Freedomflyer

Got out on some trails yesterday was beautiful in spite of the weather and temp. Was out for about 8 hrs and rode about 70 miles. Had we had our own single rider machines we probably could've covered more ground at a much faster pace but there's always that little nagging problem of $$$. It really was great to get out, fresh air great friends and more beautiful Montana landscape. Pulled into West Yellowstone yesterday morning about 8:10. Was a 1hr. 50min. drive from home, got set up with our sleds and riding gear and hit the trail at 8:45. Was about 18 degrees and lightly snowing, our overall destination was Two Top Mountain. A high forested plateau of around 8500ft. with a stunning view and snow encapsulated trees. To get there was thick forested groomed trail, not my kind of riding but with touring machines that's about what they are limited to. We drove 31 miles of our loop into Idaho and had a warming session and a lunch break in a small community called Island Park, an out in the middle of nowhere roadside gas stop along one of the main highways to Yellowstone Park from Idaho. After eating we headed back to the trail and connected back up to our Two Top loop. We were very blessed to have the snow pretty much stop and a small hole of blue sky open up when we got to the top to shine some ray's of sun down onto the snow covered trees and landscape. Not enough to clear up and see the scenic view back towards Yellowstone Park, but bright enough to give some perspective to the area. The trees were almost surreal, only the top15ft or so sticking out of the snow. Would love to be up there some day with a clear blue sky, you can Google Two Top Mountain and get to see some pics of the view if you want, really is amazing. After spending 20 minutes or so there we headed back down and stopped at a large open area and let everyone have a turn riding and messing around for an hour or so before heading back to turn the machines in. Was a great outing and seemed to scratch an itch for wanting to get out. My wife and I have decided that as enjoyable as it was, we do prefer the ATV rides more. As hard as the snow pack was probably could've ridden the ATV'S all the way up there. So..... Fish and Shade, come on up and we'll get out and see some sights😁.

HEY NOW!!🤣

Unfortunately we can't get out this time of year too much of the white stuff. So heading to West Yellowstone the weekend after next snowmobiling. That should scratch an itch.

I'm sure it is I was just laughing at the commentary

Went 4 wheeling late yesterday afternoon, mine is the Landover Defender behind the Amazon truck. Next upgrade for mine is lights😁 20230107_173457_001.mp4

As a matter of fact........does, one of my sail planes was made by a company called Craft-air and the model design is called a Freedom, the pic right before the pic of the boat is me launching the Freedom. Great sloping plane.😁

Prov, Just a J3 Cub, supercub had a different engine cowl and a shorter wing span. Man do those pic bring back a lot of memories. All I ever wanted to do as a kid was fly those things. I was pretty bummed when my boys showed no interest in it. So as time marched on I spent less and less time time doing it boys were involved in sports so the time wad shifted there. I go do it now and again, the electric stuff makes it a little easier, not messing with fuel. I sure miss the smell of nitro and the sound of a whining motor though!😁

Fish, Yes, have done a lot of flying off of snow and water, not so much as of late but used to do it all of the time. I had a Hobby Lobby Telemaster 40 on floats (72": span) with an HB .60 on it to make sure it got off of the water with some authority. That was so much fun, I think all I did was touch and goes with that thing, it was just so cool to get it up on step and watch the water blow back. Flew that thing a lot, unfortunately I flew it off of the water so much that the center section had taken on some water underneath the covering (Wasn't Monocote) and I was flying it out at the flying field one day and the wing folded about 4" out from the glassed section and it dove straight into the ground, total loss😖. As far as the snow flying that's just as much fun, plane isn't/wasn't heavy I had walked up from the back and kind of dropped it into the snow so that there wasn't any tracks in the picture so it looks like it is sinking in a ways. There is a lot of surface area on those skis, they are about 18" long and 3 1/2" wide so it can fly off of the fluffiest powder snow, always had to put a little down trim into offset the extra lift from the skis.😁 But kind of the same thing all you do is touch and goes, keeping the tail up as you scoot across the snow. Also had a Senior Telemaster with a COMO .75 (Super Tigre) on it, I built a glider carrier to launch sail planes at about 700-800' that was always fun as well. Also a Hangar 9 "Twist" (ARF) with an 0.S. Max .61SF had that I had put a set of skis on in the winter time as well. But I think my favorite kind of flying out of all of my years, is slope flying, no motors just dependent on the wind blowing into the face of a slope for lift. The one pic of all the planes in the grass, those are all sailplanes and slope planes. I also have a boat, hasn't run in years. Prather 35 tunnel hull, I have a K&B .45 outboard with a tuned pipe, top end on that was about 55, pretty much for smooth calm water, a friend of mine had an Atlas Van lines Hydroplane with an O.S. .90 that thing would do over 70. 87mph is impressive. With all the electric stuff that has come out I wasn't even sure if they were still making glo fuel anymore😁 Good times, Good Memories. Amazing how fast time goes.

A little photo shop

Boy if that ain't the truth!!!

Boy, does that bring back memories, our neighbors were dairy farmers and had a 60ft tall silo. We'd buy a dollars worth of those and climb up and put them together and launch them off, made a great couple of days of entertainment. 😁

Only thing stupider than that is someone who would pay it!🙄

Had one!😁

Well, there's two on that list we do have, Rattlesnakes and earthquakes, none of the rest though. And I know shade wouldn't ever step foot here so I know my money is safe.

Amen to that brother!!!!!!

After spring for sure😕

You're not too far off, city manager is from Is Texas in is a real moron.

Exactly!

Yeah.......like our weather isn't similar? https://www.whitehallledger.com/story/2021/04/07/community/5-facts-proving-montana-weather-is-insane/2953.html?m=true Warmed up even more yesterday, 55°, made a huge mess of the streets. City was getting a lot of calls from residents that they couldn't get down their street due to he slush getting high centered with their cars. They decided to start plowing and experiment of course started with our street. Boy what a mess they made. I talked to the road grader driver and he said they were going to stop because it wasn't going like they thought it would and were probably going to have to haul it away. But not before they did this to us. I've tried to do as they ask and push snow into my yard and not into the street and then they come by and do this with wet heavy slush. This really torqued me, was about all I could do get it into my yard. If I wouldn't it would've frozen solid as it got back down to 27 lastnight then I would've been screwed for the rest of the winter. So cleaned up in front of ours and surrounding neighbors otherwise they would've been in the same boat.