mountainborn

Every time I grab that chrome tubeing in the middle of the night, from now on, I will hear the music, I will feel as though I need to strut down the runway, er, walkway to the bathroom. Yeh I can see the look on butcherknife's face now, as I bump and grind my way down the carpet. I gotta' find someway to get that chrome pole to play the brassy trumpet sounds, accompanied by the heavy drum beats of "the stripper" !! WOoooHOooo !! > DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: Any psycological scarring caused by the thoughts evoked by the above statement are un-intentional. Do not try this stunt at home, whether wearing briefs or boxers. It should only be attempted by trained professionals.

Welcome to the Oliver Forums StuartW !!

Welcome to the Oliver Forums 53FC !!

Welcome to the Oliver Forums monnignj !!

Welcome to the Oliver Forums brian m !!

Duncan Mansion, Animas Forks Colorado:

Generator cover thread:

In the old days, you remember, way back in 2004 or so, when a reporter was on assignment to do a public intrest story, they took a notebook, a recorder and a photographer. Times change, however, and I was recently interviewed by a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette in Little Rock, on the topic of Geocaching. The initial contact was made by email. The reporter had found my contact on the Arkansas Geocachers Forums web site. Then a questionaire and photo request followed. Pretty cool Huh !! Here is my response, with hyperlinks to photos: > Thanks Stephanie ! My Geocaching screen name is mountainborn, my wife Betty's is Butcherknife. We live in Vandervoort Arkansas. We have found just over fourhundred geocaches of all types. We recently resumed geocaching activities after about a year off because of health and work demands. Our home page is: http://www.mountainborn.com We geocache with a Garmin Colorado GPS and a Magellan Gold GPS. We navigate our vehicle with Microsoft Streets and Trips that has the geocaching.com KML patch applied to it. Those programs are run on a laptop mounted in our Jeep Wrangler. Here is a photo taken in Groom Texas, of our Jeep and our camper, it is a Oliver travel trailer. http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... 8_0934.jpg Questions: Why do you think geocaching has grown in popularity? I think that geocaching has grown in popularity, in part because peoples lives are so busy. They can find a few minutes to find a geocache during their lunch hour, on their way to or from work, as well as on the weekends with friends or family. It is a bonus that geocaching is of intrest to Grandparents as well as great grand kids. The entry level investment is small compared to the amount of fun that the whole family can have. We like to camp in an area and geocache while we explore the sights and history there. Our National Forests and State Parks are great places to geocache and the kids learn so much about our culture, history and enviroment. This gag photo taken by a ancient trail marker tree, is in Polk County, near Vandervoort: http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... C00341.jpg Why do you enjoy geocacing? The excitement of the hunt, the pitting of witts with the hider of the cache, the thrill of the find, reading the log to see the comments of others that have found it. As well as sharpening personal skills of placing quality caches that others will enjoy. In this photo a geocacher is looking for a cache that is hidden in a log, his dog has already found it ! http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... C00218.jpg Why do you recommend others go geocaching? It is a low intensity outdoor sport that is easy on our enviroment, most geocachers take only photos and leave only footprints. But most of all I recommend geocaching to people because it is a opportunity to learn about Arkansas's diverse cultural background, while meeting new people and seeing new and exciting things along the way. This photo is on a Mountain West of Waldron, near an old homestead : http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... C00762.jpg How is geocaching beneficial to Arkansas? Tourism is an obvious benefit of geocaching, but there are so many other benefits that they are hard to list. Geocachers begin to gain a new appreciation of our enviroment and how hard it is for some of our Federal and State Agencies to strike a ballance between public use and preservation of Forests and Historical Sites. Rock fence in the snow, Rich Mountain near Mena: http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... C00766.jpg Can you tell me about your favorite trip geocaching? Earlier this year we went to a geocaching event named "Clarksville or Cacheville, you be the judge." There were door prizes, games and contests along with a great meal and renewing friendships. We arrived late Friday night after getting a late start because of work. We came slipping into the parking area for the Johnson County Fair Grounds, planning to get a couple of hours sleep before the event started. But it wouldn't be all that simple. The Clarksville Police were searching the area for someone that had attempted a break in. We talked to the Police Supervisor, exchanged telephone numbers and woke up in time for the event the next morning. This photo is my wife Butcherknife at a geocache in South Carolina at a old plantation, note the spanish moss: http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... C00775.jpg What is your favorite cache you’ve found? There are so many good ones out there that i've heard of , but havn't gotten to yet, however, my hands down favorite is the "TOOL TIME CACHE SERIES" located near Mt. Ida. This clever cache series was put out by team "CACHEMATES". At the first set of coordinates you find a large ammo can that contains all of the tools that will be needed to retrieve all of the caches in the series. You will have to use your imagination to solve, learn and then decide which tool to use to retrieve the hidden cache. Jerry and Bonnie Turner operate a cabinet shop and have some really clever caches out there. How long have you been geocaching? Since 2005, we first logged on to http://www.geocaching.com in February of 2005. These geocachers traveled from Tennessee to go to the "Lock Yer' Hubs cache" in the national forest near Vandervoort. http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... 6_1145.jpg How did you find out about geocaching? While learning about Golbal Positioning Satellites on the internet. Whiskey Peak cache site: http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... kTower.jpg Can you tell me about your involvement with geocaching? As US Navigational Loran transmission sites were starting to be phased out, emergency response teams needed a better way to direct emergency services such as air life, to their location. GPS was the answer and public service agencys everywhere began to start using that technology. Geocaching was a natural extension of that technology. We started using GPS on vacation trips, then began to find caches along the way during those trips. As we began to find more caches and meet more geocaching friends, we became more active and are members of Arkansas Geocachers Association located at: http://arkgeocaching.org/ This photo is at the location of a cache at Lum & Abner's Jot em' down Store in Pine Ridge. http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... mstore.jpg How often do you go geocaching? We either go caching or do cache maintenance every week. Photo of mountainborn and his geocaching pal, Dillon the retired drug dog. http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/mo ... mNdill.jpg Stephanie, some of these photos may not translate to news print well, so let me know and I'll look for better ones. Please call if other questions come up. harm > Who knows if it will ever make it to the presses or not, many things can effect that, but it sure was a novel thing to us anyhow.

