Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather

[Tour 931]

Let me know when you're ready to look into the furnace problem! Be sure you plan ahead, these big guys don't like to be ignored though I do know you use yours. Fuel is especially a problem...but as a former truck driver, I'm sure you know that.

Its been cool here too. A lot more so than previous years. I think this is just the usual spring time we all desire...we're not going from freezing to "I need a bigger AC" overnight.

Either way, my Americano went down smooth this morning. After updating my personal web site, its off to the races.

I'm getting a lot of calls about plumbing - people de-winterizing to find that there are leaks. Most of them seem to be related to the crazy thing Elkhart loves to do, use braided flexable tubing for fresh water which use a 'barbed fitting', then 'adapting' them to pex by clamping tightly. This is a recipe for disaster. Pex fittings are smaller.

I"m torn between "yeah!" and "you idiots!" -- Yeah because this is a big money maker, Its easily a $700 service call just trim back the braided fitting and put on a new clamp in a few places. Its not a fix, its just redoing what they did that caused the problem. There is no 'fix' yet except to use another solution that is also designed to fail. They needed to use pex from end-to-end and call it a day. Or, use braided...don't care, take your pick. The only place you must use braided is on the water pump.

I’m ready or will be in about two weeks. I may take it to the CICO. I want to snowbird in it next winter.

I need to burn my full diesel tank by driving it. The diesel is starting its third year. That’s about the max you can store treated diesel.

 

[dustinp]

I’m ready or will be in about two weeks. I may take it to the CICO. I want to snowbird in it next winter.

I need to burn my full diesel tank by driving it. The diesel is starting its third year. That’s about the max you can store treated diesel.

I've been using this in our diesel VW in AZ, and our JD tractor with the Yanmar diesel for quite a few years with good results, but I think you're right, three years is pushing it. Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - Concentrated Diesel Formula
They also make a gasoline version that the local marine shop recommends, and that has also worked very well for us.

 

[The Postman]

I've been using this in our diesel VW in AZ, and our JD tractor with the Yanmar diesel for quite a few years with good results, but I think you're right, three years is pushing it. Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - Concentrated Diesel Formula
They also make a gasoline version that the local marine shop recommends, and that has also worked very well for us.

I've used Stabil forever in stored gas and recycle new in every 6 month, pour the old into wifes car...ahem.

Which reminds me, time again plus fire up the little blue genny...man, all this camp gear takes work!

 

[The Postman]

I’m ready or will be in about two weeks. I may take it to the CICO. I want to snowbird in it next winter.

I need to burn my full diesel tank by driving it. The diesel is starting its third year. That’s about the max you can store treated diesel.

Looking forward to those trip reports and pics...alpenglow!

 

[Sweeney]

I’m ready or will be in about two weeks. I may take it to the CICO. I want to snowbird in it next winter.

I need to burn my full diesel tank by driving it. The diesel is starting its third year. That’s about the max you can store treated diesel.

Definately time then --- make sure those tires are safe...I've seen tragedy already, I don't want anyone I know to go through that

If you do - I'll bring my tools , but we'll need to do some phone triage first.

 

[Sweeney]

76F and dang near perfect here in DFW. Good weather for Phase 2 of The Garage Clean Out Project before sweltering summer heat hits.

After coffee. Always after coffee.

My garage clean out may require a can of gasoline and a match. Unfortuantely, its attached to the house and I really am not preapred to go that far LOL.

Every couple of years (8-10) we invest in having a roll-off delivered. And we toss all teh big stuff, and just go crazy --- it is so cathartic!!!

 

[Sweeney]

I've used Stabil forever in stored gas and recycle new in every 6 month, pour the old into wifes car...ahem.

Which reminds me, time again plus fire up the little blue genny...man, all this camp gear takes work!

I do the same thing -- old gas just goes through the mower. I keep a a few gallons in reserve in the event we have a prolonged power outage, I can keep my honda and yamaha running for those few days of necessity. The propane powere absorption fridge will run for days on a 12 volt battery and a bottle of propane. I LOVE those things. so much better than the 12 volt modern stuff that they are putting out.

 

[Tour 931]

Definately time then --- make sure those tires are safe...I've seen tragedy already, I don't want anyone I know to go through that

If you do - I'll bring my tools , but we'll need to do some phone triage first.

I’ll check the tire dates.

 

[taranis17]

My garage clean out may require a can of gasoline and a match. Unfortuantely, its attached to the house and I really am not preapred to go that far LOL.

Every couple of years (8-10) we invest in having a roll-off delivered. And we toss all teh big stuff, and just go crazy --- it is so cathartic!!!

All part of the plan to have a nice comfy spot to park my 560. Sadly, Mother’s Day doughnuts sapped my motivation today.

