Mike Pearson's Adventures on a Pale Blue Dot

Downtown Vernon BC, during a recent road trip. The weather was wet instead of hot and dry this time around during our stay in the Vernon area. This bone yard is just off the main highway through town. I have an odd fascination with International pick-up trucks. As a West Coast guy, they were a very rare sight in the logging business, in years gone by. The only ones we ever saw around were driven mostly by retired farmers who moved out towards the Pacific. Internationals were viewed as the ugly duckling of pick-ups...and under-powered to boot. A logger that drove an International just couldn't be taken seriously.   In the 70's, my dad would jokingly say "You never see a Kenworth plowing a field, you shouldn't have to see an International on the road." So my thoughts are...after all those years of jokes and disdain...maybe International trucks could be the sought after hot-rod/restoration vehicle of the future. Rare, seldom seen...plentiful out in the fa...

On a road trip with the kids recently, we stopped in at Canadian Airboats shop in Vernon BC. Owner, Guy Inskster gave us a tour of the facilities and several great rides on a 19 foot, 550 horsepower airboat that he had recently completed. Guy and his family live right at the waters edge on Swan Lake in Vernon. He has a couple of very cozy RV's that he rents out to visitors for the right price. Also available is a 60 hp outboard powered fishing boat for trying your fishing luck on the lake...and several kayaks. A nice little fire pit area rounds out the cozy camping experience. I had the best sleep of the trip in the 5th wheel. Guy has this 60 hp fishing boat available for rent This 5th wheeler, right at the lakes edge is available for rent email: info@canadianairboats.com Evening at the lake side Guy Inkster of Canadian Airboats taking us out for a blast on Swan Lake Flat bottom....no props in the water....go where you want....included across the lawn. ...

A couple of videos and stills of two of the Pantera cars that were at the car show  while I was there. The Pantera was built from 1971 to 1991. Approximately 7200 were manufactured over the years. The first few versions did not sell as well as hoped. They suffered quality issues, corrosion problems and legendary reliability gremlins. Elvis Presley shot his Pantera  when it wouldn't start for him. Here's a story about Tim Horton ( yes, that Tim Horton ) and his last ride in a Pantera   http://adventuresinmikeslife.blogspot.ca/2012/09/the-tale-of-tim-hortons-last-ride.html The original 351C stock engines put out 330 horsepower, by the end of the production run, factory cars were coming out with 500 horsepower, before the owners tweaked them even higher. Pantera from Washington State arriving at the Fathers Day car show This gorgeous yellow Pantera was for sale, I didn't ask how much. The phone number is on the video.