Working in hot Columbia, SC

We visited our daughter in SC this past weekend. Ugh, sticking, hot Columbia. She had invited us down so I could rip out some shrubs and then plant perennials that have some color, other than just green.

I had forgotten that the soil is sandy so ripping out the old stuff was relatively easy. I started early, around 7am before the dreaded heat hit. It was forecast to be 97 and I think it made every bit or it.

We rushed off to Lowe's to get about seven plants. We planted those babies and had them watered before breakfast. Now it was time to kick back and let it get hot. My job was done.

Got 50 by doing 60

Mission accomplished!!  I drove the 2008 VW Jetta TDI to Columbia, SC on Friday with the cruise control set at 60 mph.  We pulled in to a filling station in Northeast Columbia and filled up.  We had driven 234.2 miles from our starting point and filled the tank with 4.6 gallons of diesel and had achieved 50.9 miles per gallon.

One has to ask themselves--Why buy a hybrid when the diesel gets just as good or better mileage.  I know this, my next car will be another diesel.

Red Tail Hawks

While surveying the hay field I noticed a young hawk sitting on top of one of the round bales.  He was looking over the landscape, probably looking for a good mouse snack. 

Hawk sitting on hay bale

While he was sitting on the bale there was another hawk perched in the treeline just shrieking away.  I love to see these birds as they do a beneficial job of keeping rodents at bay.

Close Call

My wife and I were on our way home last evening taking Route 11 instead of taking the interstate. Route 11 is a four lane divided highway with about a thirty foot grass median in most areas.

We were in the Elliston area heading east when we had to pull out to pass the car in front of us. It was at that point I heard a crunching sound in the westbound lane. I glanced to the left and noticed the car in the opposite lane had hit what I thought was a piece of lumber and had thrown it into the median. The object was spinning end to end and headed our way. Luckily it exited the median behind the car and came to rest in the passing lane.

Well, what I thought was a piece of lumber turned out to be a DEER!

McAfee's Knob

Where we live in Southwest Virginia, we are fortunate to have the Appalachian trail in close proximity to us.  My wife and I have walked the section to McAfee's Knob a couple of times.  The hike is about seven miles round trip but you do need to take water and some energy bars for a snack.  The hike is listed as a moderate hike but when you get close to the knob it can be a little harder than one thinks.  It is probably due to the fact that you are tired and your legs hurt, especially if you are not an avid hiker. 

What keeps one going is the view that you experience when you get there.  It is fantastic.  When you get there and relax and have the breeze in your face and the panorama of the valley and the mountains is awe inspiring. 

You stand on this rock outcropping and try to take it all in.  You are glad you made it and know the hike back is mostly downhill.  Anyone that hikes the trail should experience this section.

A Morning in the Garden

Spent the morning tilling and pulling weeds in the garden.  The rain showers have been plentiful and how nice and lush the plants look this time of the year.  It is nice to have the rain because as summer approaches it is usually dry.
I will let the video show the outcome so far.

Slower Speed Does Work

A few weeks back one of my son-in-laws sent me a link about the mileage a diesel VW Passat achieved on a trip from Houston, Texas to Sterling, VA.  The couple that drove the car on this trip made it on one tank of fuel and got over 80 miles per gallon.  The key they said was driving at a speed of no more than 60 miles per hour and keeping the car in sixth gear.

The wheels in my head started turning.  Since I drive the interstate quiet a bit, I thought I would give that a try.  I started by setting my cruise control at 60 and watched as the other drivers zoomed by me.  They were probably saying, "speed it up you ole geezer."  So to ignore the speed thing I just listened to satellite radio and zoned out on the music. 

Since I have to drive about 60 miles each way it was going to take a couple of days for this Jetta diesel to get to the point where I could refuel.  Normally I average about 43 to 44 miles per gallon on a tank of fuel. 

Notice the mileage reading of 429.3 in the bottom right corner of the red data screen and below the mileage is the fuel gauge. The fuel gauge is registering about 3/8ths of a tank of fuel.  The mileage also includes around town trips so I knew the mileage was going to be lower than I wanted.

After filling up I figured my miles per gallon and had achieved 48.4 miles per gallon.  The next test will come when I take an extended trip on the interstate for a non-stop trip other than to purchase fuel.  Update to follow in the future.

Looking at you from the grass.

The other day I was heading to the garden and was going up the lane I have mowed through the field.  I was on the tractor and noticed on the way up the hill this animal lying just off the lane and perfectly still. 

You have to look very hard but you can make out the head and ears of a small fawn.  The mother was not around but they teach their young to lie still and not to move.  This way the mother can go off and have the baby protected in the brush or tall grass.  I did have to walk back down the lane and that is when I snapped this picture.  The fawn never moved.