 

[Sweeney]

All part of the plan to have a nice comfy spot to park my 560. Sadly, Mother’s Day doughnuts sapped my motivation today.

Truth! My 560 has her space. It’s everything pushed aside to make it that is the problem.

Reality check, I run an Rv service company and my wife a cat rescue. To the palates and boxes take a lot of space, Throw in the life collections of parents who have gone to their eternal reward takes the rest,

I did get the pile of brush burned to nothing…..another one of those and a 10 yard dumpster will make the difference

 

[taranis17]

Truth! My 560 has her space. It’s everything pushed aside to make it that is the problem.

Reality check, I run an Rv service company and my wife a cat rescue. To the palates and boxes take a lot of space, Throw in the life collections of parents who have gone to their eternal reward takes the rest,

I did get the pile of brush burned to nothing…..another one of those and a 10 yard dumpster will make the difference

I know that feeling. We have an antique dining set that needs some love but no room to work on it. Also two motorcycles that need something done with. And the junk I’ve accumulated since we moved here - I honestly don’t remember buying 3/4th of it.

I’ll say this though - getting rid of a ton of “stuff” is quite freeing. I don’t think I can rent dumpsters here. But I do have a free haul to the dump once a month.

 

[Sweeney]

I know that feeling. We have an antique dining set that needs some love but no room to work on it. Also two motorcycles that need something done with. And the junk I’ve accumulated since we moved here - I honestly don’t remember buying 3/4th of it.

I’ll say this though - getting rid of a ton of “stuff” is quite freeing. I don’t think I can rent dumpsters here. But I do have a free haul to the dump once a month.

I know the feeling! We my wifes parents in late teens, and mine in 2 years ago. Before that, he saw the writing on the wall that they were goingto have to move into an appartment, or assisted living, or worse, and sold everything he owned except for personal belongings. I am so thankful he did that. But, even with that, I've got things he wanted me to have, and family heirlooms, that no one in the family really has a desire for.

There is some truth to "What you own, owns you...."

I thought about adding a motorcycle this year -- I used to ride, and 'gave it up' and have thought about going back...but then though about storage and stopped right there.

My FIRST motorcycle was a Kawasaki KZ750GPZ -- if I ever see one of those...I might do something dumb. The next bike was a Kawasaki Concourse. These pop up on the marketplace somewhat regularly, and are quite affordable...$1500 with 30k miles. That bike isn't even broken in yet.

Probably for the best - I'm sure my reflexes are not what they used to be. Best bike, and i see this cheap too...BMW K1200LT. The "Light Truck" model.

 

[Tour 931]

35% of snow tomorrow

 

[taranis17]

60F and fair today. Gotta love Texas weathercasters. Panic Mode: ENGAGE! Wind! Hail! High Winds! What do we get? A gentle light rain yesterday that didn't even add an inch of water to the pool. Bleh.

I thought about adding a motorcycle this year -- I used to ride, and 'gave it up' and have thought about going back...but then though about storage and stopped right there.

My FIRST motorcycle was a Kawasaki KZ750GPZ -- if I ever see one of those...I might do something dumb. The next bike was a Kawasaki Concourse. These pop up on the marketplace somewhat regularly, and are quite affordable...$1500 with 30k miles. That bike isn't even broken in yet.

Probably for the best - I'm sure my reflexes are not what they used to be. Best bike, and i see this cheap too...BMW K1200LT. The "Light Truck" model.

I have an '06 Kawasaki Nomad, wife has an '08 VN900 I got her for her birthday 15 years ago. We used to love riding, still do, but increased traffic from "elsewhere," moving here just makes it dangerous anymore - people are too distracted or just selfish on the road.

I love my Nomad though - it's like riding a lounge chair. Took our bikes on a couple of multi-state trips back in the day. The Nomad has 40K on the clock, but still has a lot of life left in it after it gets some TLC. Wife's bike too, but she's up for a knee replacement so I think her riding days are over. Bottom line: we have too many toys and not enough garage.

Attached pics of us doing the Twisted Sisters in the Hill Country for effect.

 

[Van_and_Terri]

60F and fair today. Gotta love Texas weathercasters. Panic Mode: ENGAGE! Wind! Hail! High Winds! What do we get? A gentle light rain yesterday that didn't even add an inch of water to the pool. Bleh.

I have an '06 Kawasaki Nomad, wife has an '08 VN900 I got her for her birthday 15 years ago. We used to love riding, still do, but increased traffic from "elsewhere," moving here just makes it dangerous anymore - people are too distracted or just selfish on the road.

I love my Nomad though - it's like riding a lounge chair. Took our bikes on a couple of multi-state trips back in the day. The Nomad has 40K on the clock, but still has a lot of life left in it after it gets some TLC. Wife's bike too, but she's up for a knee replacement so I think her riding days are over. Bottom line: we have too many toys and not enough garage.

