2012 at the Hammond Barn

[RHClarke]

late reports from Hammond indicate some damage to shelters. Repairs will take place tommorrow.

[RHClarke]

Well, the damage was not as great as expected. The wind did manage to shift a few shelters and did a number on a few of the plastic tarps and the original shelter material.

Clive's shelter took the biggest hit, which was surprising as it was in a treed area out of the wind. Grant's two shelters located along the laneway to the barn shifted slightly and there was tarp damage. The "Ted's Truck" shelter and the 45 HUP shelter suffered damage to the material. Ted's Truck shelter is slightly exposed behind the barn. Its exposed side shifted inwards about a foot. The 45 shelter had the modular tent roof blown off exposing the sunworn material underneath, which tattered in the wind. The front "door" separated where the tie downs meet the frame and split from top to bottom in the center.

Bob did the initial damage assessment and repairs, but it looks like more tarps will be needed. Clive's shelter will need major adjustment, but its contents are OK. The 45 shelter now has a new front "door" - a cat piss stained end section of a modular tent. Hopefully the stench will fade by the next visit.

Some of Bob's trees didn't fare well, and Bob spent the afternoon collecting dead fall and broken limbs from his trees near his front yard. He said that he filled a 3/4 ton trailer with blowdown. All in all, we got off lucky. It could have been much worse.

Photos:

1 - One of Grant's "walking" shelters
2 - Clive's "expanded" entrance
3 - Two destroyed trees - guess which way the wind was blowing
4 - The 45 shelter - now entirely wrapped in mod tentage

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

Well, the damage was not as great as expected. The wind did manage to shift a few shelters and did a number on a few of the plastic tarps and the original shelter material.

...

The 45 shelter had the modular tent roof blown off exposing the sunworn material underneath, which tattered in the wind. The front "door" separated where the tie downs meet the frame and split from top to bottom in the center.

Bob did the initial damage assessment and repairs, but it looks like more tarps will be needed. Clive's shelter will need major adjustment, but its contents are OK.
...

Agreed. I reskinned my car shelter with modular tent sections. There is a big brass grommet in the centre of the seam which locate a pin on the original folding arch. As long as you mask that off well, you can make a new roof in no time. Guy Vapeur helped with some major sewing repairs where the surplus pieces were unserviceable. (Guy is your neighbour of course.) The only modification I needed to do was use that modern invention - the fold - to raise the unneeded sides up about 5 feet.

My modular sections came from Greg who is Mike Calnan's neighbour. (What is it about kindred spirits living close together?) He and I sorted through a number of pieces before finding enough single and double door ends, and centres that weren't in awful shape.

[RHClarke]

There was some activity at the barn last weekend. Bob and Grant returned from their trip to the states for a MV show. Bob might chime in with some observations. Back at the barn Bob continues to strip down his truck to determine where the misalignment between the front frame horns may lie. Grant sandblasted the nose to his truck.

I spent last Saturday propping up a few of the wrecks we got last year. Most of our latest acquisitions sit in the open with tarps over the valuable bits. The ground in the back field is somewhat soft, so every year we have to readjust the frames so that wheel assemblies (with and without rims) are out of direct contact with the ground.

The preferred tool is the tractor, but when Bob isn't around we rely on the trusty farmer's jack. Once the frame is in the air, a log is stuck under the frame. The jack is lowered and the truck's journey to China via the direct route is halted.
Cheap insurance from premature rot. Some shots follow.

Photos:

1 - Grant working the sandblasting equipment
2 - Elevated truck
3 - Another one
4 - One more
5 - Last one

[RHClarke]

This past week I had the honour of attending the birthday of our very own Gunner's father, Colonel (Ret'd) Michael Calnan. Gunner ain't no spring chicken but his dad has fewer grey hairs than Gunner has.

Prior to the festivities I spent the morning at the Swords and Ploughshares Museum doing grounds work. The rear of the main building needed a severe clearing as swamp maples had grown up between the building and the sea container. Once that was done, Gunner and I hooked in two guns that would later adorn Gunner's father's front lawn.

This event was interesting as a lot of senior retired gunners made their way to Kars to join in the festivities. Fortunately, most of them do not (or maybe choose not to) remember me, so I got to avoid rehashing some old misdeeds...for now.

It was good to see some of the old crew still kicking around, but I had to fetch my youngest from another birthday party in town and bowed out before the beer and wine really started to flow.

It was nice to see the Colonel and Barbara again. I also like their lawn ornaments!

Photos

1 - A Russian copy of a German gun used by the Finnish Army (true stuff!)
2 - A FYR gun we saved from the cutting torches
3 - Lawn ornaments

[Bob Carriere]

Been busy raiding across 3 different borders..... Ont. PQ, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia


A truck load of 19 sets and parts from Bob Estabrook too which we are very thankful. Also meet Jason Mead in the flesh and dropped off parts.

Hope Bill M. doesn't find out I was 8 km from his place but had no time to drop by.

Drove 2587 km in 36 hours.....decided to sleepover as we are getting to old for 15 hours of straight driving.....

Observations.....

Your butt goes numb after 8 hours...

The scenery is to die for.....

Man this is a big country......

In PQ you need two to drive,,,, one to look for police cars hidden in the tall grass of the medium..... on to make sure you stay around 110km .... and they love foreign plates...

In NB you drive at 125 to 128 and don't even see a cop car.......


Now the fun part.... unload and sort out the loot.

Bob

[jason meade]

Well Bob I was really happy to be able to put a face to the name of you and Grant, Got the parts all cleaned up and installed, sure looks good now.
I thankyou very much. I trust you and Grant had an uneventful drive back.
Did you guys end up staying in Nova Scotia for the night or come back to Frederiction?