A REALLY old casting
- Thread starter Pistolero
- Start date
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Keith. The world is a really interesting place. I had the opportunity to live many places
in the USA and some in Europe as a Navy brat. Wife is an AF brat, similar travels when a kid.
We love visiting far away places, like visiting Yellowstone Pk approaching 40 times, will go back
many times, I am sure. Lived in Europe as a kid several times, traveled there multiple times when
in college, many wonderful memories, meeting fun and interesting people and seeing great places,
history, museums, esp the Roman ruins a personal favorite due to their technology. Numerous times
had folks go far out of their way to take care of hitchhiking Americans and show them a good
time.
If you have never studied the Pantheon - as a techie, you should check it out. 140 ft free spherical
domed roof, built 2000 years ago, still 100% intact, in use continuously. Has had a few minor facelifts, first
in the 1600s, IIRC - some plaster cracks on ceiling. Dome is one piece poured concrete!!!!! Differential
density/strength of aggregate. Top layers are pumice aggregate to lighten it. Brick outer structure, with
embedded arches to strengthen the brickwork. 40 ft tall granite, one piece columns - shipped from
Egypt. Because they could. Original bronze doors, about a foot thick, maybe 18 ft tall are closed on their
original hinges every evening when they close to the public. IIRC, that dome span was only
equaled in the 18th century with iron beams. Poured concrete domes came a couple
centuries later. And they used no rebar, or it would have cracked and fallen due to
corrosion in the rebar cracking and failing the concrete.
Look up Trajan's Market some time, truly amazing, too.
Still love to learn about ancient history, see historic places, and to meet modern people and
see foreign lands. Most folks are pretty easy to deal with - although there are knuckleheads
everywhere, no doubt.
I will minimize the F1 car pix, probably a pretty narrow audience on that, but they are seriously
techie stuff, too.
Bill
in the USA and some in Europe as a Navy brat. Wife is an AF brat, similar travels when a kid.
We love visiting far away places, like visiting Yellowstone Pk approaching 40 times, will go back
many times, I am sure. Lived in Europe as a kid several times, traveled there multiple times when
in college, many wonderful memories, meeting fun and interesting people and seeing great places,
history, museums, esp the Roman ruins a personal favorite due to their technology. Numerous times
had folks go far out of their way to take care of hitchhiking Americans and show them a good
time.
If you have never studied the Pantheon - as a techie, you should check it out. 140 ft free spherical
domed roof, built 2000 years ago, still 100% intact, in use continuously. Has had a few minor facelifts, first
in the 1600s, IIRC - some plaster cracks on ceiling. Dome is one piece poured concrete!!!!! Differential
density/strength of aggregate. Top layers are pumice aggregate to lighten it. Brick outer structure, with
embedded arches to strengthen the brickwork. 40 ft tall granite, one piece columns - shipped from
Egypt. Because they could. Original bronze doors, about a foot thick, maybe 18 ft tall are closed on their
original hinges every evening when they close to the public. IIRC, that dome span was only
equaled in the 18th century with iron beams. Poured concrete domes came a couple
centuries later. And they used no rebar, or it would have cracked and fallen due to
corrosion in the rebar cracking and failing the concrete.
Look up Trajan's Market some time, truly amazing, too.
Still love to learn about ancient history, see historic places, and to meet modern people and
see foreign lands. Most folks are pretty easy to deal with - although there are knuckleheads
everywhere, no doubt.
I will minimize the F1 car pix, probably a pretty narrow audience on that, but they are seriously
techie stuff, too.
Bill
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Bill,
I followed Formula 1 very, very closely from '71 till Michael Schumacher couldn't be beat, the races became pretty much no-passing parades, and cars became computers with engines, four tires and steering wheels attached. Followed Formula 2 and 3 in Europe, and Formula 5000 and Can-Am in the States, and Indy cars only after they started doing road courses. Went to the first three Long Beach F1 races (part of my hearing loss may be due to the Matra V-12).
With the Laguna Seca track almost in my backyard, I never missed any race -- even the two and three wheelers -- from '71 till the early or middle '90s. I quit going when a weekend pass cost nearly as much as my weekly earnings, and the crowds became unbearable and oppressive, and uncomfortable to be round.
