Monday, February 20, 2012
Raingear Source
The store in Brownwood, TX, that sells raingear is Texas America Safety Co. (TASCO). They have a 3-pc set for just over 10.00. They also sell slush boots for about 20.00. Those are affordable prices so I probably will pick up both and carry them in my Explorer for those days when it is just pouring and I have to get something done outside. See http://www.tasco-safety.com/clothing/rainsuits-raincoats-ponchos.html#MCR2003.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
RPI Work Session At Llano on February 18, 2012
A very tough work session, to say the least. We knew it was going to rain 48 hours ahead of the Saturday work session but had hoped the rain would end and clear out by noon or so. I planned to load up my Woodings CBI and rail-mower on Thursday and came home that afternoon to do so. But a nail in a tire on my 16-foot trailer thwarted me, as I discovered it five minutes after all the tire repair shops in Dripping Springs closed. By the time I dealt with the problem the next morning, forecasts were for heavy rain on Friday evening and overnight with more rain on Saturday. I decided to drop the idea of bringing the rail-mower since I don't mow grass if it's raining or has rained (grass clippings plus water = mower deck corrosion). Gave up on bringing a motorcar as well since by then it was raining and I'm not keen on loading and unloading in the rain.
I drove up to Llano on Saturday to take part in the work session anyway, to contribute whatever way possible. We had Doug Gentles, an RPI member from British Columbia, show up with his hy-rail, along with Ron and Grace Pereida with their M19, Bert Dockall and a cousin with a very unusual open motorcar (a Fairmont 59, very few of them in Texas) and Jerry Light with his John Deere hy-rail Gator. I brought some T-posts to replace some that have been knocked down and rode with Jerry. Leland fixed a problem with Ron's ignition coil shorting out in its box on the front of the car by sticking a glove to one side to insulate it, and the car ran fine after that.
We started down the track and enjoyed seeing streams flowing freely (unusual after so many months of drought) and the Llano River featured waterfalls. We also saw three eagles perched at the tree housing the eagle nest. Of course we had to dig out various crossings along the way. About halfway to Kingsland the rain began coming down harder and harder. By then my pants and boots were totally soaked since I only had on a half-length raincoat. We got the word that we were going to turn back to Llano since Bert and his cousin were getting completely soaked on the open 59. So we turned around and went back to Llano, where we straggled into the China Wok restaurant to take our outer garments off, dry out as best we could, and have lunch. Then we headed over to the Llano Depot and hung around there for an hour or so, hoping for the promised let-up. By about 2:00 pm it looked as though it was letting up.
Just then, however, the wind picked up and I began to shiver. I realized I would be courting illness if I spent the next four hours with wind whipping at my soaked clothing. So I gave my apologies to Leland, Jerry, etc. and headed home. They were planning to head all the way to Scobey Spur and back. It was 54 degrees when I left and by the time I made it to Round Mountain it was 50 degrees and increasing rain. Took me a while to warm up once I got home. I heard later from Leland that they did make it all the way to Scobey Spur and back, arriving at Llano just before the sun went down.
I learned some valuable lessons: 1) If the forecast says to expect potentially heavy or prolonged rain, bring a complete rainsuit, i.e. hood, coat and pants. You will be exposed to the elements even if your motorcar is fully enclosed, since you have to get out to dig out crossings, open and close gates, flag, etc. 2) Wool is your friend in cold weather. I brought a wool hat and was wearing a wool sweater so I did well for the upper half. But my cotton blue jeans and non-wool socks meant I was losing heat out of the lower extremities. 3) Waterproof your boots or buy galoshes to go over them. 4) Bring waterproof gloves. Soaked cotton gloves allow heat to escape from your hands. 5) Bring two changes of clothes, one for lunchtime and one for when you are ready to head home, so you can drive in dry clothes.
We're a bit spoiled by Texas weather down here since we can and do run motorcar excursions and work sessions all year long. But this work session was a reminder that rain can make a motorcar trip uncomfortable fast in wintertime. Being prepared is essential. Jerry Light mentioned a shop in Brownwood, TX, that sells raingear so I'm going to see if they have a website and what kind of products they offer. This was my wettest trip on the Llano Branch since I first operated my motorcar on it in January 2005 so that shows how rare really wet weather is. But with only a limited number of work sessions available each year, I want to be better prepared to participate, rain or no rain.
I drove up to Llano on Saturday to take part in the work session anyway, to contribute whatever way possible. We had Doug Gentles, an RPI member from British Columbia, show up with his hy-rail, along with Ron and Grace Pereida with their M19, Bert Dockall and a cousin with a very unusual open motorcar (a Fairmont 59, very few of them in Texas) and Jerry Light with his John Deere hy-rail Gator. I brought some T-posts to replace some that have been knocked down and rode with Jerry. Leland fixed a problem with Ron's ignition coil shorting out in its box on the front of the car by sticking a glove to one side to insulate it, and the car ran fine after that.
We started down the track and enjoyed seeing streams flowing freely (unusual after so many months of drought) and the Llano River featured waterfalls. We also saw three eagles perched at the tree housing the eagle nest. Of course we had to dig out various crossings along the way. About halfway to Kingsland the rain began coming down harder and harder. By then my pants and boots were totally soaked since I only had on a half-length raincoat. We got the word that we were going to turn back to Llano since Bert and his cousin were getting completely soaked on the open 59. So we turned around and went back to Llano, where we straggled into the China Wok restaurant to take our outer garments off, dry out as best we could, and have lunch. Then we headed over to the Llano Depot and hung around there for an hour or so, hoping for the promised let-up. By about 2:00 pm it looked as though it was letting up.
Just then, however, the wind picked up and I began to shiver. I realized I would be courting illness if I spent the next four hours with wind whipping at my soaked clothing. So I gave my apologies to Leland, Jerry, etc. and headed home. They were planning to head all the way to Scobey Spur and back. It was 54 degrees when I left and by the time I made it to Round Mountain it was 50 degrees and increasing rain. Took me a while to warm up once I got home. I heard later from Leland that they did make it all the way to Scobey Spur and back, arriving at Llano just before the sun went down.
I learned some valuable lessons: 1) If the forecast says to expect potentially heavy or prolonged rain, bring a complete rainsuit, i.e. hood, coat and pants. You will be exposed to the elements even if your motorcar is fully enclosed, since you have to get out to dig out crossings, open and close gates, flag, etc. 2) Wool is your friend in cold weather. I brought a wool hat and was wearing a wool sweater so I did well for the upper half. But my cotton blue jeans and non-wool socks meant I was losing heat out of the lower extremities. 3) Waterproof your boots or buy galoshes to go over them. 4) Bring waterproof gloves. Soaked cotton gloves allow heat to escape from your hands. 5) Bring two changes of clothes, one for lunchtime and one for when you are ready to head home, so you can drive in dry clothes.
We're a bit spoiled by Texas weather down here since we can and do run motorcar excursions and work sessions all year long. But this work session was a reminder that rain can make a motorcar trip uncomfortable fast in wintertime. Being prepared is essential. Jerry Light mentioned a shop in Brownwood, TX, that sells raingear so I'm going to see if they have a website and what kind of products they offer. This was my wettest trip on the Llano Branch since I first operated my motorcar on it in January 2005 so that shows how rare really wet weather is. But with only a limited number of work sessions available each year, I want to be better prepared to participate, rain or no rain.
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