Ingredients:

She included a ready-to-brew kit for a German style hefeweizen. From what little bit I know of brewing, it’s about as [...]]]> Made my first attempt at brewing beer last night thanks to Valerie’s thoughtful Christmas gift of a brewing starter kit. I now have a bucket of malty goodness that’s burping CO₂ at me.

She included a ready-to-brew kit for a German style hefeweizen. From what little bit I know of brewing, it’s about as simple as it gets and make a good first batch (hopefully!).

Ingredients:

• 6# wheat malt extract syrup
• 1# wheat malt
• 1# 2 row malt
• 1 oz Tettnanger pellet hops
• 1 pkg wheat ale yeast
• 1 cup sugar (for priming)
• ~6 G water

Method:

1. Heat 2 qts water to 159˚F then add malted wheat and 2 row.  Let steep for 30 minutes
2. Bring 2 G water to boil in brew kettle.
3. Drain grain brew into kettle, squeezing out as much from grain as practical.
4. Remove heat from kettle and add malt syrup. Stir well to dissolve.
5. Return to heat and bring to a boil.
6. Once boiling, add hops and boil for 60 minutes
7. Remove heat. Remove hops.
8. Gently pour 3 G of chilled water into wort. Chill wort as quickly as possible to below 75˚F.
9. Let stand 30-60 minutes to settle the trub.
10. Siphon into fermenter, leaving trub in the kettle.
11. Add sufficient water to bring final volume upto 5.25 G.
12. Rehydrate yeast with 1/2 cup water at 90˚F for 15 minutes and then add to fermenter.
13. Initial SG: 1.055
14. Ferment for 7-12 days at 62-72˚F.
15. Final SG: 1.015
16. Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup boiling water and add to beer to prime for bottling.
17. Bottle age 2-3 weeks at 65-75˚F.

Notes from Batch #1:

• Pitched 1/4/10 @ 1:00AM
• Bottled 1/13 at 10:00 PM
• 1.0 oz Tettnag Hops, 4.7% alpha acid by package
• 11.5 gm Safbrew WB-06 yeast
• Didn’t have chilled 3G of water (still warm from boiling)
• Initial SG: 1.040
• Added about 6 cups of water to get to 5.25 G — this was a mistake as I should have taken an gravity reading first.
• Final SG: 1.010
• 3.9% alcohol (by vol)
• Tasting results:  The nose is very much like a German weissbier should be.  A healthy yeasty finish. Not bad for the first brew.  Also, the noggin tells me this is stronger than 3.9% ABV.

The Atmel ATMega328 microcontroller has 6 [...]]]> My first Arduino project was to build a battery capacity tester. I’ve got a box of rechargeable AA batteries, and it seams they’ve been less and less effective. Since most applications require 4 batteries, invariably one of them problem battery makes the rest of them look bad.

The Atmel ATMega328 microcontroller has 6 analog inputs with 10-bit A-to-D converters and a external AREF that allows you to define what voltage 0×3FF represents. In other words, it’ll give you ~1.4mV precision measuring 0-1.5V when given a 1.5V analog reference. Plenty accurate for a battery capacity measurement.

The principle is fairly simple. Apply a known load to a battery, record the voltage periodically while the battery discharges, stop recording at some point, and integrate to arrive at the area under the curve in order to derive the amp-hours delivered from the battery.

Enough theory, let’s see how it works. The UI starts with a helpful message:

Insert Battery

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/2.0, 1/20sec, 50mm focal L.

While the battery discharges, the UI prints the voltage, real-time capacity measured thus far, and the duration that the measurement has been taking place.

Battery In

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/2.0, 1/25sec, 50mm focal L.

When the cut-off voltage of 0.9V has been reached, the “usable” capacity is saved at the top. The real-time data continues so the capacity below 0.9V is measured. For the NiMH batteries I’ve tested, the capacity below 0.9V is minimal (~100mAH).

After the cut-off is reached, an LED starts blinking to attract attention that the test is effectively over.

