KE1RI – A New England Ham | Family, Hobbies, and an American Perspective

Summer in Hope Valley, Rhode Island

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

Note: This posting includes audio clips that are actual recordings of animals heard (sometimes also seen) in my backyard. Please click on play buttons to listen.

The gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor ) is so sticky I could hardly convince him to move. The fly swatter helped scoop him up from the edges of the hot tub. He kept coming back anyways. Stubborn!

How do I know it is summer? I could cheat and take a look at the calendar we have hanging in the kitchen. It looks like a big Scrabble board covered with wooden pieces that each have a number painted on them. Some display small portraits that designate a special day like Christmas or Independence Day. It’s so easy to use!

Or, I could just go outside and listen. I’ll begin at the hot tub. I was enjoying a book and beer while lounging in the spa after a tough day of hanging wallboard in the garage. The radio was whaling out some funky Cajun tunes on 90.3. Then I heard something large moving in the woods that border our backyard. It had to be large to be heard over my GE Super Radio with the six-inch speaker. I turned around and stared intently at the dark understory and was just in time to spot a good-sized deer traversing one of the many well-worn wood paths that thread through the mature forest. Usually I will see four or five moving single file. Only one today. Maybe if I had turned around sooner there would have been more.

Later, as dusk was approaching, I took a walk around the yard. What might I come upon tonight? Perhaps another brown fox-like the one caught in the truck headlights one night as I pulled in the drive?

This ribbon snake surprised my wife while she was gardening. I ran for the camera. My wife just ran.

How about another snake – no, the reptiles like full sun to warm in. Then of course there are the rabbits who love to browse the lawn. Last year we had one brown rabbit who visited on a regular basis. He was very nice about posing for pictures once he determined that I was not going to hit him over the head. He did not appear on this day but there was some action around our little fish pond.

This guy must have been desperate because he was eating my grass – or was it the clover? Rabbits appear frequently just after dusk.

The big old leopard frog was back. He just floats at ready all day in one spot. He’s waiting for the unwary insect to do a close flyby over his spring-loaded tongue. Life is good when you are the only frog in the pond. That will change later tonight.

A quick scan of the underbrush,now in the shadow of dusk, reveals numerous orange lights flashing on and off. It is hot and the lightning bugs are responding with their brilliant high-energy bursts. As the light recedes further I begin to hear a pair of owls responding to each other. Clicking the play button below will allow you to hear them too.

Owls

One is distant and one sounds close enough to touch. Though they are frequent visitors, I have yet to see one. One very loud summer squatter that I have seen is the gray tree frog. They are beginning their high-pitched call and drowning out most everything else.

Frogs all night

I have found them in the trees, in my fish pond, and even on top of the shed. They refuse to move from whatever perch they settle upon. I have had to scoop them up with a spatula to remove them from the wall of the hot tub. Their orange vicious underbelly and feet stick like silicone sealant to any surface. Tonight they will sing for hours even as my wife and I try to get to sleep.

There is one sound that will rouse even someone who has managed to slumber midst gray tree frogs. I am referring to the fisher cat, a summer night interloper that I prefer to keep my distance from. One of the neighborhood children was attacked by one a few years ago. Another animal that is heard but not seen.

Midnight screech of fisher cat

Well, another day has passed and I find myself in the garage cutting a plywood panel. I’d rather be out on the deck watching and listening. Maybe that’s why a hummingbird just flew into and then out of the garage – time for a break and a long glass of water out on the deck.

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Additional photographs (clicking on any photo will reveal enlarged version):

Gray tree frog in the fish pond. I don’t mind it when they hang out here. It is not fun when they decide to live on top of the hot tub.

I believe this is a leopard frog. He will wait in one place all day just for the chance to catch and insect.

I believe this is a leopard frog. He will wait in one place all day just for the chance to catch an insect.

Posted in Nature: Plants and Animals, Backyard, Woods, and River, Occasional Commentary | Tagged frog gray grey tree fisher cat RI Rhode Island koi pond owl audio ribbon snake backyard, nature, Rhode Island | 4 Comments

The Old Car Sleuth

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

The 1947 Mercury station wagon parked in the lot across from my house.

When I retired from teaching I decided to get myself a retirement gift. (I didn’t really fully retire .. I worked two other jobs during the next 11 years). I always had my heart set on owning an antique car. I fulfilled this dream once many years ago. Maybe I should start the story there.

As an oil burner serviceman my dad spent a lot of time on the road attending to customers who needed repairs to their boilers. He even took me with him a couple of times – I still remember one cold winter night in the early ’60’s when he got a call around 12:00 pm and he asked if I wanted to go ‘on the call’ with him. You bet I did! It was snowing when we pulled into a Franklin, Massachusetts factory that needed its boilers repaired immediately. In those days the vans issued by my dad’s company had just one front seat. I would just find something to sit on; it was a Ford Econoline van and so the engine cover served the purpose. Many years later, around 1973 or so, my dad came home from another service call with some interesting news. On this one trip dad had been through a small town in eastern Connecticut (Griswold?). He had seen an old wooden station wagon sitting on a front lawn. It had gray-green fenders and hood, orange and yellow doors, and a black fabric top. It also displayed a sign that read “For Sale / $300.00”. I had been wanting to purchase an old car for years and my father was aware of that. He also liked old cars and did not discourage me in my search. This news was just what I needed. We went to check out the Woodie later that week and I ended up closing the deal. I drove it home while dad and the seller followed in their cars to insure that the wagon and I survived the trip. About 5 miles from home the 1947 Mercury station wagon finally broke down. The flathead V-8 engine was overheating and emitting steam. The seller knew what was wrong. He added a few squirts of oil to the bearing cup around the fan and it once again moved freely and cooled the contents of the radiator. Who would have guessed?

My wife holds the complex wooden header that was manufactured by a Cincinnati cabinet maker. The old piece was rotted. Note the wagon in the background. Note my wife in the foreground.

The Mercury wagon had an all maple body frame, mahogany door panels, and leather interior. It was missing only the third seat, air cleaner, and the cover to the spare tire. I rented a garage from a friend so as to keep it out of the weather. My restoration over the years consisted of little more than accumulating new parts (including having many replacement wood pieces made). I installed almost nothing. The car followed me to my new home when I was married in 1976. Eventually I sold it, many years later, to a collector from New York. We needed money to replace my wife’s car that was stolen and so the Merc had to go. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. Today I could never afford to buy a Woodie in any condition. The prices are astronomical.

