12/19/09 Snowstorm Pics

[car54]

What? There must be a mistake....I see some snow on the streets in some of normie's pics.

Denton assured us that sort of thing doesn't happen in Loudoun County...sheesh, now I don't what to believe!

[normie]

Originally Posted by car54

What? There must be a mistake....I see some snow on the streets in some of normie's pics.

Denton assured us that sort of thing doesn't happen in Loudoun County...sheesh, now I don't what to believe!

LOL, to be fair, though, these photos were taken Saturday and early Sunday morning. At the time I took these photos, all of the roads had been plowed once (I would not have been able to walk there if they hadn't been plowed). Many of the roads were plowed a little too early in the storm and after being plowed snow blew onto them. So they ended up with an inch of snow, but the roads continued to be driveable.

There is one photo that shows a road that badly needed a second plowing and had a completely unplowed sidewalk. But this road isn't VDOT's responsibility, it's a private road that belongs to to a townhouse community. That particular sidewalk is the responsibility of the golf course.

[car54]

Originally Posted by normie

....and a snow blower that didn't work because we hadn't used it for years...

Well, you probably abused the poor thing by storing it improperly!

One simple procedure that will almost guarantee that an engine will start years later is RUN THE GAS OUT OF IT! Modern gasoline goes bad faster than it ever did with the additives like ethanol that they put in it nowadays. When the stuff goes bad it wrecks the carburetor....no way it will run then.

So, get as much fuel out of the tank as possible by pumping it out (old turkey baster works)...or flipping it on it's side and catching it in a container. Then, start the engine and let it run until it stops from lack of fuel. To really get it all out...just as it's taking it's last gasp (they'll usually speed up)...pull the choke until it quits. Then, with the choke out, pull the cord a few times until it won't even sputter.

If you really want to be good to it, remove the spark plug and pour a couple tablespoons (not too much) of motor oil into the cylinder....replace the plug and turn the motor over a few times. This coats the innards and helps prevent rust build-up.

[normie]

Originally Posted by car54

Well, you probably abused the poor thing by storing it improperly!

One simple procedure that will almost guarantee that an engine will start years later is RUN THE GAS OUT OF IT! Modern gasoline goes bad faster than it ever did with the additives like ethanol that they put in it nowadays. When the stuff goes bad it wrecks the carburetor....no way it will run then.

So, get as much fuel out of the tank as possible by pumping it out (old turkey baster works)...or flipping it on it's side and catching it in a container. Then, start the engine and let it run until it stops from lack of fuel. To really get it all out...just as it's taking it's last gasp (they'll usually speed up)...pull the choke until it quits. Then, with the choke out, pull the cord a few times until it won't even sputter.

If you really want to be good to it, remove the spark plug and pour a couple tablespoons (not too much) of motor oil into the cylinder....replace the plug and turn the motor over a few times. This coats the innards and helps prevent rust build-up.

Thanks--now I'll know better for the next time. Also, next time it sits for a few years we'll stop by Sears and get it tuned up when a big storm is predicted.

[Alicia Bradley]

Here's the plane I was supposed to take to (comparatively) warm, sunny San Antonio on Sunday:

http://www.johnnyjet.com/images/PicForNewsletter032006ScotlandSnowOnPlane.JPG (broken link)

(No, not actually. The real plane and runway should have had far less snow sitting on them than the ones in the pic do, since airport crews had all night to work on it. )

[normie]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

Here's the plane I was supposed to take to (comparatively) warm, sunny San Antonio on Sunday:



(No, not actually. The real plane and runway should have had far less snow sitting on them than the ones in the pic do, since airport crews had all night to work on it. )

LOL! The perfect photo to add to our collection!

[car54]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

Here's the plane I was supposed to take to (comparatively) warm, sunny San Antonio on Sunday:



(No, not actually. The real plane and runway should have had far less snow sitting on them than the ones in the pic do, since airport crews had all night to work on it. )

Plus, that's a pokey turboprop...you want to ride on a regular jet airliner on a flight like that!

[car54]

Originally Posted by normie

LOL, to be fair, though, these photos were taken Saturday and early Sunday morning. At the time I took these photos, all of the roads had been plowed once (I would not have been able to walk there if they hadn't been plowed). Many of the roads were plowed a little too early in the storm and after being plowed snow blew onto them. So they ended up with an inch of snow, but the roads continued to be driveable.

There is one photo that shows a road that badly needed a second plowing and had a completely unplowed sidewalk. But this road isn't VDOT's responsibility, it's a private road that belongs to to a townhouse community. That particular sidewalk is the responsibility of the golf course.

Oh okay, normie....I was concerned that Denton's good ole boys were dissin' your 'hood for some reason!

[Alicia Bradley]

Originally Posted by car54

Plus, that's a pokey turboprop...you want to ride on a regular jet airliner on a flight like that!

Hee hee! It was either that or one that clearly said "Air Italia" on the side.