Done

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/2.0, 1/20sec, 50mm focal L.

Here’s the code:

/*
     Battery Characterization Tool

     11/7/2009 John Terry

     Compiled on Aurdino 0017 in 4930 bytes.

 This uses the analog in to measure the voltage of a battery under a known load and
 integrates the area under the curve to arrive at the useful capacity of the
 batterin in mAH.

*/

#include


// Set some constants -- these will need to be adjusted for your setup
//
// Connect a ~10K Ω (Rr) resistor from 3.3V supply pin to the AREF pin,
//   creating a voltage divder with the internal 32KΩ resistor on AREF.
//      aRefVoltage = supply_voltage * 32K / Rr
//   Alternatively, measure the actual AREF voltage applied with a good DMM:
//  my measured aRefVoltage = 2.62;
const float     aRefVoltage = 2.62;

// Connect a load resistor (Rl) to the battery. ~2.2 Ω restistor gives ~500mA drain which
//   is about right for a battery rated at 2500mAH.  Note, this should be a >=1W resistor!
//   Dont trust your DMM to meausre such a low resistance accurately. I measured the current
//   and back-calculated the resistance. Best just to trust rated resistance.
//   my  resistance = 2.18;
//
// The integrator works by accumulating the sampled voltage values from the start until
//   hitting a pre-determined low-voltage threshold. Since they are sampled at a
//   known period, the number of samples taken cancels out and the accumulation of all samples
//   simply needs to be scalled by a factor
//
//   Let's make some definitions to show the derivation of how this is so:
//   I = current
//   V = load voltage
//   Rl = load resistance
//   samples = number of voltage samples made
//   sensor = value read out of analog A->D
//   rate = number of samples taken per second
//
//                                     ave(V)
//   capacity = ∫I ~= ave(I) * time = -------- * time
//                                       Rl
//
//   Where:
//                ∑(V)     ∑(sensor) * aRefVoltage/1024
//     ave(V) = ------- = ---------------------------------
//              samples              samples
//
//      time  =  samples/rate
//
//   Thus:
//               ∑(sensor) * aRefVoltage     samples
//   capacity = ------------------------- * ---------
//                samples * 1024 * Rl         rate
//
//               ∑(sensor) * aRefVoltage
//   capacity = ------------------------- = ∑(sensor) * quanta
//                  1024 * Rl * rate
//
//           quanta = aRefVoltage/(1024 * Rl * rate ) * 1000/3600   // scaled for mA Hours
const double quanta = 0.00032602;

// Define low voltage threshold where any remaining capacity is "unusable"
//        lowThreshold = 0.9V * 1024/aRefVoltage
const int lowThreshold = 354;

int sensorPin          = 0;    // select the analog input pin for the voltage measurement
int ledPin             = 13;   // select the pin for the LED
int sensorValue        = 0;    // unscaled sensor output
float voltage          = 0;    // measured voltage
double mAH             = 0;    // Calculated current
long accumulator       = 0;    // sum of all unscalled sensor values sampled
int epoch              = 0;    // seconds since battery was inserted
int lowVolts           = 0;    // debounce the low voltage threshold
boolean done           = false;// Voltage has dropped below threshold
boolean batteryIn      = false;// Battery present

// initialize the the LCD library with the numbers of the interface pins
//  LCD Pins  --  RS, EN, D4, D5, D6, D7
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11,  5,  4,  3,  2);

void setup() {
  // declare the ledPin as an OUTPUT:
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);  

  // set analog reference to external
  analogReference(EXTERNAL);

  // set up the LCD's number of rows and columns:
  lcd.begin(16, 2);

  // Print a helpful start-up message to the LCD.
  lcd.print("Insert battery");

