The Great White Hunter

So yes I did just get back from the hills and I had a great time. I went on this hunting trip to Wyoming with one of my friends from college (Isaac Borema). We arrived last monday to rain and word that it snowed about 1ft at hunting camp. The camp was in the wilderness area and had to be accessed by horse. We went up on Tuesday and there was indeed snow. The next day we went out hunting. A typical day of hunting would consist of waking up at 5:30, riding and hiking for about 5hours, taking a midday nap for a few hours, hiking and spotting till dusk and a hike or ride back to camp. This is very relaxing and I really got used to the naps. The food and our cook were great and we had a good time.

On Friday I we got a couple of bugles and chased this one bull for about 4hours. Dave and I went into the woods chasing the bull while the others stayed back. We snuck up on this bull within about 60yrds. We then hear a bugle and move in closer and very slowly. Dave then gave a bugle and the Bull immediately was pissed off thinking we were another bull coming to steal his girls. He responded and then we could hear that he was heading our way. I looked down the draw and saw antlers and knew he was coming. He came up the draw and was walking parallel to us about 10yrds away. He was walking past and I was just waiting for my shot. Dave then gave out a grunt to stop thee bull and I fed him 150grains of lead right in the sweet spot. He staggered back about 5' and then I gave him seconds (he was already mortally injured, but I didn't want him to suffer). He went about 5' and then was down. I could not stop shaking and I was so jacked up I could barely contain myself. I was such a rush and a great time.

Ike and the awesome PT cruiser we rented. I think it may have been the only on in the state so we decided to get it as muddy as possible. This is just the first day and there was more in store for this little car.
Dave is packing Dandy Mule for the ride up the hill. Our cook Rachael is in the background.

Meadow lake and the fall colors. Aspen are great in the Fall.
Camp is at the end of this meadow. Very nice spot and lots of trout in the stream.

Chapping wood for the week on the first night.
That's me and a few of the other hunters on the first night. The snow melted later in the week and the weather was great.

The smallest set of bear prints we saw....very fresh.
Heck ya. Elk take this as fair warning that a De Jong is in the woods.

Ike and I about 1hr before the real fun started.
The Bull I got shortly after the previous picture. A mammoth beast.
Notice the perfectly placed shot. Of course at 10yrds there is a lot of room for error.
After gutting the beast. I shot a hole right through the side of the heart.

This is about how far I was. Notice me in the back right of the picture taking aim and Ike is acting like the bull.
Skinning and quartering the beast.

I know I know....nice rack.
Sunsets were awesome of course and the Wyoming nights were breathtaking(can a guy say that??)

Dave, Ike, and I and being men.
Ike is scoping out the glacier and spotting Elk (or trying to). It was the hardest hunting season Dave has had in 20yrs of guiding.

Our crew at the trailhead.
Ike fashioned a back country beer koosie.

After we returned to civilization we went for a ride up to the Green River lakes and Squaretop Mountain.
Me and the muddy PT.

We also did some offroading in the PT and got it stuck on this rock. It is nothing that a little accelerator and the peace of mind that rental car brings couldn't fix. The frame had a very large scratch, but they don't check that when I returned it.

Daves son Sean had a football game that we drove to see.


All in all it was a great time and we both would do it again. Although Ike did not get an elk he had a great time and he was a good sport about the one I got a chance to take. He and I are splitting the meat (I couldn't eat that much meat in a year) so I am glad he can help me out there.

Check out this video of me trying to manly up the PT by adding mud. I should have shut the window. We also had Bernie (game and fish warden) in Camp and he sang some great songs.

I relaize that your lives are on hold waiting...yearning to know what we are up to. I continue to work in Richmond and now we are working Saturdays. That mean I get to work six days a week (lucky me). Last week I worked just over 76 hours and this week should be about the same. I know that everyone is busy and that is no reason to slack on the posting, but here is short post untill next month when you will get the post of a lifetime.

Last week I got my gun from the gunsmith and went to the range to sight it in. I couldn't sight it in and had to0 bring it back to the gunsmith to get the scope remounted. I think the scope was off a bit and I hope to have it back tomorrow so I can shoot it a bit before I leave on Monday for the mountains.

Last Friday we bottled the beer we have been brewing and in a few weeks it will be carbonated enough to drink. We did taste the flat beer and it was very good.

The five gallons of beer coverted to 52 bottles of golden brew and I cannot wait to test the beer.

I will post the pictures of my trip when I return.

This week in the news.

Last Friday we got together with our friends to brew another batch of fantastic frothy goodness. Home brewed beer is good and we thought that about another 5 gallons would last us a while, so we got to brewing. The smell while brewing is so good and if bottled (I know we will do that eventually, but the fully brewed beer has a different scent) I would wear it as a cologne.

Karen and Brenda were there as well, and since brewing takes a lot time, there was some good conversation.
I had to be reminded that the beer will take about 2 or more weeks until it is finished brewing.

