jbjke said:
...There are fathers and then there are great fathers who find a sport or hobby that their kids enjoy. I'm glad you did the trip with him, I know he'll remember it the rest of his life. Glad to hear he received his engineering degree.
As for the homemade shotgun, never put any thought to it after I saw how this young boy was shooting a piece of iron pipe. Somewhat looked suicidal to me. I'd rather use the trusty ol Mossberg or Remington. Not worth losing life or limb, and/or joining Bubba in the cell.
My Grandpa left my Dad a machine shop and I actually did make zip-guns as a kid. Always shot them with a string to the trigger and piece of pipe held in a machinist's vice. Never brave or dumb enough to shoot one while holding it.
I remember eemsreno's ride report and your photos. You guys are one reason that Moab is on my bucket list!
I've got 3 kids, now 25, 27, and 39. I was pretty strict in insisting on what I thought was right with the oldest, he joined the Army at 18, is still in, and I just hear from him at holidays (usually) and when he wants something. He and his wife are super-independent and he is a highly decorated soldier, but I've got 2 grand-kids who I don't know. I f-d up big time.
I mellowed massively with kids #2 and #3 a couple of years after the oldest split, deciding they were worth my yielding, and actually listened to them. My German ex didn't learn and still treats them like teens. They frequently didn't get their way, but they at least got me to listen and probe them for the real reasons they were asking, and we'd talk. Now, we hang out regularly, talk and text near-daily, and they avoid the ex who lives only 3/4 mile from me.
Enough sappy relationship stuff and back to the Alaska 2015 discussion. If you can't find a heated jacket by then and can wear a L or XL, pm me and we ought to be able to loan one to you for the trip.