  // DEBUG initialize serial communications at 9600 bps:
  // Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {

  sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);    

  if (!batteryIn && (sensorValue > 20)) {
    // Initialize upon the insertion of a "fresh" battery
    batteryIn   = true;
    done        = false;
    epoch       = 0;
    accumulator = 0;
    lowVolts    = 0;
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    // clear out when LCD when starting over
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.print("vlts  mAH  Time ");
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print("                ");
  }
  else if (batteryIn && done && (sensorValue < = 20)) {
    // consider the battery removed only after finishing the last measurement to
    // debounce a glitchy concact
    batteryIn=false;
  }
  else if (batteryIn) {
    // Running state during discharge state

    accumulator += sensorValue;
    voltage = sensorValue*aRefVoltage/1024.0;

    // print voltage
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print(voltage);

    // print mAH
    mAH = accumulator*quanta;
    if      (mAH <   10) { lcd.setCursor(8, 1); }  // adjust to make it perdy
    else if (mAH <  100) { lcd.setCursor(7, 1); }
    else if (mAH < 1000) { lcd.setCursor(6, 1); }
    else                 { lcd.setCursor(5, 1); }
    lcd.print(int(mAH));

    lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
    lcd.print(epoch/60.0);
    lcd.setCursor(15, 1);
    lcd.print("m");

    if (!done) {

      // lowVolts requires 10 seconds in the last 20 before being done
      if (sensorValue < lowThreshold) { lowVolts++;}
      else if (lowVolts > 0)          { lowVolts--;}  

      // If it's below threshold for 10 of 20 samples, bail out
      if (lowVolts > 10) {
        done=true;
        lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
        lcd.print("    mAH in     ");
        lcd.setCursor(1, 0);
        lcd.print(int(mAH));

        // put the time, in minutes in the upper right
        lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
        lcd.print(epoch/60.0);
        lcd.setCursor(15, 0);
        lcd.print("m");
      }
    }

    epoch++;
  } // batteryIn -- main routine

  if (done) {
    // When done, flash the LED to get attention
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    delay(499);
  } else {
    // Since the processing takes some time prior to the delay, we'll assume 1mS
    // This could stand to be improved with an interrupt routine that is kicked off
    // before all the processing starts for each loop
    delay(999);
  }

/* DEBUG

  Serial.print("\nsensor = " );
  Serial.print(sensorValue);
  Serial.print("\t lowvolrs = " );
  Serial.print(lowVolts);
*/

}

Compiles into 4930 bytes.

A couple of days ago, a tiny little package arrived from Sparkfun Electronics with my first Arduino kit. Valerie’s response upon finding said package in the mail box, “well, so much for seeing my husband for the rest of the week”. In all fairness, I [...]]]> Success has been had … finally!

A couple of days ago, a tiny little package arrived from Sparkfun Electronics with my first Arduino kit. Valerie’s response upon finding said package in the mail box, “well, so much for seeing my husband for the rest of the week”. In all fairness, I waited till the second day (night, really) to get sucked in. I’ll be back tomorrow…

Last night, I just plugged it into the USB port and loaded a pre-canned example that made the LED blink. Did some experimenting with modulating in and out with a few for loops just to refresh my C code.

Tonight was all about getting the LCD wired in. Soldered a header onto it to mash into the bread board to keep the wiring flexible.

Opened up the LiquidCrystal tutorial and wired it all up and measured the resistance between power and ground to make sure I didn’t have any shorts. Finally plugged it in to the USB spigot and dumped the “hello, world” example program, and … nothing.

Hmmph. Take some measurements — voltages are good. Contrast voltage bias is about half-way, that ought to be close. Let’s try a little higher: nope. Lower? Nope.

OK, rip it all out and move to a different section of the breadboard. Still nothing. The LCD doesn’t so much as blink. Must be dead.

In fit of desperation, I grab pair of random resistors and jumper them across my voltage divider that’s biasing the contrast, first moving contrast closer to VDD, then moving it much closer to VSS and — presto — it was running all along.

It’s alive!

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/1.8, 1/30sec, 50mm focal L.

For the record, this particular 5-volt LCD contrast likes to biased at about 1.3 volts. 2.5 volts get’s you nothing.

