Log of SV Free Spirit and ships company

The chronicles of the schooner Free Spirit and her crew, embarking on an open ended journey upon the great rolling heap. Free Spirit is currently pursuing humanitarian and commercial goals in the Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola. Working under the Ocean Reach USA and Paradigm Research banners, she is serving as logistics headquarters, workshop, and development laboratory for many ongoing projects. This is the log of her journey.....

Contributors

Google
 
Web sailfreespirit.blogspot.com
If you are joining us for the first time, click here for an introduction!
Books and more, at the Schooner Free Spirit Chandelry
Clothes and more, at the Free Spirit Logo Shop!

Friday, November 24, 2006

Petrified Forest November 16th, 2006





We drove through the Petrified Forest on the 16th of November on our way to Divide, Colorado. I don't think that my idea of what it was going to be like, could have been more different from what it was.... Although an absolutely amazing place, there really is nothing that resembles a forest at all :-) This is a "I have reached tourist status" picture!




The entire first part of the drive through the Park, was a complete rebellion by the boys.... They were incensed that they could not scourge and pick up anything they found on the ground. There is a part of me that really wanted to allow them to take "just one little" piece..... But..... it was also a perfect opportunity to to teach them the whole "If all the visitors to the Petrified Forest took one little piece lesson......." So, we ended up stopping at the shop and letting them buy a small box of petrified wood for them to send or share along our trip.




Here is a chunk of the wood that is scattered all over the sides of the road. It made me feel so "young" in the grand scheme of life being here. To be in a protected area surrounded by 225 million year old fossils, was quite humbling.




Up close & personal....




The following pictures were taken in an area called "Blue Mesa", which is a 3.5 mile loop off of the main road through the park.
















Thanks to Blayde for taking this picture of his Mom & Dad!




These hills were called "The Tepees" Amazing colors!!




Periods associated with the different styles of petroglyphs in Petrified Forest include the Archaic (6000 B.C. to A.D. 300), Basketmaker (A.D. 1-700) and Pueblo I, III, and IV (A.D. 700-1450). A few Navajo petroglyphs have also been found (A.D. 1750 to the present).




For more information on the petroglyphs go to:





Our version of modern day petroglyphs :-)




This is near the end of the road (if you are heading south through the park), and is part of the old Route 66. If you would like to see some Frequently Asked Questions about the Petrified Forest National Park, go to:

http://www.nps.gov/pefo/faqs.htm


posted by CT | 1:48 PM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Introducing Propcalc 4.0

Use Propcalc to easily match your hull with your engine, transmission, and propeller
Put the known data in the top fields, then hit the Update button to get the answers.
Results, of course, should be verified by a Naval Architect or qualified surveyor.
Data is provided for three bladed propellers of average type
For two or four bladed props, use the modifiers shown below.

Fill out the fields as follows:

Vessel LWL (ft) = Waterline length
Vessel Disp (lbs) = Vessel displacement
(max) HP = Rated Engine Max HP
Engine RPM max = Engine RPM at Max HP
Engine RPM cruise = Desired or estimated cruise rpm
(Cruise or Max) Kts = Speed to work the calculations for
Slip = Propeller efficience. 45% is average for a displacement cruiser.
Gear ratio = 1: Gear ratio of transmission
SL Ratio Adj. = This value will be added (or subtracted, if a negative value) to the calculated S/L ratio.

Key information:

If the "hp required" is greater than the "cruse HP", you have your cruise RPM set too low for your engine parameters.
If the "hp required" is significantly less than the "cruse HP", you have your cruise RPM set too high for your engine parameters.
If the "hp required" is greater than the "Max HP", then your target speed is too high for your engine/hull parameters.
The S/L ratio is calculated automaticaly based on your input. It can be adjusted if necessary, but normally it should be left alone.
If the calculated S/L ratio exceeds S/L MAX, then the results are likely to be non-predictive. Try a lower speed requirement.
SL Ratios of 1.1 - 1.4 are typical of displacement hulls. Semiplaning or planing hulls can go higher.

Typical propeller slip values:

Sailing auxiliary, barges, etc less than 9 Kts............45%
Heavy powerboats, workboats 9 - 15 Kts....................26%
Powerboats, Lightweight Cruisers 15 - 30 Kts..............24%
High speed planing boats 30 - 45 Kts......................20%
V bottom race boats 45 - 90 Kts...........................10%


Note:

it is possible to get irrational answers by irrational input , I.E specifying excessive speed for hull type and length
Any attempt to exceed hull speed (1.34 times the square root of the waterline length in feet) with a displacement hull are likely
to fail unless the hull is extremely fine (multihull) or otherwise exceptional. In such cases, an S/L adjustment would be in order.

2 and 4 bladed props:


For two bladed propellers, multiply the diameter by 1.05, and the pitch by 1.01
For four bladed propellers, multiply the diameter by .94, and the pitch by .98
PROPCALC
  Inputs:
Vessel LWL (ft) =
Vessel Disp (lbs) =
  (max) HP =
  Engine RPM max =
  Engine RPM cruise =
  (Cruise or Max) Kts =
  Slip =
  Gear ratio = 1:
  SL Ratio Adj. =
   
    Solutions:
  Prop rpm max =
  Prop rpm cruise =
  Pitch =
  Diameter =
  Static Thrust =
  Cruise HP =
  Cruise HP% =
  SL Ratio =
  DL Ratio =
  SL Max =
  HP Required =