Very nice but quite a walk to the beach.
Speaking of lake, beach and pine needles this is our location 50°12’26.72" N 119°16’54.61" W and the “Home Beach” is the one SW of us, few minutes walk down the hill. Watch out for rattlers.
Our home is in central Texas where I’m doing my layout. But we also have a cabin in the mountains of southern NM and have thought about doing a layout there too. For now we are able to get there every couple months year around and when last child heads to college in a year, we will probably be 60% in Texas and 40% at the cabin. My concern is leaving track out and it being stolen, stepped on by bears, elk, etc. We are in town but the National Forest backs up to us so lots of opportunity for critters. Matt, what has your experience been with these types of issues?
Elk are a big problem. This winter three sections of track were bent by elk. Thankfully the elk don’t come around during the summer.
Bear will occasionally come around. But they tend to stay away from the layout. Deer are plentiful and come around everyday. But they have yet to cause any damage.
For damaged track I either replace the damaged section or try to straighten it.
Over the winter I bring in all the switch tracks as these are not only delicate, but dang expensive. I use Llagas Creek track. Actually everything except the track (excluding the switches) comes indoors during the winter.
As for theft of the track that does stay out…we are fortunate to have a nearby neighbor who lives here year round and watches over the acres. We are also extremely isolated and surrounded either by National Forest or Bureau of Land Management on all sides which helps with limited access to the property.
I’d post more layout progress photos, however I’m currently in the Chicago area for my sisters wedding.
So you don’t get to go except for summer? Bummer. I have to have my cabin time every couple months or I get uppity. In fact headed there Sunday. We are also skiers so we love the winter time too. Just thinking about it I’m getting anxious to head up. Unfortunately it’s a 8.5 hour drive.
Matt Doti said:
I’ve arrived at our layout in Colorado and I just started the work to reopen it today. However I don’t think I’ve ever posted a photo of our layout before I started summer work on it.
Here’s what it looks like after one winter. Lots of pine needles, twigs, sticks, etc… It usually take a couple of weeks to get it back up and running. And although it is a lot of work, I enjoy it.
Guess kind of like yours Matt. They sure make a mess.
This was taken a year ago when Halley was 8.
We gave her the tools to work with and we asked Halley " our grand Dtr. " to let use know if she can get all of the Pine needles picked up in a few hr’s. Got this kind of a funny look. lol.
It did take us two day to get all of this picked up and now its look out for the Pine Cones. Now trees at 40 to 50 foot tall there like booms, but they do make a lot of shade around here.
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We have a few blue spruce pine trees we planted many years ago. Except for one tree, they are now the tallest in the neighborhood. I can relate as far as those pesky little sharp needles are concerned. They get into everything and what a mess. I don’t have a railroad outside, but I can imagine the pain of having to clean this up yearly. OUCH!!!