My first real “project” is to build a rechargeable battery characterization tool. More on that later…

The twinsoes must really hate the stroller. This is how they’ll “remember” their first visit to Spina [...]]]> Working through the picture back-log … cleared out 80+ this evening. Only 1640 left to work through. But, on a plus note, there are now 2 new photo galleries posted — Woo hoo!

• Pumpkin Patch 2008
• Pumpkin Patch 2009

The twinsoes must really hate the stroller. This is how they’ll “remember” their first visit to Spina Farms last year:

Lonely — Sleeping babes, abandoned in the stroller last year…

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/5.6, 1/320sec, 40mm focal L., map

And their second visit must have caused them déjà vu:

Starting off just like last year — That is, the twins being abandoned in the stroller.

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/6.3, 1/160sec, 50mm focal L., map

But, they quickly were set free to terrorize the pumpkins.

Maia begins the sorting project

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/4.5, 1/500sec, 50mm focal L., map

Stand in the nose — Valerie had to toddler wrangle to get this shot

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/6.3, 1/400sec, 34mm focal L., map

Self portrait. Hard to confirm the focus when you aren’t actually looking through the viewfinder.

2 out of 5 — That’s about all you can expect to look at the camera.

NIKON D70, ISO 250, ƒ/4.5, 1/500sec, 34mm focal L., map

Lots more photos posted in the gallery linked above.

[ Click to go interactive ]

Some trip facts

Sadly, this trip came to an end on this last day of travel.

The day started with a happy toddler that awoke in her giant “hooo tell” sized bed, as she likes to call it. After packing up the baby cribs and toys [...]]]> Day 19: The last push home — 406 miles

Sadly, this trip came to an end on this last day of travel.

The day started with a happy toddler that awoke in her giant “hooo tell” sized bed, as she likes to call it. After packing up the baby cribs and toys and other stuff you can’t live without when traveling with kids, we made a quick stop into the motel breakfast to get some food in the tiny grumbly tummies.

Maia (oldest at 3) saw the cereal bin full “multi-colored Ohhs” (ala Fruit Loops), and she was very excited and wanted to try them. She doesn’t get sugar-bomb cereal at home, and she most certainly doesn’t get it just prior to being cooped up in a car all day. Bad parent that I am, I lied to her and said it was yucky and we couldn’t eat it, but the flake cereal was OK.

With a long, dejected look of disappointed, she proffered that maybe we should try and see if it really was yucky. To which, I assured her it was yucky and prepared a bowl of corn flakes for her.

Later, Maia keenly observed someone getting a bowl of Fruit Loops and she was very concerned that other people were eating the “yucky” cereal and maybe we should throw it away to keep even more people from getting the yucky cereal. Hmmm, this is why you don’t tell “little” white lies to your kids…

[ Click to go interactive ]

Unfortunately, my camera/memory card flaked out on me and about half of the pictures I took were corrupted. A few of them I recovered the thumbnail image just to save an important memory. I’m afraid my camera didn’t much like bouncing along in tank-bag for the last 5K miles.

The morning trip was a fairly quick leg south on US-395. I was humm’n along at 10-15 over the limit through rolling hills on a fairly vacant stretch of the highway when I was literally startled by a CHP cruiser that blew by me with lights a flash’n but no siren. Twas the third encounter with the Man that I thought I was busted, but, only because I’m a worry wart about that sort of thing.

CA-32 was a very fun road

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/640sec, 18mm focal L. @54 MPH, ~170mi from prev photo, map

In my quest to take lesser traveled 2-lane roads, CA-32 was just what I was looking for. I took off ahead of the family around about here and figured we’d catch up some place later.

Traffic

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/500sec, 29mm focal L. @45 MPH, ~7.4mi from prev photo, map

The best part of CA-32 is that it’s posted at 55 MPH, even through all the twisties — you’d have to really be tearing up the road to get into trouble with speeding and, frankly, there are too many blind corners to get that crazy (for me).