Back to retirement. That began about 10 years ago. I was on the lookout for an old car to play with. This time I was going to get one that ran well and could be driven with or without restoration. Once again I found what I wanted in Connecticut. It was a 1941 Buick Roadmaster four door sedan. The body style is called the trunk back due to the way the trunk area sticks out. The Auto Trader ad of Sept, 2002 read:

“1941 Buick Roadmaster, 4 dr. sedan, 8 cyl, Twin carbs, 100% orig & complete. Factory paint & interior. Runs & drives very good. Solid need some cosmetics. Nice chrome, stainless. Drive home at hwy. speed. $5,700 OBO.”

I made the trip to Cromwell, CT to check the car out. The description was pretty accurate. The car was under a cover in the yard while the garage housed a 1930’s Packard. It seems the seller had one car too many.

The original ad from Auto Trader, August, 2002 issue. Note the “$5,700 OBO” price.

Unfortunately when the seller drove the car for our road test he had a lot of trouble putting it in first without shaking everything up. I suspected some sort of major clutch trouble so I declined the purchase. A week later I got a call from the owner. He wanted me to look at the car again at a new price of only $4,500. This time I went with my wife and I drove the Buick during the test drive. I was able to easily shift in first by just giving it a bit more gas. The deal was sealed when my wife who rode in the back seat said the ride was smooth enough for her. I put down a deposit and a week later my dad went with me to pick the car up.

My next “Buick” installment of this blog will provide updates on the minor work that has been done on the Roadmaster in the last few years. I also hope to include a short video and some detailed photographs. I encourage anyone who requires information about an authentic 1941 Buick Roadmaster Sedan, Model 71, to contact me. I am always happy to help out.

Suggested Resources:

Vintage Station Wagon Shop Service (for all wood, combination & early metal bodies), Compiled by Thomas B. Garrett, D.D.S. (I purchased my rear tailgate window for the woodie from Tom .. a great guy and a terrific reference book)

Restoration Facts, 1941 Buick, by William C. Anderson. This is the definitive volume for the 1941 Buicks. Purchase it direct from Mr. Anderson and request an autograph (I did!).

Note: Comments welcome. Please use the social media buttons below to make others aware of this site. Thanks!

Posted in 1941 Buick Roadmaster, Occasional Commentary | Tagged 1941, 1947, 71, antique, Buick, eight, ford, Mercury, Roadmaster, station, straight, wagon, woodie | Leave a comment

Vegetarian Burger Experiment

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

The finished product along with zero calories dill pickles. I guessed 200 calories per pattie but it may be as low as 150 each.

I am now in the healthy stage of life. That means that I am overweight, have high cholesterol numbers, and shortness of breath after bending down to tie my shoes (at least I still tie them..no Velcro for me).

Now if I want to add on a few years to my enjoyable life it may help to eat well and exercise. Where did I hear that before? The exercise part, at this point, consists of mowing the lawn each week (1.5 hours total, 675 calories). Other forms of exercise (walking, jumping, bending, etc. bore me). The diet part is working out pretty good since I started counting calories with an iPad app called My Fitness Pal. My daughter Lenore (exercise freak & 1/2 marathon runner) told me about it.

Recently I learned that hamburgers are not the most healthy food when you consider all the cholesterol and calories in them (“Stay away from red meat” said my family doctor). One alternative is vegetarian burgers. I have tried the store-bought frozen varieties and some of them are pretty good. All of them cost over $1.50 per burger. I can get a burger, bun, and condiments, all cooked, at McDonald’s for $0.89. What’s wrong with this picture? Maybe I have to try to make these veggie burgers myself. I started out by challenging a friend of my son’s, Jill, to bring homemade veggie burgers to a recent cookout we all attended. She did and they were great! That gave me the incentive to try to make them myself.

I mixed everything together first before grinding. I used a little electric food chopper (don’t have a food processor) & did it in stages. The result is in the bowl on left.

I got a recipe from an Internet site and tried it out. I used rice for the texture, black beans for the meat, and cornmeal (grits) for the base ingredient. Lightly fried carrots, onions, and celery were part of the mix along with a healthy garlic clove (I can still smell that with every breath). Barbecue sauce (liquid flavor), paprika, and Italian dry seasoning were added for more flavor. It took way too long to make 8 burgers! I also ended up with a real messy kitchen; although my wife did clean it up for me.

Results? I would ditch the Italian seasoning next time. It does not work. I might use a more dense barbecue sauce and more of it too … or maybe steak sauce. The burgers themselves actually looked like hamburger and held together real well. I ate them with no bun or condiments. This is definitely a recipe that needs to mature, but I think I have the basics down. All in all, a good experiment!

How’s that for something that looks like hamburger but isn’t? They held together well. Total yield was 8 large burgers (this bowl was filled eventually). Excess burgers were put on waxed paper and frozen.

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged hamburger burger veggie vegetable cooking recipe diet cholesterol | 4 Comments

Scouting Kayak Launch Sites in Hopkinton, RI

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

A view of the yellow portion of the Narragansett Trail in Hopkinton, RI. The rocky ridge is part of a monadnock, a rock feature highly resistant to erosion.

A view of the yellow dot portion of the Narragansett Trail in Hopkinton, RI. The rocky ridge is part of a monadnock, a rock feature highly resistant to erosion. What does this have to do with kayaking? You’ll have to read the posting to unravel my thought process.

This is not an exhaustive review of the many places in Rhode Island where you can launch a kayak. Plenty of web resources have done that already. It is just a short recounting of my search for a safe place for a beginning paddler to put it.

I live in the heart of kayak country, Hopkinton, RI. We have numerous accessible ponds and couple of major rivers, most notably the Wood River and the Pawcatuck. One section of the Wood River has been described as the most pristine wildlife area in New England. Hopkinton is also the terminus of the Narragansett Trail which winds through 22 miles of Connecticut and Rhode Island wilderness. On the Rhode Island side it passes through (and is managed by ) AMC, The Audubon Society, and others. This trail passes many remote water spots.

