20210509 – Sunday, Day of Rest (Oklahoma City, OK)

07:00 -Had a ‘soft’ wake-up (no call or alarm)

09:00 -Atttend my Chicagoland church online

10:00 – Shower, grab a coffee in the lobby

1030 – Finialize the blog entries for the past two days.  Seems like I’m always catching up on blogs

1130 – Return to Golden Palace for lunch. “You’re back early.” said the diminutive hostess, smiling broadly. “It’s never too early for hour sour soup,” I retorted. First joke of the day!

13:00 – Return to Avid. Work with the housekeeper to get my room sprayed for ants. I relish the chance to have a conversation in Spanish, even if ti’s about my hormiga problem.  The crew pays me a compliment on my Spanish: tu hablas muy bien.  The truth is, I’m embarrassed at how rusty I am with the language. When I when sailing out of Chile during my stint with the U.S. Antarctic Program, I reached a certain level of fluency. My Mexican friends at home — Colorado, at that time — paid me a tremendous compliment: they told me I had picked up a Chilean accent. Very flattering, as I worked hard to do so.

15:00 – Upload some images and videos for today’s blog entry. Took a break just long enough for a short walk, a trip to the van (to clean it up a little for guests), and took a quick weather reading on the Kestrel:

(PLEASE accept my apologies for the formatting of the Kestrel data tables.
I am trying to find something better, in vain)