Enjoy Monaco's sights and sounds . . . it is truly a unique venue.
I followed Formula 1 very, very closely from '71 till Michael Schumacher couldn't be beat, the races became pretty much no-passing parades, and cars became computers with engines, four tires and steering wheels attached. Followed Formula 2 and 3 in Europe, and Formula 5000 and Can-Am in the States, and Indy cars only after they started doing road courses. Went to the first three Long Beach F1 races (part of my hearing loss may be due to the Matra V-12).
With the Laguna Seca track almost in my backyard, I never missed any race -- even the two and three wheelers -- from '71 till the early or middle '90s. I quit going when a weekend pass cost nearly as much as my weekly earnings, and the crowds became unbearable and oppressive, and uncomfortable to be round.
Enjoy Monaco's sights and sounds . . . it is truly a unique venue.
Hey, it may be off topic but we all have interests outside of shooting and casting. Well, I hope we do?
So much to see in this world. I have places in the US I want to visit and so many places overseas too. Australia and New Zealand will wait a bit, that is likely to be a 3 week trip.
Hell, it is enjoyable just to get out of town and meet new people from the forum.
So much to see in this world. I have places in the US I want to visit and so many places overseas too. Australia and New Zealand will wait a bit, that is likely to be a 3 week trip.
Hell, it is enjoyable just to get out of town and meet new people from the forum.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
462 - Ha! The Matra was absolutely THE loudest V12 ever. I lived near Daytona in late 60s thru middle 70s, so went
to 24 hrs and Sebring 12 hrs each year from 69 onward. I have been to Laguna a number of times, mostly the
Vintage races which have been quite enjoyable. I went to the first Long Beach, was so angry when I paid for a paddock
pass to see the cars, and then was thrown out of the paddock, regardless of the pass after I was in for 15 minutes,
because they decided so, not because of any misbehavior. Badly run race from spectator standpoint, IMO.
Nurburgring in 71, Clermont-Ferrand same year or maybe '72. At C-F I was standing with one foot touching the
pavement, 100 yds past a hairpin, outside of a moderate rt hander. Gendarme near me only waggled his finger
if I actually touched the pavement. Pix of F1 cars with normal lens, but cannot get the whole car in the frame,
too close! Amon with Matra was REALLY loud there at full chat. He had a problem, pitted and was solo chasing
down the pack, so extra loud, it seemed. Stopped going to tracks, tickets too insane and US rules pushing
spectators back so far and thru so much fencing as to make it a worthless experience.
Looking fwd to Monaco, always wanted to do it, never thought I could afford it, figured a way to commute from
Nice via train, but tickets still $$$$$$!!!! - once in a lifetime, so what the heck. Can't take it with me.
Good to know that there is at least one other F1 gearhead here. I go to drive a 2005 Renault F1 car,
V10, at COTA two years ago - really impressive car. Anyone that is not intimidated by that just a bit,
is stuipid. In the end, it is a car, and was great fun, but barely able to start to come to grips with it
by the end of 4 laps.
Followed Can Am, too. Got to meet Jim Hall via a friend who used to do his aerodesign for him in
Chapparall days a few years back at Laguna Seca. Saw the might Team McLaren, Revson and Hulme
at that point in '70 at Road Atlanta, first race of the Chaparral sucker car. Had a nice discussion with
Vic Elford about it, at L-S that year, too. He drove the sucker, Hall drove 2E, IIRC at L-C. Great to see
them run again. Did the vintage F1 races here last year, very nice.
Heading to the track.
Bill
to 24 hrs and Sebring 12 hrs each year from 69 onward. I have been to Laguna a number of times, mostly the
Vintage races which have been quite enjoyable. I went to the first Long Beach, was so angry when I paid for a paddock
pass to see the cars, and then was thrown out of the paddock, regardless of the pass after I was in for 15 minutes,
because they decided so, not because of any misbehavior. Badly run race from spectator standpoint, IMO.