I started my search for a nice calm place for a novice kayaker by checking out the bridge on Skunk Hill Road. The bridge, located less than a mile from my home, goes over a wide area of the Wood River. It is possible to put a kayak in at this point but it involves walking down a steep incline through a partially cleared area next to the bridge. It is not the best place to put in.

My next stop was about a mile down the river where it is crossed by Bridge Street in the middle of Hope Valley. There is a parking lot and a boat ramp there. Sounds good.

This may be a fish ladder on the dam. The dam itself is some 200 feet across. It was cold when I took this.

But then, there is also a steep dam, the Wyoming Dam, that is followed by some very low water and numerous rocks. I would have to put in about 20 feet from the dam and then paddle upstream (quick, Ken, don’t get pulled backwards) towards the bridge on Skunk Hill Road (see above) and then paddle back down. Not too bad, so long as I can stay away from the dam. Does it sound like I’m a bit paranoid about that dam? Check out the photograph showing how cold it gets at this location.

Several miles downstream and along the Hopkinton side of the river (Richmond is on the other side) there is a nice spot sometimes called Mechanic Falls or Carpenter Mills.

Old Stone Dam, circa 1765. I might paddle upstream but downstream is out of the question here.

This Sluiceway at Mechanic Street Falls is closed & only a trickle of water passes. The machinery here connects to shafts that extend under a street & appear to terminate in the former Nichols Mill, some 200 feet away.

There is another dam here and it dates back to 1765. It has a beautiful horseshoe shape. The upper section of the river appears calm and inviting. It runs right along the main street of Hope Valley, though it is rare to get a glimpse of it from the street. At one time there were mills on both sides of this site. Now there are just ruins including a 60 foot chimney and a really nice dam with a sluiceway that is jammed with ancient iron works. There is a level spot just down a path where I could put the kayak in. Then there is that dam again! They seem to be everywhere. (see the U.S. Dept. of Interior document on this historic district for additional details.)

My next stop (weeks later) was a bit closer to home. The location is up-river and resides about 1.5 miles north of my home. It is the Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association, a group that oversees over 300 square miles of watershed in Rhode Island and neighboring Connecticut. They have a real nice headquarters right on the Wood River next to yet another dam. I have read about people going over this dam and getting killed when they got caught up in the old machinery below. I decided to go inside one of the buildings and discuss things with someone. I met up with Chris Fox, the executive director of the association. He spent quite some time with me explaining why this was an especially good place to put in if you are a novice. He also discussed other locations, the interactive river condition reporting system, and the variety of wildlife that are regularly seen on this stretch of the river. Very soon Chris will be making forays upstream with his chainsaw so he can locate and remove any falls. Chris is an especially nice person and I was very happy to meet him. The association is in good hands!

My final destination for the day was some 5 miles away on the Eastern end of town. I was looking for two ponds, Ashville and Blue. They are not far from the Connecticut border. They are in the Rockville section of Hope Valley. If you ever stayed at Yawgoog Boy Scout Reservation, you were in Rockville. At this point my travels were taking me in a huge circle that could eventually end up on Route 138 and bring me back home from the opposite end that I started at. The street I was on, Canonchet Road, was narrow and twisting. I didn’t see many people but there were plenty of horses and cows. Then I spotted Ashville pond on my left (actually a rather large lake; we call everything here in RI a pond) and a very small turnout with the state ‘Ashville Pond’ sign at the edge of the road. I decided to continue by this spot and try to find Blue Pond. I would visit Ashville on the way back. The Google Maps printout I had indicated that I should soon see a road branching to the right and leading to the southern tip of Blue Pond. My GPS said that the road did not exist. All I ever saw was a dirt logging road with a metal barricade across it. Was I supposed to park there and walk? My research showed that most of Blue Pond was lost during the big storm that broke its dam a couple of years ago and nobody was sure if the dam had been repaired. This was looking like a lost cause.

I ended up here by chance. There was a sign and enough room to turn around (roads very narrow in this area). I might as well pull in and check it out.

It was time to find a place where I could turn the truck around and head back. That’s when I saw a small state parks sign that said “Long Pond“. That one wasn’t even on my list! I pulled in. There was no pond, not even a swamp. There was a large depression in the forest that may have been a swimming hole some time in the past, but now it just held an old TV and a rim and tire. Where was the pond? As I walked about I found another sign that said “The Narragansett Trail, Yellow Dot”. I had never heard of that. I decided to check the trail out.

Most eastern end of Long Pond, just a mudhole here. Note the sheer cliffs.

Section of Narragansett Trail (yellow dot). Note the ‘Big Rock’ and the abundance of rhododendrons. Walking was often slippery and rocky. I had loafers on (not planned)..just recovered from severe ankle strain several months ago..oh well!

It immediately climbed through rocky forest at about a 30 degree angle and then leveled off on a well-worn path that overlooked, you guessed it, a pond. This must be Long Pond. As I continued on the path the elevation continued to rise to over 400 feet (I had a portable GPS). The land to my left sloped up through the forest. To my right were sheer cliffs that led some 100-200 feet down to the ever-widening pond. I could see similar rock faces across the pond on the other side. At the higher elevations the path actually followed a natural rock ridge that sometimes I walked on and sometimes I walked on the narrow path on the downside of the cliff. The area was overflowing with rhododendrons and mountain laurel. The view was awesome! Everything reminded me of a place I visited many years ago, Ell Pond. Could Ell Pond be around here? I had no idea. It was too many years ago that I had visited Ell Pond with its amazing view of wild cranberry bogs, steep cliffs, and an unending horizon. Unfortunately I did not have hiking shoes on and it was getting late. Rain clouds were rolling in. It was time to get out of here. I checked the maps when I got home. Ell pond would have been right around the corner from where I quit, maybe another 1/2 mile or so. I’ll be going back, but not to put a kayak in.

Related links of interest:

The Story of the Yawgoog Trails – this page provides a nice description of the Narragansett Trail and others. Good photos.

Blueways and Greenways – the number one reference for boating and hiking in Rhode Island.

Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association – a group that is maintaining and promoting the best in Rhode Island wilderness.