FORMATTED DATE_TIMETemperatureWet Bulb TempRelative HumidityBarometric PressureAltitudeStation PressureWind SpeedDew PointHeat IndexDensity AltitudeCrosswindHeadwindCompass Magnetic DirectionCompass True DirectionWind Chill
MMM d, yyyy HH:mm:ss°F°F%hPafthPakt°F°FftktktDegDeg°FData TypeRecord nameStart timeDuration (H:M:S)Location descriptionLocation addressLocation coordinatesNotes
May 9, 2021 14:07:5387.165.532.0971.51150971.60.053.785.533870.00.032432587.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:07:5787.165.531.9971.51150971.60.053.685.533840.00.032532587.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:0287.065.531.8971.51150971.60.053.485.133810.00.032432586.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:0787.065.531.7971.51151971.60.053.385.133790.00.031331486.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:1286.765.332.1971.51151971.60.053.485.133580.00.030030186.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:1786.065.533.7971.51151971.50.054.284.633270.00.0495086.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:2285.265.535.3971.51151971.60.054.783.832760.00.0686885.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:2785.065.736.1971.51151971.60.055.183.832660.00.0313184.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:3284.965.836.9971.71146971.80.055.783.832610.00.0394084.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:3785.066.237.5971.51151971.50.056.284.232790.00.0666784.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:4284.666.238.5971.51151971.50.056.683.832560.00.033833884.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:4784.065.738.4971.51151971.50.056.083.132150.00.031031184.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:5283.264.937.8971.21163971.21.054.881.731700.90.228228383.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:5782.564.037.1971.51151971.50.053.780.631090.00.028928982.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:0781.162.636.0971.51151971.60.051.678.630020.00.032532581.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:1380.261.534.9971.51151971.60.050.077.429360.00.034834880.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:1779.961.234.6971.71150971.60.049.577.229160.00.029929979.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:2279.961.234.4971.51151971.60.049.377.029110.00.030931079.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:2779.661.034.3971.51150971.60.049.076.828980.00.031431579.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:3279.260.434.1971.71150971.70.748.576.528600.10.7101179.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:3779.461.034.8971.51150971.60.049.276.628850.00.00079.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:4279.661.535.8971.51150971.60.050.277.029060.00.033133279.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:4778.961.236.4971.51150971.60.050.076.328520.00.026726878.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:5278.260.837.0971.51150971.60.049.875.728140.00.029829978.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:5778.060.837.4971.71150971.70.050.075.627990.00.026626777.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:0779.161.737.8972.01138972.10.051.276.628570.00.024224279.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:1278.361.237.9972.01135972.10.050.675.928040.00.019919978.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:1777.360.237.7972.01135972.10.049.574.727380.00.0131477.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:2276.659.537.1972.01135972.10.048.473.926820.00.032432576.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:2775.658.636.5972.01138972.10.047.172.926140.00.035435575.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:3275.458.436.1972.01138972.10.646.772.726020.40.532132275.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:3775.858.835.9972.21135972.10.047.073.026320.00.028528675.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:4276.459.236.0972.21135972.10.047.573.626670.00.029629776.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:4776.959.536.0972.21135972.10.047.974.127030.00.028728776.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:5277.559.935.9972.01138972.10.048.474.727430.00.029029177.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:5777.860.135.8972.21135972.20.048.675.027610.00.027928077.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:0277.960.135.5972.01135972.10.048.475.227660.00.030330377.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:0778.060.135.3972.21135972.20.048.475.227690.00.029829877.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:1278.460.435.2972.01135972.10.048.775.628020.00.028929078.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:1778.360.235.0972.01135972.10.048.475.427940.00.030130178.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:2278.660.234.7972.01138972.10.048.475.728140.00.029829978.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:2778.560.234.5972.01138972.10.048.275.728040.00.031131178.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:3778.059.734.2972.01135972.10.047.575.027690.00.028228277.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:4278.259.934.2972.01138972.10.047.775.227810.00.028528678.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:4778.359.934.2972.01135972.10.047.875.427860.00.027727778.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:5278.559.934.1972.01135972.10.047.975.728020.00.027627678.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:0278.860.133.8972.01135972.11.847.975.728221.51.030330378.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:0778.659.933.6972.21135972.20.047.675.628040.00.027427578.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:1278.659.933.5972.21132972.20.047.575.728020.00.027127278.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:2278.759.933.2972.21135972.20.047.475.728070.00.027727878.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:2778.659.933.1972.01135972.10.047.275.628040.00.030130178.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:3278.459.733.0972.21135972.10.047.075.227940.00.028028078.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:3778.559.733.0972.21135972.20.047.075.427910.00.027827978.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:4278.359.532.9972.21135972.20.046.875.227840.00.028228278.