Troubled Child: Off-Road Adventures in a 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Choke, Battery, etc.

Michael Shimniok — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:42:26 GMT

I adjusted the choke yesterday. I got sick of it running so bad when starting cold. Also, my Optima finally gave up the ghost, it seems. Won't hold a charge anymore from being drained down too many times. Might be time to get a Yellow Top. And a solar charger system...

Went over to Scott's recently to see progress on his 86 WideTrack GW. Made me realize all the things I need to do to the emissions/vac systems under the hood of mine. Yikes.

Speaking of stuff to do. There's a great thread on IFSJA about a guy doing some excellent bodywork on his WT. That's another thing on the list for TC. My poor truck is looking pretty ugly and gruesome after all these years of getting beaten up on the trails.

Helping Haiti

Michael Shimniok — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:26:43 GMT

I hate feeling like I can't do anything to help people in need and all those poor folks in Haiti need help bigtime. I sent my $10 last night after seeing this ad on the TV.

Thanks,
Michael

Merry Christmas

Michael Shimniok — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:17:10 GMT

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and/or Happy Holidays (as applicable) :)

TC in the big Christmas Blizzard of '07
I've been a bit busy with baby Violet the last few months but I haven't forgotten about this blog or the Jeep. I did manage to get out Antelope hunting. I'll tell you about it in a little while. TC is still running pretty good though the niggling little problems are piling up and I've hardly done a thing to the truck except drive it.

Pronghorn Season '09

Michael Shimniok — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:17:25 GMT

Pronghorn season snuck up on me. It's this weekend.

I'm scrambling with what little time I have available to get things together. TC's battery is dead again, so that is charging right now. I still "should" do an oil change and tire rotation but I don't see that happening. I'm trying to get some AA's charged, get the ammo together, pack gear, clothes, etc.

Wasn't able to make it to the range yet. Ugh. I guess I will have to try to run down there Saturday and pop off a few rounds to make sure rifle is still sighted in.

Went down to Bass Pro Shops to pick up a rifle sled so hopefully the sighting in will be considerably quicker and easier. Got shooting sticks for shooting from sitting position (so I don't miss again like last year...)

I hope to be better prepared for elk/deer season which is a month away. Anyway, looking forward to my first pronghorn season.

(Note: photo above is linked to a Flickr image by Nick Chill of Nick Chill Photography)

More Technical Difficulties

Michael Shimniok — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:03:01 GMT

The site has been down for a few days due to a server migration that went awry.

Working on getting everything back to normal. Thanks for your patience.

Lost a gun

Michael Shimniok — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:43:36 GMT

No, not a real gun. The equivalent weight of a gun, lost, from my midsection -- 10lbs, so a pretty heavy gun at that!

We've started walking too so hopefully I won't be woefully out of shape hoofing around in the hills this November. So, the trim down program is going pretty well but it isn't exactly exciting.

I wished I could tell you about grand four wheeling adventures or giant fish caught, but no time for that stuff with the little one and she provides plenty of enjoyment and excitement. She's way better than four wheeling, fishing, hunting or any of that.

We are tentatively planning a fall color tour with some Jeep pals of ours. She'll be a little older and able to hold her head up.

Ooops - Domain is back

Michael Shimniok — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:04:18 GMT

You may have noticed tc.wagoneer.net was down awhile. A friend owns the wagoneer.net domain, contact info was wrong, and it expired. Oops, sorry about that. Hopefully that won't happen again.

Meanwhile, the trim down program is continuing ok, although I haven't gotten on a scale yet. :)

Prepping for Hunting

Michael Shimniok — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:07:41 GMT

Still waiting for results on the Elk draw. Meanwhile I'm starting to get ready for hunting season.

If I told you I was planning on carrying 3 guns with me while out in the field, you'd say I'm nuts or stupid. For myriad reasons. One of which is that it'd be really heavy. Well, I figure I am carrying 2 guns' worth around the midsection. I clock in at 205.5# as of Monday and that is just too darn much and I don't want to have to hike all over the hills with that extra ballast on board. I figured if I fessed up here it'd give me a little extra motivation.

I'm not doing anything special, just cutting back on how much chow I take in, eating better stuff, and hoping to ramp up on exercise, maybe by pushing baby Violet's stroller around the block. Ideally I'd like to be back in the 180 range by October. We'll see how it goes...

Meanwhile, Field and Stream had a great article on shooting practice for hunting and I might get a little time to get out and do that in a month or two? Not certain. I still want to try out the Swedish Mauser now that I've gotten the scope mount solidified. I'm hoping the barrel has enough life left to shoot straight so I can take it out for deer hunting.