ATB/Slaughter Pen Weather Watch

[Charles Heath]

Folks,

In loving memory of the fun loving Beau-the-Beagle, and a friend who made fine floorcloths among other things, here is the time honored pre-event Weather Watch:

Thursday 13 Nov 08
High 56
Low 48
Showers likely.
Highs in the mid-50s and lows in the upper 40s.

Friday 14 Nov 08
High 64
Low 47
A 40% chance of rain.
Showers possible.
Highs in the mid-60s and lows in the upper 40s.


Saturday 15 Nov 08
High 66
Low 35
A 20% chance of rain.
More clouds than sun.
Highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-30s

Sunday 16 Nov 08
High 55
Low 36
A 20% chance of rain.
A few clouds.
Highs in the mid-50s and lows in the mid 30s.

From the Weather Channel, and why they don't just come out and say " severe rainfall and flooding of Biblical proportions expected once Grumpy "Rain Jonah" Dave Towsen arrives on site" is beyond me. ;)

See you in the field,

[Johnny Lloyd]

Dang, Marse Heef, ya beat me to it...

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USVA0294?from=36hr_fcst10DayLink_undeclared

Will you be there so I can give you back what is yours that I have? I'll be grey and in Skip's Company

-Johnny 'Captain Obvious' Lloyd :wink_smil

PS- From my days working with a meterologist at my old TV station, ANY weather forecast is 85-95% accurate to within a 24-hour window of the time period measured. So, that rain COULD blow over for Friday... or it might not. :rolleyes:

[dusty27]

It is happening unless a hurricane blows through..............

[Charles Heath]

Will you be there so I can give you back what is yours that I have?

Sometimes it is easier than others to tell who has and who has not read a single word of that wonderful pre-event info, or their newsletters.... :D

[Johnny Lloyd]

I don't think I have the last Torch, Chawls... I couldn't find it in my e-mails the other day. I mentioned that to Tommy Gingras on the phone.

I guess I'll have to get with Ley on that. :rolleyes:

Rather with the above, I meant to say shall you be blue or grey at this event... wait, wait... don't tell me. Blue. Am I correct?

Does your stew require previously-used-in-Mizzourah-and-responsible-for-delicious-chicken-stew 'soupbone'?

-Johnny

[Charles Heath]

Johnny O' de Bone,

I shan't be needing the human femur "soup bone" this time around, but we did need the infamous Stevie's Tail from the "museum" just the other day to open and close a meeting. The return of that fine steer's flag will have to wait until 2009, when it shall once again be employed as a gavel. You'd think the hair would have fallen off that most holy relic from the 2000 season.

Ley's email addy is ley74@rcn.com, and if you read your 31 Oct 08 listserver email (ahem) you'd also know the current issue of the Torch (Sep-Oct) is being delayed due to the battalion meeting in Elmira (minutes are done thanks to Garr) and something or another happening this weekend near Fredericksurg. I'll see you at the latter, and rations are on your own hook, if the companies haven't organized their own ration issue (not all have). From what I read, Skip "Lt. Coffee" Owens was planning to have a little something "goen."

I shall be neither blue nor grey at this event, and yet shall be both. In my best future Senator Blutarski voice, "What am I, now?" :eek:

See you in a few days....yes, I am jerking your chain. :p

[Charles Heath]

Folks,

A little update on that pre-event Weather Watch:

Thursday 13 Nov 08
High 59
Low 50
An 80% chance of rain.
A 100% chance of OBM making multiple trips to the site.

Friday 14 Nov 08
High 64
Low 50
A 30% chance of rain.
Occasional showers possible.
Highs in the mid-60s and lows in the low-50s.
A 100% chance the per bushel of fresh Rappahannock River oysters at the market in Fredericksburg will yield sticker shock.

Saturday 15 Nov 08
High 60
Low 35
A 40% chance of rain.
Showers possible.
Highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid-30s.
A 100% chance some folks will develop "Rain Pussitis."

