Glenn's Underground Cabin Update

[Antonio Carlos Machado]

Thank you, MountainDon!     

[glenn kangiser]

Rim Fire is at about 193000 acres with 30% containment today...  Still plenty far away from us at this time... getting into Yosemite though.  Tioga Pass road was closed yesterday.

Local news update....

http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/157-august/9690-rim-fire-near-yosemite-national-park-update-for-thursday-morning-august-29-2013

[glenn kangiser]

Here is a shot of the fire from last weekend off of Tioga road when we came home from hiking in Lundy Canyon.



They closed the road the next day and will leave it closed until at least Monday I hear.  The fire is of course moving closer but back burning operations must be carried out also to stop the fire.

http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/157-august/9725-rim-fire-near-yosemite-national-park-update-for-saturday-morning-august-31-2013

Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park Update for Saturday Morning, August 31, 2013


Update: 6:45 A.M. 6:51 A.M. 7:03 A.M.


219,277 acres - 35% Containment- 4,931 Personnel - Structures Threatened: 5,506 - Cost to Date: $54,772,523 -  Estimated Containment: Friday September 20th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM

They are saying it was likely caused by Illegal Marijuana Growers.

[ben2go]

They are saying it was likely caused by Illegal Marijuana Growers.

I wish there was a way to rid the world of dope so maybe the dealers and addicts will get right.

[glenn kangiser]

Too much money to be made there, Ben. 

How would our politicians and CIA operate if dope was banned? 

[ben2go]

Too much money to be made there, Ben. 

How would our politicians and CIA operate if dope was banned? 

True.

[Rob_O]

Too much money to be made there, Ben. 

How would our politicians and CIA operate if dope was banned? 

Depending on what set of numbers you believe, legalizing marijuana would take away anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of the Mexican mafias income. Seems to me legalizing and taxing pot would give us more money to fight less crime but I'm not a politician so what do I know?

[glenn kangiser]

Mexicans or American Fronts in Mexico? 

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/anonymous-cia-plane-crash-lands-with.html

Other news...

I went to town to get some solenoids for my crane yesterday... got sidetracked....



One of those deals I couldn't pass up...

I have been watching for some kind of bike to save fuel on random driving and trips to town for small stuff.... one found me.  1988 Honda Hurricane CBR1000F ... that should carry me and the groceries...

[ben2go]

That's an awesome little bike.Not many left around.

[glenn kangiser]

It's a real goer, Ben. 

[Rob_O]

One of those deals I couldn't pass up...

Great bikes, I had a '90 in White

[glenn kangiser]

Cool Rob.  I love it.

Looks like it will be going to work with me.  I finally got a contract for welding on a Hospital in Tehachapi, California.

I will be welding reinforcing steel for a concrete company doing the foundation and second floor concrete.  #9 (1 1/8") rebar welded to columns and a bit of smaller stuff.  Looks like a minimum of two months work.

Passed all of the pull tests yesterday for my big reinforcing steel certification.  These were pulled to failure by the testing lab at about 93000 lbs.  None of my welds failed. 

[rick91351]

Not exactly close to home but $$$ I hope.

[glenn kangiser]

Yes... this is one of the good ones Rick.. a replacement Hospital in Tehachapi ..... they even gave me about 40% more because I found a couple more hours welding on 89 columns they had missed.  They had asked me to review it and let them know of any errors in their bid...    It will be hard work and lots of it for little ol' me but after 8 months with only 4 days regular (steel)  work I don't mind.  I'm so glad the economy is improving. 

Over prevailing wage plus materials, travel, motel and daily expenses -estimated at about 600 hours.  I will be doing it all myself - no employees...

During those 8 months I had done a couple driveways and road repairs... but not much more. 

[pmichelsen]

Passed all of the pull tests yesterday for my big reinforcing steel certification.  These were pulled to failure by the testing lab at about 93000 lbs.  None of my welds failed. 

