Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

[troyphoto]

Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those who know what "Head-6" was, or that Apollo really had a British accent.

It's Troy again....

Here in the fort, it's cleaning and packing day. Apple Watch says 48 F-degrees here.

Still need to make my costco run for pills, and hit the big box store for last minute travel essentials.

As soon as we pull the suitcases out of the closet the cat will freak. Fortunately, we have Miss Emma coming to see him daily, so he'll get rubs and treats.

Another cup of vanilla-caramel black tea was brewed this morning, but it's cooled to the point that a Diet Dr. Pepper would work better.

Will update as the situation warrants.

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

38° with dense fog this morning, looking for a high later of 53°.

The weather guesses are already predicting a possibility of snow for the weekend. Gee I hope they’re wrong.

BBL

 

[NYC_George]

If you want to educate yourself on the dangers of visceral fat and how it affects your health, watch this video. It will explain everything you need to know. If the members that are no longer here would have watched, they still might around. Swal

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

43° and clear going for a high of 68°. Didn't get as warm yesterday as the smoke coming from NW Oklahoma and SW Kansas were cloding the skies. While the winds have died down, we're expecting another day of the same.

Not a lot happening yet as it's early.

BBL

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all!

Happy Hump Day!

Currently 52F with an expected high of 64F. Might be another record breaker. Looking at the long range it will get back to more
average temps by the weekend.

We will see what the day brings. Have some stuff to do around=d the house. Might do a few small things outside since its going to
be this warm.

Have a safe day everyone!

 

[ctclibby]

Good Morning All!
31F @ 84% snowing with about 4" on ground. Below 30F at night for a week or so. Mother Nature has just been teasing us! It ain't over til it's over!

We have been cooped up for a few weeks -no problems, just us. So, off to Spo for the VA, Butcher Shop, then Hayden for CostCo and Wally World, back to Bonners Ferry for Super 1. VA - right hearing aid broke its wire to the speaker. Could take up to 25 days to get it back from Denver so figured I would drop it in Spo as they *usually* fix things in a day or two and I get them back in a week-ish. Maria is gonna hear a lot of 'what?' for awhile. My 'extra money' is tied up in IC's and other components along with stuff to etch a PCB, so no stop at the not so local LHS.

L8r

 

[Kusojiji]

Kimchee, here I come! Kids like it, but the stuff they get is too spicy for me. I think there is some mild stuff around somewhere.

 

[NorthBrit]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick update.

Apparently out in the North Atlantic Ocean the sea is rather rough.
We left Le Havre yesterday morning and for two days we have been gently going back and forth in the Baie de la Seine (along with other ships). The joy of being on a cargo ship.

Expect the unexpected when travelling this way. It is a thing we learned many years ago.

We are in no hurry, so no challenges. Afternoon Tea is calling.

 

[TLOC]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick update.

Apparently out in the North Atlantic Ocean the sea is rather rough.
We left Le Havre yesterday morning and for two days we have been gently going back and forth in the Baie de la Seine (along with other ships). The joy of being on a cargo ship.

Expect the unexpected when travelling this way. It is a thing we learned many years ago.

We are in no hurry, so no challenges. Afternoon Tea is calling.

Great relaxed way to travel

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew. It is 49f degrees now and heading to 60. The winds are running in the teens right now at 17 but the gusts (seem steady though) are hitting low 30’s. That should diminish around 8pm.

Enjoy your day

 

[RhB Michael]

56°F this morning. My furnace didn't run last night as it was still 70°F inside with the thermostat set at 68°F. Heading for 74°F today and sunny. Yesterday didn't get past the mid- 50s after forcasting 65°F.

Grocery shopping finished and waiting on delivery, pipe tobacco ordered too. I'm going to try and get a haircut today if the barber bothers to show up.

Have a great Ash Wednesday! Servus!

 

[NYC_George]

Is it hard to hook up the wiring for a realistic grade crossing on your layout. Yes, it is Swal.

