Crow Horse

Perfect!!!!!!! We always seem to be chasing something and don't stop for a moment (or more) to savor what we have. We look towards a conceptual destination and miss the entire journey. Live in the moment with gratitude.

Thanks to everyone who "weighed" in. I thought about the question of weight and what it really means to me a great deal since I posted the question. I suppose I'll never know her true weight and at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. For me it's not a numbers game. I like to push myself to do better and better. That's not a bad thing when tempered properly. What really matters is the experience of hooking into her, her wild runs, acrobatics and deep dives. She fought valiantly and I was extremely fortunate to have been drawn into connection with her. It was the experience that should be savored and that shouldn't get lost in a numbers game. She won't have a weight attached to her. Instead, she'll be added to my "Big Girls Club" that is burned into my memory. Enrollment is open for the club and I hope to recruit more members this season.

To get a better estimate of the length, I rotated the bass and located it under my arm. Although my arm isn't fully extended out from my body, it's close. The bass's tail extends beyond my armpit, but with a fudge factor, it's at least 24" long. Precision guesswork at it's finest.

It is beautiful. I got married there. What makes it extra special is that I have the place to myself virtually all of the time.

Yes, she gave me a great fight and she kept surprising me with some unexpected runs. I'm not using terribly light gear. A Vendetta 7' medium/fast rod, 3000 size spinner with 10# braid. 10# 25' mono leader. A Megabass Flap Slap seduced her.

I don't know if this will be any help, but have a go at it. https://youtu.be/MZYKRwyI9LE

Anybody want to take a stab at guessing her weight? For reference, from my wrist to armpit is 24"s. She put up a great fight with some strong runs. It only took me about 6 1/2 hours to find her. (I'm terrible at approximating weight)

Psychology Suggests People Who Pick Up Litter Without Being Asked Practice Quiet Responsibility That Shapes How They Treat Strangers And The PlanetYou Notice What Others Walk PastYou Treat Shared Spaces Like HomeYou Move Fast When Something Feels OffYou Handle Mild Discomfort Without DramaYou Keep Your Standards When Nobody WatchesYou Feel Responsible Without Feeling SuperiorYou Imagine the Next Person’s DayYou Let One Good Choice Spark AnotherMore can be found here: https://cottonwoodpsychology.com/blog/psychology-suggests-people-who-pick-up-litter-without-being-asked-practice-quiet-responsibility-that-shapes-how-they-treat-strangers-and-the-planet/ Personality traits of those who do litter: People who litter typically exhibit traits like low conscientiousness, external locus of control, and high impulsivity. They often justify their actions through entitlement—expecting others to clean up after them—and a mindset of diffusion of responsibility, believing shared public spaces are "not their problem". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Psychological and behavioral studies outline the core traits that drive improper waste disposal: [1] Low Conscientiousness & Empathy: A reduced capacity to consider the long-term community or environmental impacts of their actions. External Locus of Control: The belief that outcomes are up to fate or other people rather than their own direct responsibility. They often rationalize that because the area "is already messy," their one wrapper won't make a difference. Entitlement & Narcissism: The belief that public spaces exist for their personal convenience and that janitors or maintenance staff exist to pick up their slack. Impulsivity & Need for Convenience: Prioritizing instant gratification. If a trash can isn't immediately at arm's reach, they will drop an item to avoid the temporary, minor inconvenience of carrying it.

I finally got out on the water and towing with the new tires was a lot smoother. I'm using Load Range B which is appropriate for the trailer load and I ran the tires at 30psi instead of the max of 35psi. I forgot to bring my non contact temp gun with me but the tires weren't even warm when I arrived at my destination. The trailer rode much smoother than the smaller 8" tires I replaced. I'm very pleased with the results.

If we don't change our ways as a collective, we'll end up with this.... https://youtu.be/S1J6TFHCevg?list=RDS1J6TFHCevg

No judgement on my part if one chooses not to pick up other people's trash, however, I will demonize those who discard their garbage where it doesn't belong. It's difficult to identify a lower level of human. Nothing burns my arse more than seeing a beautiful natural area desecrated by garbage Nature is my church, synagogue, mosque, or any other holy site. I treat it as the holiest of the holy. I am always prepared to pick up what I find left behind by others. I carry leather & exam gloves, several kinds of trash pick up sticks, a shovel, and contractor size garbage bags. I also have a long telescoping pole to snag lures from trees although I don't carry it all the time. Some of what I pick up is absolutely disgusting. Discarded food, used toilet paper, broken lawn chairs, a surprising amount of trashed fishing lures, hooks, and weights. Camping gear, clothing, broken glass, beer cans and cigarette butts.... I could go on and on. I police the area before I launch and after as well. While on the water I'll grab whatever litter I can find. We shouldn't ask who should pick up the trash. A much better question to ask is who WILL pick up the trash. "Should" fixes nothing. "Will" starts the process of repair. I was taught as a Scout to leave where ever I am better than when I arrived. I see no reason to stop now. My wife and I will police our local roads as well. There is no shortage of trash as well as ignorant beings to ruin it. Don't eliminate them. Re-educate them.

