Ok it’s the end of the semester is nearing and I need money and space in my house. Therefore I have decided to try and sell some random stuff. I’ll post the stuff in various places around the Interwebz and I’ll mark it sold as it happens. Let me know if you would like to see more pics, a video demo, or just some more info
1: Stealth Cam Rogue I540 IR Game Camera $90: Rogue Infrared Game Camera. Only used a few times. Works fantastic night or day thanks to IR capabilities. It’s covered in Mossy Oak cloth camo tape for extra hiding capability. Includes 2gb SD card. Takes great pics. Here’s the link to them it on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001SG92I6/?tag=cumbwand-20
2: Korg Kaossilator and Mini Kaoss Pad- $225 Korg Kaossilator Synth and Korg Mini Kaoss Effects Pad. Both in perfect shape with power supplies (one is Korg, other is Radio Shack)These things are awesome. Just search Youtube to see what they can do. Includes RCA patch cable and ¼ to RCA plug. $125 apiece or $225 for both. These retail for $150 apiece without power supplies
5: Hound Dog Round Neck Dobro- $290 Hound Dog Round Neck Dobro. In perfect shape with factory box. Sounds amazing played with a slide or as a regular guitar. Includes brass slide and two sets of Martin strings. Retails for $349. Here’s the link at Musicans Friendhttp://folk-instruments.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dobro-Hound-Dog-Round-Neck-Dobroreg-Guitar?sku=514374
5: Pulse Drum Set $250 Includes snare and stand, two toms, bass drum, and pedal. Bass has Remo Fyberskyn head and all other drums have Remo Pinstripe heads. In great condition. Sounds Great. No cymbals or cymbal hardware included.
6: Nady DMK-5 Drum Mic Package $90- Nady 5 Mic Drum mic set with case. In perfect condition. Also includes 4 rim mounts for the mics valued at $15 apiece. Here’s the link at Musicians Friendhttp://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-DMK5-Drum-Mic-Package?sku=277126
8: US Military Steel Pot Helmet with Liner and Cover $35
10: K2 Exo 80 Mens Inline Skates Size 11 $60 Used less than 5 times. Wheels are still good. Back brake removed for aggressive skating. Here’s the Link on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GAPPIU/?tag=cumbwand-20
I know it’s been awhile since my last post but I had an experience today that I absolutely had to share. I went to my parent’s house today about noon to get together some of my old blacksmithing items. One of my goals this summer is to re-setup my forge and start making things by the fall. I had previously had everything set up at my parents in a temporary building made of cordwood. The building eventually came down as the walls were built with firewood that needed to be used. I had left the forge itself, an old vise, and a vent hood laying there and they had scarcely been moved over the past year.
When I got there today and backed the truck, the first item on the agenda was the forge table. Their house sits in the middle of the woods and is nothing surprising to see any sort of animal running around so I kicked it a little to knock it loose from the ground. Almost immediately a swarm of wasps came out of the blower tube. I ran back before they could see who had disturbed their dwelling so I was able to evade being stung. I did count 14 wasps from my safe vantage point though which would be more than enough to lay me out.
I gave up on that for a minute and decided to sift through the pile of tin and lumber which had previously made my roof. I hadn’t more than moved one 2×4 than I noticed something moving around on top. A closer look showed it to be scorpions! Seven of them to be exact. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen any one the plateau but to see this many at once was pretty wild. I attempted to capture a few but only managed to get one in an old Gatorade bottle.
After being reasonably sure I wasn’t going to get stung by an errant scorpion I proceeded to continue moving the tin. As soon as I moved another piece I heard something moving underneath. I cautiously flipped the piece of tin over with a long steel rod I had found and there in a coil set a copperhead starring back at me. This is a pretty common occurence here on the plateau so I wasn’t too surprised. You never just flip something over around here with your bare hands if you want to stay healthy. Normally seeing a copperhead in the woods is no big deal and we would have just taken a picture or two and let the snake go on its way. This time however he was very close to the house and I have a two and a three year old nephew that love to go outside. No way was I going to let a venomous snake live so close to their swing set. I decided to try and catch him in a bucket but he would have none of that. With every poke of the stick he would strike and move closer to the house. I finally decided at that was enough fooling around with something potentially deadly (my parents weren’t home and I was by myself) so I as much as i hated to do it, I knew he had to be disposed of. I went to the house and got the shotgun but I couldn’t find any shells. The next closest thing was my old pellet rifle, a Daisy Powerline 880, that I had had since junior high. It had served me well before against coke cans and GI Joes and I had little choice now. I made sure it was loaded full of bb’s and that the seals were still good on the pump and headed back toward the snake. When I got there he hadn’t moved so I prepared to take aim and quickly dispatch him. As I sighted down the barrel I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Reluctantly I took my eyes off the reptile and looked in the direction of the movement. I saw there slithering through the leaves another copperhead that was twice the size of the first. His body was a least three inches in diameter which would put him in the three to three and a half foot range. That’s a huge copperhead for those of you that aren’t familiar with them. Not sure of what to to do I decided to take care of the smaller one first since it was between me and the big guy and in a very irate mood. Two shots put a quick end to him as mercifully as possible. (Like I said I would never normally kill one and I hated to do it but my nephews’ safety comes first) Once I was sure he was dead I grabbed the steel rod and proceeded to dig through the leaves to find the other one.
