Delta Debacle

So, I've been down here in Delta Junction almost a week, and will be here at least one more.  I've been promised at least 1 full day off before I have to return to Pump Station 7, in which I'll wash laundry, check mail, pay bills, get my haircut, buy supplies, check on the dogs and pay my boarding bill, and so forth.  With a wee bit of luck I might be able to steal half an hour or so to enjoy a cold bottle of ale, but that's kind of questionable. 

Alyeska and the various contractor companies have done a good job responding to the emergency.  Much of the immediate clean up work has been done, the line is moving oil again, and plans have been made for the long term clean-up of oil that saturated the gravel and probably soaked down to the impermeable liner of the containment area.  No one has been injured, no wildlife has been oiled, and nothing spilled into unprotected areas.  There is a major investigation into the causes of the incident, which haven't been fully explained yet. 

There are several photos of the incident available on the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company website.

There is no question that a medic is needed to stand by at an event such as this, even though my services have not been in high demand.  The risks are fairly obvious.  Most of what I've been doing is standing by, but I have performed several respiratory fit tests to ensure that employees who must work in hazardous atmosphere are adequately protected by their gear. 

Unfortunately, being here means I'm missing a MAJOR event at home, as Allen Moore and Aliy Zirkle have begun construction on the new handler's cabin.  Aliy sent me a couple of photos showing the site prep work and the footings that were poured to support the new building.  It is SO nice to see that they are making progress and are off to very good start. 

Unfortunately, internet access in my rented accommodation is via Hughesnet, and frankly, the service sucks.  Access is at best catch as catch can, and I can't more than I can.  I'm going to try to publish what I have now, and if I can do so I'll try to add another photo later.

Unusually Short "R&R"

I got off work at 6 am yesterday morning, and headed to the house feelin' exhilarated by some projects I've been planning for some time, not the least of which is construction of the new handler's cabin on the property.  Although the project will probably continue forward as planned, I'm afraid I won't be here to see it. 

I was awakened by a phone call, telling me I am needed back at work.  More specifically, I'm needed at Pump Station #9, south of Delta Junction.  There was apparently an incident with the new electrical-powered remotely operated pumping equipment that resulted in "up to several thousand barrels" of oil spilling into a diked containment area in the pump station's tank farm. 

Normally workers at Pump Station #9 rely upon the Delta Rescue Squad for EMS covereage, so they don't have a regular medic on duty at that location.  I was able to beg enough time to show Allen and Aliy where I want the cabin to sit, but then I'll be on the road for the 100 mile drive to my new temporary work location. 

Ironically, a CNN news report states the problem occurred when "a battery failed to control the valve when power was switched from the main grid during Alyeska's tests."  Failure of a battery in a remotely operated BOP system is being implicated in the TransOcean Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. 

I have no idea when I'll get any time off, or even if I'll have internet access available.  Please don't worry if you don't hear from me for a while - it's just a matter of me being otherwise occupied.  

Summer Night

As I write it is about 8:30 in the evening.  The sun is high in the northwestern sky, and it's quite warm, about 75 degrees F (24 C).  The stinkbugs are out in force, earlier one of the windows of my guard shack was just covered in them.  The mosquitoes, aka "skeeters" are also out in force along with some of my favorite skeeter-eaters. 

Among my favorite skeeter-eaters are the cliff swallows that frequent my workplace.  Each May they return to build nests their nests, raise their young and eat LOTS of skeeters.  They are incredibly aerobatic and just a lot of fun to watch.  Did I mention that they also eat a lot of skeeters?  The certainly don't have to worry about starvation in these parts, either.

All of the trees and most of the brush is now fully leafed out, and the grass and other ground cover is tall enough to hide the brown, dead stuff left over from last fall.  I suspect that I should probably put grass mowing on my list of projects for my upcoming R&R.

Oops - need to cut this short and attend to business.  I'll have to write more another time.

Midnight Sunset

I did my midnight rounds just as the sun was setting nearly due north of my workplace.  It was fairly impressive, as the photo below will show.

Nice as it was, the REAL light show was to the south of my workplace, directly opposite the midnight sunset.  For example, there was a very nice show of Alpenglow on Wickersham Dome.

Grapefruit Rock, to the southeast of the work site, was also bathed in color.

The combination of glowing clouds and a rainbow's arch was too great to pass up, as it was nearly overhead one of our shop buildings.

New Software

I'm back at my work place, settling in for the tour of duty.  I've had just a little bit of free time to mess around with some new software I purchased, National Geographic TOPO Outdoor REcreation Mapping Software.  So far I'm much happier with it than with MacGPS Pro. 

As a quick test run, I opened up a map of my home area and downloaded the track log from my GPS, creating a map of the trails I ran most often last winter. 

N

National Geographic TOPO map of Home Trails

I imagine that MacGPS Pro can probably do everything that TOPO can do, but I found the former to be dreadfully difficult to work with.  TOPO has much more intuitive interface, it's much easier to find the desired base map with TOPO.  I'll continue messing with it when I get the opportunity, and if I'm as happy with it in 3 months as I am now, I'll delete MacGPS pro from this machine.