Good pavement + twistie + 55MPH = legal fun — never you mind the speed when this pic was captured :hide

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/500sec, 35mm focal L. @64 MPH, ~6.5mi from prev photo, map

And, all good things must come to an end. Buh bye twisties, hello Central Valley.

Welcome to the Central Valley — Hot, hazy, and flat is the norm here.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/2500sec, 22mm focal L. @68 MPH, ~25mi from prev photo, map

Heading to port? — Any bet those are empties?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/2500sec, 70mm focal L. @75 MPH, ~15mi from prev photo, map

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (aka Central Valley) is a hugely agrarian area with the top 4 counties for agricultural sales in all of the US.

Miles of orchards

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/2500sec, 18mm focal L. @57 MPH, ~24mi from prev photo, map

The projects of Marysville?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/1250sec, 22mm focal L. ~4.9mi from prev photo, map

There’s just really no good way to get back to the Bay area. We ended up taking CA-99 and CA-70 south through the middle of the valley. Looking at the map, I see there were many more imaginative ways I could have covered the distance. Ohh well, more roads to explore next time I’m in the area.

Buzz kill — fortunately, he only stayed on the road for ~6 miles or so.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/800sec, 65mm focal L. @64 MPH, ~2.6mi from prev photo, map

The Sacramento area has seen a terrible decline in real estate (Sacramento Flippers in Trouble is a favorite, almost comical site illustrating just how bad it is). But, really, what did they expect? There’s nothing but land out there to build upon. There is nearly a limitless supply for the house shitter to come around and plop down more tracts of McMansion developments were your neighbor’s house is only 10 ft from yours. Classic over supply scenario.

Why real estate is worthless out here

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/2500sec, 18mm focal L. @76 MPH, ~30mi from prev photo, map

It’d been a long time since breakfast, and the natives were getting restless riding in the car. I get a call on the one-way cell phone link to stop and grab a nibble with the family.

First fast food of the trip

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/320sec, 24mm focal L. ~4.6mi from prev photo, map

Maia was very happy to get some french fries. The babies just wanted to be out of their car seats.

At least there was good company

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/30sec, 29mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

After food, Maia was promised that she could go to the “play land”, but, it was closed and all the equipment was gone. Going for a walk with dad was not an acceptable alternative.

Road weary toddler — She was promised play equipment, but it was broken.

, ISO , ƒ/, sec, focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

After “lunch”, Valerie took the kids the fast way home, just to get it over with for them. I the took the opportunity to go exploring and ride the levees that form the shipping lanes into the central valley.

Riding the levee on CA-84 — The land on the left appears to be below sea level.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/1000sec, 18mm focal L. @49 MPH, ~26mi from prev photo, map

The Merluccius — Gee, you think they fish(ed) for cod?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250sec, 29mm focal L. ~1.2mi from prev photo, map

This levee keeps Ryer Island dry. Although it may not be obvious in the photo, the land behind the levee is below sea level. There was a giant pumping station that kept this section from flooding.

The levee roads were fun, although the ground had settled leaving rolling, bumpy pavement for much of it. But, there was practically no other traffic and I just motored along at my own pace. I wasn’t so lucky to see any heavy ships making their way. Maybe another time when I explore more of this area…

More land under water

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/800sec, 18mm focal L. @54 MPH, ~2.2mi from prev photo, map

For miles and miles, the GPS had been recommending I make a U-turn and head back. But, the map looked like the road connected, so I just kept on going. Little did I know, the GPS was just doing as it was told to avoid ferry crossings in it’s routing selection. CA-84 is linked by a ferry across the canal into Rio Vista.

Just in time for the ferry

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/640sec, 34mm focal L. ~1.2mi from prev photo, map

I pulled on board, and asked how much the trip across the canal was and the operator chuckled and ask if I paid my taxes…

Cheaper than a bridge? — A publicly operated ferry.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/125sec, 18mm focal L. ~272ft from prev photo, map

And, no sooner than I was on the west side of the canal, the road would take me immediately back to the east side.

