okiesurveyor

Last weekend I dropped the transmission out of my F-150, rebuilt it and re-installed using ONLY the Gerber Shard and some red Loctite. Truth? You be the judge. One thing that is not in question is the coolness of this little tool. Any key chain will be honored to hold this multi-faceted, multi-specialty, multi-purpose keychain tool. I wrapped it with paracord to give a little extra purchase when cranking down on that pesky Phillips head screw. You can find numerous videos on how to do that or just man up and try it yourself. Gerber Shard I have used it mostly for opening Amazon boxes containing other cool EDC stuff. All joking aside, it is very well built and has a little “heft” but not heavy.   I chose the silver Titanium Nitride Coating version (vs. black) because how often do you get to say “Titanium Nitride”? Full disclosure, I think both of them are Titanium Nitride, so maybe I just thought then silver would hold up better in my pocket. I did drive a nail in a board j...

This September, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer! My goal is to pedal 300 miles miles throughout the month.  Why am I doing this? Because cancer is the largest killer of children from disease in the United States - 38 children die of cancer every week. It's awful to think so many young lives are lost to this terrible disease. Kids should be living life, NOT fighting for it. To show my support, I am taking on this 30-day challenge to support cancer research and give these kids the brighter futures they deserve. It will be tough, but it's nothing compared to what these brave kids face every day as they battle this disease and fight for their lives. So today, I'm asking for your support. Please make a donation through my fundraising page to support my challenge and join me in the fight to save little lives. https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/BurkCornelius/ All funds raised will support Children's Cancer Research Fund to continue t...

What is a saddle bag? Also called a seat bag. It fits under the saddle and typically connects via some kind of strap to the rails of the saddle. Some better than others. My biggest pet peeve is a saddle bag that bounces around while you are riding. Velcro straps work but can get clogged up with mud and fail at the worst time. Plastic buckles, some good, most not.  The seat bag is used for a variety of items but most people use them for the stuff they don't need to access very often. Tubes, multi-tool, tire levers, Co2 cartridges, extra small parts. The stuff  you need when you are having a bad day on the bike.  I am a gravel rider. Nothing I have on my bike is minimalist or lightweight. Like the saddle bag on my adventure bike. A Jandd Mini Mountain Wedge seat bag. Not small. Not aero. But very rugged, and indestructible. So when I started looking for a seat bag for my other gravel bike ( Salsa Vaya ), I was just going to get another Jandd. Of course I had to browse arou...

Sound kind of harsh? Well it isn't.   Let me begin by saying I HATE POLITICS AND MOST POLITICIANS!  Some of the best advice I ever got was from a person whom I have the utmost respect for. Truthfully, I don't even remember what question I asked him or what advice I sought from him. But his answer still resounds to this day, "Don't be a Dumb Ass" The other day my wife was talking to someone about politics (a frequent topic around our house) and she asked the person if they voted. Their response blew me away. The person said “I didn't know who to vote for so I didn't vote. I didn't want to anyone to blame me”. I am continually amazed at the number of people who don’t vote. My personal political beliefs aside, I believe that one of the most powerful rights we have in this country is the right to vote. Look at Colorado in 2013. When the public got fed up with the way things were going they voted to remove two State Senators from office. Y...

I was in the market for a new high volume multi-use tire for my adventure singlespeed bike. After much research and scouring through countless reviews, I arrived at the Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) Venture series (700x50) pictured below. They have the tread pattern I was looking for, which is kind of smoother rolling down the center with a relatively small "chevron" tread pattern and larger, wider spaced knobs along the edge for cornering on loose gravel. The tires mounted tubeless very easily. and held air quite well (at first).  For the maiden ride I  inflated them to 26 psi and they felt amazing. Like riding on firm pillows. Very supple with a lot  of grip. I didn't get into any mud but I really don't ride much in mud so I wasn't concerned about wet conditions. Big loose gravel was not a problem and they were smooth rolling on hard packed surfaces. I REALLY liked the ride from these tires. I couldn't wait to see how they held up to harsh Oklahoma "B...

Have you ever wondered what all of those letters and numbers on your deed description mean? Or why most of the roads in Oklahoma are one mile apart? This is the first in a series of articles to familiarize you with the system by which we convey your most valuable commodity, your land. In the late 1800’s government surveyors were commissioned to lay out the public lands (Oklahoma Territory) into a grid in preparation for sale or grant to the public. These grids were to be 6 miles square and were known as townships. They would be later divided into 36 smaller units, which are our modern day sections of 640 acres each. In most areas they were then divided into even smaller squares or Quarter Sections (160 acres). Iron posts were set at the corners of the townships and stones were placed at all of the section and quarter corners. Some of these stones can still be found today if the area is wooded or otherwise has not been disturbed. The point of origin of these sections is known as the...

