Freezing in Armidale.
Archive for February, 2010
Freezing in Armidale.
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Loaded with care
Monday, February 15th, 2010You see some fairly amazing things as you travel around in a truck. I guess that given the amount of time I’m on the road I’ll see it if it’s out there.
Oversize load
This picture doesn’t show all the details but immediately you can start to see a problem. The truth was even worse.
This vehicle, being driven by an older women was fitted with a cargo barrier so somebody had thought about safety at some stage. Trouble was the load was too long to fit in. No matter, hubby is sitting in the back hanging on to the door to stop it flying open and using his legs to secure the load.
I can’t remember seeing this technique in the Load Manual, maybe it needs an update.
Environmentally friendly travel…
The couple of videos below made me laugh although at a distance I couldn’t figure out what it was I was looking at.
The movies are a bit rough but I think you’ll get the picture (excuse the pun)…
I guess the ladder is for winding it up ready for the next hill.
Warrior wantabe
Monday, February 15th, 2010Coming out of Sydney the other day I was fast running out of time in my work diary. (more…)
Keeping it clean
Monday, February 8th, 2010Keepig the interior of the cab clean is a constant challenge, especially in wet weather altough the dust in the dry times is equally trying.
Constantly blowing out the dust and dirt with compressed air is the best first line defence and I have tryed a plethora of products to clean the various surfaces. Armour-all for the vinyl, Windex for the glass and air freshener all lived in the cubby hole under the seat.
All these products work well but one of the big problems I have, apart from remembering which rag was for which product, was that the Armour-all makes a real mess of the glass with the inevitable over spray.
Recently I read, somewhere, that Mr Sheen was a good product for the cab so I sought it out in the cleaning isle of the local supermarket. I read the directions and it said that it would clean glass as well. I was dubious as I imagined a waxy coating being left behind.
I purchased a can and gave it a go and am very pleased with the results. I’ve now removed the other containers and reduced the rag collection to just one. Apparently it is also an effective degreaser.
I’ve got more room under the seat and more money in my wallet, thanks to Mr Sheen
Rain-X windscreen treatment
Monday, February 8th, 2010Rain-X is a product that appears to have been around for quite a long time and which I always considered to be some form of snake oil.
I’ve now tried it and wouldn’t have a vehicle operating without it. The difference in the visability is amazing and the use of intermitent wipers whilst travelling at speed is all but negated.
Even at low speed, in light rain the drops bead in such a way as to enable the driver to see through the rain on the windscreen. I treated only half the windscreen initially and the difference was easy to see.
This one will defnately keep a spot in the tool box. Check it out at www.rainx.com.
How to be a roundabout right.
Friday, February 5th, 2010Roundabouts – a common response when offered an answer that is only close to correct.
I’m not surprised, the rules, at least here in New South Wales, for roundabouts are clearly defined but how many people know them?
The way the majority of people, at least in my experience, negotiate roundabouts is to say the least, approximate and haphazard.
Roundabouts are intersections and should be approached with the same degree of caution, to speed up to one and pass through assuming you have right of way is insane. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to jam the anchors on to avoid collision at a roundabout, usually from an errant ‘P’ plater in a hurry to deliver his ‘duff duff’ music to the next suburb.
Regardless of the rules; in the competition between semi-trailer and car… I know who moves on to the next round.
Whilst I’m on the topic can I point out that indicators are just that… indicators! If you’ve already applied the brakes then it’s too late to indicate as anyone following already knows you’re doing something. Indicate first, before you slow down, break, swerve or whatever it is you’re going to do.
One last point. Please turn those bloody fog lights off.
Documenting the trip
Monday, February 1st, 2010I’ve been playing with recording my trips on video for a little while but have struggled to get decent footage with the Nokia N95 so have reverted to using a webcam hooked up to the laptop.
Finding the right software was hard and I have ended up using the logitech software that came with the webcam. The hotkey button on the side of the camera allows for easy control without being distracted from driving. Then I had trouble with too much brightness that the camera couldn’t compensate so I supa-glued a piece of sunglass lense over the front. Night filming won’t be possible I don’t think but the quality at night was poor any how.
It will be interesting to see what sort of disk space this consumes, time will tell.
Here’s my first effort, running past the Botany Bay foreshore on the way into the port.
Now to get some footage of the idiots on the road.
