Delemont challenge September 2024!

[AzteCypher]

Day 30

My Tool Chest Plus is also a shelf queen.  I definitely need a pouch to carry this one, but it's always sharp and ready for use should the need arise.




Thanks to Farmer X for hosting this challenge.  It's been been fun hanging with y'awl.  I didn't realize how many Wengers I had until this challenge.  I didn't realize how bad my addiction was until I lost count after 30. 

Also, prayers and good thoughts to those of our members that have been affected by this hurricane.

[IMR4198]

Day 28
    I'm pretty sure that I got out day 27's amazing post Friday morning before the storm hit and internet went out.  Unfortunately I can't make the day 28 post on Saturday, so I am making it up by writing a simulated day 28 even though I won't be able to post it.  I will just write it off line and keep it on my computer.  No internet.  Or phone service. This is the first time that I ever missed a day making a post and adding a boring photo since I started doing challenges.
     So what happened?  The giant storm blew through and whacked the counties to the east and west of me.  Since my aged farm house went straight through the eye of the storm, I missed most of the bad stuff.  So they tell me.  Doesn't sound right actually, but I am quoting the radio misinformation.  Not as much rain as predicted and wind wasn't bad.  For a hurricane.
     I went down Friday afternoon when things settled down a little.  Took along a saw and a set of lopping shears.  There were a lot of dead limbs down in my driveway.  Only one bigger woody obstruction required sawing and lopping.  I kept a watch on the paved secondary road to my right, since Werecoyote Trail (my driveway) roughly parallels that road.  People were coming down the road and stopping.  As I kept walking down toward the Cullasaja River and my mailbox, I saw why.  The river was out in the road and also the fields on both sides of the road.  I couldn't have gotten out anyway, since some moron parked his van in my driveway and abandoned it.  I talked to some guys who were on the other side of the flooding and heard their stories.  Some were determined to go through the flooded water and the four wheel drive types did just that. 
      There was a tree down in one lane of the road.  Stories were similar.  No phone service.  No internet.  Roads flooded out here and there.  Some had no electricity.  Some did.  Fortunately I did have electricity. 
       Still no internet or phone service here.  I will make some simulated beef-a-roni for lunch.  No beef in it, just roni.  The Asheville radio said Interstate 40 was closed mostly for about a hundred miles.  They claim all 400 roads in western NC are closed.  Folks camping out at the YMCA, churches, and community centers, etc. there.  Only one person dead in my county.  More on that tomorrow?  Assuming the internet ever comes back on.  Stores won't take anything except cash.  No way to process electronic payment. I have plenty of stuff on hand.  I have been listening to college football on the radio and watching the deer.  Saw two nice tom turkeys stroll through yesterday.   Best wishes.  G

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[Echotech]

What a collection! Beatiful.

Thanks mate a very nice collection you got there yourself

[Echotech]

Day 31 - Viking

As I’ve posted all my other Delemont models thought I should post number 31, it’s pretty beat up and the lock doesn’t work but one of the few I have with the small clip blade

Thanks again awl

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Day 26
I need to do some light prying,flat driver worked a treat



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[BPRoberts]

Glad to hear you're riding things out safe and sound, Gary!

[SurgeUk]

Badges awarded where requested 

[IMR4198]

I finally got enough bars to make a post.  I have my cellphone strapped to the back of a raccoon.  When he (or possibly she) is pointed in the right direction I can get on line.  Here was my day 29 post.  I got out today.  Looks like the bridge below my house is damaged.  The boys were looking it over from underneath and scratching their heads.  I got almost the last loaf of bread at Walmart without resorting to the brown loaf type.  Nobody buys that much.  I appreciate the well-wishers.  Thanks to all for remembering me.  Best wishes.  G