When the original government surveyors began the task of laying out (surveying) the public lands of Oklahoma, one of their instructions was to make each section as close to 640 acres as possible. excerpt from the BLM manual of Survey Instructions Chapter 1-21. The basic provisions require that the public lands "shall be divided by north and south lines run according to the true meridian, and by others crossing them at right angles, so as to form townships six miles square;" that "the townships shall be subdivided into sections, containing as nearly as may be, six hundred and forty acres each;" and that "the excess or deficiency shall be specially noted, and added to or deducted from the western and northern ranges of sections or half-sections in such townships, according as the error may be in running the lines from east to west, or from south to north." The system of rectangular surveys fits the basic requirements to the curved surface of the globe....

Starting in 2019 a couple of gravel bike enthusiasts embarked on creating a 3-race gravel series on the back roads of Logan County. The roads around Logan County, Kingfisher County and Lincoln County are famous for many of the Land Run 100 stories that have become legendary in the gravel riding/racing world. The 3 races would each be 100k in length and progress in intensity at each race. When I saw this race series being promoted, I knew I had to be in it. To win? Most definitely not. But that is the great thing about gravel racing. Not everyone is in it to win. Sometimes the competition is in your head, with yourself. If I could finish all 3, I would consider it a success. Not to mention a great raining tool for the 2020 Land Run 100. All three races began in downtown historic Guthrie (my unofficially adopted hometown) Not because I live just a few miles south of there but because all of the gravel riding and training I do is within 25-50 miles of Guthrie. Historically some the be...

UPDATE2: NEW BAG ARRIVED: I forgot to tell them mine was camo. No big deal except I think the nylon on the black one might be lighter weight (i.e. 500-600? denier). It also came with  smaller set of straps, which might alleviate the need for my inner tube "adapter" mentioned below. More to come... UPDATE : After 9 months of hard use, the main zipper failed. Kind of disappointing but shit happens. What happened next, doesn't normally happen. I called customer service and they said it had a lifetime warranty (I thought, yeah right!). They asked me for my name and address and said a replacement bag would be on its way shortly. YGTFKM! That is the way to keep loyal customers. Thanks Blackburn I know, if you've seen one top tube bag, you've seen them all. Not really.   First of all, what is a top tube bag? Roadies abhor them, Mountain bikers giggle when they see one on the trail. But gravel bikers worship them. You won't see many gravel bikes without some ...

Reprinted with permission from my friend and fellow surveyor, Danny Cahill Oh, the joys of Land Surveying! I almost forgot after my 6-year hiatus! After winning The Biggest Loser I was smothered with so many requests to speak that it was all I could handle, so I took a “break” from Land Surveying. But after 6 years of flying 100 times per year, it got old. What would I do if I minimized my speaking opportunities? Survey, of course! It’s in my DNA. In 1979, my father, Charlie Cahill (PLS1005) started his business. Cahill Land Surveying was part of my life at just 9-years old. Summers were no longer just riding bikes, swimming and messing around – there was work to do! I hated those times back then, except for the money in my pocket, but now I cherish those memories more than ever! Memories surveying with my sisters and watching Charla run through the woods being chased by bees. “They’re after me! They’re after me!” Well, the 15-year old girl found out you shouldn’t put perf...

A friend of mine once told me that being a cowboy wasn’t about how you dressed or what kind of music you listened to but it was what was inside your heart that made you a cowboy. Naturally, cowboys might wear a certain type of clothes to accommodate the work they do. And more than not will listen to country music, mostly because of were they were raised. But those things are not what make up their cowboy personality. If you’re a cowboy, you’re a cowboy, if you’re not, then you’re not. You can’t necessarily become one. What makes a cowboy a cowboy is his way of life, his philosophy.  What does this have to do with being a Land Surveyor? Well maybe not much but it does demonstrate my point. Invariably, any time Land Surveyors gather together there are grumblings about being a professional and how we aren't treated as a profession. Some say that if you wear a tie to work you’re a professional. Some say if you require continuing education, you’re a professional. The latest idea is...

I get asked this question more than any other when someone finds out that I am a surveyor. Well there isn’t an easy answer but I thought I would try to explain it the best I can. Surveying is like investigating a crime scene, the more evidence you find the more likely you will arrive at the correct solution. If you don’t gather ANY evidence you are basically guessing the outcome. If you gather evidence for weeks before making your decision you will likely come up with a different solution than someone who investigated for only a few days. I know, take it easy there CSI-okie! However, the similarities are actually quite common. Evidence that surveyors gather might be historical. Some of it might be mathematical. Some of it might even be biological. But all of it combined, will lead to a more certain solution. Let’s say that a CSI investigating a crime didn’t have access to a certain eyewitness than another CSI did have access to. The first solution is not going to be as cer...

This week we lost a great American. This is his UN-official obituary Paul John Shakula, Sr. My friend Paul Shakula, Sr.  Born Aug 8, 1923 in Lake, IN Died June 4, 2019 in Edmond, OK His parents were John and Stella Shakula He was survived by his children Paul Shakula, Jr. and his wife Kelly of Edmond, OK  Paulette and her husband James West of Edmond, OK  Juliette and her husband Charles Kelley of Deer Creek, OK  Michelle and her husband Marty Hackett of Schererville, IN  "Senior" was born and grew up in Indiana and didn't have a lot, but never let than determine what he did or who he was. He told a friend of mine that he remembers his whole family sharing an onion for a meal. AN ONION! Sr. proudly served in the US Army 75th Infantry Division (the Bulge Busters) and is a recipient of the following medals and awards: Combat Infantryman Badge . Awarded to infantrymen who fought in active ground combat.  Bronze Star . A decoration...