This past weekend we met with Brenda's parents up in Shasta (about 1/2 way between the two of us). We met just to catch up and hang out. There was a lot of swimming in the hotel pool, hiking, and just relaxing.

There was the Blackberry festival while we were in town, so there was pie and free music. I didn't get any pie, but listened to the music.

The view of Mt. Shasta from the south. This is on the hike in Castle Crags State Park we took on Sunday morning. We had a great time with her parents and I'm not just saying that because they will read this...we really did have a good time.

On the way home we stopped near the mountains for some blackberry pickin'. They were all over the place when you got in a good spot and we got more than enough for Brenda to make a pie completely from scratch. I know that Blackberry pie probably sounds good, but I will guarantee that it tastes better than it sounds.

The berries we picked. It is always nice to "subdue" the earth in a hands on way (as we are commanded to do).

You can just imagine my astonishment when after driving the same commute route for over 6 months I have seen two very weirdo cars in as many weeks. There were none before, but now they seem to be coming out of the woodwork.

The frontal view of the dragon car.

There is so much crap glued to the dash that I cant tell what is garbage and what isn't.

All I got to say is...nice dragon wagon. I cannot even begin to think what statement these people are trying to make. If they are saying it is cool to be different I would answer...not cool...just different.

There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us.

The title of this blog is based on a Buffett tune and if you didn't know that already you should have.

Here are a few of weird and ridiculous things that I saw last week. I of course worked a ton of hours, but did have time to relax. Saturday was spent on a articulating boom lift 10-25' in the air cleaning mold off of our churches rafters. This has bugged me for about 2 years now, and since I am now on facilities, I decided to do something about it. Brenda was a great help an in 9hrs we got all of the mold off and the Equipment out the door (with about 1" on each side to spare). Ahern is where we rented the equipment from and Tim(the Ahern rep) was awesome enough to give it for free to us. I thought now would be a good time to give him a shout out and say thanks (as if he will ever read this). If you ever need heavy equipment go to Ahern.

I saw this car on the way home from work. There are female manikin legs attached to the car like a mohawk and painted purple. There also is all sorts of other crap all over the car. Of course this car is ok on the streets, but mine can't pass a California smog test to save its life.

Obviously this is not a picture of weirdo's.

We went to music in the park for the last day this summer and had a great time with out friends. There was this girl there who was there last year and she was so ridiculous. She had a thong on, and was purposefully hiking it up in the front...yes the front... and the back so it rested above her pants. Then she would get on her mans shoulders(he was about 6'5") and flaunt "it" (FYI whatever "it" is..she didn't have "it" to flaunt). They were the only ones who would do the whole shoulder thing so I just had to get a photo. I know this pushes the boundaries of appropriate content on my blog, but this must be shamed. This is referred to by the kids nowadays as a "whale tail". I guess that is partially because it is in the rear, but this girl did the same in the front!!! Is there a name for that? Notice my ear on the left. We were acting like we Brenda was taking a picture of me. This is a very sneaky way to get photo's of weird people that we have used in the past and will continue to use in the future. Idiotic looking people beware.

The comment was made that all she is missing is the skank stamp (tattoo on the lower back). I have no strong opinion on tattoos (except I bet they look real dumb when you are 70)so do not be offended if you have one. I am just trying to keep my lingo (and inform others) on par with modern standards.

Two weekends of fun

The weekend we got back from Holland I had our annual company picnic. This is a great time of throwing the shoes(horseshoes), v-ball(volleyball), and of course talking to the co-workers that I have not seen in a while. Since I have been working in Richmond I have not seen them in a while so it was great to catch up and talk to my boss.
Some of my co-workers. This is a great company to work for...they got a keg and about 10 cases of beer for us to enjoy (a bit in excess, but in front of your co-workers "most" people keep it under control...there is always a few who don't)

There was about 70lbs of meat for the 50 people there. It was enough for an army and that is how we roll at ARCADIS.

Here is Lauri getting silly string sprayed on her by my managers son. Those kids are so cool.

On Thursday we went to the San Jose Giants game and had a great time. Near the end of the game (the last out) we thought the game was over, but there was a bad call that extended the game. In reaction I threw the complimentary seat cushion they game us when we came in. It was pretty funny and since it was sort of soft I thought what could it hurt. The usher (a college girl) tried to return it to its rightful owner and was not mad, but there is no way I was going to say that it was mine.

This Sunday we were invited for a winery tour with Brendas co-workers. This winery is about 15 minutes from our place and very nice. The weather was perfect. Our tour guide took us through the vineyard with the various wines in tote and we tried the wines next to the grapes that they were associated with. Pretty cool concept and also tasty. Some of the wonderful grapes. I am pretty sure it was ok to eat them so we did.

In the wine cellar Brenda found these keys and is wondering what they go to???

Brenda and Mindy are enjoying the luninner (cross between lunch and dinner instead of the brunch concept).