Casey's Newletter
5/13/09 Utah Update
Hello all.
If this is the first message you are receiving of my now officially termed "Utah Update (applicable date)" series, Danny will be putting the last few and all to come online at montezumacanyonranch.com complete with images. I will update as I know more.
Last I wrote, we had thought we were almost through with irrigation. As it turned out, that was a bit ambitious of a prediction. We still had about a week to spend pressure testing and repairing old plumbing. After filling in the trenching, we had about five hundred holes to dig so that we could put cedar posts two feet into the ground as end posts. By now, we have all but a few of those dug, and we recently moved onto stretching wire from end post to end post. Completing the trellising, we have simultaneously begun erecting tee posts. All of the latter processes have been far more laborious and physically demanding, so in great shape I have been getting. Also, it's finally gotten hot, and it's getting hotter! That's fun, and it's also very gratifying to look at our work as the fields begin to take shape. Some setbacks have made the recent work a bit more frustrating, but we, in my opinion, are still doing quite well considering this being our first large-scale vineyard and all.
Aside from the vineyard, other things have also been going well. The weekends since I last wrote have consisted of visiting Moab, Ut a couple of more times, going to Grand Junction, Co after hearing about how cool, young, and college oriented it is (not too much to speak of, but it wasn't bad), visiting random little spots all around the four corners, and also hanging out in one of my favorite spots, Durango, Co. It's been pretty rad meeting different people from all over these areas.
Since I last wrote, I have also started running and biking again. I These activities are, as many of you know, some of my favorite things to do, and it also gives me a chance to get outside before work and see the nature around here. The big bummer, though, is that I am dealing with some new plants, weeds, and rocks, which are not common in California off-road trails, so it didn't take more than a few rides for me to blow through all of my tubes... and I didn't bring a tube repair kit, of course. I'm fighting the good fight though, I figure, so I recently ordered online some tire liners and heavy duty slime-filled tubes. Either of these alone should be enough, so I am hoping to make flats a nonissue. Arrrgh. This aggressive tire protection attitude was a result of a ride last week which left me with multiple flats, no spares, and a long walk home. I just strolled along, though, and took pictures of the sunrise. I can't wait until the tire supplies arrive.
Lastly, I am including pictures. After destroying my old one, I got a new camera. It has a wide angle lens, so it distorts some things in very close range, but overall, I like it a lot, and that means I bring it places. Many pictures result.
-casey. Posted by casey // 5.13.09
4/19/09 Utah Update
Hello all. I am sorry to a few of you that I have been even more off of the grid than expected—it really is taking some effort getting used to not having my cell phone for calls or text messaging.
Anyway, life at the ranch has been quite nice but still tons of work.
The first thing worth discussing is the weather. It was getting really warm toward the end of last weekend, but come time to work on Monday and most of the way through the end of the week the weather was somewhere between beautiful and treacherous. Bizarre reddish colored sand storms, wind speeds of forty five miles per hour, snow, hail, and rain have made work difficult, my bones chilled, my eyes watery, my nose bloody, and my skin chapped. Many times this last week, Danny and I moved our work into the comfort of the garage. With all that said, we were almost able to complete twelve acres of irrigation including about a mile of plumbing and that much trenching in a bit over one week—pretty impressive I might say.
It made a weekend feel that much more deserved. Last weekend, after I sent out my email, we went to Moab, Utah, kind of a cool little town very centered around off roading and mountain biking. We then went to Needles Overlook, one of the most gorgeous views I have ever seen in my life. For those of you that are on Facebook, that is the location of my profile picture. I was thinking about going up to Moab again yesterday, but I did not. Instead we went ATVing. It was insane! I have not been mountain biking much as of late, but this reminded me so much of my old favorite past time except that there is a certain thrill about doing an entire ride, both uphill and downhill, at speeds of around thirty five miles per hour. I had a blast, and we took plenty of pictures. Then I spent Saturday night, last night, in. It’s funny how different my Saturday nights are here compared to those in a big city… very different expectations when you are in such a small town.