Southern New England Paddlers – aka Kayak Fun – this group meets for regular kayak outings at 6:00 PM in the summer. The emphasis is fun and learning.

Rhode Island Canoe/Kayak Association – RICKA is a very active group that has something for everyone.

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Posted in Nature: Plants and Animals, Backyard, Woods, and River, Occasional Commentary | Tagged Asville, Blue, Carpenter's, Dam, Ell, kayak, Long, Mechanic, Narragansett, Pond, Rhode Island, RI, River, trails, Wood, Wyoming | 2 Comments

A Walk in the Neighborhood

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

My recent retirement from the world of work has made me give a bit more thought to how long I will be able to appreciate my new freedom. My expanding waist and failing cholesterol grades have forced me to consider the ‘E’ word, exercise.

Exercise was pretty good when I was a kid. There were the daily one-on-one hoop contests with my neighbor Richie. His garage faced the alley behind my house. There was an old hoop mounted at regulation height. We gave it a workout several times every week. Our favorite game was Skunk. In later years there were the pickup games on Sundays (10 guys play basketball for two hours and then drink beer at Lums for three) and the occasional hockey game on the local pond (Pat’s Pond, right off Church Avenue – long ago filled in and made into condos. I’ll bet they have water-filled basements).

Things are a bit different now. Three minutes of raking leaves or bending over to pick up yard debris bring on back pain and heavy breathing; not to mention the accelerated heart rate. Life is good so long as I spend it in a rocking chair. What to do?

I’ve tried walking. I did that with my wife once several years ago. I got a sprained ankle out of the deal. That took weeks to heal. Walking now usually means that I stay within one half mile of the house. I get to see all the houses on our street and a couple of other streets. On a good day I can spot at least 3 dog dumps, two moving trucks approaching at 40 mph, and maybe one person, usually someone who would rather look the other way than say hello. Boring. I’ve tried the stationary bicycle. It’s really stationary now since I gave that up (lasted only one day but it still counted as exercise). The best part of that deal was listening to Bette Midler on the stereo. Bicycling the neighborhood is a little better. I get to cover more territory, enrage more dogs, and joust with a better class of speeding trucks. Clearly I need to introduce an additional element of interest or this exercise will fade away while my girth increases.

So, today I introduced a bit of adventure to the routine. Instead of turning right on Skunk Hill Road I turned left and proceeded along Arcadia road. Arcadia road leads to the Arcadia State Management Area. This is a 14,000 acre wilderness area right next to my house (a mile and a half or so in distance). Along the way I passed various front yards. One is a hay farm that always has a nice collection of tractors, horses, and hay racks (see photo). Lately I have noticed some large turkey vultures hanging out in the field. Unfortunately the camera was not available on those occasions. Then there was the doorfront that had a pink four foot bunny rabbit on the stoop. I was more impressed by their neighbor who was obviously a big fan of John Deere products.

I’ll bet my son-in-law Chris would like this!

The B&B I did not know about! Check their web site if you need a nice place to stay when visiting URI (only 18 minutes due east on route 138).

His mailbox is framed not by flowers but by a massive tire painted in green and yellow. The theme continues up the mail post and terminates in a small tractor model as the finial. It all seems to fit in well along this busy country road. I also discovered a really nice bed and breakfast that I had no idea existed. It’s called Fezziwig B&B. Their web site displays a real cozy retreat with awesome landscaping. I think I’ll be incorporating some of their designs into my own Hope Valley home.

I finally arrived at the south entrance to the management area. It’s just a dirt road with a single sign that explains the rules of use. I first checked the hunting regulations and found that I was between seasons. No blaze orange required today, which was fortunate because I left all that at home. I wouldn’t go in anyways during hunting season. It would be sort of like crossing the street without looking.

It’s real smart to read all the warnings before entering. Did they mention anything about getting tired?

I began down the road and soon arrived at the first gravel pit. It was off to the right side with a short driveway entrance. This one was small, a few acres, and appeared to be inactive. There are a number of private residences and businesses sprinkled throughout management areas in RI. I missed the second one since the woods surrounding it were a bit thick. I was able to see it earlier though by using Google Maps. That one is massive and apparently still active. Hopefully it will be filled in one day so the forest can return (that’s what the law says, anyways).

Looking road right; a break in the woods reveals local hay field. Farther on numerous warning signs appear.

The next stop was a huge field, maybe some 20 acres, just beyond the side of the road. This is a private hay farm that is mostly well posted (Private, Not a Public Road, Beware of Animal!). That’s right, they had every sign imaginable. They were arranged along the driveway sort of like the old Burma signs used to be spaced along highways. Unlike the Burma-Shave series I was not interested in reading the end of this story.

Just past Friendly Haven Farm (not the name they actually used) I came upon a small pond / swamp area situated between two small rises. Something was creating an unnatural roar that was almost mechanical in nature. It was coming from the pond. Geese? No, there were no birds of any kind. I listened a bit more and finally I had it. I was hearing thousands of frogs in love. It’s what they do in the spring (and for some, all summer). The linked video will give you a little taste of what I heard. Turn up the audio and hear a really weird symphony (cacophony?).

I wanted to get closer to make a better tape but this wetlands was adjacent to Friendly Haven and I wasn’t sure if their benign influence reached this far. Never tempt a landowner with a shotgun I always say. A bit down the road I encountered a sign that was situated some 15 feet off the road. It reminded fishemen about the limits on trout and salmon and mentioned something called a creel (I vaguely remembered this as being a sort of wicker tackle box). The body of water from whence the trout would leap was nowhere to be seen; I suspect one of the paths would get me there.

Can you find something more gnarly than this? Please let me know. Can you read the sign? I couldn’t.

Then there was the gnarly sign. It was not about surfing (this is an inland park). This sign was so old that the tree it was nailed on had created a very secure frame around its edges. I challenge anyone to find a more gnarly tree. What did the sign say? You be the judge. The photo is about as clear as it was when I was standing there. I did make out the words ‘care’ and ‘shooting’. Can you decipher the rest?