I made about two swipes through the leaves when I heard a buzzing sound coming from underneath I moved the bar just in time to see a dozen yellow jackets rise from a hole beneath the rotten foliage. Seriously?!? I’ve been stung by these guys before so I knew to steer clear before they found their way up my pants leg. I backed up and let them buzz about for a bit in hopes that they might calm down some. I counted at least twenty before they started to settle some. I’ve never seen so many potentially harmful creatures in one spot before in my life!
I hadn’t forgotten about the other monster of a snake so I moved to the far side of the wood pile to probe around with the steel rod again. This time I got about four swipes in before I heard another buzzing sound. Great. What now. This time half a dozen bees came out of their hidden den. Once again Seriously?!? This piece of ground was just not meant to be disturbed. After a closer look they looked to be just carpenter bees so I was too threatened. I probed around a little more for the big snake but by this time he had turned and headed to the sanctuary of the deep woods. He’s still out there right now hopefully too traumatized to come back to his nest.
At this point I gave up on the blacksmith stuff and decided to head home. I took my captured scorpion and my vanquished pit viper back up the mountain to show Hannah. (It’s cool to have a wife who wants to see snakes and scorpions). Interesting day to say the least. And I still have to go back to try and reclaim by forge. Who knows what will be waiting next. This is just a friendly reminder that there are still a few wild things out there. Respect their space and keep your eyes open and you should be fine. Just remember you never know what could be lurking under that pile down here in the south.
Today I got another chance to see Albannach play live. This time it was at the Celtic Country Fair in Lebanon, TN. I convinced Dad to go watch them with me since he will be in Alaska when they will be playing at Grandfather Mountain. Like I said in the other post, these guys have to be seen live to be truly appreciated. Though the were minus one member, Jamesie, they still put on a great show.
A big plus was that between shows we got to go hijack my two nephews, Ben(3) and Taylor(2), and let them hear the pipes and drums. First stop was the bouncy house. Ben can never pass up those. After a few rounds on them and some sliding we got to meet the members of Albannach. They were super nice guys to talk to. We were able to discuss a little about drums, Scotland, and moonshine before they had to go onstage. Ben just sat there grinning at them the whole time
Me and Ben with Albannach
We watched their second set with me holding Ben and Dad holding Taylor. Ben was mesmerized by the drums at first but it was getting late and they were getting pretty sleepy. Ben did perk up and stare at a girl with a lot of tattoos for a bit. A least he didn’t ask if he could get one. I want to be the fun uncle but I believe that one would end up with me in a lot of trouble.
After the set we loaded them back up and took them home and we headed back home ourselves. Ben did tell his Mom and Dad that he wanted a drumset when he got home. Taylor already wants a guitar. Future Webster all star band in the making!
Great music, fun nephews, great sunshine. Another fine Saturday.
Here’s another taste of what I’m listening to at the moment. Our trip to the Gatlinburg Highland Games has put me in the mood for good Scottish and Irish music so that’s what I’ve had on for the past few days. I’ve always been a fan of traditional folk bands like the Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers but lately I’ve been on a Pogues kick. These guys were a mix of traditional Irish folk and the punk movement of the 80′s that was headed by Shane MacGowan. I know it sounds like a weird combination but it really does work very well. These guys were great and their own right and they paved the way for other bands like the powerhouse Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. The song I’ve got got for you is called Streams of Whiskey. It’s about Brendan Behan, an IRA soldier and writer, with whom MacGowan was greatly influenced by. Enjoy!
Once again Hannah and I had the opportunity to travel to another Scottish Highland games. This time we headed to Gatlinburg, TN to celebrate our Highland heritage, eat some great Scottish food and listen to some fantastic music. Hannah and I can both trace our ancestry back to Scotland on several branches. I connect with Clan Anderson and Clan Fraser while Hannah can claim ties to Clan Robertson and Clan McIntyre. It’s a pretty cool thing to go to the events and be treated like family because of links that are thousands of years old.
