Date: 2 August 2001 (Thursday)

Start:

End: Grand Forks ND AFB FAMCAMP, Grand Forks ND (0 miles)

The temperature was 53f when we arose, with partly cloudy skies.

We ate and started our errands. First, we went to Community Services here on the base and connected with the internet to get the e-mail. They have a very nice little room one can use for this purpose.

Then we went next door to the commissary and bought groceries. It’s a smaller commissary than many we’ve used, but perfectly suitable for a smaller base such as this one.

We returned to the little house and put the groceries away. Then we went to the Base Exchange. We looked a lot, bought little – D found a blouse on sale that would be suitable for teaching in the fall.

We continued to downtown Grand Forks. We did the driving tour of the city to understand some of the major buildings and the architecture used in them. We went on to East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and looked through a few more stores. Nothing of interest came to our attention.

Back in Grand Forks, we tried the mall (D wanted a pin with North Dakota on it). We eventually found the pin, but we found a pair of slacks also usable for teaching, also on sale.

Then, wandering down the street, I saw a lube place advertising a special on total transmission fluid replacement, which the truck needed badly (couldn’t get this done in Bend). We waited a bit while it was done, not long.

Then we stopped at a truck stop recommended by a lady on the base to get our empty propane tank refilled. The price was higher than some we’ve paid, but not too bad.

We arrived back at the trailer, intending steak, potatoes, and salad. While we were talking about it, a small storm under one black cloud blew in. There was some thunder, then a good-sized bang and the lights went out (and the TV, and anything else not battery powered). We looked around and checked things, but there was no power.

About the same time, speakers came on (the base calls it the "Giant Voice" and uses it for major announcements except tornadoes – for tornadoes they use the sirens), saying there was lightning in the area and that everyone should take shelter. A little late, maybe.

A while later, we took a drive and found most of the base lights on. We asked at the "Shopette" what had happened. She said their lights had flickered, but she saw a transformer down the street smoke and explode. A sergeant also there said electricity was out in the entire housing area but on everywhere else.

We returned to the little house without power and did our dinner. We boiled the potatoes, since the microwave had no power. Dinner was very nice.

I took the time to call a campground in Michigan (Lake Park Trailer Resort) to reserve a space for the period we’ll be there for Neil & Gisele’s wedding. The last time we called they had no space available, but now they do (?), so I told them we’d be there on the eighth of August. We’ll see what happens.

I also took time to reserve a slot for two nights just north of Duluth, where we’ll spend a day looking around. We’ll drive there tomorrow.

There was a beautiful sunset as there were still a few clouds around to highlight it.

The "Giant Voice" came on later, asking us all to unplug major appliances so they wouldn’t be damaged by any surge as power was restored. We turned off the circuit breaker to the trailer.

We went on with the evening, reading and talking with neighbors. The "Giant Voice" repeated the previous announcement.

As 11:00pm approached, I turned the breaker back on. About five minutes later, various devices in the little house beeped as power was restored.

We forced the air conditioning to run briefly to take some of the humidity out of the air in the trailer. I got out the computer to recharge it and to type these notes.

Now I’m going to have a glass of something and we’ll go to bed.