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:4778.259.332.8972.21132972.20.046.675.027760.00.028128178.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:5278.159.232.8972.21132972.30.046.574.827610.00.029729877.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:5778.259.332.8972.21132972.30.046.675.027710.00.030130178.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:0278.559.732.8972.21132972.20.046.975.427940.00.029429578.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:0778.759.732.8972.21132972.20.047.075.628040.00.033633678.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:1278.459.733.2972.21135972.20.047.175.227890.00.030030178.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:1778.761.236.5972.21132972.20.049.976.128240.00.030430478.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:2279.062.139.1972.21132972.20.052.076.828520.00.029329378.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:2779.263.141.9972.21135972.20.054.077.528800.00.030130179.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:3279.464.044.2972.21132972.20.055.778.129030.00.030230279.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:3779.464.946.1972.21135972.20.056.978.429180.00.0313179.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:4278.864.647.4972.21135972.20.057.177.728750.00.033033078.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:4778.664.246.8972.21135972.20.056.677.428600.00.031331378.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:5278.764.446.9972.21135972.20.056.877.728730.00.031531678.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:5778.564.647.6972.21135972.20.057.077.528630.00.032032078.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:0278.663.945.7972.21132972.20.055.977.228570.00.032632778.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:0778.863.142.8972.21132972.20.054.377.228570.00.032132178.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:1279.162.640.3972.21132972.20.052.977.228650.00.032032179.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:1779.161.938.1972.21132972.20.051.576.828600.00.031531579.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:2278.961.337.1972.21132972.20.050.676.528420.00.032632678.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:2778.861.036.2972.21135972.20.049.876.128270.00.032332378.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:3278.860.835.7972.21132972.20.049.476.128240.00.029429478.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:3778.460.635.9972.21135972.20.049.175.627990.00.034634678.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:4277.960.135.3972.21132972.20.048.375.227630.00.031931977.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:4777.259.234.6972.21132972.20.047.274.327180.00.030430477.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:5276.658.633.9972.21135972.20.046.173.626700.00.034134176.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:5774.857.233.9972.21132972.20.044.572.025490.00.033833974.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:0271.354.834.6972.21132972.20.041.969.323140.00.032832971.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:0768.653.235.6972.21132972.30.040.365.721360.00.031331368.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:1766.552.338.3972.01138972.13.640.362.620062.42.8404066.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:2266.052.339.9972.21135972.25.540.962.119723.24.531831965.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:2765.052.141.5972.21132972.37.441.161.019085.35.231331464.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:3264.952.343.1972.21132972.26.042.061.019082.75.333233364.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:3765.553.244.4972.21132972.24.243.361.919551.73.933633765.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:4264.952.945.5972.21129972.35.443.461.219102.64.833133264.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:4764.552.946.5972.41129972.36.543.660.818863.46.133033063.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:5264.753.247.4972.21132972.34.744.261.218962.34.533133264.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:5764.553.448.3972.41129972.46.544.661.018883.45.532832963.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0264.553.648.9972.41129972.44.544.961.218902.33.932933064.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0264.553.649.0972.21132972.24.944.961.218962.64.132832864.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0764.653.649.7972.21132972.24.545.461.319052.33.832732864.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:1264.453.850.5972.21132972.25.545.661.018882.94.633033063.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:1764.253.651.0972.21135972.22.845.761.018811.32.533233364.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:2264.253.851.4972.21132972.25.145.961.018812.24.633433463.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:2764.153.651.6972.21129972.34.245.961.018731.83.733333464.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:3264.053.651.8972.21132972.35.745.960.818632.84.933033063.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:3762.252.352.4972.21129972.38.744.559.217404.57.432832960.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:4261.151.652.9972.41127972.49.243.858.316665.27.632532558.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:4761.151.853.9972.41129972.48.344.358.316694.57.032732858.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:5261.152.054.9972.41129972.410.244.758.516696.28.032132158.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:5761.452.555.6972.41127972.42.845.458.816930.52.734935061.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:0262.153.056.2972.41129972.40.946.459.517450.10.935535562.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:0763.054.157.3972.21132972.20.047.760.418140.00.031731863.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:1262.353.657.3972.21132972.30.047.159.917650.00.030931062.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:1762.653.857.1972.21132972.30.047.260.117800.00.028528662.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:2264.555.657.9972.21135972.20.049.361.919180.00.026126164.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36

