Our Turkey

So How do you make your Turkey?
 How we make our turkey with good friends
1st you start with a transmission off an old riding mower three speed with reverse. Than your add a motor from what we don't know. After that you make a spit out of 10ft of 3/4 black pipe sanding off the paint, you will also need 12 6inch stainless steel spikes to spear the turkey. other supplies you will need to make or get an assortment of pulleys and spring, some angle iron,plywood and nuts and bolts, you may even have to make a pulley out of wood to get the correct size. we took the motor speed from over 1500rpm to anywhere from 2.5 rpm-3.5rpm depending on which gear you are in. You will also need the largest turkey you can find (this year 23.5lb) The oven will need to be made out of 3 sheets of aluminum cut to 12in x 36in  with feet attached. The lid is just 1/2 plywood with some old aluminum duct work covering it.
The legs supporting the spit need to be made out of a old pool solar cover stand. For fuel you need about 50-60lbs of charcoal . it took about 5 hrs give or take to make the turkey.
For dessert we made Almost Pumpkin Pie in a Dutch over over the coal that cooked for 45min while we were eating.

This has been a 10-15 year in the making each year we upgrade from the year before trying many diffrent this to inprove on.

 

Some video of our turkey and dinner after. it may take a little time to load



If you click the youtube button under the video you will watch it on youtub than above the video click on shinneysideup to see more videos

 

 

 

 

one of our first bird while camping

 

 





2012 Trip

Our 2012 trip is planned. We are taking a bike trip to meet up with my Mom & Dad in Dollywood Tn. Where they are working for a few months. We have no real plans for the time there our on how we are getting there other than on two wheels.  I am thinking of taking the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive all the way from Front Royal  Va to Cherokee Tn that 469 miles at a avg. speed of between  35-45 mph park speed limits, With many stops along the way should be lots of fun as I have been on a great deal of it before and Tracey has never been on it. I am planning on taking 2 day to do the trip. Then head through the smoky Mountains to Pigeon Forge to meet up with Mom & Dad.  The dog have there kennel plans or as I call it (JAIL)
  We just plan on visiting and doing some sight seeing.

 Than later in the year Bret, Bob and I are going to WV. to do some riding for a few days.
With a second trip after that to NY for some motorcycle races. Should be fun, although any time away especially on a motorcycle is great fun. Its shaping up to be a great summer full of great trip and even a pool party or two in there.

The Infamous Tub Photo

As I had some time today I scanned in Traceys family photo to the computer and came across this Photo!! Taken in 1966. I konw I am in big trouble for doing this but what else is new!!!

Odometer 100,000 miles

The other night on our way home I had to pull over to take this photo. Our Avalanche hit a mile stone 100,000 mile. We bought it with a little over 20,000 so we put on a lot of miles. It turned about a hale mile from our home of course I had to go a round about way to make it happen. This is the third car I have done this to. The first on was my 84 Bronco 2 second on was my Astro work van and know the Avalanche. I hope to turn it on the Valk but with splitting the miles between two bike it will take a little longer. The Valk has a little over 70,000

Life is Good

When you are happily married for 19 years.
When you wife lets you buy a second motorcycle knowing you can only ride one at a time.
When you have 2 good dogs.
When you have great friends.
When your wife lets you take a 2 week long motorcycle trip with out her.
When she lets you plan a two wheel trip in 2012 with her.Not sure where at this time.
When you have good health.


Some photos of my new to me bike.

2009 Suzuki Vstrom 650

Got to love a garage full of motorcycles

What a Great Idea

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about? Peace................

October 29th Winter storm

Well we got 12 inches of  wet snow with the trees still 75 % full of  leaves. I am sitting at the kitchen table with my computer, fridge, furnace, and several lights hooked up to my generator. We also at night have been hooking up the tv and dvd player for something to do since noon on Sat. 10/29/11 when we lost elec. I hot wired the furnace to the generator on Monday boy did it fell good to take a shower :-) We had a lot of branches down in our front yard, and 2 trees fell from the woods into our back yard we were lucky as nothing hit the house. I will have to get a tree service in as there are many branches that got hung up in the tree.
PPL is saying  Thursday at the earliest we will get power.
                                               Here are some photos of our yard
                     

between our yard and Johns

Chris and Sues drive way

Birch tree hanging over Bike shed

Tree in front of tractor shed

Wish-full  thinking

2 Trees in back yard

Penn Dot truck stuck trying to go around tree in road

Front Yard

Looking over our front yard

A Hawk sever days before storm

Front yard during the storm