By now the clouds had moved in. The temperature dropped some 10 degrees and the entire forest darkened. It was time to head home. Being the lazy type, I opted for calling my wife. Maybe she could come pick me up? My TracFone works well if you have four or more bars. I had one and sometimes none. I gave it a try anyways and luckily was able to reach Camille. I explained where I was (maybe a 10 minute ride; you don’t speed on a dirt road when you are driving a Honda Civic).

Cam obligingly plays the part of the upset wife.

She agreed to come and pick up the old man. Twenty minutes later I was deeper into the forest and the rescue party was yet to be heard from. I decided to turn around. This place would not be much fun in the dark – apparently even the animals avoided it since I had not seen a single one. Then I received a call. I fumbled getting the cell phone out of its case and answered just in time to hear the word “where….?” and that was it. All attempts to return the call to my spouse failed. Oh well. I hope she turned down the correct road. Several minutes later I heard a car.

All is well that ends well. This woman will put up with almost anything!

It was she who must be obeyed. When she stepped out of the car I was met with a slew of well-deserved admonitions. I convinced her to pose for a couple of photos and we then road home in the lightly falling snow. Exercise doesn’t always have to be boring. What to do for an encore?

Well, the final picture here will give you a clue. It was delivered today.

Recommended Reading: Walking by Henry David Thoreau

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Posted in Nature: Plants and Animals, Backyard, Woods, and River, Occasional Commentary | Tagged Arcadia walking RI Rhode Island Management Area forest John Deere Gnarly Pungo 120 Wilderness Systems Fezziwig | 2 Comments

A Hamfest Weekend

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

Stewart Warner 900AC series radio with 445-A speaker. Note missing knob & moved toggle.

What makes a good weekend for you? Some would answer eight hours straight of football games on Sunday afternoon. Others would say climbing Mount Washington or a good 100-mile bike ride. For me it is my annual trek to the ECARA (Eastern Connecticut Amateur Radio Association) ham radio flea market. This year (2013) it was held on March 16 in Dayville, CT.

Dayville is to the north and west of me (I am in Hope Valley, RI, right on the CT border). My computer said that it would be a 45 minute ride. Never believe a computer or a GPS. In the old days I would take out my Mass/CT/RI map and plot the route: easy and effective. Since I now have GPS in the truck I have gotten lazy. I didn’t even read the excellent travel directions on the ECARA flyer that announced the event. I just waited until 2 minutes before leaving on Saturday morning and punched the address into the GPS. I should have been suspicious when the first instruction was to get on route 95 south. Dayville is north, right? Well, I just followed the instructions (sort of like what I do when my wife speaks to me) and blindly climbed the on ramp for route 95. I had forgotten that my GPS routing preference was set at “Maximize Major Highways”. That one is good for long trips, but really stinks for local stuff. After some 15 minutes of travel time, now on the outskirts of Mystic, I got a bit worried. The ’58 minutes to go’ message on the GPS screen was also a concern. I pulled over and verified that I was going the right way but way out-of-the-way just to avoid small roads. I continued. I considered turning around and quitting. Finally I decided to just stick it out and arrive late. Of course, all the good stuff would be gone by the time I got there.

The list of items I was looking for was as follows:

Scott Philharmonic knobs, 7 at 1/4″ shaft and one at 3/16″
UY227 (1) and UX280 (1) tubes for the WR-8 Westinghouse
One concentric knob set (1/4″ and 1/8″ shafts) for B&K Analyst
One knob for the NC109 receiver I bought here last year
Anything old and interesting

When I finally arrived in Dayville (missed the opening by 45 minutes) there were no more parking spaces in the church parking lot. I threaded the pickup through the narrow lanes three times before someone finally left an open spot (another 10 minutes wasted). I went in and paid my $3 entrance fee to the nice lady and immediately merged with the circulating crowd. In case you have never been, an indoor hamfest or radio meet consists of numerous rows of tables with narrow paths between them. If two people stop to talk with each other and stand sideways all traffic stops. You can’t get by. If you are looking at something you need to make sure your gut is within three inches of the table edge so as to leave room for the shuffling crowd that never relents. That’s what a place with a good reputation is like; crowded.

I spied an old radio of minor interest at the very first table, but I passed it by. I needed to get to the vendor who had all the tubes last year. His prices were great and he had almost everything I needed. I also just had to find someone with boxes of old knobs and dials. They always show up. I had prepared this time since I actually had dimensions and 3 samples (inside a clear sandwich bag) all ready to compare with whatever I found. After a couple turns around the room I had to admit to defeat. There were no tube vendors and nobody had any knob collections. This day was not getting any better. Well, it was time to check out the guy near the door. He had a couple old radios that looked like Atwater Kent bathtub radios. Maybe I could score a junker and use it for parts.

When I got to the table the man’s wife immediately became my best friend after she saw me looking at the radio. “My husband can tell you all about it”. He did. He said it was an Atwater Kent. I commented that it was curious how the Atwater Kent had a Stewart Warner transformer in it.

The 8 tubes (two 45’s, five 27’s, and one 80) were just what I needed. Notice the original inspection card in the left rear – it has about a dozen signatures on it.

He didn’t seem to hear me but did explain how his collecting interests had changed and he needed to get rid of a few radios. His wife took me aside (literally) and emphasized that he had radios ” all over the place” and they really needed to make more room at home. At this point I noticed that he also had two nice looking compound microscopes for sale. The binocular model with the mechanical stage was especially nice looking. As I looked it over to see what it had (4 objectives including 100x oil with 10x eyepieces and a lamp) I took note of the tag ($40.00, As Is). I asked what feature was responsible for the ‘as is’. The seller was not sure but he finally pointed out that the slide lock had no spring to it and that was the only problem he knew of. I knew this was a great buy and so didn’t the ham who was now pressed against my right side like an old drinking buddy ready to sing an Irish ditty with me (it was March 16, almost St. Patrick’s Day). I said “I’ll take this” and the guy next to me said “It’s a good thing you decided because if you didn’t buy it I would have”.

The Bristol scope has 2 10x eyepieces, 4 objectives including a 100X oil immersion, a lamp, and a mechanical stage. Quality made in Japan. Likely 1980’s.

