texascavers Digest 19 Jun 2013 00:56:33 -0000 Issue 1780
Topics (messages 21983 through 21991):
Moby Dick: Supper truck for tough caving
21983 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
21984 by: Don Arburn
21985 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
21989 by: Don Arburn
Re: Remembering
21986 by: Albach
Bustamante
21987 by: Mixon Bill
21990 by: Espeleo Coahuila
Re: TCR Dates
21988 by: Roger Moore
Re: a tale from the old days of Texas cavers
21991 by: Ted Samsel
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--- Begin Message ---
How about the Dick part, Don?
I found this thing in my driveway when I came back from Terlingua. Dan had
left it there, and all the keys and paperwork with a neighbor.
Whatever it is, it is certainly a Great White Whale!!
I have put i t up on Craig's List - and I have had calls from New Mexico,
Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, as well as Colorado. So far, no one with $$$$
has materialized at my door.
It probably cannot pass the emission test in the Denver-Front Range area as Dan
has ripped off all the stupid 1988 smog stuff, which never did much anyway
except strangle the thing. I had two guys that wanted it, but only if I got
it passed the emissions test. I not even abut to try.
Most of the Colorado interest has floundered on the emissions issue.
I actually had two guys drive up from Oklahoma on Saturday, but The Wife put
the kibosh on it. She wanted something to take 6-7 people around the New
Mexico mountains and had several excuses, like she wanted another back seat.
Geez!! Ever heard of the junk yard? She just did not warm up to it. Her
husband, however, was working his way up to a wet dream.
Biggest problem seemed to be that she damn near fell on her head trying to get
in and out of it.
License from Washington State is good through the end of the month.
DirtDoc
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Don Arburn" <donarb...@mac.com>
Cc: "Cave Texas" <Texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 5:35:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Moby Dick: Supper truck for tough caving
The name Moby is taken. And Moby ain't fer sale.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Yeah, mine is bigger. 2007 Ford F-350 crew cab long bed 4x4 diesel with a
camper shell. Been all the way to Belize (towed Strickland's old Trooper
there). No pull-off needed, 'fraid it'd pull the ass off that Suburban. As for
Moby, Texas Cavers of all sorts been a lot of places in it from BZ, Brinco, to
Colorado WV and Florida, they named it, ain't up to me. That said, they do only
call it Moby (Moby Truck to be specific), not Moby Dick. Hell, even the Zetas
even tried to steal it last summer.
I ain't dissin' the 'Burban now, looks like a damn fine caver truck to me. Jim
Kennedy killed his Yeti this weekend, ask him.
Sent cellularly.
-Don
On Jun 18, 2013, at 6:51 PM, dirtdoc@comcast.netwrote:
> How about the Dick part, Don?
>
> I found this thing in my driveway when I cameback from Terlingua. Dan had
> left it there, and all the keys and paperwork with a neighbor.
>
> Whatever it is, it is certainly a Great White Whale!! If you think you have
> a bigger one, I suppose we can have a pull-off. Or both happily share the
> name.
>
> I have put it up on Craig's List - and I have had calls from New Mexico,
> Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, as well as Colorado. So far, no one with $$$$
> has materialized at my door.
>
> It probably cannot pass the emission test in the Denver-Front Range area as
> Dan has ripped off all the stupid 1988 smog stuff, which never did much
> anyway except strangle the thing. I had two guys that wanted it, but only if
> I got it passed the emissions test. I not even abut to try.
>
> Most of the Colorado interest has floundered on the emissions issue.
>
> I actually had two guys drive up from Oklahoma on Saturday, but The Wife put
> the kibosh on it. She wanted something to take 6-7 people around the New
> Mexico mountains and had several excuses, like she wanted another back seat.
> Geez!! Ever heard of the junk yard? She just did not warm up to it. Her
> husband, however, was working his way up to a wet dream.
>
> Biggest problem seemed to be that she damn near fell on her head trying to
> get in and out of it.
>
> License from Washington State is good through the end of the month.
>
> DirtDoc
>
>
>
> From: "Don Arburn" <donarb...@mac.com>
> Cc: "Cave Texas" <Texascavers@texascavers.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 5:35:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Moby Dick: Supper truck for tough caving
>
>
> The name Moby is taken. And Moby ain't fer sale.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I've been too far out of the Texican loop for too long, Don. Sounds as if you
are correct as far as any pul l-off contest is concerned. I should have come
over and admired Moby when we were together in Brackettville a couple of April
Fools ago ----
I must also admit that this is not quite as stout as the 1969 green 3/4 ton
that I drove over 480,000. GMC has slowly cheapened their light trucks.