This will be our third set of games we’ve been to in the past year and it proved to rank right up there at the top. We woke up about 6am on Saturday and were on the road by 7(yeah I was up that early). We made it all the way to the front gate of Proffit High School where the games were being held by about 11:30 Eastern. We were a little worried when we got there as experience had taught us that parking lots filled up fast. We saw very few cars and no tents at first so I started questioning whether I flubbed on the dates. I rolled down my window to ask somebody but as soon as I did I heard the pipes. No question that we were at the right place at the right time. There;s something about bagpipes that draws you in. Just ask Hannah. She knows if I hear a banjo, fiddle or the bagpipes she might as well starting turning that direction because I’ll already be gone.
We found a parking spot and worked our way in to the ticket booth. Tickets were reasonably priced so we paid and got our official wristbands for entry all day. The most direct path to the games took us directly through the pipe band tents. I was amazed at the number of bands that were entering the competition.
Massed Pipe bands during the opening
There were several vendors to browse through so we took our time head through each tent. They carried everything from kilts and Glengarrys to Scottish food and T shirts. We didn’t see anything we had to have this time so we made our way to the clan tents. Clan Anderson wasn’t attending and neither was McIntyre. However we did make good friends with the folks at the Clan Fraser tent. I talked with them a little about our shared lineage and looked at maps showing family lands that were still held in Scotland. I can stand proud with them as our ancestor Sir Simon Fraser was captured while fighting with Robert the Bruce and put to death by Edward I in 1306. Frasers were there at Scotlands proudest moments. Clan Fraser is still active in both Scotland and the US with thousands of people claiming common kinship.
After bonding with lost brothers we headed towards one of our other favorite parts of the festivals, food! There hasn’t been a game thats gone by where I haven’t treated my self to haggis and Scotch eggs and I wasn’t going to let this be an exception. They did a great job with both this time and I was throughly satisfied. Nothing like a little haggis and chips for lunch and Scotch eggs for dinner
Finally one of the main reasons we come to these games time after time is the music. We have seen a world famous piper in Atlanta and amazing bands at Stone Mountain so we had high expectations. We were really looking forward to a particular band this time that we had missed in NC. Albannach (which is Scots-Gaelic for “Scotsman”) is not your everyday pipe and drum band. These folks (all native Scots) take Scottish music back to a primal level that you don’t find everyday. You can close your eyes and envision Celtic warriors at Bannockburn (Alexander Fraser was there!)and Stirling hurling themselves toward Edward I’s forces when you hear them play. Honestly listening to them is not something that can be described. You have to see them.
We dodged the downpours to check into our hotel and went back to the games at 7 for just that. At most festivals they have a night where they celebrate with a Celidh, which is basically means “party”. We got there early to get front row seats since we had Dad’s new Kodak Zi8 to try out. First up was Colin Grant-Adams, a great Scottish folk singer. Next was Thistledown Tinkers, a NC based duo. Thirds came the surprise of the night. Cutthroat Shamrock is a Knoxville based band that blends Celtic folk with punk while using traditional instruments. These guys put on an amazing show! Not only were they very talented musicians and songwriters but the were excellent entertainers. When their set was over I grabbed all three of their cd’s, a shirt, and two stickers for the Forester. We had a great time watching these guys and will try our hardest to catch them again when they play in Cookeville.
Next came the band we had been waiting on. Albannach came out of the gate strong. Drums pounding and Donnie wailing on the pipes it took you away from the first strike. Like I said before it is beyond me to convey the feeling seeing these guys live has on you. The drums are totally consuming and the pipes grab your mind and hold on. The whole crowd was mesmerized by their sound. That is till the guys from Cutthroat pushed pas the barrier and started dancing. It brought all of us to our feet. Imagine a pounding rainstorm, 250 people packed into a small tent, everyone on their feet screaming, and music so loud you can’t hear anything but the drums. Incredible. Leaves a lasting impression.
Needless we say we had a great time and we both walked away with a renewed sense of who we are. Cuimhnich air na daoine o’n d’thaining thu which is Scots-Gaelic for “Remember the men from whom you are descended” We all come from different backgrounds. Some of them we can be proud of, some bring us shame. Regardless they all contributed to what makes us who we are. We can take pride in the warriors, patriots and poets and live to show that reverence and we can learn from those in our past who have strayed and live our lives to show our strength despite them. Live with the knowledge that the blood of paupers and kings runs through your veins and that one day your descendants will look back to see who you were. What kind of legacy will you leave for them?
After a fun day of pressure washing a deck till my back was sore and sunburned, I was able to go out and relax a little. I met up with Shep from Jackson Kayak over at a mutual friend’s property to do a little climbing. Shep stays at a house on the property when he’s in town and in his rambling around has found a ton of great routes on the cliff lines. Him and Dave G had done some scouting recently and had found a sweet little point that had real potential. When Shep said he was up for a run at it today after work I jumped on it. Plus I had my brand new Scarpa Technos that haven’t even seen rock yet. This place is only about 3 miles from my house so it was really great to know of a place so conveniently close.