Thanks to those of you who write to me as well. It’s really enjoyable to hear from you, and remember that I am not around, so if you don’t tell me what’s new, I won’t know—kind of a bummer. I’d love to hear from each and every one of you… if you have a minute.
As promised, this email comes with pictures. Enjoy.
A final parting note, “If you're ever walking down the beach and you see a girl dressed in a bikini made out of seashells, and you pick her up and hold her to your ear, you can hear her scream.” …compliments of Ron White whose comedy I watched a couple days ago.
Until next time,
Casey.
Posted by casey // 4.19.09
4/12/09 Utah Update
Hello Everyone,
I hope you’re all doing great. First off- to those with whom it applies, happy Easter! For all you others, good morning!
I really haven’t spoken with most anyone since I have been here, so here’s the rundown:
The drive here was seriously inspiring. It was the longest I’ve ever driven alone, and I was a bit worried about being in the middle of nowhere for long stretches. Literally moments into the drives (first from LA to Flagstaff and then from Flagstaff northeast to Monticello), I felt like I was really exploring—and I was. It was really great to meet some fun people at a small brewery in Flagstaff and chat with folks at a few stops along the way thereafter.
Utah has been totally and completely awesome thus far. Danny and I have been working really hard on the vineyard, and we have still managed to go a few places and do a few fun things outside of work. We haven’t managed to explore the canyon much yet, but let me just say that the location is unbelievable. We’re about thiry minutes into the bottom of a canyon with is filled with petroglyphs, old houses and farms, and indescribably beautiful geological formations. Otherwise, it has snowed, hailed, rained, and been warm and sunny all within the couple of weeks I have been here. Pretty neat.
As far as the work is going—on day one, Danny, Jon (Danny’s dad), and I planted cherry trees, filled with plum trees, and erected posts in the northern part of the property. Since then, Danny and I have been working on irrigation, a process that have acquainted me with using all types of vehicles (ATV’s, trucks, tractors, etc.). We have been digging up old piping and laying down new for the vineyards. We should be done with all of the irrigation within another week, and then we will be onto trellising—which means carrying and erecting huge cedar posts… quite a task.
Unfortunately, I am short on pictures as I left my camera in California and am still waiting on it in the mail. I, therefore am sending a pdf of an interesting assortment of iphone and other’s photos of the ranch, some cool scenery, some of the people around here, and myself. As a reminder, all of Danny’s pictures of the ranch are available on montezumacanyonranch.com. Enjoy.
Until next time,
casey.
Posted by casey // 4.12.09
3/23/09 arrivederci
Hello everyone.
I just wanted to take a quick minute to send an update. Many of you know that I will be leaving LA shortly. I regret that I have not seen many of you as much as I should have while here, many of whom I should have seen dozens of times. Albeit true that that regret is held, I couldn't be much more excited for my next step-I am moving to Utah-Monticello, Utah, to be exact, on the first of April.
There I will be living with one of my best friends, and current roommate, Danny Bull at Montezuma Canyon Ranch (check out the website at http://www.montezumacanyonranch.com). His current goal is to expand an already existent but small vineyard on his family's ranch to become a vineyard, which would function as a business and source of income. He asked me for assistance in the labors involved therein and needing only a day or two of thought, I excitedly agreed to accompany him. I plan to be gone through the planting season which means that I should be moving away from the ranch in August. While there I will have no reliable phone access, so think email, guys. I will happily send you my physical address or PO box if you send me a reply inquiring as such.
Where I head after that is up in the air, but my educational plans have not significantly changed. I have not received the most positive of feedback with my medical applications, but should I gain acceptance, I think that I will attend next year. Otherwise, I have decided to continue my education anyway, though I am not sure in what field exactly; I simply plan on enrolling in a community college to expand upon my knowledgebase which is well rooted in my Biology BS. I don't know where I will be moving, should the latter of these plans apply, but east Hollywood/LA is high on the list as is NYC, Puerto Rico, and a series of other perhaps more obscure yet equally exciting places.
I am going to try to send updates complete with pictures and such as the time goes by. Hopefully you will find them enjoyable.
Wish me luck, and I wish you all quite well.
With love,
Casey
Posted by casey // 3.23.09
