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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, November 3, 2012

I just don’t get it

I had today off, but decided to take the electric cart to check out the programs that were being presented for a group of home schooled students on the refuge today.  I’ll probably be helping out with some education programs in the future here, so I wanted to see what types of programs are offered.  Tonight, I started out writing a post about home schooling, and my experiences with those students, but had second thoughts about jumping into that bear pit, and erased it.

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As I made my way down to the Chesser Homestead, the area was engulfed in heavy fog.  That’s the first fog I’ve seen here.

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I figured the fog might make the group’s arrival a little late, and I was right.  Lots of turkeys were out and about in the subdued light.

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When the sun finally started burning off the fog, it revealed the fine work of an artistic spider.  I followed the group around through a number of their scheduled programs, and felt comfortable that I could handle running any of the educational stations.

This evening I decided to grill up several chicken/apple/gouda sausages so I’d have tonight’s dinner as well as a few more easy fix meals.  That’s when I once again began to tear out my hair.  In my six years on the road, I’ve had a number of little gas grills.  They seem to work just great for a very short time.  Then after several uses, the heat seems to ebb and my hottest temperature seems to be 250*.  I just don’t get it.  People use those portable grills for years, but it seems I always have problems with maintaining proper cooking temperatures.  While I was in Mississippi I replaced the hose extension so I could use a larger propane tank.  That worked for a month.  When I tried to fire it up this evening, it blasted to high, and then immediately dropped down to almost no heat.  Again, I just don’t get it.  What is up with me and gas grills?

I had to bring everything inside and finish it on the stove.  I’m thinking I’m just going to give up trying to have an outside gas grill.

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                                                                                THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

25 comments:

  1. I know nothing about gas grills, so I am no help there.
    The fog in the trees looks so spooky but beautiful.

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  2. Awesome photos as usual, Judy. Especially like the one overlooking the lake at the trees in the fog. Thanks!

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  3. This will sound silly but it is true. Most of the small grills that use the small disposable cylinders use a higher pressure setting than the specially designed RV-cues. It was an RV Dealer that showed me. The only way it will work is if you connect it before the regulator at the tank or use a refillable cylinder for your grill alone.

    Great Pics as usual. Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  4. I have the same track record with microwaves.

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  5. We have trouble with the little portable gas grills, too. I think we've tried about four. None of them would boil a pot of water. Argh! I'm back to using charcoal in a little kettle grill and that suits me fine, especially since I hate to cook!

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  6. We've had that same trouble but only when our canisters were nearly empty. We just started using the conversion kit to our regular tank. I was interested to see what Rick and Kathy had to say.

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  7. Loved the turkey pics - reminded me of the turkeys who lived on my parent's place in Texas. Every morning they would troop down to the meadow for the corn we spread out and then down to the river to drink. We'd watch them thru big bay windows over our morning coffee.

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  8. Looks like you are having a great time down there

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  9. It does seem to take longer with the smaller grill than the big one we have on the deck. I do like grilled eggies very much and I hope using a small grill wont e a problem.

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  10. we have a weber bbq, just purchased this past summer, so far so good!

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  11. Judy, it may not be the grills. It's possibly the OPD valve(s) on you propane tanks is cutting off the flow. That is what it sounds like anyway from your description of it blasting from high to almost off. Try to light the grill on a medium setting and gradually increase to high. Any "sudden" increase in gas flow will activate the opd valve and cut the output to nearly nothing.

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  12. Jim seems to have pretty good luck with our grill. He doesn't use the propane canister. He has a separate small propane tank that he has hooked up to the grill. Not sure if that would make a difference or not. I know nothing about them except that Jim uses it.

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  13. I have the same problems with computers.

    Seems when I hook them up to propane, they just don't work right. ;c)

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  14. Love the turkey pics!

    I recommend the little Weber Q. Costs a little more than your average little gas grill, but works great year after year. No problems at all with ours whether hooked to the small cylinder or the big tank with an extension hose.

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  15. Judy,

    It has to be the regulator -- a $10 part.

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  16. Very interesting. You have some pretty smart followers :) Hope one of those solutions work for you.

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  17. My favorite photo is the spider web... but then, I'm partial to the arachnid species. We use a little ring on our stove top to grill stuff... works well... not much smokier than when I fry anything ;-)

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  18. Can't help you with the grill, but it sounds like you have some good suggestions

    Love the turkey pictures.

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  19. We had that problem with our regular grill. When all else failed, The Mr. read the manual. Here's what he learned: Shut gas off, disconnect the hose, wait two-three minutes, hook the hose back up, and SLOWLY open the valve!!! (Ok, he's good for something!!!!! (HEHE) Love the spider web photo.

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  20. Great pictures, Judy. I love the fog in the early morning. Even gives pictures a mysterious awe.

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  21. If it wont get hot, you are not getting enough propane. Make sure the burner assembly is clean and then reconnect the propane.

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  22. Love the fog pictures and the turkeys.

    Sound like some good suggestions some people wrote. Hope something works.

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  23. Hope those turkeys are hiding until Nov 22nd..We bought a cheapo gas grill at Wally...so far no problems, but we don't use it very often. We use our Weber little kettle charcoal for most everything when camping...much more dependable.

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  24. You are well rounded in terms of taking care of things. You ask questions, get answers, solve problems, and move on. Your self sufficiency is enviable.

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  25. Wondering what you had to say about home schoolers. Curious minds want to know!

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