Happy New Year as 2018 begins. The Kaskaskia Valley Railway crew finds their bunkhouse in Dundee, Florida at the tracks of the Ridge Live Steamers. Our plans are to be here through most of March and enjoy the events of the 7.5 gauge, 1.5 inch scale railroad world. Jan works on her quilts and the landscaping of the railroad property. Vegetation is something that is a continuous battle in the sub-tropics of Florida. Stuff really grows! The Ridge Live Steamers sits on the property of a former orange grove. Many orange trees still exist on the property. If they are groomed, they still produce. If they are neglected, grasses and vines grow over and through them, creating fire hazards and a general unkept look. It can take days to clear one tree and then if limbs are trimmed high and grass kept maintained underneath, they can exist with little maintenance. Jan enjoys the work and the club benefits.
Most of our travels revolve around railroads and railroad events of many gauges and scales. Recently, my endeavors are trying to improve and advance my “steam knowledge”. This is going fairly well. I’ve convinced Jan, and others, that any money I spend is no different than the money people spend on higher education. Each steam engine purchase is like paying for a semester of college. Parts are like buying books and supplies. No clues, if I’ll ever get a degree.
However, this theory is actually working as I attempt to advance my knowledge.
The “Adventure” continues.