Sunday 16 Nov 08
High 54
Low 31
A 20% chance of rain.
Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid-50s and lows in the low 30s.
A 100% chance of OBM making multiple trips from the site.

I suppose I'll find out if a certain barn roof with peeled back roofing leaks as bad as it looks like it is going to leak in about 48 hours, and that 31 degrees F. figure gives me some concern. Hmmm, where's that Army surplus 1960s vintage gasoline fired immersion heater, or who is going to spoon with the spring houses? ;)

[Pvt_Sullivan]

that 31 degrees F. figure gives me some concern

No Worries Charles, Salt-Water doesn't freeze until it get down to 28 degrees Fahrenheit...

[GrumpyDave]

I saw a witch doctor this morning....

[Johnny Lloyd]

I saw a witch doctor this morning....

... and he told me what to do...

and he say: ooo-eee-ooo-ah-ah ting-tang, walla-walla bing bang...

Gosh, I'm excited for this event!

All the best- Johnny Lloyd

[kylethebrass]

Eat lots of beans before the event!

[Charles Heath]

Folks,

I hadn't heard the Witch Doctor song in 20 years, and it pops up on an oldies station in Williamsport, PA, on the way to the battalion meeting, and here you two are bandying about the lyrics.

Last update (from me) on that pre-event Weather Watch:

Thursday 13 Nov 08
High 54
Low 47
An 80% chance of rain.
A 100% chance of a soaking wet OBM making multiple trips to the event site, and a very important side trip to beautiful metropolitan Atlee, Virginia. The portajohn man is supposed to be there at 10 am, so that means roughly 2 pm eastern portajohn standard time.

Friday 14 Nov 08
High 66
Low 58
A 30% chance of rain.
Afternoon showers.
Highs in the mid-60s and lows in the upper 50s.
Conveniently located Aunt Sarah's in uptown Massaponax has some seriously good strawberry pancakes....

Saturday 15 Nov 08
High 61
Low 38
Rain 40%
Chance of showers.
High in the low 60s and lows in the upper 30s.
Upper 30s hedges the bet the water tanks won't quite burst due to freezing temps.

Sunday 16 Nov 08
High 52
Low 31
Rain 20%
Mix of sun and clouds.
A 100% chance of OBM making multiple trips from the site, and making loud snoring sounds upon hitting the bed.

Yes, vinegar does freeze solid at 28 degrees F....

[Prodical Reb]

As we used to say in the Army;

"EMBRACE THE SUCK!"

Whose secure enough in his manhood to spoon and share blankets this weekend? I am and will share!

[Charles Heath]

Whose secure enough in his manhood to spoon and share blankets this weekend?

Michael,

When you gray clad fellows hunker down in those blankets and listen to the passing train Friday night, keep in mind your camp is on a small piece of ground contested by:

38th NCT
34th NCT
22nd NCT
13th NCT
7th NCT
18th NCT
35th GA
45th GA
49th GA
14th GA
107th PVI
105th NYVI
16th ME
94th NYVI
104th NYVI
11th PVI
83rd NYVI
97th NYVI
88th PVI

...and pretty much on top of three of the five MOH actions for the site.

Source: Steven Stanley's "Gibbon's Advance -- December 13, 1862" map for the CWPT.

P.S. If you should wander into the woodline at night, keep in mind several small stock ponds are well hidden just inside those trees.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Weather watch calls for 70% chance of rain on Saturday on www.weather.com for Fredericksburg, VA...

Hop I don't jinx it... LOL

-Johnny Lloyd

[Charles Heath]

Johnny,

No jinxing on your part, but I think I know who may be digging the sinks as an educational practicum for Station Training site #4 at the COI in April. ;)

Ley Watson, Farmer Douglas, the portajohn man (you'll remember him from Payne's Farm,a and he was ON TIME today), and some irascible Old Bald Man were on site today puttering about at various times. I stayed relatively comfortable in the rain with a flannel shirt over a tee shirt, so you hale and hardy visiting team folks should do just fine in your repop federal issue wool, and the home team will be toasty in that wunnerful wunnerful satinette and jeanwool. Skies were pretty clear just west of the event site, but Grumpy Dave hasn't arrived in his infamous Keystone State DUKW amphib vehicle just yet.