15:44 – Checked the SPC convective outlooks.

Murphy’s Law of Chase Tours: The day between tours is often the best chance for storms, the then chances thereafter approach zero:

TODAY: Tour 2 returns to OKC and cannot chase (in the jungles of the ArLaTex region)

TOMORROW: Tour 3 will leave early and may only see marginal storm (then NOTHING for several days following). We will like be stuck in the Big Bend region sans Internet for 2-3 days!

15:55 – Waited in the lobby to see if anybody needed a ride to Walmart for supplies for the trip. No takers seen, though our fearless team lead, Bill Reid, happened by. On to WalMart for handle my list (and a few odd-n-ends for Bill).

1701 – returned to Avid. Delivered items from Bill’s shopping list.

20180510 – Nebraska, You’re calling my name!

Today, I’m working my last full day before vacation.

The good news: the atmosphere is NOT stalled out, but storms are happening.
The bad news: I’m hundreds of mile away, and can only admire them from afar.

That beautiful tight ENHANCED blob will provide entertain for somebody. Just not me.

#GoodHunting to those of you who can get there. Take good pictures, please!

2016 Season Summary

08Here is the overall plan for my 2016 storm season (which I’ll update as events warrant):

CHASE 2016 DAILY JOURNAL

SEMINARS/CLASSROOM TRAINING:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
22Jan Fri Bolingbrook,IL Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
23Jan Sat Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
24Jan Sun Norman,OK ChaserCon 2016
12Mar Sat Bolingbrook,IL Wheaton,IL 26 DuPage OHSEM Advanced Spotter Training (seminar)
http://www.dupagesevereweather.com
24Mar Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #1: Rochelle, IL F4
http://www.napervilleema.org
07Apr Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #2: TX outbreak
http://www.napervilleema.org
21Apr Thu Oak Brook,IL Naperville,IL
Bolingbrook,IL
26 NEMA Radar Class #3: Mesovortices
http://www.napervilleema.org
GREAT PLAINS CHASES:
CHASE2016-01:
DATE DAY START END MILES REMARKS
12May Thu Bolingbrook,IL ??? Prologue
13May Fri Oak Brook,IL Kearney, MO 469 mi
(60694-61163)
DAY 01: To the “Show Me (Cheap Gasoline)
14May Sat Kearney,MO Oklahoma City, OK
(via Medford,OK; Wakita,OK;
El Reno, OK)
527 mi
(61163-61690)
DAY 02: The Unexpected
15May Sun Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City, OK 7 mi
(61690-61697)
DAY 03: Around OKC
16May Mon Oklahoma City, OK Plainview, TX 593 DAY 04
17May Tue Plainview,TX Ozona,TX 350 DAY 05
18May Wed Ozona,TX Van Horn,TX ??? DAY 06
19May Thu Van Horn,TX Raton,NM ??? DAY 07
20May Fri Raton,NM Limon,CO ??? DAY 08
21May Sat Limon,CO Kimball,NE ??? DAY 09
22May Sun Kimball,NE Dodge City, KS ??? DAY 10: Murky tornado
23May Mon ??? ??? ??? DAY 11
24May Tue ??? ??? ??? DAY 12
25May Wed ??? ??? ??? DAY 13
26May Thur ??? ??? ??? DAY 14
27May Fri ??? ??? ??? DAY 15
28May Sat ??? ??? ??? DAY 16
29May Sun ??? ??? ??? DAY 17
30May Mon ??? ??? ??? DAY 18
31May Tue Bolingbrook,IL Epilogue
 
COLOR CODE
Plan was to not chase GRAY
Planned Chase Day (future) WHEAT
Available to chase; no weather (“blue-skied”) BLUE
Chase Day (available and expect stormy weather) GREEN
Weather Stormy, but not available for chasing PINK
BUST DAY – no severe storms where we looked! ORANGE
Training Day WHITE

Accommodations
Restaurants
Tools
Web Links

20May2016 – Raton,NM-Limon,CO

0600 – wake; fumble about
0700 – morning chores

0915 – briefing

1019 – Raton Pass (7840ft) – Sangre de Cristo Mountains to Our west

1024 – enter Colorado On I-25W
1032 – Trinidad, CO – the TRINIDAD sign tops a peak just west of the interstate
Xxxx- Walsenburg,CO –
1203 – cont N on I-25 through Pueblo,CO
1232 – Approaching Colorado Springs,CO from the south on I-25N
1409 – Lunch – Qdoba (I-25) – Castle Rock,CO

1418 – WalMart run (10min)

1426 – Dpt E from Castle Rock,CO on CO86 Twd Kiowa,CO

Xxxx – Stop at c-store in Kiowa

Xxxx – stop in the middle of nowhere; take 360 photo.
http://360.io/qRVs8a

Xxxx – enter I-70E toward Limon,CO

Xxxx – Arrive at Econolodge, Limon, CO

xxxx – Dinner at Oscar’s. Delicious pot roast and steamed veggies.  A low-carb delight!

Xxxx – Do laundry at the TA Limon, across US24.No quarters required: machines take credit cards AND  add no surcharge  Woohoo!

2250 – turn in for the evening.

[photos to be added soon]

Day 2: 10May2015: ‘Round Okietown

0800 – Breakfast

1000 – Errands
_____  — Home Depot: a long quest for a SEEK infrared camera for Phil (they aren’t sole yet in the UK)
_____ — WalMart: searched in vain for a Bruce Springsteen album for Kathy.  Fellow traveler Eric Meola photographed the cover art for the “Born to Run” album.  The WalMart music section was so disorganized that five of us could not find a single Springsteen album.  Bad WalMart, naught WalMart!

_____ – Continued on to Penn Square Mall to visit the Apple store (and search for another music store). Phil spent a bit of time looking or the new Apple Watch.  We discussed lunch at Whiskey Cafe, but the wait was almost two hours (as this is Mother’s Day).