Green-up is only a heartbeat or two away.  The sap is running full bore up the birch trees, and they've produced a record quantity of pollen.  That yellow 'dust' that seems to be covering EVERYTHING up here is birch pollen.  I can't help but feel sorry for those allergic to the stuff, and I'm very grateful that I am not.  I'm thinking all these trees will be leafing out within just a couple of days.

No Deed Undone

I got quite a lot accomplished today, enough to impress even me.  I started out by feeding and scooping the yard, then moved into cleaning out all the dog houses and filling in holes in the kennel.  As I worked on each house I let the dog currently living in the house free-run.  Each of them had a great time stretching out around the yard and then visiting all their buddies.  Some of these dogs have created some major excavation projects.  I'm not sure I'll have enough dirt in the fill pile to get through the summer.

I installed a different type of front rack on the four-wheeler, mostly to get it out of the front seat of the truck.  The most interesting project of the day was replacing a valve in the plumbing system of the house.  It required a trip to town to exchange the part I purchased a few days ago for the part I should have purchased instead. 

I lopped some more alder and willow shoots that were trying to overrun the house and lawn, and I marked the area where we will build the new handler's cabin.  By the time that was all finished it was time to feed and scoop the yard again. 

I have to return to work on Tuesday, and will be on night shift.  I should probably start putting together the "do list" for next R&R.  I believe that Allen and Aliy will be starting on the cabin about the same time I get home, and I plan to keep myself busy at other projects in order to stay out of their way. 

Not much else for news at the moment, so I'll publish this and then nuke up something for supper.  Tomorrow is my last day of R&R and I'll be plenty busy running errands and taking the dogs over to their boarding kennel. 

Training - Clean Up Day

Annual Firearms Training

I am employed as a security officer / medic at a remote site on the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.  In conjunction with our client, Doyon Universal Services does an excellent job of providing us appropriate training in the proper, legal use of our firearms.  Thus I spent all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday out on the firing range, refreshing my skills and passing my annual qualification exams.   I'm not at liberty to share many details of our training program, but I can tell you it is very thorough and is designed specifically for the job we are expected to do.  We spent a full day training with each of the 3 firearms we routinely carry on the job.

Clean Up Day

Each May those who organize such things declare the Saturday that falls between break-up and green-up as "Clean Up Day" in the Tanana Valley.  

I spent several hours today cleaning up the highway frontage of my place, and then continuing on to collect garbage from my driveway to the trail crossing on the highway.  Although it's only 3/10 of a mile, I collected two 55 gallon drum liners and three 30 gallon trash bags of garbage.  Some was the kind of stuff that might blow out of a pick-up truck heading toward the dumpster station about a 1/2 mile from my drive, but much of it was the kind of crap that people toss out their windows.  Things like beer and soda cans (about equally represented) and fast food wrappers (Wendy's is surprisingly popular).  There were the obligatory dirty diapers, and lots of fast food beverage cups.  

While I was obviously working to pick up the stuff, some SOB in a blue pickup truck with a utility box threw his snot-filled tissue out the window.  I saluted him most appropriately with the middle finger of my right hand.  I hauled the stuff I collected, and several bags filled by a neighbor working on the opposite of my driveway, to the dumpster station and was generally pleased with the accomplishment.  

Mechanical Monday

I hope you had a great weekend.  Mine was rather quiet as I stuck close to the ol' homestead, just doing a wee bit of housekeeping and spending lots of time with the dogs until yesterday. 

Yesterday morning I phoned a fellow in response to a classified ad for a four-wheeler.  He returned my call a bit afternoon and I was soon on my way to town to take a peek.  After giving the machine the once over two or three times, and realizing that even though the price was too good to be true, he convinced me the price was true and I didn't even try to bargain with him.  I'll put it this way - at his asking price it would have been immoral to ask for even more of a discount. 

I wrote him a check on the spot, and promised to return today to pick it up.  Why today?  Because today was mechanical Monday, and I had to bring my truck and trailer into town anyway. 

So, this morning I loaded my summer tires into my little utility trailer and headed for big little city of Fairbanks.  The first stop was at Jiffy Lube, for an oil and filter change and general service of the truck.  That took longer than usual because the lube shop was short-handed, and their computer system was acting funky.  I'm not sure what the computer system has to do with changing the oil, squirting some grease into half a dozen zerks, checking the oil level in the transmission, transfer case and both differentials and all that, but apparently it does.  While the technicians were giving the dog truck the works I headed across the street to the Bakery Restaurant for some chow. 

The next stop was two different banks, to deposit some checks I had received.  Then it was off to Home Despot for some building and home maintenance supplies (another reason for the trailer).  From Home Despot I headed up College Road to Woodway to purchase replacement blades for the mowing deck of the lawn tractor.  The last time I mowed my lawn last fall I hit a stick, a really big stick, and bent tip of one of the blades nearly 90 degrees.  So, a pair of new blades was in order. 