Now it was time to bargain. The Stewart Warner radio (20″ x 12″, all metal case, and matching speaker with tapestry design grill cloth) was priced at only $30 (marked down from $40). And yes, it had all its tubes including the 80 and 27 that I was looking for. I asked for a little discount, considering the microscope purchase (I was now officially an old customer) and how truly chummy his wife was with me. I got the whole deal for $65.00, a great bargain. The day was improving. It took three trips out to the car to load it all up. Each time I came back in the building I had to show my little red ticket. Once I saw an old ham acquaintance, Frank (KB1AWZ). He offered me his ticket because he was on his way out and would not be able to claim the door prize if they called his number (‘must be present to win’). I declined with the explanation that I was also in transit.

I stowed everything in the back seat area of the Ridgeline on the floor. I wrapped the Bristoscope Bristoline microscope (made in Japan, not China) in some bubble wrap I keep around for just such an occasion. Next to it I put the 49-pound radio up against the back of the rear seat frame (mistake). I then reprogrammed the GPS for ‘shortest route’ (guaranteed to pass through residential areas, national parks, and cow pastures) to be sure I avoided route 95. All was well as I travelled through the sparsely settled country of Eastern Connecticut. Then I remembered the camera I had brought with me. I had not taken a single picture! Oh well. Wasn’t this the route where that old gas station was, the one that I always wanted a photo of? Is that a yellow caution light up ahead, right in the middle of nowhere (pasture country where stone walls rule)? No it’s a full traffic light and it just turned red! I hit the brakes hard and succeeded in stopping just a few feet beyond the stop line. I also heard something go crash against the back of my seat. That would be the 49-pound radio. The light turned green and I moved along, all the while looking for somewhere to stop. I had to get to the back seat to see how much damage I had caused to the antiques and to the truck upholstery. I pulled over at an area where the breakdown lane was about triple width (next to what looked like an old farm that was now a repository for retired trailers filled with junk that flowed out to the surrounding yard). All was well in the back seat. The radio had flown forward and was now against my backrest. I secured it in place by wedging in my packaged jumper cables so as to cushion against any other sudden stops.

It looks like this place last pumped gas somewhere around 1978. I wouldn’t want to spend the night in one of these buildings.

After closing the door I noticed what was across the street. It was the long-abandoned filling station and adjacent liquor store. I had stopped right at the place that I had been planning to photograph for the last five years! Yes, the day was improving. I got out the camera and clicked away. These opportunities don’t come all that often.

The rest of the ride home was uneventful and really short (now properly using the GPS). I’m going to be checking out a lot of pond water under the scope this summer while I work on accumulating parts for the new old radio. Oh, and that ‘as is’ stage clip; not a problem after I tightened its screw.

Stewart Warner 900 series resources:

Line Ballast discussion on Antique Radios (this is the part I am missing): Link to Antique Radios, The Collectors Resource

Riders diagrams for 900 Series on Nostalgia Air

Stewart Warner 900 Power Supply discussion found on page 52 of Fixing Up Nice Old Radios by Ed Romney.

Radio Manufacturers of the 1920’s, Vol. 3, by Alan Douglas. See pages 150-151.

(Note: clicking on pictures will show enlarged versions. Please use the buttons below to invite others to read the blog; much appreciated.)

Parts Needed: I am looking for one knob (1″dia., 1-1/4″ with skirt, 1/4″ shaft, round) and the ballast resistor conisting of perforated can, form, & nichrome wire). Click on knob thumbnails to see details. (Update: my good friend Art, K1GTI, found a knob for me!)

The knobs on this radio have an interesting flower petal design. Notice the small skirt. Some knobs similar to this one do exist without the skirt. It is made of a Bakelite material. The underside conists of a brass insert and it is secured by a small set screw.

Posted in Occasional Commentary, Radio: Amateur & Broadcast | Tagged 900, amateur, Bristol, Bristoline, Bristolscope, CT, Dayville, ECARA, ham, microscope, radio, RI, stewart, warner | 1 Comment

Shooting Diehards

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

John, Fred, Niu, Anna, and Alex. Abdullah is off camera and busy setting up the trap machine.

It’s a Sunday afternoon in the winter. The ground is white with about ten inches of snow, including the most recent two-inch dusting. Temperatures hover around the 26 degree Fahrenheit mark and the wind does its best to create an instant blizzard with the occasional fifteen mile per hour gust. In short it is an ideal setting for a little trap shooting.

My son first proposed this outing to me some 4 weeks earlier. The night before the event he called to remind me. What? Shooting? Tomorrow? In the snow? That’s right, I had forgotten. Of course I agreed to meet his train the next day as it arrived in Providence from Boston. I entered the terminal in my Sunday best shooting attire: Day-Glow® orange chest-to-toe suspender coveralls over blue jeans topped off with matching insulated jacket. I was easy to find and I suspect I provided some entertainment to the crowd waiting in the terminal (were they looking for my city plow or my shotgun?).

Alex arrived about 20 minutes late and off we went to the range in Warren, RI. He quickly informed me that the shooting party was whittled down to 7 since several other registrants had backed out in light of the weather conditions. We can’t all qualify as true New Englanders! Upon our arrival at the range Alex made introductions all around and we began the festivities. The range master and Abdullah, the party organizer and supplier of firearms, were busy loading the trap shed with our supply of clay pigeons.

Abdullah had the ticket for keeping out the cold. Always shoot in comfort!

Removing a token from the control box roof so it can be inserted in the mechanism. They froze solid in no time.

Shooting commenced. I am a center fire target shooter. I have never mastered the shotgun. How many clays did I connect with? None. That was the story for almost everyone until about half way through the session when all the other guys (the ladies had long since retired to the lodge where cupcakes baked by Anna were waiting) began improving as they acquired the rhythm. I decided to donate the balance of my shells to Alex so as to prevent the range being further littered with untouched clays (suitable for mounting over your fireplace mantle or reuse as outdoor ashtrays).

Alex demonstrates the hand assist method of shell ejection with the side-by-side.

After all the shells were exhausted we policed the range and retired to the club house for beers and Anna’s cupcakes. I got to see a couple of really nice rifles that Fred had with him (a reproduction Henry repeater and an original Mosin-Nagant) and of course there was general gun talk. (Just in case you were wondering nobody was able to nibble on the cupcakes in just the right pattern to create a pastry gun). This was followed by additional lunching at a local Mexican-style restaurant. Definitely an enjoyable day with my son and his great friends (and I was warm as toast all the time).

