Death Ride

Next Swims: Today Wednesday 8/28 4:30PM
Thursday & Friday 8/29 & 8/30 6AM

Also:  GTGBFTOTB DAY Thursday (see below)

UPDATE:  WATER TEMP AT 4:30PM was 65, 15 DEGREES WARMER THAN 6AM!

Last Swim:  Wed 8/28 6AM
Water Temp: 49
Waves:  1 foot, building on a northeast wind
Crew:  Cap'n, Bubba, Geoffery
Wetsuit Count: 3
Wimps Watching From Shore: Patriarch, Showgirl, Diablo, Nanook, Monika

On our way back up the bluff we ran into a couple heading down.  They quickly returned, saying that to swim in the cold water would be a "Death Ride".  The good news is that the wind has shifted.  Theoretically today's northeast breeze should bring in warmer water.  We'll be back at 4:30 to test that theory out.

GTGBFTOTB DAY

Thursday is Get The Great Big Fricking Tire Off The Beach Day.  Meet to swim at 6PM.  Post swim, those who are willing will GTGBFTOTB.

THE PROBLEM:  Folks have probably noticed the large tire on the beach, about 50 yards north of down spot. It’s an eye sore on our beloved beach.  The tire is large (it says on it "logging, construction, mining," so it probably was used on an off road dump truck, or earth mover), measuring about 5 feet in circumference and about 20” – 24” wide on the tread surface.  It’s a thick heavy thing, so removal is not a two or three man job.  Currently, there is a good deal of sand and water in it (probably adding 100 to 200 pounds of weight to the tire).  Kahuna and Ryan tried to remove some on Sunday, and move the tire, but couldn’t budge it.

TOOLS/METHOD OF REMOVAL:  Here is what Kahuna estimates we likely will need to get it off the beach: (1) a crew of 6 or so dedicated workers, willing to work at this task perhaps up to an hour; (2)  shovels, round spades and hand trowels to dig out the tire, and get as much sand and water out of the tire as possible (getting as much sand and water as possible out of a beached tire makes the tire much easier to roll/move); and (3) one to three levers and fulcrums (to get the tire tipped up, so we can get it stood up, and moved out of the water).  Note, getting sand out of the tire involves working in a somewhat confined space, so part of the removal crew may find themselves sitting around while the sand/water removal is completed.  Kahuna has one stout lever he can bring (a Big Mutt), and there should be some logs in the woods that can be used as fulcrums.  Anybody go any stout steel rods about 8’ long that we could use as additional levers?  Or a ratchet lever hoist (also called a come along) might be useful.   Kahuna can bring a shovel, a spade and two hand trowels.  The plan is to get the tire off the sand, and then let WFB DPW deal with it from there.  There is also an old normal sized tire at downspout, which we’d also like to get off the beach.  Work gloves may also be a good idea.

TO VOLUNTEER:  If you want to and are willing to help out with this project, please leave a reply comment indicating such, and if you have any steel rod levers or a come along that may be of use.  Thanks.