4-27-11 Storm Damage

  It was 5:55 am. My alarm had just gone off and Kimmie, myself and the puppies were about to take on another day. Just as I was about to step in the shower I heard a noise I was REALLY hoping wasn't what I thought it was. There was this continuing rumbling, like thunder, that kept going and going and going. But there was something else slightly different. If you've ever spent any time at all tinkering with a bike as a kid i'm sure at sometime you've flipped the bike over on it's seat and handle bars for work on the bottom side. I'm betting if you have indeed done this, then you've also seen how fast you could turn the pedals with your hands and get that back tire spinning super fast. Remember that whirling sound it made? That's what I was hearing. The siding sounded like it was being blown off the side of the house. Then silence.
  I resumed what I thought would be a normal day only to have Kimmie come in the bathroom mid-shower to inform me a tree had fallen in our yard. We have two bradford pears in the front yard. The one by the driveway is huge. The other one in the far corner of the yard is enormous. We had talked about having them taken down this past fall because of there tendency to split but never got past the talking stage. I was growing tired of trimming the huge tree back off the cable lines only to have it grow right back in a matter of weeks. "Did it fall on the truck?" I had asked her. Our 2011 Titan I had started leasing not quite 5 months ago. "I don't know" she responds, "I can't see because it's raining so hard". Of course i'm thinking if you can't see the truck, how did you see the tree? She would later ask me why I even bothered to take a shower. I don't know. Habit I guess. I DID look out the bedroom window and see the trees in the back swaying side to side (4 bradford pears) but never considered the trees in the front yard.
  This was our first view outside the garage door:

   It had now turned into a crazy day with many twist and turns. Our neighbors across the street had a giant weeping willow on their front porch and 3 more trees down in the backyard. The neighbors next to them had 10 or so trees down across their back yard. Although the neighbors on the other side had no damage at all, the neighbors next to them had 20 trees down with one crushing their box truck. Once we had a chance to get out and look around nearly every yard in the subdivision had at least one tree down. Everyone came out when the rain stopped and pitched in to start clean up.
  Many thanks to all out neighbors for helping us get the tree off the truck and with clean up. We are back to somewhat normal but others still have a long way to go.
   Here's a link to the rest of the pictures:   http://public.fotki.com/ButchP56/family/2011/4-27-11-storm-damage/

Btw.... In case you were wondering,,,, our truck only had two dents in roof!!!

   I've been busy at the command post, now that I have a little extra time on my hands. Work has slowed down a bit due to parts shortages coming from Japan. More down time may be coming but nothing is confirmed, as of yet. Meanwhile, two new show links have been added with a third in the works.

   Hunter's Auto Expo was a last minute decision that worked out in my favor. Sunday mornings are usually a good time... read that, less crowded... good for taking pictures. USUALLY! This was the first time in my life that I wanted to just give up and go home. Disrespectful parents with ill-mannered children is not a good mix for car shows, or anything else for that matter. Like I said though, it worked in my favor. I found a quite spot and zero'd in on details. I feel like I ended up with more quality shots this trip than the show before.

   Then there was the Spring Thaw Bike Show. I enjoy seeing the new builds that come out of a long winter's break but I hate this building with a passion! Maybe I can come up with a portable lighting set-up or maybe, cover up the windows while no one is looking. This year was better in that respect. A hard rain set in for most of the day. It cut down on the constant harsh light from the sun shining in but kept the attendance down noticeably. A lot of owners showed up at the last minute

   The Drag n Shine show in Crossville, TN had two counts against it from the start. Another day with the threat of rain along with an unusual start time held some show goers home yet again. Those of use that did make the trip had a blast. With everything from Ivan and his vintage Yamaha home brewed drag bike to a full blown twin turbo'd, mountain motor, late model camaro and a few surprises in between.There was something for everyone. Look for a link to be posted later in the week.

    A sneak peak at the premier issue of Top Dead Center magazine is right around the corner!!!

Back on Track....

Finally got a Saturday with beautiful weather and a vehicle worthy of such a gorgeous day. Franklyn Poindexter, his wife and a stunning 1954 Skyliner, set in Fiddler's Grove at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. Heavy rains left us soft grass and muddy gravel but after a few minutes we found an ideal location.
Look for the rest of the pictures in the April issue of Grease Monkey Magazine.