Fort Smith ! We'll do it ! Chuck, one cool aspect of geocaching is that you can do a search for caches along a route and grab a few along the way, without putting too big of a crimp in your schedule. Rest areas have some quick PNG's ( park and grabs ) and some travel bug exchanges, ( often called a travel bug motel ). > We are getting ready to make our OLLIE a travel bug so that as people discover it, they can log it as a find, where ever it may be, even flying down the interstate ! Wow ! The first ever OLIVER TRAVEL BUG ! WOooHOoo !

Steve, enjoyed our visit and look forward to seeing you and Tali out on the road. One trip to Colorado just won't be enough ! Maybe we can hook up for more of it sometime. I forgot to ask, while we were talking on the phone, is there any chance that your new Wrangler is white ? I would like to see a photo of those two jeeps and Olivers parked side by side !! By the way, I just thought, Jim Oliver also has a White Wrangler, wouldn't a photo with three of them towing Olivers be something ! > Jerry, get it in gear now ! Bring a expert photographer and go with us. You know that the early summer light, at two miles above sea level, would do magical things to those old ghost towns on infrared film !! I wonder how a photo of the old Mansion, just after sunset, with the building still holding the heat of the day and the landscape around it already cooled off, with the moon rising in the back ground would look on infrared film ? Say hey to Pete n' Oscar ! > Geri, you mentioned a metal detector, we have a simple one that doesn't descriminate very well between ferrous and non ferrous metals. Yep, that would be ever so cool.