The next stop was the Doyon Industrial Complex, an office building associated with my employer.  When I left work the other day I forgot that I will need a full uniform on Wednesday for the first day of my annual firearms training.  I had phoned my counterpart and asked him to send it to the office for me to pick up. 

From the office it was just a couple of blocks to the tire shop.  I arrived a bit earlier than the appointed time, but the bay was already empty and ready for me.  All four studded winter tires were removed and replaced with my four summer tires.  So, aside from some chronic issues that I may be able to afford to repair later this summer, the truck is ready for the season.  From the tire shop I dashed off to the four-wheeler seller's worksite to pick up my new used machine. 

I must say that over the past few weeks I've learned more about the four-wheeler market than I ever wanted to know.  For example, I learned that the major manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Can-Am and so forth no longer produce very many mid-sized machines - wheelers with an engine size of 250 to 350 cc.  As a result, the market for used four-wheelers has exploded and the price on used mid-sized machines has sky-rocketed.  As an example, on Friday I looked at a 1996 350 cc machine that was being offered for the same price as a brand new 250 cc two-wheel drive model, and in my opinion BOTH were overpriced. 

After spending hours visiting just about every four-wheeler dealer in town I learned that none of the dealerships have more than three or 4 used machines, and those are mostly late model machines of 500 cc or higher, frequently MUCH higher. 

Now, I'm a guy and I really like horsepower.  In fact, I like a LOT of horsepower.  That noted, I use a four-wheeler primarily for training sled dogs.  In that context a lot of horsepower is never used, but the fuel it takes to support all those ponies IS used.  Big engines require big frames, so those machines are incredibly bulky, much too bulky to negotiate the skinny little trails I prefer to ride.  Finally, those big monster machines are expensive to the tune of $5,000.00 or more for used equipment.  Some of that equipment has been used pretty darned hard, too. 

So, finding a suitable mid-size machine with four-wheel drive that I could actually afford was like trying to find a virgin in a bordello, so an ad in the Sunday newspaper for a 2005 360 cc machine for only $3,000.00 caught my attention.  That is nearly $500.00 less than the 1996 model I had looked at just the other day. 

With a price that seemed too good to be believed, I went over that thing as thoroughly as I know how.  The previous owner is a truck mechanic, and the machine seems to have been meticulously maintained.  Heck, it only has 550 miles on the odometer and it also has a lot of very nice aftermarket accessories that only add to the value.  I asked the guy why he is selling it so cheaply, and he seemed startled by the question.  Apparently he hasn't been following the used four-wheeler market very closely but he has two teenage daughters and needs some money to provide vehicles for them.  Like I wrote earlier, I didn't even haggle over the asking price.  I wrote him a check, smiled as I shook his hand, and thanked him profusely.

New used four-wheeler

This is a 2005 Kawaski 360 Prairie 4X4.  It has some sweet "bells and whistles".  I REALLY like the passenger seat, and so will any handler who volunteers to help me run dogs.  It's much more comfortable than a pillow bungee-corded to the steel rack.  The machine has a high quality Warn winch so I can more easily drag it out of the mud when I get it stuck.  Note, that really is "when" rather than "if".  I'm good at getting these things stuck.  The original owner replaced the stock tires with more aggressive "mud" tires, and they have so little wear that the little nubbies are still on them.  For good measure he tossed in a set of tire chains for it.  That means I'm either less likely to get it stuck, or I'll get it good and stuck like even I have never done before.  

My old machine was a full-time four wheel drive set up.  This one can be run in the rider's choice of two wheel drive or four.  That means that when trail conditions allow it will be easier for the dogs to pull it with the transmission in neutral.  It also means that I don't need to burn as much fuel when traveling over easy terrain, and can reserve the four-wheel drive until I actually need it - generally to try to get unstuck. 

The transmission is similar to a snow machine transmission, but this machine has an electronic gizmo that allows you use the engine compression to control the speed going downhill or even when just slowing.  That gizmo means I can let the dogs pull against the compression of the engine rather than having to 'ride' the brakes.  It has serious brakes, too.  Hydraulic disks up front and a duel disk system in back.  Trust me, when running dogs you want really good brakes.  

It's an understatement to say I'm really pleased.  I'm actually rather amazed.  

Anyway, back to the original story.  I got the truck, trailer and all the associated stuff home and unloaded.  I didn't even have the four-wheeler unloaded when my friend Mike pulled in the driveway.  "I heard you bought a new four-wheeler." He said.  Seriously, that mukluk telegraph is FAST.  

So, it was a busy and very productive day.  I figured I'd best write about it now because I was up at about 4:30 this morning and I've been running hither the tither since about 8.  The dogs have been fed and the yard scooped, and I'm thinking that a light supper followed by an early bed time are probably in order.  I do hope your Monday was as productive as mine.