DirtDoc
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
It's all good sir!
Sent cellularly.
-Don
On Jun 18, 2013, at 7:12 PM, dirt...@comcast.net wrote:
> I've been too far out of the Texican loop for too long, Don. Sounds as if
> you are correct as far as any pull-off contest is concerned. I should have
> come over and admired Moby when we were together in Brackettville a couple of
> April Fools ago ----
>
>
>
> I must also admit that this is not quite as stout as the 1969 green 3/4 ton
> that I drove over 480,000. GMC has slowly cheapened their light trucks.
>
>
>
> DirtDoc
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Nice timing on this thread so close to Father's Day.
My first cave was Gruta del Palmito as well. My dad took me when I was 6
years old ('67).
I remember a long walk up the mountain, there was talk about mastodon
bones I was disappointed in not finding and what I thought was the
coolest thing ever - crawling over and under all that breakdown slope.
Reminds me I need to get my own kids back under ground soon.
Probably a good idea to call dad and thank him specifically for that trip.
-Robert
> From: mjca...@gmail.com <mailto:mjca...@gmail.com>
> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:32:46 -0500
> To: texascavers@texascavers.com <mailto:texascavers@texascavers.com>
> Subject: [Texascavers] Remembering
>
> 40 years ago right about now sitting in the border crossing building
on my first trip to Mexico, first cave trip, first camping trip.
Destination - Gruta del Palmito. Met my own future cave man on that
trip, and have never stopped wanting to go underground. Don't think
anyone ever wrote up that trip, either.
>
> Time flies when you're having fun:)
>
> Mimi Jasek
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
From "Mexico News" section of the forthcoming AMCS Activities
Newsletter 36:
Philip Russell (William Russell's brother) recently visited
Bustamante. He spoke with Sr. Martín Rico, the superintendent of
the Grutas de Bustamante Park. Sr. Rico said that he would roll out
the welcome mat for any cavers who wanted to come visit the cave.
Sr. Rico can be contacted phone number 8291010143. Source: Bill
Russell, 12 March 2013
The limited hours do make it very hard if not impossible for a large
group to have what Pete Strickland considers a full tour of the cave.
But a good time in a very impressive cave can certainly be had. A much
better (or, I guess, worse) example of what happens when a cave falls,
unfortunately, into the hands of a government is Devils Sinkhole. --
Mixon
----------------------------------------
Going all to Hell department: The McDonald's nearest me has just torn
down its play structure and replaced it with a couple of free video
games for the kiddies. And people wonder why kids are so fat....
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: a...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hello Friends.
the Asociacion Coahuilense de Espeleología, (Coahuila) start to work in a
new project in Grutas del Palmito "Bustamante" for the next 3 years...
march 2013-2015.
We start the investigation in a new areas of the cave that we find...
Orion Knox help us with information, maps and more cavers help us to send
pictures and information about it.... thank you,...
I will tell you more information about it. soon.
thank you
Monica Ponce
ACEAC
2013/6/18 Mixon Bill <bmixon...@austin.rr.com>
> From "Mexico News" section of the forthcoming AMCS Activities Newsletter
> 36:
>
> Philip Russell (William Russell's brother) recently visited Bustamante.
>> He spoke with Sr. Martín Rico, the superintendent of the Grutas de
>> Bustamante Park. Sr. Rico said that he would roll out the welcome mat for
>> any cavers who wanted to come visit the cave. Sr. Rico can be contacted
>> phone number 8291010143. Source: Bill Russell, 12 March 2013
>>
>
> The limited hours do make it very hard if not impossible for a large group
> to have what Pete Strickland considers a full tour of the cave. But a good
> time in a very impressive cave can certainly be had. A much better (or, I
> guess, worse) example of what happens when a cave falls, unfortunately,
> into the hands of a government is Devils Sinkhole. -- Mixon
> ------------------------------**----------
> Going all to Hell department: The McDonald's nearest me has just torn down
> its play structure and replaced it with a couple of free video games for
> the kiddies. And people wonder why kids are so fat....
> ------------------------------**----------
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
>
>
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------
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>
--
LCC. Monica Grissel Ponce Gonzalez
Asociacion Coahuilense de Espeleologia, A.C. (fundadora)
Associazione Geografica La Venta- Italia (socia)
Centro de Estudios Karsticos La Venta (socia)
Grupo Espeleologico Vaxakmen, A.C. (socia)
Association for Mexican Cave Studies (colaboradora)
Texas Speleological Association (Socia)
Union Mexicana de Agrupaciones Espeleologicas (Socia)
045-844-1478311 cel.
monicaponce1 by skype.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
And to pass on the word from Facebook posts, the theme of the parade and
costumes this year is Steam Punk.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 18, 2013, at 5:44 PM, Don Arburn <donarb...@mac.com> wrote:
> Actually, it was added last year.
