ATLANTA Snow In, 2010!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Greg Fishel, and all those other bastards, are liars! It got warm over night. Nothing but a few drizzles. Not a flake of snow to be seen anywhere around this morning. Ah, well, I saw my snow for the season in NY anyway.

Our genius school administrators, called for a 2 hour delay LAST NIGHT!!! So at about 6 o'oclock, some asshole thought it would be stupid to wait and see what actually happens in the morning, and now the kids (and said asshole) get to sleep in due to a light drizzle and 45 degree weather.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Greg Fishel, and all those other bastards, are liars! It got warm over night. Nothing but a few drizzles. Not a flake of snow to be seen anywhere around this morning. Ah, well, I saw my snow for the season in NY anyway.

Our genius school administrators, called for a 2 hour delay LAST NIGHT!!! So at about 6 o'oclock, some asshole thought it would be stupid to wait and see what actually happens in the morning, and now the kids (and said asshole) get to sleep in due to a light drizzle and 45 degree weather.

All around the Triangle too - a 2-hour delay.

[DukeUsul]

No snow. I love snow. It is pretty cold with the blustery wind this morning.

There are reports of crashes from ice from around Durham and Orange counties, so probably a good thing they went with a 2 hr delay.

[devildeac]

We prolly got about .02 inches of rain with about 38 degrees. Large whoop.

[CathyCA]

No snow. No school delays.

Hot water heater is out for the 4th time since Christmas.

[Lavabe]

2.5" of snow, 11 degrees, wind chill , some more snow expected.

[EarlJam]

I was all bummed last night then, right before the college football championship game, we got an hour of pretty good snow. As a result, we got a good dusting, maybe a quarter-inch in some places. Doesn't sound like much, but this is Atlanta, and believe me, that makes it a BIG event (Lavabe will back me up). Looking outside now, it is white everywhere. I love it. And I also love pickles, Duke basketball, Courtney Cox, hot sauce and you all.

-EarlJam

[cl15876]

Greg Fishel, and all those other bastards, are liars! It got warm over night. Nothing but a few drizzles. Not a flake of snow to be seen anywhere around this morning. Ah, well, I saw my snow for the season in NY anyway.

LOL - That is because I left NoVA to head South! I hear NoVA got some snow (dusting 1-2" to sweep away with broom), but sitting here in wonderful NC where the air is cleaner and the sun is shining and having a great time smelling a delicious chilli beef stew my girl is cooking up for dinner! Hmmm... I hope the Oysters keep for tomorrow's game! ;-) They are currently outside in 30 degree weather.

[cl15876]

2.5" of snow, 11 degrees, wind chill , some more snow expected.

OMG... did you get your pipes flushed?

[Lavabe]

2.5" of snow, 11 degrees, wind chill , some more snow expected.

OMG... did you get your pipes flushed?

Water main: Check
Cold water drip: Check
Hoses on two outside spigots: As soon as I read Ozzie's response the other day, I tried to get the hoses off. On one, I started to turn it, but had trouble. I saw water dripping from it... good sign. The other one was frozen solid. I called our plumber. We have a yearly plan, and as part of the cost, they do a courtesy inspection of all plumbing... for the annual charge. They came over 24 hours later. As a courtesy, they worked on the spigots. First one came off... no problem. Second one was stuck good, but he managed to release the hose. HOWEVER, the spigot was frozen inside, and the plumber suspected that we had a problem. He tried using a torch to free it up, and to see if the gate valve worked, as a last ditch attempt. It worked, freeing up the valve, the water, etc... The pipes and valves were not damaged.

I think we're in MUCH better shape than we could have found ourselves in.

Thanks to Ozzie for responding clearly on question #2.
WHEW!!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

2.5" of snow, 11 degrees, wind chill , some more snow expected.

OMG... did you get your pipes flushed?

Water main: Check
Cold water drip: Check
Hoses on two outside spigots: As soon as I read Ozzie's response the other day, I tried to get the hoses off. On one, I started to turn it, but had trouble. I saw water dripping from it... good sign. The other one was frozen solid. I called our plumber. We have a yearly plan, and as part of the cost, they do a courtesy inspection of all plumbing... for the annual charge. They came over 24 hours later. As a courtesy, they worked on the spigots. First one came off... no problem. Second one was stuck good, but he managed to release the hose. HOWEVER, the spigot was frozen inside, and the plumber suspected that we had a problem. He tried using a torch to free it up, and to see if the gate valve worked, as a last ditch attempt. It worked, freeing up the valve, the water, etc... The pipes and valves were not damaged.

I think we're in MUCH better shape than we could have found ourselves in.