Nurburgring in 71, Clermont-Ferrand same year or maybe '72. At C-F I was standing with one foot touching the
pavement, 100 yds past a hairpin, outside of a moderate rt hander. Gendarme near me only waggled his finger
if I actually touched the pavement. Pix of F1 cars with normal lens, but cannot get the whole car in the frame,
too close! Amon with Matra was REALLY loud there at full chat. He had a problem, pitted and was solo chasing
down the pack, so extra loud, it seemed. Stopped going to tracks, tickets too insane and US rules pushing
spectators back so far and thru so much fencing as to make it a worthless experience.
Looking fwd to Monaco, always wanted to do it, never thought I could afford it, figured a way to commute from
Nice via train, but tickets still $$$$$$!!!! - once in a lifetime, so what the heck. Can't take it with me.
Good to know that there is at least one other F1 gearhead here. I go to drive a 2005 Renault F1 car,
V10, at COTA two years ago - really impressive car. Anyone that is not intimidated by that just a bit,
is stuipid. In the end, it is a car, and was great fun, but barely able to start to come to grips with it
by the end of 4 laps.
Followed Can Am, too. Got to meet Jim Hall via a friend who used to do his aerodesign for him in
Chapparall days a few years back at Laguna Seca. Saw the might Team McLaren, Revson and Hulme
at that point in '70 at Road Atlanta, first race of the Chaparral sucker car. Had a nice discussion with
Vic Elford about it, at L-S that year, too. He drove the sucker, Hall drove 2E, IIRC at L-C. Great to see
them run again. Did the vintage F1 races here last year, very nice.
Heading to the track.
Bill
fiver
Well-Known Member
I'm still a F-1 follower.
and a Mercedes hater, well just a Lewis Hamilton 'hater' I guess I should say.
still a Michael Schumacher and Ferrari [and now a HAAS] fan.
watching him nearly destroy a car in just about every practice then put it all together to dominate like he did was a pretty good lesson in what practice is really supposed to be about.
and not just in racing [yes I know your not supposed to start a sentence with and, probably the only grammar rule I actually know BTW]
anyway I'm that guy that stays up until 2 am and watches the F-1 practice and qualifying.
and a Mercedes hater, well just a Lewis Hamilton 'hater' I guess I should say.
still a Michael Schumacher and Ferrari [and now a HAAS] fan.
watching him nearly destroy a car in just about every practice then put it all together to dominate like he did was a pretty good lesson in what practice is really supposed to be about.
and not just in racing [yes I know your not supposed to start a sentence with and, probably the only grammar rule I actually know BTW]
anyway I'm that guy that stays up until 2 am and watches the F-1 practice and qualifying.
KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
Bill, I used to have a Department Chair that was into cathedrals. I took a grad course from him in the subject. He was a civil engineer and a devout Catholic so his interest seemed natural. He took several groups to Europe under the University's auspices to tour the cathedrals in France, Germany, and England. (I didn't go on any of these.) The art and architecture in some of the European cathedrals was almost unbelievable. Race cars and general architecture are cool, but if you have the time and interest check out some of the cathedrals. (Not to take your off topic post off topic in a different direction.)
quicksylver
Well-Known Member
Bill still waiting to go..
..wife says .."that's it ..sell the bike..we're going!"
I've ben there and want to go back, she hasn't..I know those mountain roads..had a GREAT ride one late evening down them with a local (both meanings) Taxi driver who was having way too much fun impressing his fare (me)...thanks for sharing!!!
..wife says .."that's it ..sell the bike..we're going!"I've ben there and want to go back, she hasn't..I know those mountain roads..had a GREAT ride one late evening down them with a local (both meanings) Taxi driver who was having way too much fun impressing his fare (me)...thanks for sharing!!!
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I was chasing a couple of reasonably well driven cars down a few of those mtn roads, asked the wife
how she was doing, and she was fine. She is very brave, and I have never scratched a car, despite
driving "quickly" since a teen. Used to go from Charleston, WVA to Charlottesville, VA area over Rt. 60
Gauley Bridge to Rainelle to Sam Black Church, back before the interstate was put in, most every weekend
to visit parents. Learned to run mtn roads there, first in my lowered Karmann Ghia with heavy sway bar
and wider Michelins on it. It was a good trainer for my old 911, which is great for teaching - it WILL bite
if you get it wrong, so don't get it wrong.
