So awesome and jealous. I don't have the skills as of now to be able to do it myself safely. I have rafted the arkansas river and something near Lake Tahoe when I was a kid.

My current project is trying to get the interior of my car dried out in a Pacific Northwest winter. Yep.

I had some water on the floor. I thought I knew where it was from. I had collected some sprouting acorns on a hike, and I put them on the lid of a small bucket that I had in the car. I put a little water from my water bottle on them and covered them with a cloth so they wouldn't die while I was at the gym. I thought some had dripped onto the floor mat. So I wasn't concerned.

Then there was more. And more. I know that sunroof drain clogs are kind of notorious with my car. I don't have an air compressor, so I took some string trimmer line and snaked out the drains. I could have tested them first to see if they were actually draining. I tested them after, and they did drain. There was no way for me to know if they had ever been clogged, or maybe if they were partially disconnected.

A couple days later - more water.

I went by my mechanic. He suggested my evaporator drain might be clogged. I had dismissed this since I haven't run the A/C compressor. On my truck, if I set the air to DEFROST, the light comes on for the A/C. It doesn't do that automatically on my car. I can set my car for floor vents plus dash vents OR floor vents plus windshield. Apparently that does run the A/C compressor. It also explains why my fuel economy is lower than I think it should be! Anyway, he put my car on the lift. His technician said, "Well, it's dripping water, so that probably isn't it." He blasted the drain with compressed air, and about a gallon of water came out. No additional water has come in! I have unclogged the drain on my truck every now and then. I can access it under the hood. On the car, it's under the car.

I got home and went through a bunch of bath towels getting as much up as possible. Then I put in a couple of fans pointed at the floorboards. I didn't want to run a heater because I don't want the temperature to get high enough for mold spores to germinate. I crumbled up newspaper and tossed it all around to help wick moisture up from the carpet so the fans could get them to evaporate. I left a window cracked where the extension cord goes in and so moist air could get out. I also put a couple "Damp Rid" units in there.

The other day we had a LOT of rain in the forecast, so I closed everything up. Good thing.

Then opened again when things when the rain slowed down. Then I put a tarp over the window that was cracked open so it would let me leave it open in the rain. That was a good thing, too - we got snow the next night. I got the snow off the tarp, and we had a couple hours of sun. I opened all the windows. Then I put the tarp back but made a little awning by propping it up with a broken oar shaft. I could then open both windows on that side a bit to let the moist air out.

It's a slow process when it's 90% humidity outside anyway. I do think it's working. The moisture accumulating on the inside of the windows is getting less and less each day. I may drive the vehicle today. If I do, I'll blast the heat with the A/C running and the air on recirculate to dry the air out even more. I will drive tomorrow to the coast for my volunteer shift, so that will help too. Maybe I'll get it fully dried out soon. That would sure be nice.

How's YOUR weekend?

It's a 2011 RAV4. I wasn't planning to buy one, but a friend was moving to Australia and was selling it. I know he takes very good care of his stuff, and it had very low miles. It's a fun car to drive and lets me carry more passengers than my truck. I was planning to just replace my truck at some point, but they just mostly became unavailable. I thought if I got any kind of passenger car it would be a full electric. It's not.

I can access the evaporator drain under the hood of my truck. It's a 1997 Tacoma that I bought brand new, and I plan to keep it running as long as possible. They don't make 'em like that anymore, although the new ones probably are also nice. I tow a raft trailer, so the truck is the best vehicle for that. I think it's crazy that I have two vehicles now since I don't really even drive that much.

I’m a semi-retired geezer on the edge of 68, not 17. I stay in shape and try to hit my target weight of 165 for many reasons. (Gone from 240 to 176 at this point. I recently retired from the front line after 34 years of fire fighting. I’m still around the firehall if needed. My grandson has recently joined up. His mom also served.

I work out about six times a week, cardio and weights. My part time jobs, detention guard for the RCMP, and playing opposition force member on the local military base require a level of fitness I enjoy meeting at this age. I’m a survivor of a heart attack and skin cancer (bitchin’ chest scar). Lot of reasons to look after my health.

My hobbies are carpentry, building and using the kayaks and canoes I build.

mtaratoot wrote: »

@Farback

You're living the dream!

I think I am. Very much enjoy my work and activities after 40 years in industry. I’m able to ‘give back’ with what I do now.

I am moving along towards getting a part-time job offer. I went through a background check today, and I think everything should look good.

I'll know within a few weeks, and then I can say more about it.

Farback wrote: »

UncleMac wrote: »

@Farback did you have a design for your cat exercise wheel or just knock it together? More importantly... do the cats actually use it?

