"Bob (not my real pseudonym)" wrote in message
...

That, and memories that will last forever.

I was at the Fairchild AFB open house on May 18, 300 miles directly
downwind of the volcano. One of our party was a police officer in a
town about 100 miles closer to the volcano; we tried to get him home.
Cost my friend a new engine for his car and some of us stranded a
couple days in a road side rest area and small town school gymnasium.
Finally got home four days later in my car, complete with my own
personal lahar...


I guess when you're in a panic to take care of the family, you're not too
cautious about your car sucking in fine dust particles.


I recall at the time that it would be foolish to try and drive in that dust,
both to the engine and the paintwork. If I were already home, I'd
leave the car and spend my time sweeping off the roof.




The shot that looks like nighttime was taken as we drove into the ash
cloud during early afternoon. A short time later there was no
daylight at all; I've worked in commercial darkrooms that had more
ambient light. The sound of muffled thunder as static lightning arced
through the ash clouds above as the most amazing soft snow of
ex-volcano fell around us.



Now this is going to keep me awake tonight.



Even you folks in Oz aren't completely immune...

http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/201...-due-to-erupt/





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Cheers

Dave Kearton