I like to think of it as the grief we experience is inherently connected and in direct proportion to the amount of love we shared. It's a fundamental component of the human experience.

It's amazing that we as humans and animals can establish such deep connections. Again, my sense of it is that we are connecting with another sentient being at it's most basic level. If you distill it down, we are nothing but wave form at the sub atomic levels and a connection is made with another who is on the same resonating frequency. I see that connection being made when I am talking with several cats. There might be one who will be hanging on every word I say. It's visibly perceptible and I feel that is where we get a "lock & tone". It's where the real magic starts to happen. That might not be the best way to describe it but for me it seems to make sense.

It doesn't sound crazy at all. I'll wager that any pet "owner" who has a very deep bond with their companion would take that deal in a heartbeat. I know I would. My sense of your dream is that it was a very clear message to you. Dreams are considerably different than "messages". Dreams are very muddled, vague and ambiguous. They are like spinning the tuner dial on a radio, picking up a variety of frequencies and together they make no real sense. Messages are very linear, vivid and lucid. They are sometimes more real than real. Again, just my opinion, I believe that those who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge and who have had a very deep bond with their human, do return from time to time to "check in". These visitations can be quite subtle or extremely profound. To that point, be keenly aware, keep your internal radar sweeping,and know that it's not a construct of your imagination.

Oh so very true. It does suck, but that is the premium we pay for unconditional love. I've learned several things being that we've gone through these cycles too many times. Firstly, we are stronger than we allow ourselves to believe. The pain might seem unbearable, but we will manage to bare the weight of grief and survive. The second thing I've learned is a little more complicated. As mentioned, we've had to say goodbye so many times, I always thought that somehow I would be stronger the next time those words were spoken. Maybe stronger, maybe develop a thicker skin, maybe develop a protective shell of sorts. I was so very wrong in thinking it was going to be easier and less painful. In fact, it became much harder for me each subsequent time. I just could not make sense of it. The answer came to me when we had to say goodbye to our beloved Amber. Amber was a truly unique girl different from other cats. She was a long haired tortie, who embodied love in everything she did. She never just walked from place to place, She trotted or bounded from here to there. She was always in her own world of love and wanted to share it with everyone. When we had to say goodbye to her, I was a mess, couldn't eat and felt physically ill. While mourning our loss, for a brief moment the veil of sadness lifted to allow clarity and the answer as to why this kept getting more painful. When we say goodbye for the last time to a loved companion, we realize how fragile and precious life really is in a very real way. We respond to this knowing by loving those still with us in this 4D world even deeper and more fiercely than ever before. Doing so, we experience love like we've never have, an entirely new level of love. The next time we say goodbye, the void left in our hearts is deeper and the grief is more intense than ever before. So why continue going through these cycles? Simply, if you stop loving, you'll never experience the greater levels of love. Our brain basically squelches emotions like love and I'm here to tell you that there are levels of love that defy human comprehension. That's just my take on it all.

Sorry for your loss just doesn't cover it for me. Hearing of someone having to say goodbye to a loved and trusted companion always tears the scab off for me. I've had to say goodbye more times than I'd like to count and probably more times than most. It's always really rough for me. When we say goodbye we are always by their side when they finally close their eyes and take their last breath. All our fur babies who cross the Rainbow Bridge get a private cremation and their name embossed on a dog tag that I wear all the time. Many came to us treated like yesterdays garbage and we introduced them to a loving and safe environment. When they leave us, they leave with dignity and love. The following has proved helpful in coping with grief.... I hope it proves helpful. "Grief is not just an emotion—it’s an unraveling, a space where something once lived but is now gone. It carves through you, leaving a hollow ache where love once resided. In the beginning, it feels unbearable, like a wound that will never close. But over time, the raw edges begin to mend. The pain softens, but the imprint remains—a quiet reminder of what once was. The truth is, you never truly "move on." You move with it. The love you had does not disappear; it transforms. It lingers in the echoes of laughter, in the warmth of old memories, in the silent moments where you still reach for what is no longer there. And that’s okay. Grief is not a burden to be hidden. It is not a weakness to be ashamed of. It is the deepest proof that love existed, that something beautiful once touched your life. So let yourself feel it. Let yourself mourn. Let yourself remember. There is no timeline, no “right” way to grieve. Some days will be heavy, and some will feel lighter. Some moments will bring unexpected waves of sadness, while others will fill you with gratitude for the love you were lucky enough to experience. Honor your grief, for it is sacred. It is a testament to the depth of your heart. And in time, through the pain, you will find healing—not because you have forgotten, but because you have learned how to carry both love and loss together." - Jim Carrey

I don't own a boat but the same concept that applies to motor vehicles, aircraft, firearm owners and the like. The driver, captain, pilot in command, shooter, IS responsible for everything and everyone in their purview. Safety is paramount. There are no exceptions and all too often, this is taken too lightly. When that happens, things can go sideways quickly. Being vigilant and maintaining situational awareness doesn't guarantee event free operation but it sure tilts the odds heavily in your favor. Apologies, but I'm an admitted safety Nazi. I drive friends and family crazy until something stupid happens that could have been avoided.

