Thursday, June 18, 2009

Working when it is 90 degrees plus

We have had high temperatures here for the past two weeks. It makes working outside a bit of a challenge, and you have to change your work habits. For one thing, I am not much of a water drinker, but you have to keep hydrated or suffer heat exhaustion or, even worse, heat stroke.

Usually in the morning there are clouds and sometimes even a breeze. This makes the morning bearable. But by 2-3 in the afternoon the clouds are gone, and the temperature rapidly climbs into the upper 90's or even 100+. We find ourselves thinking of jobs that can be done inside or under the shade. Lately we have been repairing lots of water sprinklers as we need the water system functioning to avoid the grass browning or burning up in the heat. I cannot go full tilt in the heat, either, and must pace myself. Fortunately, we have our golf carts to get us around and this helps a lot. Yesterday I mowed all morning and finished the middle section of the park by early afternoon and was glad to be done, as it was certainly getting hot. Roy, another work camper here, was on the big mowing machine doing out-lying areas and came in about that time just covered with dirt. I asked him if he left any dirt out on the lawns. He laughed and said, "No." He said he would like to jump in the river, but it is not deep enough, and he did not want to scare any old ladies. I bet his shower was very muddy when he got through with it last night.

Fortunately HW2 works in an office where there is air conditioning, and this helps, since she is not quite so heat tolerant as I might be. Happy travels.

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