>
> Sent cellularly.
> -Don
>
> On Jun 18, 2013, at 5:33 PM, Jim Kennedy <cavercr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thursday was officially added this year, because people started showing up
>> then anyhow.
>>
>> -- Jim
>>
>>
>> From: Denise P [mailto:pepabe...@hotmail.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 5:02 PM
>> To: TexasCavers
>> Subject: [Texascavers] TCR Dates
>>
>> Hello-Can someone please confirm the exact dates for TCR ths year? I see
>> both October 17 - 20 and 18 - 21 in various places. Is Thursday going to be
>> added this year to the event? It's usually just Friday through Sunday, right?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Denise
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Here's the story:
I was contracted by Guich Koock to build a *GIANT CHICKEN SUIT* for
the 2nd Annual Luckenbach
World's Fair which took place at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds.
This is in Fredericksburg, TX.
Well, since chickens have orange legs, I wore orange pantyhose with
big old foam feet that I stepped into. Since it was near 102F, it
was pretty dang hot in the chicken suit (which was constructed of
bamboo, chicken wire, duck tape and paper mache'; shingled with
scalloped white sheet-pieces with a foam comb, and painted approp-
riately. I didn't want to do a Dominicker or other dark chicken since
I know how hot such colors get in the sweltering Texas sun.)
Well, I could only take one day of this and had to go back to Austin
to rehydrate myself and recover from all of the salacious propositions
that were made to me by ladies of all ages. Imagine, such lines as
"chickie, wanna lay an aig?". Harrumph!
But the next day some good ole boy took my place inside the suit.
He forwent the panty hose, though. As luck would have it, some nasty
little kid came up a kicked the chicken raht on the shin and Mr. Bubba
kicked back. Junior went screaming to his cedar chopper daddy who
was, of course, drunk, who then grabbed his axe and commenced to chase
the chicken around the fairgrounds.
The cedar chopper was apprehended and the chicken suit was put into one of
the stalls inside the exhibition barn. The next day, the suit was gone.
Stolen! And an APB was issued by the Texas DPS for a chicken suit.
On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 2:17 PM, Ted Samsel <t.b.sam...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's a side view. I have the story somewhere and shall find it.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 7:48 AM, Ted Samsel <t.b.sam...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I was there too, with my chicken suit that I was commissioned to
>> fabricate by Guich, via Igor Loving. I'll tell the story after other
>> folks recall it. Here's a photo of yon suit. There's another one.
>> Somewhere.
>>
>> Ted
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 3:59 PM, Mixon Bill <bmixon...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>>> Posted by permission of the author by Mixon:
>>>
>>> A long time ago in Fredericksburg, Texas, they held the Luckenbach World’s
>>> Fair, the brainchild of Hondo Crouch and Guich Koock, who bought the little
>>> town in the Texas Hill Country. They made it a favorite hangout for Waylon
>>> and Willie and the boys, and lots of lawng-hurred country folks from Austin
>>> and other parts. Later they sold the whole thang again. Why was the fair
>>> held in Fredericksburg? Well, Luckenbach was charmin’ to visit, but not big
>>> enough to hold a couple of thousand beer drunks all at once, and
>>> Fredericksburg had a stadium for rent
>>>
>>> I thank it wuz June 1975. I went thur from Lubbock on the weekend out of
>>> boredom, just to git away from my grad stoodent studies at Texas Tech. I
>>> mean, how many millipede gonopods can you measure while staring through a
>>> microscope? I was goin’ cross-eyed, and my wife wasn’t much interested in
>>> going, so I went. Had I a friend who hadda been interested I woulda taken
>>> him along. That reminds me of this example of Texanese that my Dad used to
>>> quote, “Well, if I’d a knowd you’d a goed, I’d a let you a’rode, leastwise
>>> I’d seen you had a way to went.” That was how I felt about it too.
>>>
>>> So, I drove my old Chevy 4x4 down there and when I arrived I immediately
>>> bumped into cavers from Austin—Charlie Loving, Gil Ediger, Don Broussard,
>>> and lots of others. We wandered around, drank beer, and sampled the food at
>>> the booths on the grounds. Eventually I moseyed up into the bleachers, which
>>> wuz shady.