An unscheduled update after the last update to coincide with Johnny's news.

Friday 14 Nov 08
High 65
Low 56
A 40% chance of rain.
Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. Highs in the mid-60s. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain.

Anyone with an open can of sardines may well find themselves with one or more feline companions. This is the place to adopt a barn kitty, but beware they aren't exactly house cats. Somebody feeds them, but you know how "friendly until fed" feral cats can be at times.

Saturday 15 Nov 08
High 63
Low 37
Rain 40%
Scattered showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Highs in the low 60s. Lows in the upper 30s.

The silver lining about heavy cloud cover is it may keep the number of active operations down at the nearby airport.

Sunday 16 Nov 08
High 52
Low 31
Rain 20%
Windy with a mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s.

If you are a railfan, then you'll appreciate the variety of CSXT General Electric crew comfort cab locomotives running on the former RF&P tracks.

Saw Old Dominion gasoline for sale in the $1.72 range today, but mostly it is $1.85 or so. Not bad compared to a few months ago.

[Prodical Reb]

The RF&P (now CSX/VRE) rail line was chartered in 1834; it runs close by my house here in Brooke. In April of '63 the 124th NY, the Orange Blossoms, built and manned 2 redoubts protecting the tressel of the RF&P line crossing Accokeek Creek here in Brooke. The large redoubt is still here. The smaller is long gone and is now a garden spot/pasture. The redoubts are just on the other side of the tracks from home.

[Charles Heath]

Michael,

Sometime when you are poking around a public library, look up the older railroad books by Richard E. Prince, and in that wonderful collection open a faded powder blue volume that covers not only the RF&P, but some of the more curious Virginia short lines. About 20 years ago, a more in depth book was published (black cover, as I recall) but I didn't grab that one when it was availabe. If you like looking at old fortifications along that line, the rifle pits from the Battle of South Anna were plainly visible by the masonry bridge piers between the Ashland Roller Mills (US 1) and the present day alignment of the railroad, and they may have continued further east, although 20 years ago I didn't see any there. The RF&P has still has some jewels along the right of way.

I have enjoyed seeing the trains during the site visits, even if they are very modern. This has to be one of the most difficult sites to reenact on due to the modern "improvements" along the edges, but at least it isn't planted in McMansions.

[cprljohnivey]

Nov 14 Today
Areas of dense morning fog. Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Nov 14 Tonight
Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly overnight. Low near 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Nov 15 Tomorrow
Thunderstorms in the morning, overcast during the afternoon with occasional rain - a rumble of thunder is still possible. High around 65F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Nov 15 Tomorrow night
Rain early. Decreasing clouds late. Low near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Nov 16 Sunday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s.

[Charles Heath]

Brad,

Come to think of it, that Saturday afternoon forecast didn't say squat about the funnel cloud that rolled through New Post south of our location by about 5 miles. Well, fine.

[kylethebrass]

Thank you to you and your wife for the hard work at this event. It really showed!

[Johnny Lloyd]

Weather watch calls for 70% chance of rain on Saturday on www.weather.com for Fredericksburg, VA...

Hop I don't jinx it... LOL

-Johnny Lloyd

Well, I'll take the blame... I jinxed it. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa...
:D:rolleyes:

Chawls... I think you didn't 'watch the weather' well enough, though... considering the rain and fun, freezing temepratures. But maybe you were? :wink_smil

All the best- Johnny Lloyd:wink_smil

[GrumpyDave]

I guess that weather watch ended up with "Tornado Warnings."

[Charles Heath]

Johnny,

The weather on-site Thursday was far worse than what we had on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The latter ended up being a very pretty day, and the farm roads dried out enough for the "Zero Traction Ford F-250" to meander back to the reb line of mess fires to recover the leftover firewood. Nice to be able to do that, and at some point I do believe we'll need to have another stern lecture about fire safety, especially during windy conditions.