Hershey Med NICU Reunion

We were invited to bring our fire truck to the Hershey Medical Center's NICU Reunion.  We setup the truck and mine and Owen's gear for everyone to see.  The kids loved trying on Owen's gear!

York County Convention

Today we attended the 98th Annual York County Convention hosted by Laurel Fire Co. 

After the motorcade and awards we had an impromptu photo shoot.

Stewartstown Parade

This past Saturday was one of the hottest days of the year so far. There were heat advisories with temperatures hovering around 99 and a heat index of 105. Why not goto a parade?

Started off the day at the farm in the morning trying to figure out the air leak issue with the windshield wipers. The air leak was coming from a hole in the passenger side wiper control. Wierd that is th eone that worked. It appears to be some sort of relief valve. The main air connection comes into the passenger side control and from there feeds to the drivers side control. I disconnected the main air supply and capped it off temporarily. The only down side of doing this was I lost the air pressure gauge. But everything worked great.

Had a good time at the parade. Had a friend and his family ride with us and throw candy. Even with the heat everyone had a good time.

2010 PA Pump Primers Muster

The day started off at 7AM where we met up with Kevin Gibeny and his 1973 Mack CF Engine and the crew form the Yoe Fire Company and their 1951 FWD. 

We made the short trip to the York County VoTech where we were meeting up with The Gibney's Mack CF tiller and Richard Williams and his Seagrave.  As we were there it started to rain.  Since the FWD is an open cab they started up the highway while we waited for the rest of our convoy.

Once we got into Harrisburg luckily for us the rain stopped.  While in the staging area everyone pitched in to get the apparatus shined up for the parade.  Here is Owen and I along with my old college roomates son in the staging area.

From there it was off to the parade and to the river for pumping.

Had a great day.  After we finished up here we made a quick trip to Maryland to our friends for their sons 3rd birthday party.

On the ride back to the farm we developed an air leak in the drivers side windshield wiper.  So we will have to try to get that fixed before the next schedule event the Stewartstown parade on July 24th.

 Photo by Jason Coleman Cobb

Photo by MB400

Photos by Jesse Shutt

You Tube Videos from the parade.

In this one we are at the 1:14 mark.

Getting Ready for Pump Primers

After a visit to Almost Home Child Care my friend Mike and I worked on getting the engine ready for pump primers. 

• We took the muffler off and replaced it with a new straight pipe exhaust.
• We were able to mount some of the equipment and the air packs.
• I then replaced the mud flaps with the Mack mudflaps I purchased a few months ago. 
• Lastly we gave the bulldog a new outfit!

Visit to Almost Home Day Care

Today I took the engine to Owen's day care to show the kids.  We let the older school aged kids spray the booster line. 

Then Owen brought his class out to show them "his" fire truck.  Everyone loved it.

Drafting

Today we headed out to pump with the engine and attempt to draft some water.  Kevin Gibney met us at the farm and we headed out to a pond in Fawn Grove to set it up for drafting.  I recently purchased two sections of used 6 inch lightweight hard suction.  We got everything setup and I crossed my fingers as I pushed the primer handle.  We waited while the 37 and a half year old former city engine started pulling water.  Within 30 seconds the old bulldog started pulling water.  We discharged the water out the 2 1/2 inch nozzle I purchased in Allentown.  We were able to easily flow 265 GPM and had it up to 600 GPM. 

2010 Lancaster County Convention Parade

Made our maiden voyage or parades for this year!

On Saturday June 5th Owen and I went to the Lancaster County Fireman's Convention Parade in Bareville/Upper Leacock Twp. We started our day by picking up the engine at the farm around 9:15.

We stopped by Yoe Fire Company to wash and shine her up. Thanks to Grant and Travis for helping get her ready (including fixing the slanted license plate!). Then on the way to the parade we stopped and put half a tank of water in the engine.

It was a long and hot ride but we had a good time. We averaged 60 MPH going out route 30. Drove 110 miles round trip. Used about 1/4 tank diesel. Here are some photos from the staging area.

Maintenance Done

Big thanks to the Gibney's for the assist today.  Got the oil changed.  Oil, fuel and air filters changed.  And Owen got to tiller the ladder truck!  Mileage is 67530.

Wax and Equipment Added

This past weekend Owen and I went down to the farm to visit the engine.  We took all out loot from allentown with us.  Now the pump panel looks like a real fire engine!  While we were there we waxed the rest of the engine.

Sucessful Shopping Trip to Allentown

Today I headed to Allentown for the Spring Melt Fire Memorabilia Marketplace with Owen and Brian.  There are always alot of pieces and parts to be had here.  I had my list and my cash!  Got a bunch of stuff I needed.  We met Jeff there and he had some various caps and an axe mount I needed.

Can't wait to get this stuff down to the farm and get the old bulldog looking ready to pump again!