Fun at the track today, Mighty Mercedes couldn't find the handle for the first time in 3 seasons. Hamilton 8th and
Botas 10th in practice, split by Magnusson in the Haas (YAY!). Fiver, no Hamilton fan either, reminds me too
much of his hero Senna, both are arrogant jerks, IMO. Always pulled for "The Professor" Prost in those battles.
Pulling for Vettle and Ricciardo now, both skilled and reasonably humble guys (well, as humble as someone who
makes $40 million a year because he is one of the best 5 or 10 drivers in the world can be). Happy last year when Nico
put Lewis in his place.
As far as cathedrals, we have visited many and since the wife basically has an Architecture degree with heavy emphasis
on civil engineering and I am a ME with a structural bent, I have always looked at the structures with awe. Not easy
to do cathedrals with huge open windows with stone, no good tension capability, have to use arches very creatively to carry loads to ground and take out
the overturning moments. Did you know that the designer of Trajan's Market (ancient Rome) basically invented the flying buttress in
about 70 AD? Yep, but they are sort of 'hidden' in a larger structure and you have to be really paying attention to structures to see
the problem that he had and solved.
I encourage all of you who are thinking about going to Europe, and hesitant, send me questions or anything, and we can talk by phone if it will
help you or spouse to be comfortable with doing it. I have been travelling to and in Europe since 1960s as a kid, then
hitchhiking as a college student, then driving for many years. I love to drive in Europe, so much history, architecture,
art, and many great roads for fun, beautiful mountains, etc. Too densely settled and way too socialist and other political
reasons, no way I would give up the USA. Shooting is far more restricted, altho France is almost reasonable. I twice
visited a Brit from the old site (Limey) who used to live in France because he could own revolvers and rifles, unlike
Britain. Great guy, loved visiting with him and wife. He had to move back home to take care of his mother, had to
sell his beloved (and mint) Python and rifles. He hunted wild boar and deer, too.
If anyone needs some guidance, please ask. Picking up a bit of the language certainly helps, but is not necessary. I
picked up a bit of Italian, can fake a few key phrases in German (Vo ist der Campingplatz, bitte?) and the wife is
pretty fair in French, plus most folks will work with you if you will try a bit. McDonalds in France are a haven for
a free wifi connection to check email and this site. Not as expensive as many think, if you work at it and get reservations
in advance, using the web.
Glad to see more F1 gearheads here. COOL!
Bill
how she was doing, and she was fine. She is very brave, and I have never scratched a car, despite
driving "quickly" since a teen. Used to go from Charleston, WVA to Charlottesville, VA area over Rt. 60
Gauley Bridge to Rainelle to Sam Black Church, back before the interstate was put in, most every weekend
to visit parents. Learned to run mtn roads there, first in my lowered Karmann Ghia with heavy sway bar
and wider Michelins on it. It was a good trainer for my old 911, which is great for teaching - it WILL bite
if you get it wrong, so don't get it wrong.
Fun at the track today, Mighty Mercedes couldn't find the handle for the first time in 3 seasons. Hamilton 8th and
Botas 10th in practice, split by Magnusson in the Haas (YAY!). Fiver, no Hamilton fan either, reminds me too
much of his hero Senna, both are arrogant jerks, IMO. Always pulled for "The Professor" Prost in those battles.
Pulling for Vettle and Ricciardo now, both skilled and reasonably humble guys (well, as humble as someone who
makes $40 million a year because he is one of the best 5 or 10 drivers in the world can be). Happy last year when Nico
put Lewis in his place.
As far as cathedrals, we have visited many and since the wife basically has an Architecture degree with heavy emphasis
on civil engineering and I am a ME with a structural bent, I have always looked at the structures with awe. Not easy
to do cathedrals with huge open windows with stone, no good tension capability, have to use arches very creatively to carry loads to ground and take out
the overturning moments. Did you know that the designer of Trajan's Market (ancient Rome) basically invented the flying buttress in
about 70 AD? Yep, but they are sort of 'hidden' in a larger structure and you have to be really paying attention to structures to see
the problem that he had and solved.
