Awesome!

That’s the only way to describe the day and the experience. Bob, being a well seasoned collector, scrambled up poles like a squirrel and he was able to walk away from a downed pole without grabbing the insulators, which almost killed me! It was cold, snowy and wet.

Bob, the squirrel

…

I thought Renee was cougar bait or had accidentally fallen off the cliff bird watching or something, but she had followed some wires down the side of the embankment to find a treasure of insulators, which Bob and I helped her to retrieve, despite the snow, rain and the slide of mud and rocks that ensued every time we took a step.

Oh Yeah, Renee also tried to kill me when I was admiring insulators out my open window she drove into the tree branches almost taking my eye out, somehow Bob and Renee thought that was pretty funny. (ed. note: it was hysterical!!!!!)

The highlight of the day of course was a special stop so Renee and I could learn to climb. And all I can say is “I’m King of the World!” It wasn’t as difficult as I thought and now all I can think about is the next trip and the next climb. I haven’t specialized yet (Unlike Renee who only collects glass or porcelain! Mmmph!). Nor am I able to trade or sell as I cannot bear to part with any of my prized collection, all I know is “Insulators Beware”. Now that I can reach them I will be unstoppable.

Another highlight of the day – Bob’s Collection. I could hardly stop drooling down the front of my jacket – row upon row, purple – green – amber – rootbeer – lemon – purple – amber – green – amber -lemon – rootbeer (You get the picture).

Renee: “Kim! over yonder, downed pole.”

Kim: “It’s caught up on the lines! Their too high to reach!”

Renee: (diving headlong into a bramble patch, surfing down shale) “It aint too high to reach, no stinkin pole is too high to reach!”

Kim, taking a break from ordering me around

 Kim: “Well!”

Renee: “If I stand on my tiptoes I am just able to caress the end of this crossarm!”

Kim: (gingerly stepping over the brambles and stepping softly over the shale) “Ratsass I stepped in a puddle!”

Renee: “I’m going to cut the wire! Look out!

Kim: “Those are tin snips”

Renee: Fine! We’ll saw those puppies off!”

Kim: “Ratsass I stepped in a puddle!”

They waved and smiled

Kim: “Lift me! I’ll unscrew those spools!”

Renee: “I can’t lift you!”

Kim: “Sure you can, your a sturdy girl, lift me!”

Renee: “Ugh”

Kim: “Got em, put me down! I’ll take them over there, Ratsass I stepped in a puddle!”

Renee: (sawing off the last of the insulators within reach, we have short arms) “Come here help me carry these!”

Kim: “Ratsass I stepped in a puddle!”

Kim: “Your ear is bleeding! blood is gushing down your neck!”

Battle Scars

Renee: “Really? Take a picture!”

This is when we decided:

“Mentor………….that’s the ticket!”

“We need a Mentor!”