Power out!
07/18/2010
The camp's electric
transformer blew with a bang last night about 5:30
PM. No doubt the 90 degree heat precipitated turning
on air conditioners which put a load on the system.
It took an hour for the Penelec trucks to show up, and another few hours to get a bigger transformer to handle the load of the full campground. Those who planned on cooking dinner got out their outdoor grills - I forgot to get my propane burners in storage yesterday - so the cooking smells surrounding me were wonderful. I had just stocked my tiny fridge with 4 frozen Stouffer dinners - and decided not to open the fridge to keep things chilled for as long as possible... not knowing how long the power outage would be. So I had a bluebery muffin, a bottle of warm flavored water, and some potato chips for dinner. Fortunately I had eaten a good sized Stouffer's frozen dinner ($.29 with a coupon) at 3 PM because it wouldn't fit in the tiny freezer, so I wasn't so hungry. (I hadn't eaten anything more than a granola bar and an instant coffee since 8 AM so that was breakfast and lunch.)
I decided not to use my power box - except to recharge my cell phone - to save power for the fan in the van at night. I also didn't turn on my laptop which was fully charged, because I didn't want to run down the battery. So I took a walk to the office/store to mail a letter. I didn't take my laptop to retrieve email because I thought the office would be without power too. But it wasn't. To my chagrin. But I didn't want to lug it back up the hill a second time in the evening. I was hot and dehydrated. It had been 90 degrees all day.
But the power returned at 9:15, just as the light was fading. A cheer went up across the grounds. However, the water in the bath houses was just a trickle and the smell was not pleasant. Because pumps are needed for water and sewage, and pumps are run by electricity, there was some sewage backup. I decided to forego the line at the public facilities in favor of my own commode on board and baby wipes to give myself a "sponge bath".
I thought I might leave Casper in his pen since it was so hot, but when I heard the thunder, I decided to bring him into the van. Not a moment too soon. It poured for a few minutes, hitting the metal roof of the van quite loudly. Once I had him inside I turned on the van and it was a nice cool evening. It occured to me that wetting the van down with the hose at night might be a quick way to cool the van down for sleeping at night.
PS Did you notice I changed the color of this web site? Now it matches my van color.
Comments or questions? Use the feedback form on this site.
It took an hour for the Penelec trucks to show up, and another few hours to get a bigger transformer to handle the load of the full campground. Those who planned on cooking dinner got out their outdoor grills - I forgot to get my propane burners in storage yesterday - so the cooking smells surrounding me were wonderful. I had just stocked my tiny fridge with 4 frozen Stouffer dinners - and decided not to open the fridge to keep things chilled for as long as possible... not knowing how long the power outage would be. So I had a bluebery muffin, a bottle of warm flavored water, and some potato chips for dinner. Fortunately I had eaten a good sized Stouffer's frozen dinner ($.29 with a coupon) at 3 PM because it wouldn't fit in the tiny freezer, so I wasn't so hungry. (I hadn't eaten anything more than a granola bar and an instant coffee since 8 AM so that was breakfast and lunch.)
I decided not to use my power box - except to recharge my cell phone - to save power for the fan in the van at night. I also didn't turn on my laptop which was fully charged, because I didn't want to run down the battery. So I took a walk to the office/store to mail a letter. I didn't take my laptop to retrieve email because I thought the office would be without power too. But it wasn't. To my chagrin. But I didn't want to lug it back up the hill a second time in the evening. I was hot and dehydrated. It had been 90 degrees all day.
But the power returned at 9:15, just as the light was fading. A cheer went up across the grounds. However, the water in the bath houses was just a trickle and the smell was not pleasant. Because pumps are needed for water and sewage, and pumps are run by electricity, there was some sewage backup. I decided to forego the line at the public facilities in favor of my own commode on board and baby wipes to give myself a "sponge bath".
I thought I might leave Casper in his pen since it was so hot, but when I heard the thunder, I decided to bring him into the van. Not a moment too soon. It poured for a few minutes, hitting the metal roof of the van quite loudly. Once I had him inside I turned on the van and it was a nice cool evening. It occured to me that wetting the van down with the hose at night might be a quick way to cool the van down for sleeping at night.
PS Did you notice I changed the color of this web site? Now it matches my van color.
Comments or questions? Use the feedback form on this site.