On the way home, I decided to have some fun. I plan to play Ruby Tuesday and it is amazing how many things I saw today that are red, so I took loads and loads of photos of red things, haha. That reminds me, I better download them to my laptop tonight so I have a clean memory card in the camera for tomorrow. I'm likely to take a lot of photos and maybe even videos tomorrow and Sunday. About an hour or so after I got home, Dan called and asked if I'd unloaded the second load of pellets. I said no and so he came over and did that for me. So now I have one full ton of pellets piled up in my carport, waiting to heat my home this winter. So, you might be wondering why I get these in the hottest part of the summer... literally months before I need them. Easy. They are on sale. After August 1st, they will cost more than they do now. So if I get them now I save money. Good reason? I think so, haha.
I was planning to get 3 1/2 ton, but after thinking more about it I think I'll get 4 ton if I can. There are 2 kinds of pellets: Fir or SPF (mixture of Spruce, Pine and Fir). In my personal experience, the SPF don't burn as hot and they make way more ashes, plugging up the inner workings of the stove so it has to be torn apart and cleaned out. Fir is much superior fuel, so worth the extra cost. It's not all that much more expensive than the SPF, and in the long run, using SPF ends up costing more because you have to burn more of them and if you can't clean the stove out yourself you have to call the stove repair guys to do it. I had to call them the first time, but watched every move so I know now how to do it myself. 2 or 3 times a week, depending on how much you're using it, you have to clean the burner area of the stove and that is very basic and easy. Once a year you have to clean out deep within the stove where fine ashes collect... twice a year if you use SPF pellets.
The pellet place started today with 150 ton of Fir, so I was told, and by the time I was there for my second load shortly before they closed, they only had 110 ton left. One semi truck load is 40 ton, and this time of year everyone is trying to get their pellets before the sale is over, so it's hard to say how long they'll have Fir for me. They never know when they will be making more, it depends on the sawdust they get from the local plywood plant. So Monday morning I will be phoning to see if they had Fir, then running out to get another 2 loads if possible. That will make it 2 ton home. Tuesday and Wednesday I will do the same.... if there are any Fir to go get. If not, I'll keep phoning the rest of the week, hoping to get them, hoping they will suddenly produce more. If not, I will have to get them later in the fall when they're more expensive. Oh well, by then maybe gasoline will have gone down a bit and balance it all out... and it will be cooler to do the work then too.
So now it's 10:30pm Friday night. I have to do a bunch of stuff yet before bed. I have to put my laundry in the dryer so I have clothes to wear tomorrow, and get everything packed that I'll need to take tomorrow. The list our coach emailed us says:
THINGS TO BRING:
- PFD (life jacket if you have been using a personal one during practices)
- Paddle - if you own one, bring it but clearly identify it as your paddle.
- Non skid stuff for your seat
- Towel
- Lawn Chair
- Change of clothes if you want them
- Bag to keep your personal gear
- Sun protection
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Swim suits
- Water floaties
- Water guns - always great on a hot day.
- Camera
- Binoculars - some people like to get up close and personal when watching the teams race
- Extra water for yourself
- Coolers to help keep everything cold - Mark & I will bring 2 coolers
Wish us luck!!
We are Poseidon's Fury!!! and we are paddling for GOLD!!
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1 comment:
Good luck on the race tomorrow. I said a prayer for safely and fun.
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