_____ — Venture northwest (on Northwest Expressway) to F.Y.E., a real music store.  Plenty of Springsteen, but we cannot find “Born to Run”. *SIGH*

_____ — we head south to Reno and MacArthur, ending up at Lin’s Restaurant for all-you-can-eat steak, sushi, and Chinese food. Stuffed, we return to the hotel, to allow safe storage of our purchases. We take a short break to allow all to regroup.

13:30 — We head up to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (just off the Kelley exit from I-44).  Many great exhibits, a lot of walking, and a visit to the souvenir shop.

16:45 — We hed back to the hotel, then regroup later for dinner.

19:00– Walk to dinner at Frosty Mug (a bar and grill a few doors down from the hotel).  We aree later joined by David Balfour, who arrived s bit earlier in the afternoon.  The British/Aussie/Kiwi contingent is complete!

22:30 — Wrap up the day by frafting the day’s blog entry.

16 May 2014 – Bare Rock and a Bear Hug

0730 – Wake up; shower; pack, but leave everything in the room since it’s a little ways to the breakfast room and the vans are closer to my room in the front of the motel.

0830 – Ate in the breakfast room. My waffle stuck to the waffle machine, and I was barely able to get it out before started burning. It was so funky looking I decided to do something totally off the wall and put white gravy on it instead of throwing it out and getting a biscuit. All things considered it was pretty tasty, but I certainly got some strange looks.

0930 – Meet at the vans; load up; we do a short weather briefing, and discuss what things look like for Saturday and Sunday, which look like our first days with a reasonable prospect for severe weather on the high plains. Patience!

1000 – Depart Cheyenne on westbound I-80, for Laramie, after breakfast.

1040-1100 – stop at the Ames Monument, a tribute to a pair of brothers who made major contributions during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.

br />20140518-072753-26873700.jpg

____ – continue to Laramie for lunch at Lovejoy’s: spicy buffalo burger! We do a bit of shopping afterwards. I’m running low on laundry, so I buy a T-shirt to hold me over until I do laundry tomorrow morning.

20140518-073320-27200548.jpg20140518-073319-27199904.jpg

20140518-073318-27198614.jpg20140518-073319-27199253.jpg

 

____ – head south towards Walden, CO; beautiful snow-capped mountains rise to our west, south, (later) east

____ – Enter Medicine Bow National Forest (elevation:____)

____ – we rise to 9150 feet in elevation, allowing smaller vehicles to pass us.

____ – As we descend, we hunt for a turnout with a scenic view. The drivers, Bob and Rook, get plenty of practice downshifting.

1450-1501 – Scenic overlook #1 (photos in gallery, below)
1513-1526 – Scenic overlook #2 (photos in gallery, below)

[Gallery will be inserted here a bit later… laptop battery DYING]

1600 – We enter Walden from the north; check-in at the motel.

1640 – I chat briefly with the motel manager, whose daughter is fascinated with both storm chasing and Antarctica. I offer to chat with her if she is interested. I wander over to the town bank to buy a couple of roll of quarters, as it has reached the point of the trip or I will need to do laundry pretty quickly. The T-shirt that I bought in Laramie will buy me an extra 24 hours, but no more.

20140518-153854-56334199.jpg

1658 – I get my quarters for laundry, with two minutes to spare before the bank closes for the weekend. I wander around the main strip of town just looking to see what is there and taking pictures of some interesting stuff I encounter along the way. I wander up to what looks like a good place for dinner, the River Rock Café. Looks like they have a terrific menu and I bump into Bob one of our drivers there, who agrees this is a good choice for dinner.

1800 – The gang gathers close to my room to wander up the main street for dinner. It looks like Eric is sitting this one out. I hope he is feeling okay.

I order the Volcano Burger, opting for the 1-pound size, because I’m a little bit hungry. There is a 3-pound size available called “the challenge”, but I don’t feel up to eating that and the waiter warns that the burger is extremely spicy, made with jalapeños and habanero sauce. I later discovered that the burger is hotter with every bite, and barely finished 1 pound burger, guzzling several quarts of water along the way to cool my taste buds. I reward myself with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the end of it all, partly as a self–congratulations and partly to cool the heat of the habaneros that have saturated my taste buds when this time.

On my way out the door, I get a farewell hug from River Rock Café’s mascot, Fred the Bear.