(Note: Clicking on any photograph will give you a full-sized image. Check it out!)

Additional Features: I also was able to shoot a couple of hand-held videos of the action. The first video is quite short. It shows Alex connecting with a clay pigeon. It was taken using the Nikon Coolpix S6300. The resulting QuickTime .mov file was converted to .wmv using Hamster and then edited in Windows Live Movie Maker.

The second video shows Alex and Fred handing the guns over to Abdullah and John. Both videos were inserted in this post by using the ’embed’ command with before and after square brackets.

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged clay, gun, Island, pigeon, Rhode, RI, shooting, shotgun, skeet, snow, trap, Warren, winter | 4 Comments

Netflix Picks for February, 2013

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

It’s time for another round of outstanding Netflix Instant film recommendations. My picks for February 2013 are all rated 4/5 or 5/5 … not a dog in the bunch. Of course my ratings only mean something if you know what I like. I expect a movie to show evidence of technical expertise; it should not look amateurish. The actors should know how to act and project dynamic personalities. A good flick will keep my interest at all times, or nearly so. And above all a really good film will demonstrate originality. It will not be just another plot clone. Keeping these parameters in mind the February picks follow. Please note that each title is a hot link (separate page) to a trailer that in most cases will be on You Tube.

Serenity, 2005, 1 hr and 58 min.; Sci-Fi Adventure, Space Western; Rating: 4/5

This movie is a spinoff of a TV show, if you can believe that. The TV show Firefly is one that I had never heard of (not difficult to believe since I generally watch only the news on TV). The plot develops from a rogue spaceship piloted by Mal Reynolds, a war hero who is not in line with the current galactic government, the Alliance. He and his crew are thieves (nice ones) who roam the edges of the galaxy looking for opportunities. Unfortunately for them they take on a passenger who is a refugee from an Alliance mind control/super warrior experiment. This situation guarantees that there will be plenty of conflict. Watch Serenity if you appreciate something with lots of fast paced sci-fi action. If you like the movie you can also watch the 14-part series, Firefly (2002), that is also currently available on Netflix Instant. Please note that the movie is meant to follow the series. You decide what order you watch in.

Starring: Nathan Fillion as Mal, Gina Torres as Zoe, Alan Tudyk as Hoban, Morena Baccarin as Inara, Adam Baldwin as Jayne, Jewel Staite as Kaylee, Sean Maher as Simon, Summer Glau as River, and Ron Glass as Shepherd.

Debra DiGiovanni: Single Awkward Female, 51 min.; Stand-up Comedy ; Rating: 5/5

This is a stand-up comedy routine featuring Debra DiGiovanni. Debra is a large (‘fluffy’ as a plump friend of mine says) woman who can evoke equally large laughs. Debra has no difficulty making fun of herself. She really is charming. It’s a bit raunchy at times, but all done with heart.You have been warned, now go watch!

We’re Not Married, 1952, 1 hr and 25 min.; Comedy; Rating: 5/5

I like old movies. Maybe it is because I am old. In any event, I really loved this one. What would happen if several years after you had been married you found out that the justice of the peace who married you was not yet properly licensed when he performed the service? The results are sure to be funny and unexpected. And get a load of that cast!

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ginger Rogers, Fred Allen, Victor Moore.

Comes a Bright Day, 2012, 1 hr 30 min.; Indie drama; Rating: 5/5

This little indie movie directed by Simon Aboud is another great find. The story centers around Sam who has a low-level hotel job. He wants to move on up to his own business someday. His carefully ordered life is suddenly tossed by a cyclone consisting of a beautiful girl, a robbery, and a hostage crisis. This is another film that you probably won’t hear about from anyone else. It is the kind I most enjoy sharing.

Starring: Craig Roberts, Imogen Poots, Kevin McKidd, Timothy Spall.

Sahara, 2005, 2 hr 4 min.; adventure; Rating: 5/5

This is an adventure film that is a mix of Raiders of the Lost Arc and James Bond (take your pick of which one). The search for an ancient artifact in the form of a civil war ironclad is the ‘Raiders’ part. Outstanding fight and chase scenes and the beautiful Penelope are the ‘Bond’ parts. Sit back and enjoy!

Starring: Matt McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz.

Those five films should keep you busy for at least part of the month of February. Please feel free to comment here, especially if you have your own Netflix Instant recommendations.

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged 2013, DiGiovanni, February, Films, Firefly, Instant, Movies, Netflix, new, picks, Sahara, Serenity, streaming, trailer | Leave a comment

A closer look at Inner Space

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

Hercules is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and Bob Knott is the man charged with making its video feeds available to the world.

Of course you know what outer space is . Inner space? That’s the ocean depths. It is also a division of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. The graduate school is located on beautiful Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. One division of the school is the Inner Space Center. I had been there in the past while escorting busloads of my high school students who were participating in the Jason Project. They actually got to watch live undersea exploration through the lenses of research vehicles that were thousands of feet below the surface of the ocean. The highlight of the presentation was always when a lucky student was selected to actually steer the undersea vehicle from thousands of miles away. We were in Rhode Island while the submarine research vehicle could be anywhere – the Mediterranean, South Pacific, etc.

A short while ago a ham radio friend of mine, Jim Gershman (K1JJJ) invited me and two other ham friends (Art Daniels / K1GTI and Jim Hopkins / K1VFM) for a personal tour of the URI Inner Space Center. He was able to make the offer because he is a friend of Bob Knott (K1RWK), the Senior Broadcast Engineer for the Inner Space Center (ISC). Needless to say we all readily accepted the invitation.

We arrived on a cold January day and found Bob in his office working on an upcoming project. He is provided with the general outline for a future production that will usually require all sorts of technology and capabilities that are as yet untested and possibly not available in finished form. He then searches for what he needs, contracts to purchase what he can and develops/builds whatever is necessary to create a stunning video and audio presentation. The presentations put on by the ISC involve the coordination of numerous live video and audio feeds over thousands of miles. The origin for most of the productions can easily be over a mile below the ocean surface. You may have heard of Dr. Bob Ballard and his ocean research that has led to numerous archeological and biological discoveries throughout the world. Bob Knott is the man back at the base camp who makes sure the research scientists (they have special access from all over the world), students, and general public can benefit from live and recorded HD video and audio of the undersea environment.

