Boredem

I am sooo bored. Some stitches "fell" out of my knee today. Scissors "fell" on them, then they "fell" on the wheelroom floor. This was fortunate- they were so loose and useless, they needed to come out and if I don't have to wait in the doctor's office, it's that much better. More will probably fall out soon.

I've had alot of time on my hands and built up my Yeti hardtail as a cross, fireroad, commuter bike. See attatched photo. Looks fast and feels light. Too bad I can't bend my knee enough to ride it yet.

I have been watching TV later at night because I don't need as much sleep when I'm not riding 3 hrs a day. Saw a great show on the History Channel last night. There is a DeBeers Diamond mine in Canada-near the Arctic Circle. The only problem with this is it is 350 miles from the nearest road in Yellowknife ( Northwest Territories I think). There is nothing but lakes and swamp for 10 months of the year. This mine uses an incredible 10,000 tractor trailor loads of supplies , problem is- there is no way to deliver it. Here is the "brilliant" solution. For 2 months in the winter, the temp gets down to 40 BELOW. They build a 350 mile road of 24" thick ICE for the trucks to drive on to the mines. All over 200 ft. of water in whiteout conditions. As soon as the weather is ready, they send truck after truck 24/ 7 until the "road "melts when it warms. The Ice buckles and cracks when these 30,000 lb. trucks drive on it because the weight causes waves under the ice. Drive too fast and the wave will break through and your truck goes in. It's OK if you keep moving. If you break down, you will probably die. If the truck doesn't move, the dead weight and vibration from the engine will break through the ice- and you go swimming. If you shut off the engine- well it is 40 below and that will be the end of the line too. These drivers come from all over to risk their lives. It is worth it- they make more in 6-8 weeks than they will in a year driving elsewhere. I think that's pretty cool. ( no pun intended ) All I want to know is how do you figure out it is OK to drive an overweight tractor trailer 350 miles over a frozen lake? They have done it for 60+ years now. I wanna meet the 1st guy to say- "sure- I'll give it a go" Later- DH