Well I have not been on the road really, just homeless. or is that experiencing homelessness?
Still up in Anacortes getting settled into life in a tiny home with wheels. Brought way too much stuff and are still downsizing. good news is I only pay $10 a day for a spot that includes electricity, water and sewer. Starting to plan our next move - going to be back down in the Chehalis area for a week or so to visit friends before hitting the road. Daughter bought a camping spot over in Bend area so may go there.
Views from our area right now, Baker and the ship are a 3 minute walk:
white trash abode
On the 5th day we were here, some asshole who never leashes up his dogs (both dogs about 80-110 lbs) leaves his grandkid alone with his dogs. The dogs are instantly running all over the campgrounds with this kid trying to get them under control. One of the dogs comes up into our area, starts growling at me. I had a small saw in my hand and did a quick wrist whip right across his chops. That dog decided to leave but his buddy comes into our area from behind me, as I step towards the dog I plant my foot to turn but my frigging knee didn't. I had stepped into a low spot that had a mole mound, my damn foot sank into that soft dirt. So the day after I go to the local walk-in and end up with crutches and a really good knee brace. Took about 4 days for the swelling to subside enough I could straighten the leg out. Once I was able to straighten the leg, I can put weight on it. Can't put any lateral load on the knee but the crutches are not required any more. Good news is wife is my chauffeur.
The guy that runs this place told me the dog owner is a jerk. I figured that out myself. but I think I can stay here for as long as I want as they are worried about a law suit. Not my style but good for intimidating them. I got talked into doing some tractor work at my bro-in-laws new farm just across the
Time for a beer - it is noon.
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Anyway, my first job at that plant was a shitty security job I did in college over Christmas break. They were doing maintenance on the dock causeway, and the tool/compressor/welder truck blocked the whole width. Because of this, there was no way to shuttle people on and off the ships and tugs. My job was to sit out in a car at the end of the dock and wait for somebody to want to go to shore, then I'd drive them to wherever the work truck was blocking, the guard at the other end would meet me there, I'd drop off, then I'd drive in reverse a mile back. Because the work crews worked 12 hours, I was stuck out there for 12 hours. In that time, I'd average maybe a half dozen trips back and forth. The rest of the time, I'd read, listen to tunes in the car, or walk around the platform. The views were amazing, and the oil tankers are impressive. The water's not deep enough to get the super tankers in, but they're still huge. And the best part is just how tall they get as they're unloaded. When they pull up full of oil, they're level to the dock. When they leave, you're looking waaaaay up to their deck level.
It's too bad the pay was shit, because that jerb was amazing.
I think they can come in to Cherry Point.
Little known fact my bro-in-law told me "never buy premium fuel, it is all the same. You think they are going to make 3 different levels of octane rated fuel?". How true that is I do not know
B.) Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your bro-in-law is dead wrong. Refineries absolutely produce different octane finished gasoline. Mid-grade is a blend of 92 and 87, but those two come from separate tanks. Where he may be getting confused is that most people don't need to run anything but 87. Contrary to what marketing might have you believe, premium fuel is actually less energy dense, meaning you'll suffer slightly in fuel economy and your engine will run cool if you fill up with it. So why does it exist? If you design the engine to take advantage of it (high compression ratio, forced induction, etc.), the increased volumetric efficiency more than makes up for the lower energy density of the fuel, and you win: More power from a more compact engine. Running 87 in an old car designed for 92 is a recipe for burnt exhaust valves and holed pistons. Running 87 in a modern car designed for 92 is a recipe for knock sensors retarding ignition, robbing you of power and efficiency, thus making the whole exercise pointless.
In short: If the engine is designed for 87, run 87 or you're pissing money away in both price per gallon and quantity required. If the engine is designed for 92, run 92 or you're hobbling your engine to pinch pennies (which begs the question, "Why wouldn't you just buy a less expensive car if you're that cheap?"). When I fill up machines that run on regular and run infrequently (generator, pit bike, etc.), I try to find Chevron gas, as Chevron/Texaco are the only fuels that come with the full additive package in all three octane levels. These additives actually do make a difference.
Another fun fact: Although differences in octane of fuels is a real thing that matters, the logo on the gas pump means fuck all. If you drive around the west side of that point you're staying at and peep through the fence at a specific spot, you'll see the gasoline loading rack, where the lines from the gasoline tanks split off to all of the various additive tanks. Want Chevron/Texaco gas? Draw from this tank. Want Shell? Draw from here. And there's the government minimum additive tank for supplying generic stations like Costco, Fred Meyer, etc. Gasoline is gasoline, only the additives are different.