Buzz over

This is an amazing video. Barney and Richi are walking the dozer and excavator. It's been quite a long day for them. Misty said they had to buzz them after they dropped off the goodies. I'm sure this brightened their day.

Walking the Dozer in. Making Gold Mining History

Sunday 2:29 PM March 29, 2015
Barney left Traveled 22.71 miles. Average speed 3.83 mph. Trip time: 10:38 Max elevation: 1254
Met up with excavator guy, Rick. At the last minute, believe it or not, an excavator became available. So now they a walking a dozer and an excavator in. Barney pulled skid from Takotna going North and had to stop off to some chains because the skid was sliding into the dozer when he was going down the hill. They drove till 2 in the morning.

 

Monday March 30, 2015
Traveled 13.07 miles. Average speed 1.67. Trip time 11:49 Max speed 6mph Max elevation 1062
Update: George tells me they have a little pop up tent they will be camping in. Barney has to cross California Creek, Yankee Creek, Independence Creek, Ganes Creek 5 times and Lincoln Creek. They headed out Ophir Road and headwater to Crater Mountain.  Barney has a tracker so we can keep up on the progress. 

 

Tues March 31, 2015
Traveled 14.41 miles. Average speed 2.07 mph. Trip time 8:22. Max speed 8 mph Max elevation: 1743
Here was the morning update from Barney's wife:
"They have found the snow we've been missing all winter. There is so much snow it is tough going. So today they will unhook the skid and doze a path to crater mountain. Then turn back around for the skid. Barney thinks that will take all day so they will camp out another night where they are right now. So if your watchin' the GPS you will know why they turn back around later today!"
The snow is 5’ where Barney is with the dozer. Dave said he got a call from Barney on his satellite phone. Misty and Barney’s father are going to fly over tomorrow and do an air drop of food. This is quite an adventure for sure.
Barney's wife is quite the cook and is making cookies to air drop to Barney along with some fresh bread, pizza, chicken and dumplings. Barney suffers huh? Dave is in Florida tracking the guys and is already trying to con Misty into baking some cookies and air dropping them on their site this summer. Funny funny guy. Sounds like the guys will have a great meal on the trail though. Barney's father is also a pilot and is used to doing air drops to little villages so obviously everyone knows what they are doing.
Here is the actual Post from Misty, “Makin cookies to air drop to Barney tomorrow along with some fresh bread, pizza, chicken and dumplings to name a few lol He has no idea!! Cross your fingers everything survives the fall!”
April 1, 2015 2:00 Today was quite a day. Misty said she talked to Barney he said they were having to take a new route because the hill they had to go over was too steep for pulling the skid. That will set them back a bit. Because of all the work they did yesterday clearing the way for today’s journey. Hopefully they can get around it and meet back to the trail they had opened up. She said the weather was low where they guys were so she didn't think they would be able to air drop their packages this morning but was hoping they could do this afternoon.
April 1, 2015 3:00 Another update from Misty! “Barney and Rich have met back up on their original trail! It was quite a struggle this morning fighting through the snow and snapping the cable pulling the skid! But they have everything worked out and pray it's easy going from here on out!
Also, the weather is getting better, hoping to air drop their goodies around 1:30! After I get one more call to confirm where they are and if the weather is good!”

 Barney's wife, Misty, and his father. 

 Here are the guys in the distance with the dozer and excavator. 

Arial view.  Getting ready for the food drop. 

Here's the goodies. 

Spectacular views. 

 

About our Pilot

 

 

As you can see, it's a hard life in Alaska.  Here is a picture of Barney with a Grizzly.  They can't just run down to the super market and grab some burger patties.  They live in Takotna which is only accessible by plane.  It's about 220 miles by air from Anchorage. 

It takes a strong, rough and tough person to live in Alaska.  These guys have to go out and find and chop wood, hunt in -20 or -40 degree weather and worry about feeding their family and dogs.  Think about how in the world they get water in that weather.  Takotna only has a population of 28.  

When you think about all they go through, you might start feeling a little sorry for Barney.

It looks like he works pretty hard bringing home the bacon.  I just send George to our little handy dandy grocery store like most of you reading this.   But now look at some of Misty's cooking. 

I know... you aren't feeling so sorry for Barney now huh.  He does eat well and Misty is a great cook. 
Here is a picture of Barney with his wife below. 

 

 

It's probably 20 below and this is just a fun day in the snow.  Below is another picture of his wife.   

 

 

I doubt Barney is getting any sympathy now huh?  She takes very good care of her family.  I am amazed at all she does.  George and Dave have experienced her cooking first hand. 

Can you imagine waking up every day to this? 
Below are pictures from their Iron Man race.  This is something that goes on every year.  I don't have the particulars but they use snow mobiles instead of dog sleds. 

I hope this help you to get to know their pilot a little better.  He will be a big part of their life getting their equipment to their site and then getting our gold miners to and from their site. 

 

 

 

 

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF GEORGE AND DAVE'S GOLD MINING ADVENTURES

My how fast time goes by.  Their dozer, “Big Sexy,” will be on her way around March 6.  They still have some supplies sitting at Alaska Air Transit that need to be delivered.  Why do guys always wait till the last minute?  Since it’s winter, I think I will recap with some of my favorite video’s.  This is from their first bear encounter.   If you have been keeping up with their gold mining adventure, you will remember how nervous they were with their first bear in the tent in 2012. 