>>>
>>> They wuz hostin’ various events, and pretty soon they announced a Laughing
>>> Contest. A no-holds-barred-make-it-up-as-you-go Laughing Contest, with some
>>> vague trophy being offered. By this time I was half full of beer and feelin’
>>> pretty jovial, so I joined up. I went down front to the stage, where they
>>> had notables like Slim Pickens, Hondo, Guich, and Frank X. Tolbert as
>>> judges. Also Sarah somebody, a famous Texas politician whose last name I
>>> can’t recall, but she was good-lookin’.
>>>
>>> I asked about rules, and they didn’t have any. So, the first man gets up to
>>> the mike and he tells some cornball joke and slaps his thigh and laughs. The
>>> crowd sort of laughs, and we’re off to a start. Then the second man takes
>>> the mike and tells some long windy joke and they sort of laugh, but not too
>>> much. I’m thinkin’, “Man, this is pretty lame. I can do better than this.” I
>>> think I was third, or maybe fifth—I didn’t really care at this point. So, I
>>> decided to do something unusual. There I was already sort of lookin’ weird.
>>> I had lawng hurr stickin’ out all around from my dark blue denim engineer’s
>>> cap, a big mustash, jeans, cowboy boots, and a t-shirt that said, “Lucky Me!
>>> I live in Lubbock!” with a cartoon of a dood clingin’ to a road sign while a
>>> tornado has him blowed out sideways with his pants comin’ off.
>>>
>>> I stepped up to the mike, which was on a stand and connected to a big sound
>>> system. I said real low, “lucky me…I live in Lubbock.” Then I started to
>>> laugh in a real low register, then I went up the scale gradually in a
>>> sustained crescendo, culminating in a foghorn, hootin’, exhalin’, inhalin’
>>> drug-crazed ape virtuoso hollerin’ extravaganza, while I staggered about the
>>> stage draggin’ the mike stand with me. It was almost scary. I didn’t know
>>> where it came from. I didn’t know I had it in me. Gawd, the crowd went wild!
>>>
>>> OK, so maybe one or two more performed, but they were a mere shadow to my
>>> virtuoso hootin’ performance. The judges huddled together, then they said
>>> the crowd wanted me to do it again. So, I did it all again, but even longer
>>> and better this time. I thank the laugh I did reached mebbe 100 decibels,
>>> and that’s just at the mike. In the bleachers all them beer drunks musta
>>> heard it louder, and they all went apeshit at my apeshit laugh. They cheered
>>> and stomped and jumped up and down, and I was awarded the grand prize. It
>>> was a trophy made by Charlie Loving out of a copper toilet float, glued to a
>>> little basket with sticks and strings and mounted on a 2x4 to look like a
>>> hot-air balloon. And on top it had a plastic Indian chief holdin’ a
>>> tomahawk, but his other arm was bad, missin’ a hand. It was colorful, just
>>> like I felt and everyone felt that day.
>>>
>>> Later on Charlie came lookin’ for me, said that CBS News wanted to talk to
>>> me. I never did see them. I camped out with my caver friends that night, and
>>> next day I drove fast back to Lubbock, which we called Buttock, the Hub, the
>>> new metro city of the south plains.
>>>
>>> I have a Kodachrome slide of this event, showing Slim Pickens awarding me my
>>> trophy. That’s for all you naysayers out there!
>>>
>>> I had such fond memories of this event that I put it in my resumé, or CV.
>>> There it remains today. The only trouble I ever had over that was when I was
>>> testifying as an expert witness in a lawsuit in Austin. I was recounting in
>>> court some technical work I did while employed at the Texas Department of
>>> Health, sort of on behalf of the plaintiff, who was injured working in the
>>> gas sterilizer area of a hospital. I used to troubleshoot gas sterilizers
>>> and anesthesia equipment for the health department using a special gas
>>> detector, a large infrared spectrometer. The defendant’s lawyer,
>>> representing a big manufacturer of hospital equipment, thought he had found
>>> a way to discredit me as an expert witness. He said, “Well, MISTER Elliott,”
>>> (ignoring my Ph.D. and my accomplishments), “I see here that you were the
>>> World Champion Laugher at the 1975 Luckenbach World’s Fair! Would you like
>>> to tell us about that?!” I just looked at the jury, and said, “Yes, Slim
>>> Pickens awarded me that trophy. I am very proud of that!” I grinned, and the
>>> jury all laughed—they loved it! And the big company lost the lawsuit, I
>>> think based more on my technical work than my laughing contest story. But
>>> who knows?
>>> William R. “Bill” Elliott
>>> Jefferson City, Missouri
>>> 13 June 2013
>>> ----------------------------------------
>>> Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them more.
>>> ----------------------------------------
>>> You may "reply" to the address this message
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>>>
>>>
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--- End Message ---