I encourage all of you who are thinking about going to Europe, and hesitant, send me questions or anything, and we can talk by phone if it will
help you or spouse to be comfortable with doing it. I have been travelling to and in Europe since 1960s as a kid, then
hitchhiking as a college student, then driving for many years. I love to drive in Europe, so much history, architecture,
art, and many great roads for fun, beautiful mountains, etc. Too densely settled and way too socialist and other political
reasons, no way I would give up the USA. Shooting is far more restricted, altho France is almost reasonable. I twice
visited a Brit from the old site (Limey) who used to live in France because he could own revolvers and rifles, unlike
Britain. Great guy, loved visiting with him and wife. He had to move back home to take care of his mother, had to
sell his beloved (and mint) Python and rifles. He hunted wild boar and deer, too.
If anyone needs some guidance, please ask. Picking up a bit of the language certainly helps, but is not necessary. I
picked up a bit of Italian, can fake a few key phrases in German (Vo ist der Campingplatz, bitte?) and the wife is
pretty fair in French, plus most folks will work with you if you will try a bit. McDonalds in France are a haven for
a free wifi connection to check email and this site. Not as expensive as many think, if you work at it and get reservations
in advance, using the web.
Glad to see more F1 gearheads here. COOL!
Bill
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Pistolero
Well-Known Member
OK mtn roads. We told the car nav system, 'shortest distance' when, by looking at the map, we knew it
had to run us through the Maritime Alps. It did. Took A7 from Lyon to Valence, then jumped
off to small roads, at Die on the Drome River.
Here are a series of pix, frame grabs from the GoPro in the windshield. Will give you a flavor of this road,
battery died before we got to the really GOOD stuff.
Here we are still climbing, nearing the top of this pass.
Next,
These are in order, cover maybe 20 - 30 minutes. This is after the top, heading downhill.
suddenly very rocky and road has to dodge around huge boulders.
And gets steeper downhill in a tight portion of the canyon.
and disappears around blind corners. There were not always guardrails.
Suddenly you are in a tiny village, or running through the yard of a small farm.
Then it opens into nice wheat fields, and some comparatively flat ground, you start thinking you have reached the
flat country......
Then things rapidly tighten back up and you have to shoot the crack between two huge slabs....
We took 12 hrs, with stops for photos, lunch and just to enjoy the views, to cover what could have been done in 4 hours
on AutoRoute 7, basically like an interstate.
I'd choose this way again, if the time permitted.
Anyone looking on Google Earth, find D27 from Die towards Gap, then D1075 toe Serres, D452 to Peyroulles, and D2 to Nice.
Roughly. Google Earth is wonderful for just scoping out stuff like this.
Bill
had to run us through the Maritime Alps. It did. Took A7 from Lyon to Valence, then jumped
off to small roads, at Die on the Drome River.
Here are a series of pix, frame grabs from the GoPro in the windshield. Will give you a flavor of this road,
battery died before we got to the really GOOD stuff.
Here we are still climbing, nearing the top of this pass.
Next,
These are in order, cover maybe 20 - 30 minutes. This is after the top, heading downhill.
suddenly very rocky and road has to dodge around huge boulders.
And gets steeper downhill in a tight portion of the canyon.
and disappears around blind corners. There were not always guardrails.
Suddenly you are in a tiny village, or running through the yard of a small farm.
Then it opens into nice wheat fields, and some comparatively flat ground, you start thinking you have reached the
flat country......
Then things rapidly tighten back up and you have to shoot the crack between two huge slabs....
We took 12 hrs, with stops for photos, lunch and just to enjoy the views, to cover what could have been done in 4 hours
on AutoRoute 7, basically like an interstate.
I'd choose this way again, if the time permitted.
Anyone looking on Google Earth, find D27 from Die towards Gap, then D1075 toe Serres, D452 to Peyroulles, and D2 to Nice.
