More updates

As I opened this up to post a message, there was a request for smokejumpers going out. Anyone still sleeping is not sleeping anymore. In case some of you weren't aware, we're stationed at the air attack base that also dispatches smokejumpers. Yes, we have to put up with them and we even have to live with their rookies.

So I got to hear the industrial strength fog horn that serves as our dispatch bell. There's a different number of blows on the foghorn (way too loud to be called beeps) for each resource. I guess jumpers are two. We might be three. I don't know, we're not available so I haven't heard ours yet. So this foghorn just went out along with an announcement of "smokejumper request, smokejumper request" I can hear people moving around right now, unhappy with the rude awakening.

We get a lot of rude awakenings around here. Last weekend we all thought a plane was going to crash on top of us at some ungodly hour of the night. Turned out to be a snazzy little car with a jet engine proving his stuff on the drag strip positioned on the other side of the runway. My bedroom window is about a hundred yards from the runway.

So anyway, last weekend I headed over to the coast to visit Corey on her side of the state. This is Mt. Shasta, as seen from my side of the state. I drove north on the 5 up through Oregon, over Grants Pass and back down into California. It took a little over 4 hours. There are roads that will connect somewhat straight across, but they're long and winding, so it would take longer anyway.

When I got there, we had a snack and Corey and I went for a much needed hike with Tony, from the engine. Corey is not always the happiest during PT, but then again, neither am I. She does much better than I do with steeper hikes and this one was a faster, less steep hike-- which I like much better.

I finally made it to our stopping point before heading back up the hill. This mile marker on the tree was like finding an oasis in the middle of the desert.

After our hike, Corey and I went to go see some redwood groves around her new neighborhood.

That night we camped in the Jedidiah Smith rec area with some guys from her crew. We made Hobos for dinner and breakfast the next morning. Hobos are basically a bunch of food folded into a piece of aluminum foil and thrown into the fire to cook. At night we put beef, potatoes, onions and carrots in them. For breakfast we had corn beef hash and eggs to throw in.

Mmmmm, yummy!!

So after breakfast, Corey and I broke free from the guys and went on our own little excursion. We heading west and south along the coast to see all the cool trees. It was absolutely amazing!

I would post more pictures but my computer is getting squirrely.

Yesterday myself and two people from my crew met Corey and 3 guys from her crew for a Wildland Firefighter benefit run up in Etna (nowhere), CA. It was put on by the Klamath Hotshots and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in memory of a fallen Klamath Hotshot firefighter. There was the 5K, 10K and half marathon. Unfortunately my shin has been acting up, and to avoid getting on crutches again, I wussed out and ran the 10K instead of the half. It was a fun day, but I'm a little sore this morning.

Well it's past 10:30 and I'm still in my pj's, so I better go. More to come!