Cap done for real this time.

I went home at lunch yesterday and decided to wrap a few things up.  I finished tarping the excavator.  I had left the back open the previous day because of how wet the tarp still was.

I also went and got the gasket put on.  Unfortunately it didn't peel apart like it was supposed to, so it went on with staples instead.  And since I haven't bought more staples since building the barn in KY in July, it got monster 9/16" staples because it was all I had.

I even tried to make the corners correctly.  This one looks okay, the other one less so.  But the cap is now actually complete and ready to install.

That was a lot of work to do over a lunch break, I was moving fast.  I was moving fast because of the constant thunder.  These storms weren't originally supposed to arrive until after work.  

However, in an unusual move, the storms missed to the south.  That last picture was facing southeast.  Work got hammered and apparently our building got struck by lightning and blew some stuff up, which I sadly missed.  

On the drive at lunch, I tried using a different 12V adapter I had plugged into the inverter.  It is more consistent, but seemingly charges less than just running the 12V in the truck (when it works).  It can get over 100W from the truck's 12V, whereas this adapter gives it a very consistent 85-90W.  When the truck's 12V is being flaky, it only gets 40-50W, if it doesn't cut out completely.  I really don't understand how all this works, the data is rather confusing, but I don't think I am going to finish my terrible fake solar thing in time.  So I think I will just use the truck's 12V but keep this adapter around just in case.  I do have a theory, in that it truly limits current, and the truck's alternator is putting out ~14V whereas the AC 12V adapter only puts out a more consistent 11.8V ish.  And I am pretty sure the Jackery only grabs from one of the DC sources of both are connected.

After work was more packing and my last shopping round before the trip.  I got my toolbox sorted, since the tools had largely disbursed the past few months, and I started to pull things together on the laundry side, though that is just starting.  

Here is what is left before the trip (new mini checklist):

• Make Grand Teton Reservations
• Run to the Dump
• Install the cap
• Clean the inside of the cap and back of truck
• Pack hiking gear
• Laundry (I also have some shirts that need spot stain removal)
• Pack clothes
• Grab monitors from the shed for Mike
• Load truck

That is a lot for only a couple days, but doable.  On the Grand Teton reservations, I am having trouble finding anything within an hour of the park that isn't an organ a night.  I am surprised with how popular Grand Teton is that there aren't many plain hotels nearby.  There are a fair number of resorts, most of which are still reserved solid during mid-September.  I am thinking I might just bring my tent though, and hope it doesn't snow much.  I can always sleep in the back of the truck if need be (and the cap survives).  I hope to go to the dump today, and grab a spare set of hands to install the cap after work.  I cleaned out underneath the cap yesterday.