Our tour started at the Nautilus Galley, a really bright and welcoming lunch area with an amazing view of the URI Oceanography School campus and Narragansett bay. From there we moved on to the Mission Control area. This is where the public and students get to see the live video (there is actually a short delay) sent from below the sea. While we were there the numerous high-definition screens were displaying recorded video of past missions. It was difficult to stop watching – the clarity of the images and the sense of discovery they convey are overwhelming. Bob patiently answered all our questions about how everything worked.

We also checked out an adjacent broadcast studio and nearby audio mixing room. Finally Bob showed us where all the computer engines are located (wires, wires everywhere with special ceiling and floor access) and what I think is his favorite spot, the Broadcast Hub. The broadcast hub is where the real behind the scenes audio and video coordination is performed. Although I didn’t mention it at the time, I couldn’t but help noticing how much the hub looked like a really great ham radio station. All those nice built-ins, the international clock, computer racks, waterfall display, wraparound desk … maybe Bob could convince someone that they really need an HF station installed as a communications backup?

Our final destination for the day was the maintenance shop. This was no ordinary maintenance shop, though. This is the place where the ROV’s go when they are not out to sea. Approximately every six months they come back home for a partial teardown. Just one item that needs to be checked is the electronics.

This plate has been removed for servicing of the electronics that it covers. The cavity below it would be filled with oil when in use.

Each electronic panel is covered with a thick pressure resistant Plexiglass panel. As thick as these panels are, they will still crush under the many atmospheres of force under the ocean unless there is something behind them, oil. Each covered electronics panel is filled with oil. It can be quickly checked for the presence of any water by draining off a sample.

The day we toured the shop it was occupied by three vehicles: Argus, Hercules, and a kayak drone.

Argus keeps an eye on Hercules. It is held by tether at a constant depth and has controls for side balance only.

Closeup of the front frame of Hercules and the onboard talisman.

Argus is a large sled that carries special lighting equipment. It is held at about the same level underwater as Hercules, the primary exploration vehicle, and supplies lighting for the work area. It also allows the crew at the surface to keep an eye on Hercules so they know how to direct its movement. Argus has a nice big weight as ballast, about 2,500 pounds of ballast if I remember correctly. It’s frame structure is made of stainless steel. Hercules is the actual worker. It collects samples and provides most of the HD video that everyone is so interested in. If you look at the photograph carefully (at beginning of this story) you will see the locations for various cameras and lights. The frame on Hercules is made of titanium. If you look real closely you may notice that while Hercules is way down at the bottom of the ocean it carries with it a small tiki. Look for it in the photo to the left. The other vessel we observed was what at first appeared to be a standard 12 foot Pungo kayak. Upon closer inspection though it was evident that its hatches were way better sealed than would be on a factory kayak. Even the entire cockpit had a tight-fitting and watertight seal. There are also antennas, a large red kill switch, etc. You get the picture. This not so ordinary kayak is outfitted with special equipment that can report back about weather conditions. It can be programmed to sail a large ocean grid and thereby provide realtime data from wherever it is directed to go. It also has advanced avoidance capabilities so it will not collide with any other boats that it may encounter. This neat device is cutting edge and is still in development (as in not yet given approval). I like to call it the kayak drone.

I would like to say thanks to Bob for the great tour! If you would like to get a tour I am told that there are regularly scheduled ones available once a month. Check out the website for additional information. You will surely enjoy the time well spent.

Posted in Occasional Commentary | Tagged Argus, Ballard, Bob, exploration, Hercules, Inner, Knott, Oceanography, RI, ROV, Space, undersea, URI | 2 Comments

Cabin Filters

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Kenneth Carr

The removed filter is on the left. On the floor are the pliers used for extraction of acorn fragments. The glove box is dropped down exposing the filter/fan cavity.

They sometimes call it a cabin filter or an inside compartment air filter. Most new cars have them. My wife’s 2007 Honda Civic has one. When she went to the dealership to have something else done they gave her the old “while you are here, why not have your cabin filter replaced too?”. I wasn’t there to say ‘No’ and so it was done. The immediate result was that the next time she turned on the heater, and every time thereafter, it made a loud whirring sound.

I believe in the good old cause and effect rule. Something they did at the Honda dealership created the noise. Unfortunately it is real inconvenient for my wife to arrange another appointment (she has all sorts of daily commitments) and the dealership is not right around the corner either. Heaven forbid just ‘dropping by’ and saying ‘fix it now’. You know that’s not going to happen.

So, when she finally told me about the problem and when I got a spare minute I checked it out. A neat video on You Tube explained how simple it is to remove the cabin filter. I figured this would be the way to go … always return to the scene of the crime for clues.

View of the cabin filter / heater fan cavity with filter removed.

It took me about 30 seconds or less to remove the new filter. As I did so I noticed a couple of chewed acorns on top of it. Then I looked inside the cavity below the filter. There was the impeller for the heater fan, nicely nestled in its own plastic shroud. I reached in and rooted around a bit. After about another 30 minutes I had fully extricated about 2 cups of acorns. Some were stuck in the impeller vanes, some were stuck between the impeller and the shroud. I suspect that when the service person removed the old filter the cache of acorns on the top of the filter dropped down inside the fan cavity. Did he notice? It would be impossible not to. Did he attempt to remove the acorns? Obviously not. Did he charge 0.5 units of labor? Oh yeah! I have the receipt to prove it. That came to $55.00 so they charge $110.00 per hour. That sort of explains why people avoid going to a dealership for service whenever possible. On top of the $55.00 for labor there was the $26.00 charge for the filter.

Impeller blades visible. Also notice a couple of brown acorns that have not yet been extracted.

The same filter is available at NAPA for $10.39 in the regular flavor and $20.00 in the gold flavor. We paid $81.00 for something that will be less than $20 the next time.

After removing all of the acorns and putting the filter back the fan ran smoothly and quietly. At least I got to be ‘hero for the day’ with my wife … priceless. Thanks, Honda.