2015--Day 12
Another late start, but that's ok as nothing much is expected to happen around us. It's a travel day, one of the first since arriving. We left Dodge City and headed north (and eventually west) to be in place for potential weather in northwestern Nebraska on Wednesday. I can definitely feel the stairs in my legs today.
Western Kansas is getting pretty hot. It's over 80 and it's not even noon. The mesonet reported 33 C (92 F).
Driving through Ness City, one of the students was amazed to see a blacksmith shop. I was kinda surprised too, but I'm guessing it shod a lot of horses in its day (it appeared dormant).
At a rest/gas stop, the room between the bathrooms was labeled a 'safe shelter,' but the door had a keypad lock. Sorry, tornado shelter for paying customers only.
The overheating issues in the mesonet haven't abated, so we're headed to Hays to see if it can be fixed quickly or whether we have to take it round back and shoot it. Apparently one of these scout vehicles spontaneously combusted. Wonder how that affected data collection.
We arrived at the airport where the PECAN vehicles reside when not in use. The fence gate had a sign that said, "Emergency Vehicles To Open Gate Use Yelp." I wonder how a review web site lets ambulances in the facility. What happens if they only rate them 2 stars?
After lunch at a place that resembles Steak and Shake but way better service, we drove back to the Hays airport to say goodbye to the mobile mesonet. She served us well, but she wouldn't survive the trip any further without surgery.
So we’re heading to North Platte, Nebraska to be in position for storms to fire tomorrow. A booking snafu means we’re actually aiming for Ogallala, a bit further west. While heading west on I80, we passed a school bus parked well off the highway, painted white with black spots, much like a cow.
Speaking of farm animals, we made it to Ogallala after dinner in a place surrounded by numerous stuffed animals shot by the founder (including an elephant, a giraffe, and a polar bear). The hotel lobby had a very fat (but equally sweet) dog lying on his side. At first, I swore it was a sow—the only thing missing was a row of nursing piglets. Apparently his diet consists primarily of scraps from the Denny’s connected to the hotel. The poor thing could barely get up or walk.
It was a long drive, but an early night. The final total: 434 miles. (And no pictures.)
Western Kansas is getting pretty hot. It's over 80 and it's not even noon. The mesonet reported 33 C (92 F).
Driving through Ness City, one of the students was amazed to see a blacksmith shop. I was kinda surprised too, but I'm guessing it shod a lot of horses in its day (it appeared dormant).
At a rest/gas stop, the room between the bathrooms was labeled a 'safe shelter,' but the door had a keypad lock. Sorry, tornado shelter for paying customers only.
The overheating issues in the mesonet haven't abated, so we're headed to Hays to see if it can be fixed quickly or whether we have to take it round back and shoot it. Apparently one of these scout vehicles spontaneously combusted. Wonder how that affected data collection.
We arrived at the airport where the PECAN vehicles reside when not in use. The fence gate had a sign that said, "Emergency Vehicles To Open Gate Use Yelp." I wonder how a review web site lets ambulances in the facility. What happens if they only rate them 2 stars?
After lunch at a place that resembles Steak and Shake but way better service, we drove back to the Hays airport to say goodbye to the mobile mesonet. She served us well, but she wouldn't survive the trip any further without surgery.
So we’re heading to North Platte, Nebraska to be in position for storms to fire tomorrow. A booking snafu means we’re actually aiming for Ogallala, a bit further west. While heading west on I80, we passed a school bus parked well off the highway, painted white with black spots, much like a cow.
Speaking of farm animals, we made it to Ogallala after dinner in a place surrounded by numerous stuffed animals shot by the founder (including an elephant, a giraffe, and a polar bear). The hotel lobby had a very fat (but equally sweet) dog lying on his side. At first, I swore it was a sow—the only thing missing was a row of nursing piglets. Apparently his diet consists primarily of scraps from the Denny’s connected to the hotel. The poor thing could barely get up or walk.
It was a long drive, but an early night. The final total: 434 miles. (And no pictures.)
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