Attached pics of us doing the Twisted Sisters in the Hill Country for effect.

My first bike was a Hodaka 90. A great trail bike in the mid to late 60s. Always noticed with that big chrome gas tank. Not to be confused with Honda. After owning most of the commons brands over the years including pulling a Leisure Lite Camper behind my Honda Goldwing; I sold everything when our department secretary was killed during Bikeweek. I do miss the early days of riding when we took off to another state on a Bridgestone 90 or Yamaha 175 Enduro. Times have changed and so have the motorcycles for the most part.

 

[Tour 931]

It’s 44F with wind gusts to 38 mph. Not a good day for working outside. I have a dentist appointment in Wausau and I’ll do some city shopping afterwards. I love living in a rural area although shopping is an all day adventure. It’s 15 miles to the nearest gallon of overpriced outdated milk. The nearest Walmart is 20 miles away. Wausau is 60 miles away.

 

[Sweeney]

My first bike was a Hodaka 90. A great trail bike in the mid to late 60s. Always noticed with that big chrome gas tank. Not to be confused with Honda. After owning most of the commons brands over the years including pulling a Leisure Lite Camper behind my Honda Goldwing; I sold everything when our department secretary was killed during Bikeweek. I do miss the early days of riding when we took off to another state on a Bridgestone 90 or Yamaha 175 Enduro. Times have changed and so have the motorcycles for the most part.

Yah thats a wakeup call. I had a couple close calls on 465 -- the interstate that encircles Indianapolis. If I ever did buy another bike, I'm not sure where I'd ride it -- becuase to get there I pretty much have to take 70, 465, 65 and 69....those are all infested with fools who just don't get it.

Love them tailgaters.

I ws taught always ride 5mph faster than the fastest car. Trouble is you become first person tagged by the popo when you're just trying to save your own skin


@taranis17 - nice looking bikes. Ever ride the tail of the dragon? LOL, I drove it once and have never been as exhausted after a few miles on a road in my life. I drove it on an early sunday morning - I'm glad I didn't have cycles wizzing around me.

 

[Sweeney]

May 14th. 9am. 45 degrees. I hate hot, and am kind of enjoying this...but this might be a little extreme. So much for global warming, maybe the 1970's coming ice age finally got here.

 

[taranis17]

Going to be 94 F and sunny here with 65%+ humidity. Summer has officially hit. Time to sweat to the oldies. UGH.

'tis not fair. If we're gonna have blistering heat/humidity in summer, at least we should have some snow in the winter! (*pouts*)

@taranis17 - nice looking bikes. Ever ride the tail of the dragon? LOL, I drove it once and have never been as exhausted after a few miles on a road in my life. I drove it on an early sunday morning - I'm glad I didn't have cycles wizzing around me.

It was a goal at one time, but we never got the time off to go do it. From the stories & pictures I've seen, it's an absolutely beautiful ride as long as you don't either (a) get stuck behind an RV going 15 mph or worse: (b) get stuck behind someone on their garage queen who doesn't know how to properly ride at speed (push right, go right/push left, go left), or worse than that: being tailgated by someone on a crotch-rocket or a sports-car. We were more casual riders than those who needs to "ring the bell" around every curve.

 

[dustinp]

My first bike was a Hodaka 90. A great trail bike in the mid to late 60s. Always noticed with that big chrome gas tank. Not to be confused with Honda. After owning most of the commons brands over the years including pulling a Leisure Lite Camper behind my Honda Goldwing; I sold everything when our department secretary was killed during Bikeweek. I do miss the early days of riding when we took off to another state on a Bridgestone 90 or Yamaha 175 Enduro. Times have changed and so have the motorcycles for the most part.

Growing up, my best friends dad owned a small engine repair shop which also sold lawnmowers, snowblowers, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. They were a Bridgestone dealer, and through my friend who was a two years older than me, I was able to ride his motorcycles on the back roads where law enforcement wasn't a factor. Starting with the 50, then 90, and 175. By the time I was old enough to get my license, I was already a relatively seasoned rider, and it was about that time that Bridgestone came out with the 350. Great bike! I think it was the first with a 6 speed tranny, and first that produced more than 1hp per 10cc of displacement. It would cruise easily at 90, and if I laid down on the tank, and tucked in my knees and elbows, 120 was attainable. I too had a friend die though, which made me choose to have a little more protection surrounding me. I did get a Yamahopper shaft drive scooter some years later when I worked at HCMC in downtown Minneapolis in the late 70's early 80's so I could chain it to a street sign and not have to pay for parking. Could drive it all week on 50 cents worth of gas instead of $5/day parking.