Did you note the last line in the paste from geocaching.com ? > There are about ten well preserved buildings, note the Duncan Mansion with the Bay windows. Enjoy this great history lesson. Amy & michael > This stop and glimpse into our History could consume quite some time !

Not too far from Silverton is the Animas Forks cache. The earliest log entry is from mid 2004. A friend and fellow geocacher found it also. (July 19, 2006 by nonnipoppy (4230 found) ). Here is a paste from the cache page on geocaching.com: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7bc3d46d-aac0-4c6a-bb62-c55107a2e8a3 EL: 11,357' Accessibility: May thru October One of our favoerite ghost towns in the San Juans because so many different 4x4 trails converge here. The only approach not requiring four wheel drive (hence, the 2.5 terrain) is from Silverton on Colorado 110. We placed our cache, an ammo can, out of town up above the Columbus Mill and Mine where you will have a great view for photos. It's possible to park within 300' of cache. From BLM description: "Animas Forks, named for the three forks of the Animas River, which flows through the townsite. Animas Forks is tucked away twelve miles northeast of Silverton, Colorado, at 11,200 feet — more than two miles — above sea level The town's first log cabin was built in 1873; by 1876, this bustling mining community boasted 30 cabins, a hotel, a general store, a saloon, and a post office. The population of Animas Forks grew to about 450 people by 1883. The town also had a newspaper, The Animas Forks Pioneer, published from June 1882 through October 1886 at the highest newspaper printing plant in the history of the United States. Every fall, most residents left in a mass exodus to "warmer" Silverton. In 1884, Animas Forks suffered a blizzard that lasted 23 days and dumped 25 feet of snow on the town. Residents dug tunnels to get from building to building.Before Silverton became an incorporated town, Animas Forks was the San Juan County seat, where court cases were heard. One man who didn't like the outcome of his trial promised, "I'll take this to a higher court!" Responded the wry judge, "There is no higher court in Colorado." There are about ten well preserved buildings, note the Duncan Mansion with the Bay windows. Enjoy this great history lesson. Amy & michael > Two miles above sea level ! Now, as cool as that is, we will park Ollie at a much lower altitude so that us ancient flatlanders can get a good nights rest and be ready for the next days adventure !

Here is a link to the nearby Portland Trail area Cache: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f18e4d32-3e4e-4197-b782-6f21d8007d16 Three mines, beautiful scenery, cool Mountain air, and a geocache ! SWEET !! Be sure to scroll down through the cache find reports and view the photos ! When you click on the link to show all of the log entrys on one page, then scroll down, there are some good photos. The earliest log entry is in August of 2002. The geocache started off as a tupperware container, but was replaced with an ammo can. Likely the wildlife kept chewing on it. He, he, think Marmots, not Bears !

93* here today, forecast for the 90's the rest of the week. Butcherknife and I have been thinking about the mountains, high above Ouray Colorado, and how nice it must be sleeping with the windows open, and burrowed deep down in the Winter side of our Travasak ! We are thinking about leaving after work Friday evening the 20th of June, arrive in Ouray, spend one night in a RV park, dumping and topping off. Then scout for a place up higher where we can boondock, maybe BLM or USFS. Then spending our days driving jeep trails and visiting the old townsites and mines. Maybe moving the campsite after a couple of days for easier access to other jeep trails. Nine days total away from home. This is something that we have never done, and would appreciate advice and input on it. Any body else up for some Colorado jeepin ?

