Oct 1 - windy windy !

Wow.  Windy and cold.  It started out at 36F this a.m. and made it to the low 50's.  Wind gusts are up to 50kph but I don't see much gusting; it's pretty steady.

I did get some things done, however, in spite of the cold.

I dealt with the propane regulator / breather distance from the generator -- new pipe is installed, painted, running to the back of the house and two feet across the back.  That gets it ten feet from the unit, per specs.  I put another coat of paint on the existing pipe as well.

Today ?  No, actually, but I cleaned the furnace electrostatic air cleaner and the two filters in the ERV unit and the one filter in the dehumidifier.  I should probably order some more filters for the electrostatic, not sure that it's doing its job with the old filter, vacuum cleaned or not.

I also did the vinegar-wash for the tankless hot water heater.   I'd bought a little drill pump to use and it lasted, oh, most of the job before it died.  Cheap, China, Harbor Freight ... yup.  Oh well, it wasn't expensive.  I went back to the sump pump which does a better job anyway.

More plumbing.  I double hose clamped all of the connections in the utility room.  It certainly brings home how many T's, Elbows, Valves etc. I've got in there when I go through 75 hose clamps !  I'm sorely tempted to start converting it all to PVC ... but that's more a make-work project than anything else.

I got down the smaller of the two dog crates that we have; it will go to Florida.  It's not much smaller than the other -- one 22x36x24 the other 24x36x24.  Sandy has been researching a puppy crate and found one that she likes.  It's pink.  Yeah.  Pink.  Petco carries it but doesn't have it in stock.  I suspect that it won't be in stock in time for us.

I hauled a few things up to the barn with the 4-wheeler; all of this kind of falls into the category of puttering.  

There's probably some other minor items -- oh yes, I did get out in the Whaler, just because.  I bounced my way down to the bay by the cottage at the point.  I was interested in seeing the dock being built -- it is pretty sketchy, as Jason said.  I saw Stan's docks there as well -- they're floating free, each has an anchor and they're tied together with one 1/4" rope.  I'm not sure where they'll be in the spring, probably still there unless they are carried off with the ice but I don't expect that to happen in the bay.

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Before we leave for Florida, and actually mid-week after Thanksgiving, I've got lots to do.  I'm expecting David to help me with some of this.  This is all annual stuff.

-- wrap gazebo with tarps and Christmas lights
-- put docks in beach, somehow with low water levels
-- run wire to sump pump output
-- clean and put away mosquito catcher
-- last use of Stihl chain saw and weed whacker, bring inside.  DR wheeled whacker is already inside
-- power wash whaler
-- whaler in barn (bayliner is staying in boathouse this winter)
-- drain fuel from power washer, bring inside
-- drain and winterize lake pump
-- oil change for X5; David is picking up the oil filter for me
-- outdoor chairs and table under deck (Sandy does most of this)
-- and on and on ... it gets more complicated every year !

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It's morning again and it's 36F again (2C).  I've got a fire on again.  I was commenting to Sandy that I burn more kindling this time of year than any other, because I have to re-start the fire every day.  At Christmas, when it's cold, the fire burns constantly.  I usually get up once during the night to put more wood on the fire.

I've just about decided that I'm NOT going to do the 200k tomorrow.  4+4 hours of driving for a ride that would be lucky to hit 50F/10C, high winds with a good chance of rain -- sounds like a treat, right ?  I'll have to get that in asap once we're in Florida.  I could also find a Permanent in PA but that would take a day there.  It's something to consider.  Oh yes, that would also mean bringing my bike ! 

If I don't ride tomorrow, we'll probably do the puppy visitation on Saturday. 

As for Thanksgiving, David's thinking about coming up on Thursday and leaving Tuesday.  We don't know yet about Stef et al.  Hopefully the weather on the weekend is good for kayaking and boating. 

Onward ...