Back over the river — CA-12 out of Rio Vista

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/640sec, 18mm focal L. @34 MPH, ~2.3mi from prev photo, map

Out of Rio Vista, it was obvious I was approaching “civilization”.

Antioch Bridge and Shell Refinery — One of the least traveled toll bridges in the bay area.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/800sec, 55mm focal L. @66 MPH, ~8.6mi from prev photo, map

Vasco Rd out of Byron

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/640sec, 70mm focal L. @61 MPH, ~16mi from prev photo, map

I had the GPS routing configured for “shortest route”, as I am wont to do because it usually takes me a path I’ve not taken before. First time I’d ever been to downtown Livermore — weirdest place in the bay area full of scientists and cowboys. Well, maybe less so on both counts these days, but, back in the day…

Old town Livermore

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/640sec, 29mm focal L. ~12mi from prev photo, map

Back on CA-84, it heads past the Vallecitos Nuclear Center. More places that the scientists worked, although, not affiliated with Livermore Labs as I had always thought.

Small nucs — Used for power until ‘63, now just a small research reactor is active.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/800sec, 60mm focal L. @52 MPH, ~6.4mi from prev photo, map

Just a few miles from home now. It only takes 7 lanes to handle the traffic…

Buh bye 2 lane roads — I-880 heading into San Jose

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/320sec, 18mm focal L. @73 MPH, ~13mi from prev photo, map

Home sweet home

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/10.0, 1/30sec, 18mm focal L.

Back where it all started from.

For the record

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/4.5, 0.6sec, 18mm focal L.

]]> http://www.foobert.com/blog/2009/10/17/oshkosh-trip-day-19/feed/ 1 http://www.foobert.com/blog/2009/10/12/oshkosh-trip-day-18/ http://www.foobert.com/blog/2009/10/12/oshkosh-trip-day-18/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:09:57 +0000 john http://www.foobert.com/blog/?p=440 Day 13-18: Hang’n around Weiser, ID and the start of the trip home. — 342 miles

Dad and I got home to Weiser on a Saturday evening. The stomach bug was working its way through my family at a rate of one person per day, starting with one of the [...]]]> Day 13-18: Hang’n around Weiser, ID and the start of the trip home. — 342 miles

Dad and I got home to Weiser on a Saturday evening. The stomach bug was working its way through my family at a rate of one person per day, starting with one of the twins. I was the last person to come down with it in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. It’d knock you down for 24 hours and then you’d be back to normal. Well, normal minus all your energy since you weren’t able to keep anything down for the previous day.

As nice as it was to be back home visiting my folks, it was mostly an exercise in disinfecting the house in hopes of keeping others from getting sick. It sort-of worked since Mom and Dad, thankfully, managed to avoid it and we also managed to avoid re-infections of those that already had it (which, sounds odd, but we’d heard anecdotal evidence that this was happening with this particular bug).

Living in the SF Bay area, it’s easy to forget about severe weather — it just happens so rarely there. This particular week, there were all sorts of evening storms that rolled through western Idaho. I could do without the fires they cause, but, I’m fascinated by lightning storms. I tried to capture it for the first time and I found it to be rather difficult to get the shot. Between the wind and the rain, I wasn’t well situated to get the best view of the most likely places it was striking. Below was from Monday night (8/3/09):

Sparks — Don’t see these often in San Jose.

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/25.0, 30sec, 27mm focal L.

And Tuesday night:

Sunset sparks — that’s an onion field in the foreground

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/22.0, 30sec, 22mm focal L.

Finally on Thursday, we decreed the bug had run its course; 2-full days without anyone heaving! We all descended upon the new parents to see Henry and (Chellie and Tim too!).

Baby Henry

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/2.5, 1/100sec, 50mm focal L.

Valerie, gets a turn holding the wee one. No worries about baby fever — three is plenty for us!

Everybody wants to hold Henry

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/2.5, 1/50sec, 50mm focal L.