Wow that is very impressive, well done!

[MountainDon]

A section of this topic has been relocated to the General Forum...

The direct link to the new topic is  PV Panel Mounting Question

[ben2go]

A section of this topic has been relocated to the General Forum...

The direct link to the new topic is  PV Panel Mounting Question

[glenn kangiser]

Working getting my truck ready and paperwork checked over for this project.  Got my small crane working on the Dodge flatbed last night.  Now to see why the smaller welder won't start... only sitting about a year.... always something.    [ouch]

[glenn kangiser]

OK ... that welder is running ... replaced the choke cable and repaired the starter switch.... anchored it to the truck... thinking I need a spare welder also.  I have another one that needs fixing and I think I know what is wrong with it...

I got a big jobsite tool box loaded onto the truck, putting another one or two on tomorrow and trying to leave room for my motorcycle.  Things are coming together. 

The big truck is pretty much ready to go but I am thinking I might want to use the smaller truck since it is only welding and not standing any steel.  Nice to have extra stuff ready to go for backup though in a critical job like this one... .

http://www.tvhd.org/getpage.php?name=new_hospital

[rick91351]

It would be less worry if you did have a spare welder at least lined out down there.  Just in case if you cant get the 'another one' up and running.      

[glenn kangiser]

Yes, thinking about it I want to have two welders and two wire feeders on the truck. Working by myself and trying to keep up with all the welding there .........it's going to be hard without having to go somewhere looking for another welder. I think on the way down there I'm going to go pick up a bunch more cases of welding wire too. Tehachapi is in the middle of nowhere, or at least 50 miles from any decent size City. :-)

[rick91351]

............................  snip............................ I think on the way down there I'm going to go pick up a bunch more cases of welding wire too. Tehachapi is in the middle of nowhere, or at least 50 miles from any decent size City. :-)

WOW Glenn hardly the middle of no where.....  One of the busiest single line freight train corridors in the USA.  Home of the Tehachapi Loop and a railroad museum, and home town to 14,414 people.     IT is also Home of the Land of Four Seasons!   Maybe you all better take some warm clothes does not sound like Speedo weather 24 / 7.  Claims to be a mere 35 miles to Bakersfield.     HUMMM!!! 70 round trip.  Wonder how the Honda will do with a couple cases of rod and wire and Chinese take out coming back from shopping in Bakersfield.  Of course with Bakersfield native Buck Owens blaring on the headphones.   

PS In case you never heard of the Tehachapi Loop you will by the time you get done down there.   

[glenn kangiser]

Guess I better look a little harder, Rick.... I know the train goes through there and have seen the loop but not took it.  Guess I better. 

Nice prison there too... maybe that is where the people come from.... 14000 inmates.....   Hey .. it is California. 

[ben2go]

Guess I better look a little harder, Rick.... I know the train goes through there and have seen the loop but not took it.  Guess I better. 

Nice prison there too... maybe that is where the people come from.... 14000 inmates.....   Hey .. it is California.

Our town is so crappy, they literally cut the tracks coming into town.I mean pulled the flame wrench out and removed a six foot section,stacked it on top of the end of the tracks,and welded them together to act as a stop.I use to hop the train and get a free ride from my town, north through three towns, where I would hop off.Mom really got peee O'd when I would call her from 20 miles away to come get me.  Sorry Maw. 

[rick91351]

Ben2go I agree it is sad to see rails ripped up and service discontinued.  However I must also add where it is not profitable to maintain traffic there is very little option but to do so.  Maintenance on railroads is very costly, and since deregulation it is even harder to find profit centers that allow such to stay open.  Yet the main line business.  Business of shipping coast to coast or hub to distant hub has never been better. 

The railroads at one time were very labor intensive, now with two man crews on main line trains.  Now with more and more fuel efficient locomotives and operating practices the railroads are making good profits and living large.  Large enough for Warren Buffett to buy out right the BNSF the second largest railroad in the nation.