Roughly. Google Earth is wonderful for just scoping out stuff like this.
Bill
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Paul - you mentioned slingers. When I was a kid, say 6th grade, we made slings. Leather boot laces
and canvas pouch, and learned to use them pretty well. We could make a 1" pebble just HUM as it
came out, and made a might clank when we hit the pole transformers in the side. We made sure not
to aim for the insulators, never hurt one, sometimes hit the poles, but the clank on steel was more
satisfying for a 12 year old. In retrospect, I can see how you could slay a giant with a forehead shot
from one of those things. Even as kids, with nowhere near the strength of a man, they would really shizz.
Not too difficult to learn to hit a foot square target at 40 yds, would be fairly decent in an ancient battle,
and I'm sure that they had more lethal projectiles, stronger people and better aim.
Bill
and canvas pouch, and learned to use them pretty well. We could make a 1" pebble just HUM as it
came out, and made a might clank when we hit the pole transformers in the side. We made sure not
to aim for the insulators, never hurt one, sometimes hit the poles, but the clank on steel was more
satisfying for a 12 year old. In retrospect, I can see how you could slay a giant with a forehead shot
from one of those things. Even as kids, with nowhere near the strength of a man, they would really shizz.
Not too difficult to learn to hit a foot square target at 40 yds, would be fairly decent in an ancient battle,
and I'm sure that they had more lethal projectiles, stronger people and better aim.
Bill
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Although I've had practically no structural engineering exposure, I've always been awed by the Italian, French and Greek chapels, cathedrals, libraries and amphitheatres.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Smokeywolf - that is exactly the emotion they are intended to evoke. Me, too. Moreso because I know how
difficult it is to make all that work, and stand for centuries. That many Roman buildings and bridges still stand is amazing.
The main structural issue is that a stone arch puts all the stones the arch in compression, which stone
resists well. But stone resists tension very poorly. So arches are great, but they add side
thrust to the supports for the arch. When you make very, very tall stone pillars with an arch
on the top......the arch wants to push the pillar over. So you put another arch, trending down,
to keep the pillar open, let in light to the stained glass walls. These arch out and downward
continuously, to reach the ground -- so the side thrust is carried through these flying
buttresses which are unseen from the interior, and let in light freely, and keep those tall
thin pillars inside from toppling outward.
Like this:
Short version of why cathedrals are cools structures. The buttresses to the left of the
big round main window in this pic are regular buttresses, doing the same thing, just more
clunky, heavy and block more light, force smaller windows. On the right are the flying
buttresses. This is Notre Dame de Paris, a nice example. There are MANY.
Here is a shot I took last hear in the main hall in Trajan's Market, the first shopping mall,
built in around 70 AD, and still standing - NOT rebuilt in any way. Maintained a bit.
Note the second floor open gallery leaves the first pillars which support the arched
ceiling with inadequate lateral thrust capability. So, the designer, desiring to leave the
lightness and airiness of the upper walk, put those short lateral arches to resist the
thust. Same exact thing as a flying buttress, but a millennia plus earlier.
Each opening, framed in white travertine marble, was a separate retail business stall with
an upper vaulted ceiling, and an opening for light. Wooden door slabs fitted into 2" deep grooves in the
floors and walls to close the openings at night for security. They did have
padlocks in those days. There were over 70 separate business locations in the whole complex
of Trajan's market and most still stands.
Even today, it feels light, open and airy, all natural light.
Bill
difficult it is to make all that work, and stand for centuries. That many Roman buildings and bridges still stand is amazing.
The main structural issue is that a stone arch puts all the stones the arch in compression, which stone
resists well. But stone resists tension very poorly. So arches are great, but they add side
thrust to the supports for the arch. When you make very, very tall stone pillars with an arch
on the top......the arch wants to push the pillar over. So you put another arch, trending down,
to keep the pillar open, let in light to the stained glass walls. These arch out and downward
continuously, to reach the ground -- so the side thrust is carried through these flying
buttresses which are unseen from the interior, and let in light freely, and keep those tall
thin pillars inside from toppling outward.