Day 29
     Looks like this might take awhile before I can post it.  Fear not.  I will keep writing the posts, even though I have no way to putting them on MTO.  Still no internet or phone service.  Not much news on the radio.  Especially local.  I was listening to the local rock FM station and heard some YoYo had put on "Rock you like a Hurricane".  Funny.  I turned it off and said something ugly.  I was looking forward to cooking something on my Coleman camp stove, but the electricity is still on.  It is off in other spots.  I heard of long lines at gas stations, with no electricity to work the pumps.  Lots of hysteria on the Asheville radio station.  People with no food, no diapers, no water.  After what, two days?  Disaster preparation must have been at a low state here.  Of course it is hard to prepare for having your house washed away, or maybe the road to town. 
     Friday morning I heard every emergency vehicle in the county screeching and sirening at the bottom of my driveway.  After I did a walk down later in the day, which I described in my last post, I figured what probably happened with all the emergency hubbub.  You couldn't see where the road was and someone evidently drove into the river.  Probably not the river proper, likely just into the flooded field beside the river.  About 8 feet of water maybe.  Plus the thrilling possibility of being washed down into the main body of the river. 
      I mentioned there was one death reported in the county.  Might have been right there.  Just a few steps from my driveway on Werecoyote Trail.  Perhaps the Green Ripper had followed his bony finger down the tattered pages of his "Things to Do" journal and seen Werecoyote Trail.  After honing a few rusty spots from his scythe, he rose up and shut both eyes and took a mighty swing.  IMR might have been picking up some socks from the floor as the mighty swish went overhead and smote someone down at the end of my driveway instead.  That sort of thing happens. 
       I am happy to relate that Ms. Phoenix's cottage is high enough to not have flooding problems.  Even her subterranian victim detention facility and coffin, etc. should be dry.  I can't vouch for the veracity of the last sentence.  There might be an undead catacomb underneath her house and maybe not.  Hopefully the internet and phone service will re-start today and I can get this drivel posted.  Best wishes.  G

 

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[IMR4198]

Day 30
      If I ever have a chance to post my last 3 days of the Delemont Challenge, I probably will apply for a badge.  The badge officials can grant one or deny it, whichever they choose.  No hard feelings here. 
      I just got back from a walk down to my mailbox and back.  Took along my pole cutter.  I think I have a saw blade for that thing somewhere, but it is very handy to reach through branches without the saw hanging on things as it is.  It is also a dandy walking staff and unfriendly dog deterrent. 
       The muddy Cullasaja in back within its banks.  People have a hard time with Cherokee place names for some reason.  Cull (rhymes will dull)-uh-sa (sounds like say) ja (hard j like Jack).  I hear Coolasighyah and all sorts of foolishness.  It was one of the Cherokee towns before the removal/ethnic cleansing of the mid 1800's.  The old settlement is long gone and so is the flooding today.  Cullasaja means 'corn bread'.  Cherokee people still make corn bread and bean bread. 
      The challenge has been interesting.  Might be the last one I do for a while.  I might feel the urge and do G-Dizzle's MiniChamp challenge.  See if it qualifies for the <74mm SAK challenge badge or whatever it's called.  I already have the MiniChamp version.  Just a a side note, there is limited phone service now.  I can send and receive texts, but can't make a phone call.  Still no internet, so I will finish up today with this final note.  Maybe I can get it posted soon.  When I don't know.  Best wishes.  G
 

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[ReamerPunch]

Badges awarded where requested 

I'm still waiting for my in-between badge. I already have the Wenger badge so I did this challenge with the 85mm Wenger Handyman.

[LoopCutter]

I'm still waiting for my in-between badge. I already have the Wenger badge so I did this challenge with the 85mm Wenger Handyman.

Did you make the request for that specific badge with this explanation?

SurgeUK indicated he awarded badges that was requested by participants.

[IMR4198]

Flood near my driveway and two days later from the same spot.  More or less.  Best wishes.  G
 

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[ReamerPunch]

Yay, I got it!
Thank you, kind, mystery mod.

[SurgeUk]

Yay, I got it!
Thank you, kind, mystery mod.

I knew I'd approved it  (thought I was going mad  )

[AzteCypher]

Flood near my driveway and two days later from the same spot.  More or less.  Best wishes.  G

Wow!!  That's nuts.  I could only see 4 wheel drive vehicles getting through that if at all.  Glad you're doing ok.

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Good to hear you're ok Gary.

Day 27
Scissors and nailfile use today


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[IMR4198]

   Thanks to all the well-wishers here on MTO.  I appreciate everyone.  Still hard to post anything.  I think I spent half a day yesterday trying to finish up my Delemont obligations.  Thanks to Surge or whoever gave me my new badge.  Cell phone and fiber optic problems persist here and likely will for some time.  At least I have a house and all the good things.  Don't think for a second I'm not thankful for such a blessing.  Best wishes.  Gary (IMR)

[LoopCutter]

Yes, Gary!   I am so glad you are good!

I have family in East Tennessee that I have not been able to contact. They live on high ground,  Signal Mountain TN

And cousins in NC and Virginia.

And my niece’s husband is a lineman. His teams are in Virginia working at restoring power.
He described it as slow going, replacing poles on sides of MOUNTAINS. THEN  rerun power cables.
He also did three weeks in Houston. After their storm.