20140518-154209-56529818.jpg

EOD – North Park Inn & Suites

TRAVEL SUMMARY
Start Cheyenne, WY
Finish Walden, CO
Route I-80W, through Medicine Bow National Forest, to Walden (CO 14)
Miles ___
DRAFT - Map for 5/16 travel
DRAFT – Map for 5/16 travel

 

15 May 2014 – Holy Holyoke

0600MDT/0700CDT – wake; shower; pack bags. Can’t find my neck pod (Sima VideoProp) – later found in my duffle bag.
0850MDT – Pack the vans. test the Diet Coke and Menthos myth: VERIFIED!
[I’ll add video later]
0910 – Weather briefing. Another down day today.
0920 – Depart Imperial, NE westbound on US 6.
1000- enter Colorado, heading to Holyoke, CO for breakfast
1040-1140(est.) – breakfast at Kardale’s, Holyoke, CO.

Kardale's Haystack Breakfast: Hash Brown Heaven!
Kardale’s Haystack Breakfast: Hash Brown Heaven!

1222 – I turn on the GPS Tracks app. (Oops!)
1250-1400 – We stop at Sterling, CO to look for a replacement 400-watt inverter. Without this key piece of equipment, we have no laptop power and no radar images or weather models. After the team lead and one of the drivers check out several local stores, they find the needed item at the NAPA Auto Parts store. Eric and I visit the Verizon store, in the meantime, to locate a phone battery for his iPhone.
1431 – Entering Raymer, CO, traveling west on CO 14, then angle northwest on County Road 390 toward Wyoming.
1446 – We wander off the main route to Keota, where it looks like they’re doing oil exploration or fracking.
1533 – We continue north from Keota, CO.
1556 – We pass through Hereford, CO
1600 – We cross into Wyoming, our sixth state on the journey; the road is now WY 217
1620-1640 – Burns, WY, I-80, WY217 exit – Fuel/snack stop; we enter I-80, heading west to Cheyenne.
1700 – Arrive at Rodeway Inn, Cheyenne, CO.  The desk clerk is overwhlemed,  so we leave the details of our party and go get dinner, so the poor man can catch up with check-ins, preparing our rooms, etc. (This happens more often thatn you might think with smaller, older motels.)
1720-1930 – We take a liesurely meal at a local Chili’s, near the Wyoming Air Group airfield. Many C-130 cargo planes here! A brief weather update (video) follows:


EOD – _____

TRAVEL SUMMARY
Start Imperial, NE
Finish Cheyenne, WY
Route US6 to Holyoke, CO,CR 390 to Keota then north to Grover and Hereford,I-80
Miles ___

l

14 May 2014 – Monument Rocks

0730 – Wake up: shower; pack

0800 – Breakfast and conversation with chase team. I overcooked my Carbon brand motel waffle because I did not hear the timer ding after the mandatory 2:30 cook cycle. Crunchy waffles are OK, too, once in a great while (LOL).

0830 – Return to my room; brush teeth, re-pack my bags, and work on my blog for a while.

1000 – Weather briefing (breakfast room)

1100 – Depart Hoisington to the west

1430-1450 – Photo stop at abandoned farmstead

1458-1525 – Stop at Monument Rocks. Bill chills outs to David Bowie’s “Panic in Detroit”

1553-1653 – Lunch at Colonial Steak House, Oakley, KS. Ate at the buffet, as we save steak for after we see our first tornado of the trip. Re-fuel and head for Nebraska

1748CDT – Distant cumulonimbus to our east, a tiny rain shower on our west:

20140514-174935.jpg 20140514-175334.jpg
1834-1904 – Stop at another old, abandoned house for photos
[photos to be added later]

1938 – pit stop – St. Francis, KS

1956 – cross into Nebraska on KS27. Jct US34. Head east. Hotel will be in Imperial, NE.

2111(est,) – N on NE61 from Benkelman, NE

2157MDT – Rodeway Inn, Imperial, NE. We grab dinner at a local convenience store. Mmmm, hot dogs!

TRAVEL SUMMARY
Start Hoisington, KS
Finish Imperial, NE
Route (see above)
Miles 310(est.)