Like this:
Short version of why cathedrals are cools structures. The buttresses to the left of the
big round main window in this pic are regular buttresses, doing the same thing, just more
clunky, heavy and block more light, force smaller windows. On the right are the flying
buttresses. This is Notre Dame de Paris, a nice example. There are MANY.
Here is a shot I took last hear in the main hall in Trajan's Market, the first shopping mall,
built in around 70 AD, and still standing - NOT rebuilt in any way. Maintained a bit.
Note the second floor open gallery leaves the first pillars which support the arched
ceiling with inadequate lateral thrust capability. So, the designer, desiring to leave the
lightness and airiness of the upper walk, put those short lateral arches to resist the
thust. Same exact thing as a flying buttress, but a millennia plus earlier.
Each opening, framed in white travertine marble, was a separate retail business stall with
an upper vaulted ceiling, and an opening for light. Wooden door slabs fitted into 2" deep grooves in the
floors and walls to close the openings at night for security. They did have
padlocks in those days. There were over 70 separate business locations in the whole complex
of Trajan's market and most still stands.
Even today, it feels light, open and airy, all natural light.
Bill
Last edited:
Ian
Notorious member
I got nuthin', we interrupted our vacation to do some much needed house work. Got a load of lumber and masonry from Montrose this morning and spent the day with a single-jack under the house digging pier foundations in granite in a 3'-high crawl space, fabricating a triple 2x10x14' floor beam (8' at a time, in place), mixing and pouring footings, building piers, lifting the beam into place, jacking the floor almost level again, and shimming the beam in place for the night. The "silly person" who built this house in 1967 thought that stacking a first floor pantry with second floor master bathroom and carrying major support through to the roof would be fine parked right in the middle of a 14' 2x12 span. The pantry and bathroom had sagged 1.5" over the years, causing multiple door, floor, and plaster problems. Got it mostly fixed now, will jack it the final 25% to level and finish the shimming tomorrow after the structure has a chance to relax some from the rude awakening I gave it tonight, and after the fast-set concrete has fully cured. Assuming I can get out of bed tomorrow.
We're planning a trip to Silverton this weekend, will get some pics of the spectacular "Million Dollar Highway" and mountains, it looks a lot like the country Bill is travelling. We saw a funny newspaper clipping at a pottery shop yesterday...it seems a local resident has become a UN rep to the US in Switzerland. For those that don't know, Ouray, CO. is referred to as "The Switzerland of America". Well, the lady thought it funny to make a sign that reads "Welcome to the Ouray of Switzerland" and pose with it at several major intersections in Geneva. She made at least four major newspapers between here and there, the locals there had a hard time understanding the joke.
Brad, we skipped Durango this trip, choosing instead to avoid New Mexico and pass not too far from Bill's place in the SE corner of CO. The highway from Saguache through Gunnison to Montrose was a "spirited" drive, but nothing like the drive up from Durango. The highway dept. doesn't install guard rails at all because they need somewhere to push all the snow in the winter, the only place being to plow it over the edge. Lots of places the white stripe is painted on the edge of the pavement, literally at the edge of sheer drops. Don't blink when driving!
We're planning a trip to Silverton this weekend, will get some pics of the spectacular "Million Dollar Highway" and mountains, it looks a lot like the country Bill is travelling. We saw a funny newspaper clipping at a pottery shop yesterday...it seems a local resident has become a UN rep to the US in Switzerland. For those that don't know, Ouray, CO. is referred to as "The Switzerland of America". Well, the lady thought it funny to make a sign that reads "Welcome to the Ouray of Switzerland" and pose with it at several major intersections in Geneva. She made at least four major newspapers between here and there, the locals there had a hard time understanding the joke.
Brad, we skipped Durango this trip, choosing instead to avoid New Mexico and pass not too far from Bill's place in the SE corner of CO. The highway from Saguache through Gunnison to Montrose was a "spirited" drive, but nothing like the drive up from Durango. The highway dept. doesn't install guard rails at all because they need somewhere to push all the snow in the winter, the only place being to plow it over the edge. Lots of places the white stripe is painted on the edge of the pavement, literally at the edge of sheer drops. Don't blink when driving!