Your flooded road pictures before and after tells only a small part of  amount of rain.

[IMR4198]

   I wrote in my Day 29 post here about fearing that someone had gone in the Cullasaja.  I suspected that might have accounted for the single death in my county.  I was right.  A retired Florida cop in his truck had gone into the river.  The ignorant local news caster on the radio identified the river as the Coolasaha, but correctly identified the road.  You can see that road peeking out of the flood waters in my latest photos.  Best wishes.  G
 
   Might as well add a caution here.  Folks, don't drive through flood water.  Air intakes on your motor are fairly low.  If water gets sucked in, you are in trouble.  Also the radiator fan will throw water up over everything under the hood.  This case was likely one of misjudging the depth of the water, or more likely just not being able to see where the road was.  G

[Farmer X]

Sorry to hear of that retired cop passing like that. And there is another reason not to drive through flood water: you never know what might be hiding underneath it, just out of your view.

I am glad Gary is okay. And again, thank you awl for a most fantastic challenge!

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Day 28
Punctured a can before binning it

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[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Day 29
On the  penultimate day of this challenge,I realize that although I prefer a 91mm sak,the 84/85 is perfectly adequate

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[IMR4198]

    Some good photos there, Harm.  It doesn't look like there would be any difference carrying 84 or 85mm items instead of 91mm, but it does feel different in your pocket.  For me, anyway.  I never poked holes in discarded spray cans.  The Wenger awl would be good for that. 
    All of these challenges have gotten me out of the habit of picking up the same thing every day and putting it in my pocket.  With colder weather just around the corner, I might just carry an Opinel and forget about SAKs for a while.  Then again, I might just be in the mood for another challenge....?  Best wishes.  G
 

[Jeffjeeptj]

Gary,
Glad to see you survived and kept your sense of humor.  Your flood photos are impressive.

[IMR4198]

Hi Jeff,
    It is easier to keep a smile when the electricity stays on.  I have only driven out one time since all this happened.  That was a trip to Walmart for snacks and bread.  Might go out again tomorrow.  There was only one self-check last time that would take cash.  I don't have a card anymore.  Radio news said stores wouldn't take cards or any electronic payment since the internet was down.  Everyone would have to use cash.  Wrong. 
    Tourists (leaf lookers) usually come up in droves to see the fall colors.  They won't find a motel room in large portions of western NC if they do.  Blue Ridge Parkway is impassable along with Interstate 40.  Might be hard to get gas, I don't know.  Governor told the tourists to stay home.  Like anyone would listen.  Many come from Florida, which might be having more problems soon unfortunately.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

    Some good photos there, Harm.  It doesn't look like there would be any difference carrying 84 or 85mm items instead of 91mm, but it does feel different in your pocket.  For me, anyway.  I never poked holes in discarded spray cans.  The Wenger awl would be good for that. 
    All of these challenges have gotten me out of the habit of picking up the same thing every day and putting it in my pocket.  With colder weather just around the corner, I might just carry an Opinel and forget about SAKs for a while.  Then again, I might just be in the mood for another challenge....?  Best wishes.  G
 

Thank you Gary.
I enter the challenges for the same reason,to get out of my comfort zone. It's easy and convenient to carry what's comfortable, but mixing it up reminds me I have other,versatile,options.

Day 30
A fan pic of a fanned pic.
I enjoyed using the Forrester,I could have done more with it had I been in the forrest,but I wasn't,so didn't.
This challenge,like the first time I participated in the Wenger challenge,makes me want to get more Wengers,and current Delemeonts. Time will tell.
Thank you Farmer X,this was fun.



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[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Hi Jeff,
    It is easier to keep a smile when the electricity stays on.  I have only driven out one time since all this happened.  That was a trip to Walmart for snacks and bread.  Might go out again tomorrow.  There was only one self-check last time that would take cash.  I don't have a card anymore.  Radio news said stores wouldn't take cards or any electronic payment since the internet was down.  Everyone would have to use cash.  Wrong. 
    Tourists (leaf lookers) usually come up in droves to see the fall colors.  They won't find a motel room in large portions of western NC if they do.  Blue Ridge Parkway is impassable along with Interstate 40.  Might be hard to get gas, I don't know.  Governor told the tourists to stay home.  Like anyone would listen.  Many come from Florida, which might be having more problems soon unfortunately.  Best wishes.  G
 

Man I'm glad you're ok G,this was on the news here too ,it's shocking.
Stay safe

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[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

i seem to have forgotten to upload this pic on Day 19 
 

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[Farmer X]

Fantastic stuff, H.A.R.M!