Background : If you have a backpack and need a small organizer to keep smaller items handy instead of flopping around loose inside your pack, the mini pocket organizer is the perfect solution. If you already have a Maxpedition pack then it is even better as I will describe below. Front Back Initial Impression : As with all Maxpedition gear, the quality is unsurpassed. The 1050-denier nylon is some of the heaviest on the market and will withstand years of “hard use”, hence the Maxpedition slogan “Hard Use Gear”. The nylon is also Teflon coated which will keep dirt and moisture away. Quality YKK zippers with paracord pull straps adorn all Maxpedition gear. Reinforced stitching is all covered with a nylon material to prevent fraying. Features : The Mini Pocket Organizer is small but packs a big punch. It is 4”x 6”x 0.75” in size. When unzipped fully it measures approximately 9”x 6”. Inside there is a slip pocket on each half. There are 4 small elastic loops on the left side an...

image courtesy GenerationJones.com In an earlier blog,  The Last 50 Years , I talked about things of "my Generation". I always knew about Baby Boomers (old people) or Generation X (young people) but never actually thought I fit into either category.  I sure don’t think of myself as old, but by the same token some of my slightly younger friends seemed to have different interests, taste and upbringing. Not a bad thing, but also not generational. More like “half-generational”. I never really got into the Beatles and Nirvana seemed kind of “out there” for a kid from rural Oklahoma. While ready something recently I discovered that I am actually part of “tweener” Generation Jones (born 1955-1965).  The phrase was coined by author Jonathan Pontell. It comes from the slang phrase of the time "jonesing" or yearning for something. Heavy, right? I had never heard of it but it kind of makes sense now. Generation Jones makes up over ¼ of the US population. This ge...

OK, it's really just about bikes, but that title really grabs you, huh? I can't believe its been almost 3 years since I wrote anything here. I apologize to both of my followers. I kind of got in a "funk" and started a couple of new hobbies and bought a new horse. I usually write about surveying or guns or something I might find interesting that day. Since I last wrote I started gravel biking. I have been a cyclist since the 80's (mountain bikes). Last October, me and one of my riding buddies, bought gravel bikes and started training for the Land Run 100 . FARMbike Gravel bikes are, generally speaking, off-road-road bikes. More accurately, they are on-road-mountain bikes. Either way they are fun and fast. Gravel bikes don't have suspension, except what you might get from the tires. The tires are larger and more forgiving that road bike tires and smaller and less forgiving than mountain bike tires, My bike is a Salsa Vaya purchased from District Bicy...

Well, in this case, Guthrie Bike Night  (GBN) is a gathering of like minded gravel cyclists who roam the backroads of Logan County around Guthrie, OK once a week Unless the weather is being stubborn (common in Oklahoma) they meet every Thursday evening at 6:30 pm at Hoboken Coffee Roasters  and ride mostly rolling hills of mixed gravel, pavement and red dirt roads covering about 15-18 miles. The bike riding is only part of the "what". The social aspect is a bigger part. We can all go on longer rides on the weekend to see how far or how fast we can ride, but this is different. After the ride is wrapped up, most everyone will hang around for beers (and sometimes a little food) and just talk. Talk about cycling, politics, music, just about anything. One time I heard someone talking about surveying (Maybe that was me). Real talking and socializing, not fake talking and socializing through social media. Don't get me wrong, the riding is what ties it all together, but you get s...

Intriguing anti-western by first time director Scott Blake. A story of a government surveyor circa 1848 on a trek home after surveying land on the Western frontier. It's a highly accomplished period piece with meticulous attention to detail re: costumes, props, location. A rare formalist feat by a young filmmaker who appears to have no interest in the rickety realism he has every right making at his age, 26. Surveyor may require a little patience - it begins minimally and is long for a short at 25 minutes - but it's far from stagnant, and includes a notable last minute pivot into hallucinatory darkness. What begins as a rigorous exercise unfolds like a gothic nightmare - you can't quite make sense of it all, but it feels real. Impressive and mysterious debut film [Watch in full screen mode for better quality video]

The days of communicating face to face or even over the phone are slowing fading away. Electronic mail has become the main form of communication in our society. Anyone remember hand-writing letters? Of course you don’t unless you're 90. The sad thing is that if we did remember when we hand-wrote letters, maybe our eMail communications would be better today. I guess what I’m saying is try to use etiquette for eMail similar to hand-writing a letter but not as short (or stupid) as texting. Our society has become so “immediate gratification” and “instant notification” that we often don’t slow down and make sense when we compose eMail. eMail shouldn’t be written like texting, Twitter or Facebook (those are a whole other level of communication). I probably receive or write 50-100 emails a day and I have seen some of the worst and the best. Here are a few rules that you can follow to make the experience better for you and the recipient. Most of these are business related but stil...