What's more current than the weather?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Two kinds of asphalt paving, blacktop which is the asphalt mixed with the aggregate like cookie dough. That's dumped into a paving machine that spreads it out hot and smooth. Actually more than two when you start looking at all the different mixes, but two basic styles.

In the sticks all we ever saw was what they called oil & stone. They would sweep any loose crap off the road and spray hot liquid asphalt on it. next they would coat the road with pea stone which settled into the asphalt as it cooled. For awhile driving on the shit would sound like Buddy Rich beating on the bottom of your car. Eventually the stone would get locked down, well most of it, then what was still loose would get tossed by vehicles or washed by rain, off the side. In hot weather if the road got sticky someplace like by your mailbox or some place the kids walked you could sometimes retrieve that surplus pea stone back on to the sticky spots. The oil & stone way covers the road pretty evenly so bumps and dips remain, unlike the blacktop which is smooth.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Oh! Oh! Mr. Clod and I were just having a discussion about road paving, and maybe you guys can help.

When they repaved our street a few years back, it wasn't normal blacktop but rather a deep layer of gray gravel--only he and I remember the thickness differently. He says that the smooth surface was underneath, and the loose gravel was just some leftover that they didn't bother to sweep off; I maintain that the gravel WAS the surface, and it packed down to smoothness over the course of about 6 months from all the neighborhood cars going over it, and that this was in fact the intended design of the product. But I can't find proof that such a thing exists. "Unbound surface aggregate" was the closest descriptor I could come up with from Google, but all the results are huge PDFs that I can't make much sense of.

I've learned the term "chip seal" to describe the scenario in your neighborhood and on the street in front of our house. Your understanding is precisely correct.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oil & Stone

[Carruthers]

As I type, mug of tea to hand, the sun is shining through some thin, high cloud and there's a light breeze. Tis the lull before the storm.

The Met Office has been drawing attention to the arrival of Storm Ciara since the beginning of the week.

It has its roots in Texas and was responsible for dumping snow on Oklahoma a couple of days ago.

It has been zipping across the Atlantic and a UK wide weather warning has been issued for 0800 - 2100 tomorrow.



To put some meat on the bones:

Storm Ciara will bring a spell of very strong winds. Disruption to travel is likely during Sunday.

What to expect

Flying debris could lead to Injuries or danger to life

Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs expected

Longer journey times and cancellations, as road, rail, air and ferry services affected

Some roads and bridges closed

Power cuts with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage

Injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties

The leaning tower of conifer in the bank at the bottom of the garden is a constant concern in these conditions.

It sways worryingly in high winds but, as Gravdigr observed, while it's moving I shouldn't worry too much. (I paraphrase slightly).

However, the even taller ash and sycamores across the stream are old and clad with ivy and would cause one hell of a mess if they fell.

So, it's a question of watch and pray, although not necessarily in that order.

UK Met Office

[Griff]

It was raining when I met my boss at Dunkin yesterday. 1 1/2 hours later I was driving in 3 inches of snow, by nightfall the Subaru was knocking down snow drifts. Prolly 7" on the day plus drifting.

[Clodfobble]

Yes, that sounds like it! Stupidly loud to drive on for months. Google says it's known by lots of names, but "tar and chip" seems the most common. The images look right, anyway.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yeah, different slang terms around the country for the same process. The people who do it and the people who watch it may use different terms as well.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

...The people who do it and the people who watch it...

[Griff]

It's called "pie crust" or "chipping" here. It's ah,.. not great.

[xoxoxoBruce]

More gooder than not paved though. I remember when the mailman and school bus wouldn't come past the end of the pavement, so all the mailboxes had to be there for people living past that point.

[fargon]

The sun is shining and it is snowing. And 25F on my patio.

[Gravdigr]

We got about ½" (snow) day before yesterday.

Made urrthang purty for half a day...

[Carruthers]

It's about 0700 here and I've been awake since 0430.
The wind is gusting to 50mph and forecast to be 65mph by lunchtime.
As far as I can tell, nothing has fallen over or ended up in the next parish... yet.

Our electricity supply is via overhead line so if branches start flying about there's a good chance we'll lose power.
I'm presently looking after a neighbour's house which is supplied by underground cable so if push comes to shove I'll permit myself to use her microwave with explanation and apologies later on.
Said neighbour is due back from Germany this evening but I understand that cancellation of the flight is odds on.

I await meteorological developments.

[Carruthers]

I ventured out a couple of hours ago and things were not too bad at that stage.

However, on the way back I saw a tree which had snapped clean in two in the front garden of a house.

It wasn't the tallest tree you'll ever see but I wouldn't have wanted to be near it when the top half fell.

I've just been to check the neighbour's house and a few bits of debris were flying around the place.

The wind speed has increased considerably and I am now quite worried as to what might happen over the next few hours.

I'm getting lunch as early as decently possible in the hope that I can finish it before a power cut which is to be expected under the circumstances.

The neighbour's flight from Germany has been cancelled and, looking at FlightRadar24 website, I see several aircraft have had more than one attempt at landing at Heathrow.

That's it. The kitchen awaits!

[Griff]

Yikes! Let's be careful out there.