This video is shot with a Go-Pro type camera that isn’t great in low light, but I was so impressed with Sparky’s meticulous search for a bunny that wasn’t there, I decided to use it.
Jack Reacher was impressed enough to provide commentary.
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Prior to our trip to East Harbor State Park, I charged up the batteries for the RC cars.
As the LiPo battery for the Land Rover was charging, I heard a short, sharp, sound., like a ruler hitting a desk. It wasn’t very loud, and sounded like the crack from the discharge of a Van Der Graaff generator.
This kind of thing.
I went to check on the charging battery, and found that it looked inflated. That’s real bad. I turned off the charger, gingerly took the battery outside, and threw it in the yard where it couldn’t damage anything if it exploded or ignited. Which, it apparently did at some point during the night.
It appears that since several batteries were going to be charged, the charger was set for a 4S battery, instead of a 3S. The battery that was being charged had a high enough voltage that the charger didn’t recognized the problem.
After the August camping trip, Terri observed that my jump seats were great, but footstools were necessary. Not all criticism is valid, but there were a few reasons why this seemed like a good idea.
Science Alert: Owning a cat could make you a schizophrenic
Having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person’s risk of schizophrenia-related disorders, according to a recent study.
Full disclosure: I am biased against cats. I am convinced that having a cat isn’t nearly as good as having Sparky. Except for barn cats. If I had a real barn, I’d have barn cats.
Even with my bias, if a person wants a cat, don’t worry about this study. The risk of schizophrenia is seven in a thousand. A fourteen in a thousand chance is very low, and other risk factors are more pertinent.
Habitually smoking a mess of pot increases the risk about as much.
We returned to East Harbor State Park. It wasn’t as good as last year. 2023
The big draw was the sand bars and deserted beaches. This year, I brought three RC cars. The MAXX, Rustler and TRX-4 Land Rover. Lake Erie was higher, and there wasn’t many areas to use them. We thought the lake might get tides, but it wasn’t that.
Looking at Lake Erie water levels, it appears that the water level maxes out in the summer. Last year, we went a month later. Lake Erie water levels are usually down about 10 inches by the third week in October. That doesn’t sound like much, but on a beach with a gradual grade, it makes all the difference.
The weather was perfect, but it was only a weekend trip. I did notice that East Harbor has really good water pressure, so I had a better shower than I get at home. That’s something.
I added two taller jack stands to my load out, and those worked great to turn the camper ramp into an elevated deck. I really like it. Sparky does too. He is reluctant to jump from the ramp deck, but will if there is a compelling reason. Another dog or small animal is enough reason.
The new jump seats and foot stools are really comfortable.
The trip was short, comfortable and unremarkable.
While camping, Pete reminded me of the fire tower, or “Swedish torch”, we had at East Harbor last year. He sent me the video, so I’ll put it here at half-speed.
On our camping trips, I don’t dawdle when it’s time to leave. Wake up, pack up, and hit the road. Sparky is adaptable, but prefers the unstructured leisure of mornings at home.
We left East Harbor State Park before 8 am. Sparky wants to be a good wingman, but the early hour was taking a toll.
Now that we are home, Sparky says that he blinked when I took the photo. When I reminded him that he looked like that for 10 minutes, Sparky says he was trying to remember if 269 South went right to Route 2.
Maybe he was. Once we got on Route 2, he took a proper nap.
When we got on the turnpike, he tried to hypnotize me until we got to the next exit. Sparky says he was trying to get me to stop taking pictures while we drive.
Once we got on I-480, he assumed his typical car-ride demeanor.
Since I was still taking pictures and Sparky was no longer trying to hypnotize me, his stated objective is in doubt. While we were on the turnpike, I suspect Sparky was trying to compel me to stop at Sheetz at Lear Nagle and Lorain, to pick up a Slim Jim.
We had done that on the way out to East Harbor, and Sparky had enjoyed the experience.
This photo is taken from the headwall we just built, facing downstream. This shows why I went with a stacked bag wall, rather than something more permanent. This photo may save me a lot of effort. Do you see it? [Hint: It’s not Sparky. ]
WaPo: First lunar lava cave has been found.
WaPo: First lunar lava cave has been found.
My prior post about China looking at lunar lava caves referenced an article that didn’t have any new information about lunar lava caves. This recent WaPo article announces the first direct evidence of a lunar lava cave. There are a few similar news reports all based on this Radar evidence of cave conduit science article. This science article has less fluff and more interesting information. That link may not remain active, so I will post an interesting diagram from the article.
Sparky and I went out for our morning coffee. He thought it was appropriate to take a dump eight feet from my coffee break bench. I think he was up wind.
Here is the area that Sparky could have chosen to do his dirty business if he had any consideration for others.
Sparky saw a Snoop Dogg video on Youtube, and wanted to make a video. This is as close as we could get.
I probably shouldn’t leave Youtube on when I leave the house.