Tower Log - July 24-25, 2004

July 24, 2004

George and Pam set up the sign for new Fire Lookout Applicants training.

Although I have tower duty this weekend, in the morning I give a class regarding fire behavior and organization introduction to new applicants.  I will make my visit to the class then head up into the mountains.

Bob and Maria are at Vetter Mountain and they will stay until I get there to relieve them later this afternoon.

Pam introduces me and I start the lesson on fire behavior.  The lesson takes about 45 minutes so as soon as I am done, I am out the door and heading for the mountains.

There is so much going on in my life that there does not seem to be enough time.  Oh well charge on!

Making my stop for supplies, I decide to grab a quick lunch snack for the road at Subway.

Mount Vetter from Highway 2 overlook.

The gate is still closed for the Charlton Flats Picnic Area.

...but there is a hand written sign posting instructions on what you can and cannot do.

Because the lower gate is always closed, this upper gate is sometimes kept open.

Bob and Maria have the lookout open and they are almost ready to go home.

Bob and Maria pose for a shot at my request.

Bob takes the morning weather report.

After being fully briefed, Bob and Maria hand over the tower and head down the hill for home.

Seems the lunch gang has arrived.

At first this was alarming, but thanks to training and watching the cloud for behavior, I could tell that it was the first of a few clouds that would rise this afternoon.

The AM radio reported a thunderstorms over Mount Palomar.

I am not bored... I am not bored... I am not.... hey look a bug!  Cool.  Get the camera and take a picture of that one.  Ya know- I think I'm bored.

Wonder what kind of bug this is.  I would normally research it on the internet and find out, but for now I'll just take its picture.

No I didn't kill it.  I thought it was cool.

Wow what is with the Sun today.  It seems really bright and glaring.  I decided to lower the Southwest shutter to reduce some glare.

From the outside this is what the shutter looks like when it is down.  Altough it does block the view, I can still see around enough to see if there is a smoke.

Do you ever get the feeling you are having a strange day... this seems to be mine.

If you notice, the humming bird feeders are empty.  I look around the lookout and there is less water then usual.  I could go down to the tank and get some out of there, but I don't like to do that when I am alone, so I search the look out and finally find some.

I find the hummingbird mix and make some lunch for the birds.

I start to take the 1400 hrs weather report and notice that the "belt weather kit" water is dry.  I need distilled water for the kit but I can't find the water bottle.  It is then that I realize that the water I used for the hummingbirds was the distilled water and I didn't even see the big writing on the back of the bottle that says, "Belt weather kit only" on the back.

Hmmmm.... I think I'm having a strange day up here.

A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls. -Dan Quayle

I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix. -Dan Quayle

If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. -Dan Quayle

I stand by all the misstatements that I've made. -Dan Quayle

The future will be better tomorrow. -Dan Quayle

What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is. -Dan Quayle

What a day... I call out of service but they don't hear me.  It takes about 4 calls over 15 minutes before someone answers acknowleging that I'm "out of service".

Here is my dinner.  I didn't bring enough to eat this time.

July 25, 2004

(file photo)

No I am not asleep.  After such a strange day yesterday... I took no more pictures.  I'm going home.  hmmmmph

On a personal note, this is the last weekend for Susan and I in our old home.  We just purchased a new house and next weekend we will be moving into the "Ranch".  Maybe there is so much on my mind with the move and all the stress that goes along getting a new place has me all cab-boob-a-lated.