Thanks to Ozzie for responding clearly on question #2.
WHEW!!

You're welcome! Glad to be of assistance. Now, I have to go back to page 1 and see what #2 is...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

OMG... did you get your pipes flushed?

If this question came from anyone but bunchofnumbers...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Now, I have to go back to page 1 and see what #2 is...

Postby Lavabe » Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:17 am
Thanks for responses on drip question #1.

Here's the next question about the pipes.

(Implied Question #2) The outside spigots (for watering the lawn, etc...): whoops, we didn't let them drip. What should we do know?

[Lavabe]

Postby Lavabe » Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:17 am
Thanks for responses on drip question #1.

Here's the next question about the pipes.

(Implied Question #2) The outside spigots (for watering the lawn, etc...): whoops, we didn't let them drip. What should we do know?

Gosh, where's wilson?
know/now... ycch!

[captmojo]

Well, maybe the cold weather they forecast for later today isn't a lie. I just ckecked, and it's 4.8F in Boone, with a wind chill of -12F. That is boo chilly for sure.

I was in Boone yesterday. What a nasty mess! At 3PM it was about 40 degrees and everything that wasn't deeply piled was deep slushy...and dirty.
The skies were overcast and you could tell there was a change on the way. I'm glad I got off the mountain before the sky started falling.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Well, maybe the cold weather they forecast for later today isn't a lie. I just ckecked, and it's 4.8F in Boone, with a wind chill of -12F. That is boo chilly for sure.

I was in Boone yesterday. What a nasty mess! At 3PM it was about 40 degrees and everything that wasn't deeply piled was deep slushy...and dirty.
The skies were overcast and you could tell there was a change on the way. I'm glad I got off the mountain before the sky started falling.

yeah, coming down 421 in the ice would not be pretty.

Question, Captmojo, have you ever had to use the truck emergency (runaway) runout ramps, either there or anywhere else? Do you know anyone who has? It must really tear up the truck, but better that than get killed running off the mountain.

[captmojo]

Question, Captmojo, have you ever had to use the truck emergency (runaway) runout ramps, either there or anywhere else? Do you know anyone who has? It must really tear up the truck, but better that than get killed running off the mountain.

No. Once I thought about it while descending Alt221 from Little Switzerland to Marion NC. I was driving a 1984 Cadillac. The brakes were smokin' pretty good! I saw many, and was passed by a few, log trucks going down the same mountain. It's some scary shit!

If you hit into one of those ramps, you may save your life or some others...but you'll lose your job...maybe. Most companies will equate it with an accident. In fact, nearly anytime a wrecker should be dispatched in rescue, these fools in trucking management are subject to calling it an accident.

Here's the secret to a safe descent. Your brakes are/should be considered a heat factory. The friction that builds up between shoe/pad and drum/disc can be tremendous. Fire needs oxygen to manifest. The key is to keep constant contact with your brakes, so as not to allow an air gap between the two. The heated air pressure that accumulates between them will actually prevent the two from coming together, thus disallowing your braking parts to work at all! Lower gears and a foot constantly on the pedal is the best method. This is true for any type vehicle. Anyone considering taking a MOTOR HOME through the highlands, this applies to you as well.

Step on the brake, after down-shifting, as if you were stepping on an egg shell. Watch the speedometer. Most steep grades will have posted speed limits for trucks and that should apply for all heavyweight vehicles. A general rule of thumb is that a descent should be in the same gear as an climb. I prefer the speed limit method. Learn what is the maximum speed that can be expected from every transmission gear and know that speed will still be expected to rise above it on these downhill grades.

The trickiest part of coming down from Boone/Deep Gap, is that quarter mile stretch of flatland in the middle. There's a truck pull-off on the shoulder, with a large sign encouraging trucks to enter and cool their brakes. I've been lucky that I'm always coming down empty and don't have to use it, but if I were loaded...I'm in there.

One other note. Should you see a vehicle with burning brakes along the way or at the bottom...STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!! Their brakes are not likely to be fully engaged due to the high air pressure build-up I mentioned earlier.

[captmojo]

Not just to PW but...could this thread be re-titled to...
FLORIDA Snow In, 2010!

[captmojo]

One more thing about driving down mountains. Whatever you are driving, always keep in mind that you should maintain a speed which can allow for being able to make a stop. The mountains are generally a wilderness and are abundant with wildlife. Drivers should always be in anticipation that a deer, or even larger critter, may be standing in the roadway just around that next curve and be prepared for evasive action. Most often, the best action is to set up your speed the same way as you may to avoid the so-called, outrunning your headlights.

[captmojo]

Thus ends today's driving sermon.