I haven't towed it out on the road, but just moving the trailer with the yaks onboard, it moved a lot easier. I used load range B as compared to the load range C you used. I believe the B's will ride smoother than the C's will. I'll find out in a week or so when I get out on the water. That might get delayed depending on the cumulative side effects of the rabies PEP that I'm going through now, (yep rabies). Not fun at all but so far so good. I was bitten by a stray cat and the bite was particularly nasty, so out of an abundance of caution I went for the rabies PEP (post exposure prophylaxis). It's always something, right? I'm pretty sure you'll want to space your fenders out from the frame. I used 1" stainless spacers and that seemed to position them perfectly.

Yes, it does feel good not having to worry about a failure. Before it's "maiden" tow, I'll retorque everything just to be safe. Thanks! I'm really pleased with the results. Beyond rechecking my work, I do want to add a GoPro mount on the tongue to video towing without balance beads and with them. I really love doing this type of work. I retired from a very large metal fabrication shop and although I no longer have access to the facility and tools, this was pretty easy once I sourced the parts that I would need instead of making them myself. This plan came together quite well.

I've pretty much wrapped up my kayak trailer makeover/refresh. I was inspired by @Kayak Koz when he upsized his trailer tires. I went with the same size tires as he used, 20 x 65 - 10. Using such a tall tire required that the fenders be relocated and because of the cargo rack. They required me to shorten them a little. I replaced the crusty cargo rack with a new one, replaced the springs and hardware as a preventative measure, and installed a new spare tire carrier. I might do some fine tuning but it's basically done for now. I'm really pleased with the outcome.

Isn't the FS10 a sit in yak?

So sorry to hear this. We're no strangers to saying goodbye to a trusted companion. Releasing them from a failing body is the most difficult thing I have lived through. It burns like fire and the void they leave in our hearts seems unfillable. My wife and I have a cat rescue/sanctuary with 42 cats in our home. Most of our cats are special needs cat. We have almost every issue a cat can have here. Basically they come here with broken bodies, broken trust, or broken spirits. We do our best to make things right for them. We don't rehome any of them and we become their forever home. Our vet or our local Humane Society will call us when they take in an unadoptable cat and we'll take them in. Because of all the health issues the cats have to deal with, we have to say goodbye all too often and too soon. Each one is more painful than the last. It never gets any easier for us and I will admit that I sob like a little baby. The wounds never heal. We just learn to cope with the loss better. I find solace in the following. I hope you do as well. "Grief is not just an emotion—it’s an unraveling, a space where something once lived but is now gone. It carves through you, leaving a hollow ache where love once resided. In the beginning, it feels unbearable, like a wound that will never close. But over time, the raw edges begin to mend. The pain softens, but the imprint remains—a quiet reminder of what once was. The truth is, you never truly "move on." You move with it. The love you had does not disappear; it transforms. It lingers in the echoes of laughter, in the warmth of old memories, in the silent moments where you still reach for what is no longer there. And that’s okay. Grief is not a burden to be hidden. It is not a weakness to be ashamed of. It is the deepest proof that love existed, that something beautiful once touched your life. So let yourself feel it. Let yourself mourn. Let yourself remember. There is no timeline, no “right” way to grieve. Some days will be heavy, and some will feel lighter. Some moments will bring unexpected waves of sadness, while others will fill you with gratitude for the love you were lucky enough to experience. Honor your grief, for it is sacred. It is a testament to the depth of your heart. And in time, through the pain, you will find healing—not because you have forgotten, but because you have learned how to carry both love and loss together." - Jim Carrey I hope you find comfort in whatever manner works for you. Every cat that we say goodbye to gets a private cremation and their name embossed onto a dog tag that I wear all the time. Even though they are gone from the physical, they are always alive in my memories. The photo is an older photo. There are two more dog tags that are filled with names.

Trucker hats ? Overrated, but still has a core group of enthusiasts..... What about ankle socks ? Popular with the minimalist crowd or those who can't completely commit to going barefoot. How do we feel about eating with a spork ? The over achiever of utensils who never attained the celebrity status of fork and spoon. Still, there are devotees that discretely employ their use primarily on camping trips. And does spam actually go with baked beans ? According to the Culinary Institute of America, they are often served together and never fail to delight. I bet Ricky Ricardo would know. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Ricky replied with a "No comment." Investigating further, we reached out to Steven Wright, his response was as follows..... Steven's response....

Full top knot and then some. I never really cared for the baseball type hats but I used them when I first started. Now my headgear of choice is the military boonie hat with the sides stitched up Aussie style in the camo du jour. One simply can't have mismatched camo patterns. That is the ultimate fashion fau pas.

Ponds & lakes on flame,...... with rock n roll.