I met up with him about 5:30, tossed the gear in my Thule Moab (It makes a great place to toss dirty gear), and got in my car for a ride back into the woods. This property was has several shacks on it that formerly held dynamite for the coal mining operations just up the road. There are still signs everywhere warning about the explosives even though the last mine shut down almost 80 years ago. Next time I’m there I’ll try to grab a few pictures. When we got to the site we pulled off the gravel road and proceeded to head down the cliff line. I was very impressed from my first sighting. There were huge sandstone bluffs going each direction with hundreds of potential routes. The one we were aiming at was right on a point with a nice little wet weather cascade running for a 100 or more feet next to it. From the top there was a nice cedar we could rig to and send the top rope off the right side. I brought my Petzl GriGri along to make the belay a little easier and since I wasn’t so sure what we were up against. We got that set up pretty quick and headed down to start the climb.
Shep setting up the top rope
Shep tried to send first and got up to what we considered the crux. It consisted of a 2 foot ramp with no handholds or places to get your feet up high. After a few tries at it he was pumped so he came down. I went next and did the same thing. He went again, same result. Second attempt by me I was able to defeat the the crux but fell off just inches from the top. Highly frustrated but determined, I let Shep go again while I regrouped. He made it to the crux again but was so pumped he came down. I had one more in me so this time (with a little anger to push me) I was able to top out. My first first ascent! ( I know this place has never been climbed before but it was still cool ) One of the perks of getting a first is getting to name the route. Because of the sloping crux and a huge spider on a web at the top, I christened this one Spider’s Ramp. What a great way to spend an afternoon. This place has huge potential and I pretty excited about being able to get out this summer and explore some.
*small disclaimer-This place is private property that we had special permission from the landowner to be on. Please don’t ask me for directions or who the owner is or even its general location. I can tell you about some other really cool spots though if you’re interested.
From time to time I’m going to post what I’m currently listening to and give you a chance to hear it for yourself. I love knowing what other people have on their Ipods or in their cd players at a given moment so I thought I would share what I’m playing.
Sam Beam of Iron & Wine is one of my favorite musicians. He’s usually a one man show using guitars and doubled vocals. There’s even a banjo tossed in there every once in awhile. This is a great song that popped up on my ipod while I was here at work. Let me know what you think.
Also here is a video of him I ust found on Youtube of him playing it live at a concert in CA.
Well I got ready to put the bike on the trainer when I noticed a little problem . My back tire had a huge bulge in it and the fibers were poking through. Not sure when that happened really. I had a flat on my ride Saturday on my front tire from hitting a rock but I don’t remember doing anything to cause that. Well they were cheap Kenda K-152 tires anyway but I only had about 400 miles on them. They came with the bike so it was not a big loss. Luckily I had some Panaracer Ribmo tires that I previously had on my now squashed Giant. These tires are heavy and a little slow but they are great for training or if you just do not like flats. Got them changed fairly quick with my Park Tool levers and was testing out the trainer in no time. Now I just hope this weather clears out so I can get them back out on the road tomorrow. Hickory Valley Road is calling my name again.
Today provided me with the perfect content for my first post. I headed up to Lebanon this morning at 7 am to meet a guy selling some bike stuff on Craigslist. Very nice guy that had some back problems that were forcing him to quit riding all together. He had some good stuff at the perfect price for a broke college guy. I bought a Nashbar Mag Plus Resistance Trainer (never had a trainer before but I’ve always wanted for winter and storm days) a Louis Garneau Avant helmet. I’ve had a Giro Havoc for a few years thats been perfect but I wanted a backup. I got Pearl Izumi Quest Jersey and some Specialized shorts. You can never have enough clean jerseys and shorts. One of the coolest things I got was this Niterider MiNewt Light. This thing is awesome. You can charge it on your USB port, in the car, or in the wall. It’s got a helmet mount or a handlebar mount. I can’t wait to try it out this summer when I can’t ride early and it’s too hot for day riding. I also got a CycleOps Block to use with the trainer. Overall I came out and under $200 for about $500 worth of stuff. Now this weather needs to clear up.
On another note we did meet at the square in Lebanon which was under two feet of water about a week ago. Lots of shops had dumpsters out front full of moldy carpet and drywall. I even saw a brand new Honda Shadow that looked like it had been in water up to the saddle. Sad stuff but like all Tennessee folks they are resiliant. They will be back in business in no time and we’ll be there to support our fellow Volunteers. In the meantime Nashville still needs help. Donate to the Nashville Red Cross or look for volunteer opportunities where ever you can find them.
Hey Folks! After watching my brother put up blog after blog I’ve finally decided to do one of my own. It’s going to encompass a little of everything from bike and trail stories and product reviews to pictures and ramblings of Hannah and my adventures. be patient with me as I get everything up and running and as Jody gets me through the learning curve. Hopefully you will find it as interesting and entertaining as I will in publishing it!
