my iPhone to my Mac without USB?
ApowerMirror
Download the software on Mac and activate it. Download.
Go to Control center. Open "Screen mirroring" on your iOS device. Then choose the device name including Apowersoft. Both devices are supposed to be under the same WiFi.
Then you will find your iPhone screen is cast to Mac. Now begin your journey on Mac.
May 29, 2020

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 4, 2020 at 6:31 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 3, 2020

Jack Dorsey Fucked Up

OMFG IT HAPPENED!!! I've been saying for months that Trump was going to shut down the internet monopolies like Facetard, Instagrim, and Twatter, but it hasn't happened. In theory, they are protected from prosecution as "platforms" under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. However, that also means that they can't censor what people post, since they're a "platform", not a "publisher". What FINALLY happened today is that Jack Dorsey and his army of libiots at Twatter censored THE WRONG FUCKING PERSON! They censored Lin Wood, the famed attorney, who represented Nick Sandmann and is now representing Kyle Rittenhouse, the guy who showed Kenosha, WI what an AR-15 can do to a bunch of George Soros-backed terrorists. Mr. Wood was absolutely livid when he was locked out of his account. Mr. Wood has had enough of biased social media, and says he plans to sue Twitter and bring down CEO Jack Dorsey's "ass."

'I was arrested today & confined in Twitter jail falsely accused of glorifying violence. I was exonerated this evening by a finding of 'incorrectly actioned.' I am free tonight,' Wood tweeted after his account was restored.

'Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested on 8/26 & is confined in Illinois jail falsely accused of murder. Kyle will be exonerated when truth is revealed by a finding of 'incorrectly actioned.' Kyle will be free soon.'

Wood now plans to file a lawsuit against Twitter and its CEO Jack Dorsey.

He told Fox News that his account being blocked was just the later example of Twitter trying to censor conservatives.

'I'm going to take Jack Dorsey's a** down,' Wood said.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act


One of the attorneys for 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man involved in a fatal shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is furious with the CEO of Twitter after his account was flagged for "glorifying violence" when he shared a fund to help his client.

Rittenhouse was charged with "murder" when he shot and killed two BLM protesters, and shot and injured another man. Has pleaded not guilty, and his legal team says this is a case of "self-defense."

Lin Wood, the famed attorney, who represented young Nick Sandmann, and also who represented the parents of Jonbenet Ramsey, was absolutely livid when he was locked out of his account.

Mr. Wood has had enough of biased social media, and says he plans to sue Twitter and bring down CEO Jack Dorsey's "ass."


Also, on a somewhat related note, DOJ To File Antitrust Charges Against Google Within Weeks.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/doj-file-antitrust-charges-against-google-within-weeks-report


Twitter is censoring Trump now.
https://media.thedonald.win/post/VN92bVMW.png

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 3, 2020 at 11:50 AM : Comments (1) | Permalink