I reversed engineered it from a picture of a very expensive one on the interwebs. They haven’t mastered it yet. I’m hopeing as they get bigger they can use it. I did do up full autocad plans and parts list for it though. Free to anyone interested in building one.

My son was making noises about getting one before he headed to CFB Esquimalt... should be graduating soon as a Sublieutenant... although he's making noises about jumping from Naval Warfare Officer cadre to Naval Engineering Officer cadre. Apparently someone in the Navy's Powers That BE noticed he had most of an Engineering degree as well as a Physics degree and they're head-hunting him to change streams... ANYWAY, his cat is a bit fluffy. I'm sure she'd benefit from the exercise but getting her to do so could be tricky.

UncleMac wrote: »

mtaratoot wrote: »

I am moving along towards getting a part-time job offer. I went through a background check today, and I think everything should look good.

I'll know within a few weeks, and then I can say more about it.

It always surprises me how many retirees end up seeking at least part time work. It seems like our generation craves the activity... the more recent gens, not so much... Not sure who is right?

This is different. Quite different.

I have been doing volunteer work for YEARS, and this is almost the kind of thing I'd volunteer for. I did a little work last summer as a self-employed sole proprietor for a non-profit that I've supported for decades. I got to paddle a canoe and look for a few particular invasive aquatic plants. We had contractors along that would spray them when we found them. Good work. Not a whole lot of money, but I was happy to earn a little bit. I had done the same job the year before as a volunteer, but last year they had money in the budget to pay me. They're asking me to come help again this year, and I will.

But this other thing is more of an ongoing thing, but no more than a few days a month. It's something I got alerted to through one of my paddling clubs, and I contacted the person who runs the program. I went down to meet them, and they suggested I apply. Now things are going through the process. It will be a fun and rewarding gig.

When I told friends I was applying, one said, "You bored?" Hell no. If it were any more of an obligation, I wouldn't consider it. To be honest, I'm a little reticent to give up even three or four days a month to "work." Worse than that, it's weekdays. Those are the days I like to get in the woods or on the water because there's no crowds. That's OK. There's advantages to it being weekdays too.

Another friend thought I said three or four days a week. She kept asking if I was sure. I was the person that suggested SHE was able to retire when she did, and she loves it. She does a few side jobs as a speaker in her field and makes a few bucks. When she realized it was just a few days a month, she said, "OH!" It would require a bit of a commute, but I'm probably OK with that. We'll see. I never had to commute for my career. I rode my bike most of the time, and it was just a few miles.

Maybe I'll spill the beans about what the job actually is, but I kind of want to wait until I get an offer. I think it's in the bag, but one never knows.

Farback wrote: »

I helped out with some rookie training tonight. We do an additional night for new people to get them up to speed. This is my grandson on a 24 foot ladder.

What a great picture!!

Did a hike in the rain. I am apparently no smarter than a duck.

mtaratoot wrote: »

Nothing wrong with being out in the rain. I'm about to do the same - go look for wildflowers in the park by the river.

By the way - I love your hat. Their West-Coast IPA is really delicious. Sierra Nevada now has a N/A IPA that's at least as good as that one, and I think this is all pretty awesome.

I tried a number of N/A beers when I quit drinking a year ago. I still have some scotch with much more class than I when on a rare vacation. The Sober Carpenter has become my favorite.

Water keeps our rivers flowing.

I like water.

I paddle.

We had HEAVY rain today. I happened to be out during part of it. I had on the right clothes, so I was dry underneath. I saw a few wildflowers; more to come. There weren't that many people out on the river trail since it was a weekday and raining like holy hell. Perfect. Just me, the mud, my boots, the rain, and everything around me. Sweet!

I just got invited on a very special Alaska river trip that I probably should join just on spec. I can't really afford it - it requires small flights in and out for all persons and gear, and I think it might include a helicopter shuttle of one particularly unrunnable canyon.

mtaratoot wrote: »

Water keeps our rivers flowing.

I like water.

I paddle.

We had HEAVY rain today. I happened to be out during part of it. I had on the right clothes, so I was dry underneath. I saw a few wildflowers; more to come. There weren't that many people out on the river trail since it was a weekday and raining like holy hell. Perfect. Just me, the mud, my boots, the rain, and everything around me. Sweet!

I just got invited on a very special Alaska river trip that I probably should join just on spec. I can't really afford it - it requires small flights in and out for all persons and gear, and I think it might include a helicopter shuttle of one particularly unrunnable canyon.

That trip sounds fantastic!

Farback wrote: »

Maybe lawfulness might break out.

That's never happened.