Massey Ferguson, that is. That’s what is says on this big truck seen for sale on Lake Blvd in Redding.
Here’s a view of the back of the truck. Around here, they say go big or go home. Yeah, that’s one big exhaust pipe, alright.
Putting a camper shell on here is probably not recommended. Looks like a smokestack from a cruise ship to me. Call (530) 410 9143 if you’re interested. He’s asking (or she’s asking) $15K. It would make an impressive ride.
Pat Karch Band at Sundial Bridge Cafe photos
We went for a walk to the River Trail yesterday evening, down from Hilltop, a nice short cardio walk. We didn’t know there was a band playing. Approaching from the north side, we could hear Pat’s unmistakable keyboard licks from a mile away. I knew who it was after just the first few bars. Pat Karch is an awesome player.
Joe Catanio joins the trio to sing the standards. Pat is such an amazing player. Even though his singing and keyboard chops are so overwhelming, he is the kind of player who brings out the best in others around him. That’s why he plays in so many bands around here. Talent and class, the rarest combination in musicianship. Plus he’s really nice. A true Redding treasure. Upright bass player Bruce Calin, and percussionist Bobby Viramontes laid down the the groove nicely. They showed their skills and fit the bill.
Then a leisurely stroll back to the bridge brings the color.
What a great evening stroll. The river-cooled air carried waves of jazz aloft, and was perfume for all the senses. Does it get any better than this? Did I mention they are playing there again tonight?
It don’t mean a thing if it aint got that swing. The bridge was totally swingin’.
JW's Big Weenie inserted into Bug Museum
Longtime readers will recall this was once the home of Redding’s only Bug Museum. No more.
Owner/Chef Diane displays the completely renovated, and eat-off-the-floor kitchen. No bugs here. It’s bigger than I remember inside the diminutive galley.
Menu please. Mlle. de Joie pondered this for a while. Oops sorry, wrong blog. Ahem. Alongside handwritten daily specials, the expansive regular menu reveals that the venerable tube steak has been taken to soaring new culinary heights. No wine list, but hey, what’s that down there towards the bottom? “Tiger’s Blood” flavored Snow Cones. Well okay then. That sounds Redding enough.
OMG the #6 tasted every bit as good as it looks. Exquisite. Delightful. Must…stop…at…one……argh!
Ah, but I wax nostalgic for our lost Bug Museum and the cheaper gasoline prices back then. It was a true Redding original. Driven out of business by a jealous Turtle Bay Museum, no doubt. Still, this new destination restaurant for discerning diners awaits the gourmet palates of our community. It seems likely that JW’s Big Weenie will rise to…no. No! Bad Blogger. No more weenie double entendres. You are better than that. Anyway JW’s Big Weenie comes highly recommended.
JW’s Big Weenie is located at 1100 Hartnell, just east of the 4 Corners at Churn Creek Road. Call 222 2417.
Worst Persons in the World
They say there’s no “bad” publicity in the world of entertainers and celebrities. There’s only publicity. If true, Redding has been getting it in spades over the last few days. MSNBC’s Keith Olberman has been featuring our own Congressman Wally Herger as the Worst Person in the World, and now similarly features Herger’s congressional aide on national TV. Check out the latest:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Some photos of Aug 22 Redding Dragstrip 10.5 Shootout
There was a good turnout of racers and fans for last weekend at the Redding Dragstrip. I run their website for them, so I went out to get some photos.
The Redding Dragstrip is committed to offering a safe family environment for racers and fans. Having this great race facility provides a safe place for street legal cars and motorcycles (and snowmobiles, apparently) to race one another without endangering themselves (well, not as much) or others on the streets of our community. I’m just a casual fan myself, but you can easily see the work, effort, and love put into the sport. Redding holds car culture as high art, and here we see as fine an exhibition as can be found anywhere.
Missing. Have you seen my imaginary friend?
Spotted this poster at the Holiday Market at the corner of Shasta View and Hartnell.
“Frequents discount sushi bars and polka raves.” But then, who doesn’t?
On the other hand…I love my hometown, but soon I start thinking that seems awfully snarky and clever for a random poster at a Redding supermarket. So I Google “My imaginary Friend Steve” and get 89,000 hits. HERE is the top of the list. So much for originality.
What could it all mean, though?
Exciting race day planned, Saturday at the Redding Dragstrip
The Redding Dragstrip is hosting a race for very powerful drag cars with skinnier-than-average tires, which makes for interesting and challenging racing. Also racing will be the street legal cars. Allowing street racers to run their cars at the strip helps keep them from racing the streets, and that’s a good thing. This kind of racing is really fun to watch. First one across the line is the winner. Plus, they’ve added a grudge match between two 7 second dragsters that should be breathtaking. Gates open at 4:30 and racing starts at 6 pm. Spectators pay only $5 each, and that’s an entertainment bargain, by any measure. If you’re a fan, you’ll be there, and if you haven’t been out to the track before, this is an opportunity for an experience you just won’t get anywhere else. The people running the track have made big improvements to the facility over the last couple years. Redding’s car culture has always found it’s full realization at this track since the 60’s. It is the longest continuously operating NHRA dragstrip in the US, and maybe the world. Come check it out. Be there!
Hummingbird poses
This little guy (or gal) sat still long enough for me to get in a few shots.
It saw me, but didn’t seem to care much. They seem to me to have quite complex behavior, especially considering how small they are, and how small their brains must be, they seem proportionally brilliant.
I caught one image as it was about to fly off, and thought that was a lucky shot.
Redding’s fire based economy
We have had economic change over the years, just like everywhere. Our area was once mining based, and then railroad based, and then logging based. Today we are more or less medical services, and retail-based. Except for the substantial part that is government-based. And a big part of that has become the fire-camp based economy.
To those who criticize the Stillwater Industrial Park, I ask: what’s your plan to provide jobs in the Northstate? The fire-camp based economy seems like a bit of a dead-end road. We’ve seen dead-end economic plans here before…
Kilarc reservoir is on the endangered list
We stopped in over at Kilarc Reservoir in eastern Shasta County for a look. It’s nice to get up out of the valley heat.
It’s a lovely picnic area and lake, maintained by PG&E, who run the electrical generation facility there. PG&E wants to abandon the project, which is one of the oldest in the county. They would demolish the reservoir, power house, and the dam on Cow Creek that feeds it.
The plan strikes us as a bit sad. This has to be one of the cleanest possible ways to make electricity. It’s been here for years, and seems to have had proportionally small impact. No hydropower comes without cost, but some projects seem to have reasonable cost/benefits, especially when already in place. Imagine the power replaced with a coal fired plant, and it offers some perspective.
On the way home, we stopped at a high country ranch we know. The owner let us pick some fruit. These apples are from trees more than 100 years old. Still productive. The people who planted that orchard 100 years ago are the same people who thought electricity made from falling water would be nice. 100 years later, they are still right about both.
