The clips below may take forever to load, but are worth the wait. If you are on a slow connection just open this page and then go do something else a while.
In an attempt to illustrate what the Shasta Trip is all about, at least this year's trip (2006), I have underetaken the onerous task of compiling only the best of the best footage now available to me into a relatively short clip. This first in the series, the PreTrips, outlines the happenings from when I met up with Aaron near Bartlett Springs Road, and continues through the Dead Bus Photo mission, and of course, the PreTrip itself. Understand that gaping holes in the timeline do not necessarily mean that nothing of value was going on, but that I don't have tapes from others yet, nor do I have the ability to send files larger than this.....so be warned, it's a big one!
Pretrips Length: 4:15, Resolution: 240x180, Filesize: 4.67MB, Type: Windows Media Video
Pretrips Length: 4:15, Resolution: 320x240, Filesize: 7.84MB, Type: Windows Media Video
In what some fear is becoming another SST tradition, a rash venture upon snowy roads while looking for a proper "Rampaging Spot" morphs from stranded alone in the snow to an adventure of dubious fun for all. Bus extrication has attained a new standard of high entertainment as seen in this short clip with teamwork being the modus operandi of the day.
Bustraction Length: 0:45, Resolution: 320x240, Filesize: 1.78MB, Type: Windows Media Video
Our Fearless Leader soliloquizing at his exuberant best. No-one is authorized to laugh at him, but we all do anyway....not implying that we disrespect him, of course, but his antics, as shown here, give us excellent fodder for humorous recollections. This scene is from Friday morning, 17-Feb-2006, at about 5:00 am, as Sgt. Brian Piercy faces the biggest horde of Newts and would-be Newts yet with some last minute instructional caterwauling...
Sgt. Piercy Length: 3:17, Resolution: 240x180, Filesize: 3.73MB, Type: Windows Media Video
A good-natured jest at the expense of Brian, given his straight-to-the-point manners with the ladies. He has a way with words that I thought unrivalled until I heard the audio you will experience in this here video. The video portion is the driver's meeting at a Healdsburg gas station in 2002, and the audio is from an old black and white movie which I am ashamed to say I've forgotten what it was*. While I was watching, I suddenly thought of Brian, and then I slipped a recording of the audio next to the video of the first bit of Brian footage I could find, and without any further trickery, something strange happened....enjoy it! Later, I randomly cut and pasted the second third of the clip, so it's not quite as good, but there are a couple moments.....wish I could remember what movie that was.....
*The film from which this audio was brazenly stolen is a gem from 1934 titled "It Happened One Night" starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Brian Shapely Length: 1:30, Resolution: 288x216, Filesize: 2.65MB, Type: Windows Media Video
A prelude, if you will, to the "Castle Lake Messerbuses" sequence. Perhaps, if time allows, one or two more installments in this series will flesh out the plot, and we'll have an award-winner on our hands!
Castle Lake Launch Length: 0:49, Resolution: 320x240, Filesize: 1.92MB, Type: Windows Media Video
Castle Lake Launch Length: 0:49, Resolution: 640x480, Filesize: 3.77MB, Type: Windows Media Video
Contrary to what you might just be thinking, these videos do not need to be extreme to be worthwhile. In this case, Brian Piercy performs a Rampage of serenity, grace, and poise. Note his trademark downhill "suspended stop" manuever. He was leaving the Rampaging Spot on Bartlett Springs Road after this year's (2006) Shasta Trip, where we had camped the previous night. Earlier, we had set out from camp to enjoy a bit of rampaging, but it was not to be....Richard's transmission was feeling a bit recalcitrant (perhaps it was miffed at having to bear the load of a Shasta Trip), and broke its differential in protest. Brian was heading off to the ranch in Guerneville, by way of a friend's place, where a drum-to-drum transaxle waited to be picked up. Britt Grannis was on his way with a truck and trailer on a heroic rescue mission, and would deliver the Rustybus to Brian's Ranch....the rest of the story is best told elswhere....in the meantime, enjoy this clip of The Lone Rampager!
Brian's Serene Farewell Rampage Length: 2:24, Resolution: 280x216, Filesize: 4.15MB, Type: Windows Media Video
A sequence of events as they transpired as evening was falling Friday as we wound our way through the valleys, heading towards a snowy mountain pass, with fresh snow coming down as we get closer to it. But for a fortuitous necessity involving a squishy brake pedal, we might have not had warning from a nice local whose house we arbitrarily picked to perform the repairs in front of, and would have needed to chain up in the thick of it on a steep slippery slope. Scintillating CB chatter adds zest.
Snow Pass Length: 2:38, Resolution: 320x240, Filesize: 5.15MB, Type: Windows Media Video
Snow Pass Length: 2:38, Resolution: 240x180, Filesize: 3.12MB, Type: Windows Media Video
What can I say? I've been thinking of this particular project for some time now, and I am almost happy with it. Hard work, but a lot of fun. It's not perfect (what is?), but I think you'll enjoy the experience. Turn it up! This version best viewed in its native resolution of 320x240, but if you view it at 200%, it's decent....fullscreen is possible, but not really very nice-looking.
Castle Lake Messerbuses Length: 2:45, Resolution: 320x240, Filesize: 6.42MB, Type: Windows Media Video