So the guys actually gave up their guns for bear spray and it seems to give them some super powers.  Combine that with cabin fever and this last video of George dancing with the bear it what you get.  Why do guys do this stuff?

And remember their first take off from Moore Creek gold mine flying to their site? 

Remember when they set foot on their site and saw this?

 

Can you believe what they did in 8 days?  The chopper had to sling their supplies in.  They had set the tent up, put the fridge together, put 4 wheeler together, cleared some runway, and put the dredge together and built their tin condo.  And they did this without Marlene and I!  Hard to believe they could even feed themselves on top of all of that. 
 

 

And this is all because one man and one woman fell in love.  Oh yeah, wrong story.  It’s all because of Gold… gold… gold… fe-fe-fever!!!

 They became bona fide gold miners, not just prospectors.  This is what George told me one night when he called from the site.  He had so much excitement in his voice.  The picture above is actually a silhouette of George panning for gold. 

Here's a video of Dave getting ready to dredge.  They had to trade off because the water was so cold. 

  Also a video of George panning out some concentrates.  Will they ever tell exactly how much they get?

 They faced danger many times.  They were 65 miles from McGrath in the wilderness with only a world phone to call out in case of emergency.  No roads, limited runway, bears, forest fires, bucked off of the 4 wheelers, stuck in rivers, break downs, cold nights and even stranded because of the weather.  I always say, "God blesses fools and little children." He was certainly watching over our miners.  The guys have always laughed their way through every adversity and never quarrel or argue.  They seem to have the perfect marriage huh?  I have to say George is a very easy going guy and brings a calmness to their adventure while Dave is the wit and humor.

Here are some great bear videos.  I told you they would eventually name their bears.  I'll let you decide which one is Bow Tie. 

The guys went up in the middle of some major forest fires.  The forest ranger came to their rescue. 

I want to show you some of what they go through and the hard work they have put into gold mining.  I was hoping they could just take a little hike on their land and cherry pick some big nuggets; bring them home and build our brand new home HGTV would envy.  Well, after watching all their videos and seeing all the hard work and their trials and tribulations, they have gone through they could have chopped the trees and sawed them by hand and built my house with some energy left over compared to what they have put into gold mining.  But then what fun would that be for everyone?  Right? I know that's what we all dream about, but there is something about pursuing your dream and working hard to achieve it.  Whether it's with your brain or brawn there's is a feeling of accomplishment that makes life taste so much better.  I believe we could fix our welfare and entitlement state that is ravaging our country.  It's easy to say, "Get a job," but why not say, "Get a dream?"  

 

So here is what goes on in Alaska on any given day 

 

We already discussed a plunger to do laundry.  George is a pretty nice and neat guy, but I have to say I haven't really seen him push buttons on our washer at home to do laundry, so I know his clothes must really be in need of a washing if he is doing this. 

Here is another surprise.  George cooking.  George is a hard worker at home.  He owns his own electrical business and works long hours.  Food is very important to George.  Since Dave can hardly boil water, George had to step up to the plate.  I must say he is doing a great job. 

And finally, I can't help it.  This is my favorite video.  Like I told you before, it just makes me smile.  This is George and our son-in-law singing at our wedding reception.  You can see more of our reception at www.georgeandlindawedding.blogspot.com 

Why Chase Gold You Ask

 
George and Dave are living their dream.  You wonder what drives them and you think they are searching for gold beyond their wildest dreams.  We thinks that's what we all want, but I believe these two guys have already discovered what really drives people and what everyone really wants.  It's the chase of the dream and pursuing that dream with abandon.  It's truly the secret to staying happy and healthy.  Have they found gold?  Of course.  Are they upside down right now?  After the purchase of this bulldozer; I think I can answer that without even asking them.  If you think you can't live your dream, you're wrong.  These guys are proof of that.  I believe everything is first a thought.  If you think about; it your headlights only light a little bit of the road at a time, but don't you agree you still know you will get where you are going?  Look at how far our gold miners have come.  I have to add; only by the grace of God.  And we all thank God for that. 

P. S.  One reason I would chase gold in Alaska would be for these beautiful views. We say Merry Christmas everyone!  I will keep you posted.   

The skid is loaded and ready to go

The Skid is loaded and ready to go. 

The plan is to drive the bulldozer and pull this skid with all their supplies to The Fourth of July Creek which is about 40-45 miles away.  Deadwood is about 6 miles away from there.  They will have to do this the first couple of weeks in March.  I think Barney is in charge of getting this job done.  Just to let you know, George does have a pair of boots that are for -65 degrees just in case.  He bought them in Anchorage.  Everyone in Alaska probably has these as a staple and all I have is a pair of Totes.  I will never need a pair of -65 boots folks.   

And our mission is accomplished

What an adventure it has been.  They are worn out but happy.  They are excited to see things come together.  Just reading back through all they have overcome is amazing.  I am amazed myself they haven't gotten eaten by any bears.  I still believe George can outrun Dave though so I haven't really worried about increasing his life insurance.  Dave might need to think about that.  They have met some wonderful people along the way that have truly made a difference in helping them pursue their dream.  We thank them all and can't wait to see what next year brings.  Hopefully GOLD!!!