The weekend of May 31 / June 1 2008 we went to a geocaching event. Towing our Ollie, naturally. We spent two nights dry camped at Lake Catherine State park. The scenery was great and the folks there were fun. This was the annual ( The first annual ) Arkansas Geocachers Social Event, held on Saturday, and the annual CITO ( cache In Trash Out ) event on Sunday. Arkansas State Parks waived camping and day use fees in lieu of our trash pick up effort. Now that is cool ! Two free days of camping for a few hours of trash pickup ! Our Ollie caught the eye of quite a few folks and we were able to show Ollie to nine people. Here is a short video of the marshmallow massacre Saturday evening as dusk was beginning to gather up around the campfire with us. No commentary, just ambient audio. Drag up a lawn chair, smell the campfire smoke, admire the dazzling display of the low angle sun's rays flittering through the trees, shuffle your feet in the pine needles, listen to the chatter of the children, and think about the graham crackers with melted and golden brown marshmallow, as it gently Ooozes over the edge of a chunk of hershey bar ! SMORES RULE !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9pOt5rKHSc

Welcome to the Oliver Forums john !!

Welcome to the Oliver Forums Shirley Stout !!

Butcherknife and I have wondered about that also. Why don't I "sticky" this thread so it stays on top. I have to admit that our early 2008 might be listed here. We have been talking about our boondocking style and how we could get the factory to build one we would like even better than the one we have now that we just absolutely love. For example, when we picked up our Oliver the new double pane windows had just arrived at the factory. Ours was already built. We could look at the new double panes and touch them and think about them, but they would not be on ours. Also we have always wanted solar panels and the factory wasn't doing a solar ready set up at that time. I just have never got around to getting solar installed. Butcherknife and I will have to talk about it because we have a trip planned the last week of June. We can't decide if we want to go back to the lake for more fishing, or to Colorado to drive Jeep trails. One thing for sure, if we sell our beloved Ollie, we would be back on the "waiting to hatch list" and not be able to do either Colorado or the Lake !

Welcome to the Oliver Forums parrio !!

Hey, Chuck ! I just did a quick search on eBay, for "laptop mount" and got about 200 returns. http://search.ebay.com/laptop-mount_W0QQcatrefZC6QQdfspZ32QQfromZR40QQfrtsZ50QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaobfmtsZinsif That is where I found ours. We gave a bit more for a RAM Line mount that bolted to the seat bolts and required no drilling. It is a very stable platform that can be expanded to hold other computer related items. It also has a quick disconnect feature so it can be quickly removed for convenience. After installing the quick disconnect, the mount had a small amount of "slack" and we put a tarp strap over the top arm and back to the seat bracket. Now, that hillbilly engineering sounds bad, but works well and it is not visible or in the way. It also means that the adjusting knobs can be left slightly loose so that the laptop may be swiveled around quickly, for consulting between driver and navigator, but will stay in place because of the tension provided by the tarp strap. DISCLAIMER: Do not try this "swiveling" activity at home or in your automobile ! This extreme "stunt" is performed by highly skilled and trained professionals and is never, never, well, almost never, done while the vehicle is moving.

Welcome to the Oliver Forums wbertacchini !!

Navigating with your laptop ? We enjoy ours because the much larger screen than a dashboard nav unit. But that larger screen comes with a couple of draw backs. Possible vision obscurement and takes up more room in the interior. Here is what ours looks like when we are ready to go down the road with it nagging about, "YOU ARE OFF ROUTE, RECALCULATING": The wireless mouse makes operation simpler for who ever is navigating at the time. It sits on one of those "sticky" pads untill needed, then we just put it on a pants leg to operate it. In this look from the driver's side you can see the GPS antenna for the Microsoft Streets & Trips on the dashboard.

Didn't Google it, I Dogpiled ( search engine that combines many search engines in one search ) it ! Dude, untill I went to some of the links, I thought maybe you had a pace maker installed in 1986 ! He, He, Enjoyed the photos.

Welcome to the Oliver Forums Olive Grower !!

Hey, beeser ! We use the water stop valve to save water when showering because we mostly boondock. The valve lets you wet down and with one quick click, turn the shower head off without changing the temperature settings. Then after soaping down, one click lets you rinse quickly off with the water still set at the just right temperature. I'll bet that this clever bunch on these forums have found other uses for the valve though !