The manager of the shop where I bought the trailer’s new tires agreed readily enough that they are supposed to hold air longer than a month, and gave me no trouble about replacing the rotted-out valve stem while D&L and I finished our business in town.
For some reason there’s no longer a water vending machine in the local food store, I guess they found that too useful for their customers, so for the past several weeks we’ve had to drive right through town and a few miles beyond to the ice plant, which has one in its wall. Takes quarters, though, so you have to remember change.
I got paid for watching T&S’s animals, and that’s found money and I’m already in good shape for fuel. So I spent most of it on my most abiding hobby which is making my pantry bulge more than it already does. Bunch of canned goods, dog biscuits of course, pasta, sundries and ammo. Rotated my stock of Hydrolyte, because lately I’ve found it useful for times other than when I’m deathly sick. It’s kind of expensive the way I’ve been getting it, so I’m thinking of buying it in bulk online instead. Also bought a hoe, which I’ve wanted for some time to help break up the washed-in ash deposits that have clogged the drainage ditch behind the cabin. December has been so mild, with a few brief exceptions, that I’m getting tired of sitting around. The rest of the money will melt away next week when it’s time to fill gas cans and propane bottles again.
On the way out of town we detoured back to the shop, which had the wheel repaired and ready to go. Got back to D&L’s, transferred all this stuff to the Jeep, unloaded groceries at the cabin, placated Laddie, then went straight back out to fix the trailer…
So now that’s back, in time for next weekend’s planned dump run. Between now and then I have to pick up some pallets people have waiting for me, and also haul firewood to Landlady’s – and also Ian’s place! I keep forgetting, last weekend Landlady and I finished piping in a woodstove there as well. That’s going to take a big chunk out of my supply, but I’m still in really good shape. This streak of mild weather is supposed to last till around Wednesday, if the forecast means anything, so I have a few days to get that done before Winter socks in again.
All in all a very successful trip. Now I have chicken in the oven for lunch and dinner, and I’m going back to my book for a while.
Sounds like a successful trip to the (Notso) Big Metropolis.
RE: Hydrolyte – which do you use – powder or tablets? Any performance difference between the two? And water – what is it about the machine water that prevents you from doing the same thing at your place? Is there enough difference in water quality between the two places that whatever filtration the town gizmo uses wouldn’t work?
I suspect Joel’s well water is so hard he needs hammer and chisel to get it out of the tap. The short answer is the cost of top line filtration units is prohibitive.
I have a friend (Ed) who makes them for the military, the portable one fits in a large case and is probably north of 5 grand,it straps to the bed of a HMMWV and allows use of any water found, even standing water or with cattle upstream.. If they ever make it to the surplus market it will be gold to snag one. See link
http://aspenwater.com/training.html
Chicken in the oven? So which one didn’t make it this time?
|:-]
One valve stem died and you are gambling the other is immortal?
On average, I imagine that the trailer’s valve stems aren’t all that old now. 😁
Yeah, people out here have tried everything at one time or another. Canister filters, reverse osmosis, if a snake oil salesman has tried to sell it some neighbor has tried to use it. We’ve even done distillation on a pilot basis, though I don’t know anyone who tried to scale it up. (because SCALE.)
The only people who can run water heaters also have elaborate water softeners, which usually also involve canister filters – though they can be somewhat courser than the ones you’d use for drinking water. Basically, the simplest way to get drinking water out here is to haul it from town.
on Hydrolyte: The only version I’ve ever used is the little packets of powder, 10 per box, that come with a plastic measuring cup. Seems to work, but kind of expensive. I’m going to be getting something chemically the same from online to see how I like it.
Hell, no. But since it’s been around 12 years that I know of and probably several years more than that, I’m gambling that it will last through next weekend so I can get my dump run done. Then I’ll get the second stem replaced.
By the way, do you have a spare for the trailer and a spare for the Jeep? If not, what sizing considerations are there?