 

[bnsf971]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick update.

Apparently out in the North Atlantic Ocean the sea is rather rough.
We left Le Havre yesterday morning and for two days we have been gently going back and forth in the Baie de la Seine (along with other ships). The joy of being on a cargo ship.

Expect the unexpected when travelling this way. It is a thing we learned many years ago.

We are in no hurry, so no challenges. Afternoon Tea is calling.

I know in the past, most ships that traveled between the US and Europe had a specially-marked Plumsol line for “WNA”, or Winter North Atlantic. The seas are that much more turbulent to warrant their own load line.

 

[RhB Michael]

Being a landlubber I had to go and look that up.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history/2025/august/plimsoll-lines-measure-ship

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Yep! Happy Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Mostly cloudy and 58° here today. Clearing after noon and 76° later on. More of the same until the upper-50's this weekend. Might even drop below freezing a couple of nights then. February has been a bit on the warm side for us. I usually have to have a fire in the wood-burning heater for about 22 days in February; this month has had only 4 nights so far.

Primary care doc visit yesterday went OK. Small adjustment in medications and the usual blood draw. Did the annual "trip & fall" and "depression" surveys for Medicare, a seeming waste of time. Post Office, pharmacy and gas on the way home. Need to return to the pharmacy since they were out of one medication. After lunch, I picked up some more fallen branches from last month's ice storm. They're mostly back in the woodlot. I also noted that my pond has water in it after last Saturday's rain. It's about 2/3 full. Been completely dry since June. Normal though!

I need to start today with the dishwasher and I will resume the branch pick-up.

Two things of interest out in the train shed yesterday. I received four rolls of 18 AWG wire to do my lighting buss with.

This is copper-clad aluminum wire which I have not used before. It's widely used in the automotive industry, so I can't think that there's anything wrong with it. Maybe Karl can enlighten me.
Then I started another small project from the project list. I have a small space along the layout edge, (I have many), between the fascia and main line about 4.5" x 11" that I need to fill.

On one side is a Taco trailer.

And on the other side is a small feed store.

How about a refurbished farm tractor lot?

Makes use of the tractors that I got from Chet, and a couple of others that I haven't used elsewhere. The office is a small structure from a Bachmann train set that I bought my son back in the '80's, that I painted years ago.
This scene will require just a bit more thought before I add ground cover, but it does fit the theme OK. As with many scenes on my layout, the road is off-layout in the aisle!

Kusojiji - Here in the states, when we file with the IRS electronically, it is usually posted in our bank account within 5 days...that is if we get a refund. In 2018, we were to get a 28¢ refund. We checked the box to hold it until the following year, which they did!
Troy - Enjoy the vacation and have a safe trip.
Michael - Fish fry for sure. Fish was on sale at my grocery store last week, and I have a bunch of Salmon and Cod in the freezer now. Plus many packets of Tuna for lunches. I think that my wife got some Tilapia as well.

I was never a fan, but Yoko Ono is 93 today.
Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday

 

[Marlin39]

Good afternoon all. Just a quick update.

Apparently out in the North Atlantic Ocean the sea is rather rough.
We left Le Havre yesterday morning and for two days we have been gently going back and forth in the Baie de la Seine (along with other ships). The joy of being on a cargo ship.

Expect the unexpected when travelling this way. It is a thing we learned many years ago.

We are in no hurry, so no challenges. Afternoon Tea is calling.

My father was a Naval officer, on a destroyer escort, for part of his career. I remember him telling me about the time they were in 35' seas and it didn't bother him because he slept in a hammock and rocked gently. I couldn't imagine what a "sporting event" it was to be working in the bridge during seas like that on a ship that small.

 

[DeaconKC]

Good morning folks, 62F here and heading into the 70s today with a bit of overcast. Got some nice stocks yesterday for a N Frame Smith & Wesson, deciding which one will get them. LadyC has promised to give me a haircut today, she started cutting my hair during Covid and does a very nice job. We start a Missions Conference at Church tonight that will run through Friday and I am thrilled to get back to Church, it will be my first time in almost 3 weeks.
Willie, the tractor lot looks great, right next to the feed store is a great spot for it.