Maia, smacks her chops after digging into some strawberries. Apparently they were so good, she had to wear them

More strawberries please

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/2.8, 1/60sec, 50mm focal L.

Valerie had driven up to Idaho so the whole family could share in the visit and we’d be “caravanning” back to CA. Good bye Dad as my road partner; hello wife and family!

It’s about a 12-hour drive in “go-mode” making minimal stops for gas and little else. But, traveling with 3 kids that are 3 years and under does not make for a “go-mode” trip; it would take us 2 full days to get home, especially since we were taking the more scenic route.

[ Click to go interactive ]

Unfortunately, a cold-front had moved into the area and promised rain for much of the day. It never outright poured, but, it was a steady rain all morning long. It was also 42˙F at the higher elevations along US-20 through eastern Oregon and combined with the rain it made for a very chilly ride. We made it to Burns in a single 4-hour stretch and we all needed a break; me to warm up and the kids to release some energy — all whilst eating brunch.

Youngest daughter Elise (by 5 minutes to her twin sister Stella), had enough pent up energy to pull up on the table and stand on two feet for the very first time. For the parents out there, you know how exciting that is. Back to the ride report for the rest of you …

Standing up! — A new milestone for Elise

DMC-ZS3, ISO 500, ƒ/3.3, 1/60sec, 4.1 mm focal L., map

The First Gear rain suit worked as advertised and kept me dry the whole time. I had some waterproof gloves, but, my fingers would have gone totally numb if it hadn’t been for the heated grips.

Due to the rain, I put my camera in the car (along with most of my other junk just to unload the weight). This didn’t bother me until the rain let up and I was stuck using my telephone’s camera.

Finally around 2:30, it stopped raining.

A break in the rain

iPhone @64 MPH, ~31mi from prev photo, map

Following the family

iPhone, @66 MPH, ~42mi from prev photo, map

Somewhere along the way, the roads had dried up and I was getting bored following Valerie in the car. I passed her and played around on the empty roads. I’d settled into a decent speed and I knew she’d catch up if I stopped along the way. About 20 minutes later, I see a blue car in my rear view that sorta looks like our Jetta and I’m thinking that she must have also gotten bored and stepped it up a notch. So, in turn, I bumped it up more when the coast was clear and the blue car continued to follow, keeping up quite nicely.

After about 5-10 miles of this, I figured it out that the blue car was not the Jetta as we were consistently doing 80 and up, even when the coast wasn’t clear — too fast for me (Oregon 2-lane highways are posted at 55MPH).

Lake Abert

iPhone, ~41mi from prev photo, map

I stopped to checkout the sights of the Abert Rim and wait up for the family.

Roadside geology

iPhone, map

Just for giggles, I took 3 shots with the intention of stitching them together — the results were rather terrible since you have no control over what processing it does (differently) to each shot.

Abert Rim — A stitch of 3 phone pictures.

iPhone, ~5.3mi from prev photo, map

I don’t recall every driving US-395 through this area and Lake Abert kept my interest very nicely. Pardon the phone pictures — it just doesn’t do justice to the cliffs of this area.

We stopped in Alturas, CA, for the night and went on a walk in search of some place to eat. We chose the Thai joint as it was more interesting than diner food, but we got the stink-eye from the waitress the moment we walked in with the double stroller. We should have just turned around and found some other place. The food was OK, but, the service ruined the meal. We thanked the waitress for her cold shoulder by letting her clean up the mess created by two 11-month-old babies that were still learning how to feed themselves (as an aside, Valerie spent many a year waitressing. We tip well and have the respect to clean up our kids’ messes if the servers do their job and make even a minimal effort to be hospitable. But, cross that line into being rude…). You reap what you sow.

The travel day worked out well with the bike/car combo. I had it worked out that Valerie could call me on the cell phone and I could hear her, but, not (intelligibly) talk back to her. She didn’t seam to mind me running off ahead and I sure enjoyed having the family around when we stopped.