Garlic Peat them are some nice Pic's of the northwest. i don't have much time on my but i love mine because of the CAT in her. i think i might know a guy that has a truck very similar to the one in your first pic. well now that you know how much tonka will go thought you can just dial it back a little and your be golden. you always have to test out any "new" equipment and see where it's limit it.

Here is Maryann popping the Tonka out of the soft spot at the ranch. Glen's transport driver Dave is operating MaryAnn and Pasobob is at the controls of the Tonka. Piece of cake.

Hey Team,

My crew was on it... left at 4am and trucked MaryAnn to Santa Margarita Ranch... Garlic Pete said I was unreasonable when I commented that they arrived a 350 mile trip 3 minutes behind schedule... These Guys I sent are True Proffesionals!!! They followed Tom Madden into the Ranch. They set up a special Wheel Wash and they made my truck drive through. Hey... it's California, you know, invasive weed control or something. After washing the wheels, they headed across the runway and unloaded. I hear PasoBob showed up to help. I think he has lots of history around the ranch, like many Moons, he kept sending up Smoke Signals. I heard rumor Garlic was getting nervous so I ordered the Team to "Can Do"... and I threw in, "With no survivors ,"... hahahaha... MaryAnn felt at home and performed as I knew She would...Mission Accomplished.

Hey Tom, good minds think alike, I see you and I were posting at same time...

Hey Team,

It was some 45 years ago that my oldest brother Greg and I sandblasted his favorite crane and painted it Linkbelt Red. My brother died in 1998 from a Heart attack at 48 years young. In memory of him, and getting ready for the Show, I decided it was time for new dress. Enjoy...

Hope your enjoy your "Lil' Link", brother!!!

Hi, Glen.
Neat job. If anybody runs into that, they would definitely need and eye test.

I have operated 2 Link Belt cranes, an LS78 28-tonner and an LS98 50-tonner. I worked both of them as both crane and dragline and both were good machines.

Just my 0.02.

"Tom wrote:

Here is Maryann popping the Tonka out of the soft spot at the ranch. Glen's transport driver Dave is operating MaryAnn and Pasobob is at the controls of the Tonka. Piece of cake.

MaryAnn sure made that look easy. Did it get parked out by the highway.

I know it was talked about on here but I can't find it. What's the story on R V parking / camping at SM thanks Roy

OIH

Yes MaryAnn was parked out by the highway. Signs will go up around her tomorrow. MaryAnn literally walked on water rumbling across the fields to the high point next to the highway. She does not care if it is frozen or liquid she gets the job done.

Glen really did send the A team and the extraction took no time. Sorry Pete, even if it dried out you were not driving the haul truck out of that hole. The wheel was over 3 feet buried in that soft loam soil and the rear wheels were simply spinning.

Glen, the Link-Belt Speeder is going to look great. Thanks for spending my money again and setting me up with the Link-Belt Speeder that was your neighbors that GP hauled a couple weeks ago. It is a very cool machine that I will need some lessons on to make it go.

Things are really shaping up. Glen's good buddy Duane who owns Peterson Cat and is a partners with Ed and Glen in the Siamese is going to fly his P 51 Mustang and have one of his drivers bring a T 28 for Friday and Saturday. Glen has shared pictures of Duane's planes and they are over the top beautiful. One of the 7 Stearman biplanes made with two seats in the front will be at the Ranch and will be selling rides at very reasonable rates. The B 25 is coming back and will be selling rides as well and we have other cool planes coming in.

The military guys are beginning to believe in this show and they are turning out in force. There will be lots more of their great stuff at the ranch and we are planning a trail ride for the military guys each day so they can take their stuff off road and get a bit of dirt on their tires/tracks.

Please go to www.bestofthewestshow.com and download the forms if you are coming to participate, camp, eat dinner etc. It is sure a lot easier on us if all forms are filled out ahead of time.

If you are interested in doing the Ranch zipline any of the show days or just before or after, I recommend that you go to www.margarita-adventures.com/ and book your trip now as it will sell out on the long weekend.

Thanks and more later. Tom