SUPPORTING THE MINING INDUSTRY

This weekend was the big...GOLD RUSH DAYS.

With Kensington Mine winning the supreme court ruling to open it's doors, the whole mining community was excited. It couldn't have came at a better time. It was neat to walk into the Gold Rush Days and see all the support for mining and logging...an industry that seems to be so controversial. But when your there...at an event like gold rush days...you will SEE the people that work so hard for their families... the businesses that support it, and a community that appreciates.Because of this, I love miners and what they do. They are some of the best people I know.

The first day of Gold Rush days was mining. The events were timed to see who the "best of the best". Some of the different events were hand mucking, drilling, spike driving, and mine rescue. Trey got a chance to compete in the hand mucking for kids. Andy entered in the collar drilling competition and took 2nd place. Not only that, but he was on the front page of the Sunday Newspaper...crazy.

Andy is also the captain of the Mine Rescue team. They were given a problem that took almost 2 hours...wearing the oxygen tanks/gear. The Mine Rescue Team plays a very important role in Mining. (Come to find out, a Rescue team in a real mine rescue can only be underground for 2 hours. At that point they are replaced by another team. What an effort!) The kids and I had to go home...Little League Baseball Games still go on and it was the AAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Mets lost but it was a good season.

"The Sequence of Events"

I had seen pictures of men climbing trees, log rolling, and chopping wood ferociously. The 2nd day of Gold Rush Days was all about Logging and it brought those pictures to life for me. What a piece of eye candy! How did they do that? Amazing.

It was a great day of fun. The women's ax throwing looked hard but yet these girls were doing it.The ax was huge and double sided. Then the masculine wood chopping with the ax. They did this with such speed and accuracy. Ten minutes later there was an event where a guy would climb to the top of a pole in under 1minute.Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of this but it was spectacular.

Log Rolling. How do you practice for this? This was fun to watch and if I wouldn't have had children with me, I would have done it. But it looked like fun. These pictures are a sequence of events...there was no other way you would know how entertaining it was. Last event: Miners vs. Loggers tug of war. Loggers on the Left.Miners on the right.And pull with all your might!!!Who do you think won? I had no clue how this would go. But once it started, I remembered that loggers are tough! They have the muscles that...every man would want to have. I thought the miners were going into the water...

Sure enough, the loggers stomped the miners and left them out to dry!

KIDS COMPETITION

The Gold Rush Days was a family event. Not only were there booths where the kids could win prizes (for free), they also got a chance to compete. There was 3 events:hand mucking, spike driving, and the choker collar event. Trey entered and won first place in the choker collar event. Here are some video clips. WATCH...as the picture comes to life!!!!

BURGLERS!!!

MY KIDS are burglers! Watch out.

ANDYS CAMERA

ALL THESE PICTURES ARE FROM ANDYS CAMERA. HE N HIS WAY TO GREENS CREEK MINE. HE IS ON ADMARILTY ISLAND.

FLOWERS AROUND TOWN

THIS FLOWER IS IN MY FRONT YARD. THE OTHERS ARE DOWN THE ROAD.

FATHERS DAY CARDS

I HAVE TO SHARE OUR FATHERS DAY CARDS. THEY ARE ADORABLE.

GOLD RUSH DAYS

This weekend is the gold rush days. I have never attended the gold rush days but this year, Andy is participating. He is on a Mine Rescue Team. They are competing against other local Mine Rescue Teams. My first competition was here and after that, I am hooked. Who wouldn't be if their husband took 2nd in the Nation?

I joined Andy the other day for his training. There, on his team, is a Captain, Co-Captain, Gas Man, Map Man, and Medic. Each and every person on the team plays a key roll in a Rescue Mission. At the gold rush days, there will be a mock mine, an emergency situation, and a time limit. If the Rescue mission is a success, lives are saved and the cause of the problem is extenguished.

This is a chance to let the community know about the Mine Rescue Efforts and to support the Gold Rush Days. Enjoy the pictures and hope to see you out there.

MINING ROCKS.

MINING COMPETIONS: SATURDAY AT SANDY BEACH