Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

[Bec1208]

Gudday Bruce
Off on a road trip....1/2 your luck .... It really sounds exciting. Would you mind posting a few pics? I'd be really interested to see some non commercial views of the states. You could start a post in the chat section at the bottom ( near the Ozzies funnily enough).
Anyway oven will survive under the blue tarp and thoughts of mortar can wait.
Regards dave

We are headed through though Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, turn north into New Mexico, and end up in a small town near Boulder, Colorado for a niece's graduation. We need to get there by Thur pm so not much chance to stop on way up. We plan to take our time on the way back and current thought is to spend a few days in Santa Fe, NM and New Orleans, LA. We are open to suggestions regarding places to stop along route. Bruce

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Stopped and had dinner in Shreveport, LA at a place called "Blind Tiger." We shared a Cajun sampler. Took a few pics for Dave. A big storm went through while we were there. After it passed we drove a few hours into Texas and stayed the night in Liddell, TX. We are back on the road and will be passing through Dallas before long.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Gudday
Id share that meal as well, too much for me to eat in one sitting

Regards Dave

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

We hadn't been paying a lot of attention to our route and just followed the GPS as it routed us into Oklahoma. Traffic came to a virtual halt and it took us nearly 2 hrs to go about 10 miles. It became clear the cause of the traffic jam was that we were passing through Moore, OK where the tornado had come down a few days ago. I took these pictures form the van as we passed through. Damage was on both sides of the interstate.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Gudday Bruce
Yes it's had big coverage over here as well . You pics are very sobering and make it a bit surreal as I know there not a cropped news item
My prayers for the folk in Moore and you stay safe
Regards dave

[Gulf]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Bruce,
Thanks for the pics from Moore, Oklahoma. I second CobblerDave's comments. I have had the roof blown from over my head twice. First during hurricane Camille (1969). The second was during a tornado in North MS (1987). Both of them made lifelong impressions on me.

Days/weeks without electricity, here in the piney woods, from storms like Hurricane Fredrick, Ivan etc. had some influence on me in to relearning how to live/cook off of the grid (ie: the WFO).

I would like to suggest/challenge something to every WFO builder on this forum. If you can build a WFO, you have what it takes to build a safe room.

I built my safe room first. I built it the months after Hurricane Katrina . It has been a real comfort to me to know that my children know exactly where to bring my grandchildren when the weather is threatening.

If you are a newbie, and have the choice. Build the safe room first.

Just Sayin'

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Bruce,

I would like to suggest/challenge something to every WFO builder on this forum. If you can build a WFO, you have what it takes to build a safe room.

I built my safe room first. I built it the months after Hurricane Katrina . It has been a real comfort to me to know that my children know exactly where to bring my grandchildren when the weather is threatening.

If you are a newbie, and have the choice. Build the safe room first.

Just Sayin'

Sounds like good advice for those in tornado alley or near southeastern coast. We drove to New Orleans in 2006 for Jazz Fest following Katrina (2005). Blue tarps were prevalent the destruction along the coast only partially cleaned up. Makes one appreciate the force of wind and water.

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

I'll try and get things up to date. We stopped in Hays, KS on Wen. Had dinner in a German microbrewery (image 1). On Thur we drove to Boulder, CO and stopped at the Pearl Street Mall area. This is about 4 block area of shops, restaurants, and pubs. We had a great time at the Mountain Sun Pub. The main entrance was not accessible by wheelchair. The manager escorted us around to the back and we went in the delivery door. He asked what kind of beers we enjoyed and brought samples of eight beers for us to try (image 2). He and the staff spent a fair amount of time talking to us and the manager comped us the first round of beers. We looked around the area and then went on to our destination about 10 miles away. Friday we helped get things ready for my niece's graduation party. They had arranged for catering with a mobile WFO and asked me to make whole wheat dough for a few people who had requested it. I made up five 300 gm dough balls and put them in the fridge for use the next day. The remaining pics are of Howard and his oven. The whole wheat crusts (75% whole wheat) came out very well. I spent the party talking to Howard and he gave me tips on pizza making and working the oven. The best part is that he asked if I wanted to play with the oven for a few days. He said he would not be using and left it along with dough balls cheese and toppings. So I have today and tomorrow to use it on my own.

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

The best part is that he asked if I wanted to play with the oven for a few days. He said he would not be using and left it along with dough balls cheese and toppings. So I have today and tomorrow to use it on my own.

My first WFO pizza.

Well I have been having fun playing with Howard's WFO. Temp was about 400 F when I checked this am. I started a fire in the center of the hearth and decided to try a breakfast pizza. After I moved the fire to the side, the floor was a bit over 550 F. I took a dough ball and worked into a rough circle and put pesto, fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella, Howard's house made sausage, and an egg. Came out pretty good. Bruce

[cobblerdave]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Gudday Bruce
That's Soooo... cool , being left with the oven and having permission to play with it!
You have got to be happy with that!
Regards dave

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Gudday Bruce
That's Soooo... cool , being left with the oven and having permission to play with it!
You have got to be happy with that!
Regards dave

Happy as can be. The oven is large, 53 inches from the back of the dome to the front arch. The dome height appears to be around 18 inches. It does not have an insulated door so heat retention could be better as could be be my oven management skills. Here is a pic of my second pizza.

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Next up is a very quick loaf of bread. Made the dough with about 25% whole wheat and the rest KA bread flour. Started with about 3 cups spring water, 1 1/2 tbls yeast and salt. Added flour to get right consistency to the dough. I hurried this one so I could hit the window of the cooling oven. Both dome and floor were over 500 F when I put the loaf in. Should be ready in about 20 minutes. Interesting to cook blind with the door on. The anticipation and suspense is high.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Gudday
You've had a lend of that oven for how long? And you already want a door so you can bake in it !
You can bake without a door . An IR thermometer you have by the sounds, run of the hearth temps not the dome. Use the existing door? to let the temp equalize and drop. If a little to hot you can prop the dish up on something even some small rocks to keep it from burning the bottom. Some aluminum foil over the top if its browning to fast. Give it a go what's to lose.
Regards Dave

[cobblerdave]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Next up is a very quick loaf of bread. Made the dough with about 25% whole wheat and the rest KA bread flour. Started with about 3 cups spring water, 1 1/2 tbls yeast and salt. Added flour to get right consistency to the dough. I hurried this one so I could hit the window of the cooling oven. Both dome and floor were over 500 F when I put the loaf in. Should be ready in about 20 minutes. Interesting to cook blind with the door on. The anticipation and suspense is high.

Gudday
Best thing about a door is that you can swob the floor with water and the steam makes the crust all chewy and yum. I'm making myself hungry just talking about it
Regards dave

[Bec1208]

Re: Beginning Road Trip - Tallahassee to Colorado

Dave, the oven has a door but it is not insulated. I pulled the bread a bit too soon and had to put it back in the oven wrapped in foil. End result was pretty good though I would have liked the crumb to open a bit more.