|
|
Post by iandhunt on Jun 19, 2013 17:55:36 GMT 1
Hello all, For those of you wondering what it is like to live in Alaska in the summer....it is interesting to say the least. I have been up since sunrise (0300) and the sun will not set until sunset (0030) early Thursday morning. To say the least I have been loopy (er) than usual...Crazy Horse will attest to this fact once he recovers from his bionic knee surgery. I have found it difficult to find the motivation to sit in a house with no air conditioning while the outside air temp is over 90 degrees and type on these forums. Nothing personal but I am going to be hard to reach these few weeks since my computer is on the second floor of an already toasty house. Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact we have had wind gusts over 20 knots during these LOOOOOOOONG days. So flying is not an option to say the least. I am planning on heading out to the Summer Solstice festival on Sunday to get some pictures of the "Midnight Sun" and drink a beer in broad daylight...at midnight..... Info for the Summer Solstice Festival can be found at this link if you all are curious. Downtown Fairbanks Midnight Sun Festival 2013Anyways, keep cool and have fun....I will be back on here late July when the temps start to drop....hopefully sooner. |
|
|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Jun 19, 2013 18:59:39 GMT 1
Ian,
It has been so much fun "talking" with you over the last few months. You have my admiration and respect enduring those extreme conditions.
May your life be filled with joy.
Best Regards, CH
|
|
|
|
Post by renard80 on Jun 19, 2013 23:05:16 GMT 1
90 degrees!  This Brit was under the naive impression that Alaska was perpetually cold - certainly not reaching those kinds of temperatures. Thanks for enlightening me. It reached 73 here today, warmest day for months, and we thought that was hot . . . Seems we should count our blessings. |
|
|
|
Post by iandhunt on Jul 8, 2013 4:18:52 GMT 1
 Forest fire near my house, 30000 acres. |
|
|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Jul 8, 2013 18:31:13 GMT 1
There is only one thing to do in a situation like this. That is to get a maid to find the toasting forks, together with a fresh loaf of wholemeal and seeded bread cut into slices (get a servant to do this, they have a propensity to do this so well), and when all is prepared and toasted to approved colour, apply a smear of butter to the slice of bread and then caress the whole with a coating of MARMITE. Then eat and experience joy beyond imagination.
I believe that throwing Vegemite on the flames certainly dampens their intensity, even a forest fire can't stomach that!
|
|
|
|
Post by toff on Jul 8, 2013 19:18:51 GMT 1
My lord CH! You just caused me to spray my YORKSHIRE tea all over the monitor! I doff my hat to your sense of humour sir!  |
|
|
|
Post by renard80 on Jul 8, 2013 22:23:41 GMT 1
Fingers crossed for you, Ian. Hope all goes well. Let us know.
|
|
|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Jul 9, 2013 6:50:02 GMT 1
Ian,
As renard says, thinking of you and hoping that all turns out OK. Keep in touch.
|
|
|
|
Post by iandhunt on Jul 12, 2013 20:45:02 GMT 1
Made it through....there was no need for us to evacuate, yet dozens of families weren't so lucky. The fire had increased to 81,000 acres as of last week yet it failed to get closer then 5 miles from our house on base. There are over 800 firefighters and 24 aircraft fighting the flames. The fire was slowed down considerably after heavy rains this Wednesday and Thursday. The weather is gorgeous today, with lows in the 70's, ample sunshine and NO WIND! Thanks for the thoughts and well wishes! I heard they were using Vegemite on the fire, sort of a dousing agent that sucked the life out of everything around it instantly! |
|
|
|
Post by Crazy Horse on Jul 13, 2013 9:39:42 GMT 1
Ian,
Glad you are safe and my thoughts are also with the other families that were not so lucky.
Now that there is no wind, might I ask if you are doing your bit to help?
You could load your SC with a container of Vegemite, fly it over an appropriate area which is ablaze and then drop it on the flames. Remember, every little bit helps! A totally unofficial figure is that one jar of Vegemite will extinguish one acre. This would also help to rid the world of Vegemite, (a real bonus), the only disadvantage I believe, is that the soil would be contaminated indefinitely according to various sources, (my gardeners).
|
|
|
|
Post by renard80 on Jul 13, 2013 23:00:11 GMT 1
I am pleased you survived OK, Ian.
We consider ourselves lucky not to live in one of those regions which annually suffer devastating fires, e.g., parts of North America and Australia.
Our temperate little island has its drawbacks but many blessings!
|
|
|
|
Post by iandhunt on Jul 17, 2013 17:42:09 GMT 1
I am pleased you survived OK, Ian. We consider ourselves lucky not to live in one of those regions which annually suffer devastating fires, e.g., parts of North America and Australia. Our temperate little island has its drawbacks but many blessings! I miss living in a temperate climate. I grew up in the North Eastern United States for the majority of my life. I am a sucker for a climate that has all 4 seasons. This Alaska business is quite exhausting. 8 months of winter with 1 month of spring and fall and 2 months of summer. I think i prefer flying in the dead of winter more and more. I got some advice from flydiver when i first logged into the boards about weatherproofing and insulating my batteries.....worked in -20 so i imagine it would work in 0 degree weather around the lower 48 as well. As for the forest fires, this was one of the few times i was nervous about how close it got to our house. However....i found that by covering the house in Vegemite protected us from fire danger....but the vegemite also melted the siding and caused premature wear and tear on the shingles....live and learn. I wish you all the best and thanks for the kind thoughts. Will be on here later on this weekend. Ian |
|
|
|
Post by renard80 on Jul 17, 2013 23:03:33 GMT 1
. . . . I found that by covering the house in Vegemite protected us from fire danger....but the vegemite also melted the siding and caused premature wear and tear on the shingles....live and learn. MUST you insist on provoking a response from Crazy Horse?  Thanks for your comments. Actually, here in the UK the weather has been remarkably hot for a week or so. Cloudless skies, blazing sun, daytime temps around 80F (that is hot for us!), nights hot and sticky. One consolation from the stationary area of high pressure which is responsible is that the winds have been extremely light, affording us - at last - some excellent flying conditions. The Super Cubs have been up most evenings after the sun has lost its heat. Happy times!  |
|