 

[Marlin39]

Good Morning All. Yep! Happy Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Mostly cloudy and 58° here today. Clearing after noon and 76° later on. More of the same until the upper-50's this weekend. Might even drop below freezing a couple of nights then. February has been a bit on the warm side for us. I usually have to have a fire in the wood-burning heater for about 22 days in February; this month has had only 4 nights so far.

Primary care doc visit yesterday went OK. Small adjustment in medications and the usual blood draw. Did the annual "trip & fall" and "depression" surveys for Medicare, a seeming waste of time. Post Office, pharmacy and gas on the way home. Need to return to the pharmacy since they were out of one medication. After lunch, I picked up some more fallen branches from last month's ice storm. They're mostly back in the woodlot. I also noted that my pond has water in it after last Saturday's rain. It's about 2/3 full. Been completely dry since June. Normal though!

I need to start today with the dishwasher and I will resume the branch pick-up.

Two things of interest out in the train shed yesterday. I received four rolls of 18 AWG wire to do my lighting buss with.
View attachment 258040
This is copper-clad aluminum wire which I have not used before. It's widely used in the automotive industry, so I can't think that there's anything wrong with it. Maybe Karl can enlighten me.
Then I started another small project from the project list. I have a small space along the layout edge, (I have many), between the fascia and main line about 4.5" x 11" that I need to fill.

That's the same wire I've been using for years. Stocked up on it when Frys was getting ready to shut down. Works great.

 

[Bruette]

copper-clad aluminum wire

Willie, CCA will work for a lighting bus, especially where the current draw is low, but it does come with a few quirks to be aware of.

It’s true that CCA is used in the automotive world, but that’s mostly because cars use crimped connectors designed specifically for aluminum‑based wire. Model railroad layouts often use screw terminals, solder joints, and repeated bending - and that’s where CCA shows its weaknesses.


Here’s the quick rundown:

• Higher resistance than copper​

Not a big deal for LEDs or structure lighting, but something to keep in mind on long runs.

• Brittle compared to copper​

CCA doesn’t like being bent or re‑routed. It can snap if stressed too many times.

• Screw terminals can loosen over time​

CCA compresses under pressure. You may find yourself tightening connections occasionally.

• Soldering can be hit‑or‑miss​

The aluminum core oxidizes quickly, so joints need a little more care.

For lighting, it’ll get the job done. For track power, I’d stick with pure copper. You’ve got a big layout, so reliability matters - but for a lighting bus, you should be fine as long as you’re aware of the quirks.

 

[Espeefan]

Primary care doc visit yesterday went OK. Small adjustment in medications and the usual blood draw. Did the annual "trip & fall" and "depression" surveys for Medicare, a seeming waste of time. Post Office, pharmacy and gas on the way home. Need to return to the pharmacy since they were out of one medication.

Those Medicare surveys drive me nuts. I know they have to do them, but it's just kind of demeaning when they start treating you like a child, or like you're going to fall apart in the exam room. Maybe I'm overreacting here, but once the PA wanted to help me of the exam table. I told him "I'm 70, not 90! He was a good sport about it and said "Hey I just don't want to risk having to do the paperwork if something did happen to you." I told him not to mess with old people. We're already not too thrilled about the fact we're old so it doesn't take much to piss us off. He got a laugh out of that. Going to hit 58 here today. We aren't out of the winter weather just yet. We'll probably get clobbered at least once more. Maybe twice. Doing some work on the passenger cars today. Progress over on my thread. also had to delete about 300 junk e-mails. I average 5-600 a day. Unsubscribe from one and three more pop up! Dumped the phone land line, and the robo calls dropped to nothing. I get a very few on the cell. Not sure what happened to the do not call list. I'm supposedly on it but it seems to be useless. Oh well. Rant complete.