And here’s why:

And from the MPCA:

Drying out the morning after, and then “entertaining,” so got ready for scattered showers (that thankfully didn’t happen). Got the Sherpa off the porch and consolidated everything and all is well:

Last rites for the screen tent, two poles bent/broken. Alan thinks it could be fixed but last time we were camp hosting it also went flying, 60+ mph winds at Myre-Big Island State Park, so I’m think it’s got to be culled from the rotation. It’s handy to cover the table in the sun and somewhat in light rain, but for torrential rainfall and WIND, forget it!

Office for a day… am I getting anything done? Naaaaaaah, computer isn’t able to connect in a meaningful way, so waiting for a sunny day:

But gotta get that table covered, and help arrived — THANKS Suzanne & Bill — and it’s done. Does that tarp make my table look fat??

A good thing about AB Camping (oh NOOO, Bruno died out on a camp!), Lone Wolf 902, Abel & Victoria, and Camping with Steve… oh, don’t forget about Mav, anyway, they’re all about the HOW-TO of putting up tarps. Note the stump accessory on the left!

Gotta be at least 50 birders every morning, and this afternoon, twelve vultures circling and two lunching in the front yard, and then a few getting into a tussle over the main course:

And no matter the weather, somebody loves camping:

Yes, it’s true, the DOE has proposed TEN new NIETC Corridors, and comments are open until June 24, 2024.

Phase 2 

Submit your comments and recommendations on the preliminary list by 5 p.m. ET on June 24, 2024.

It’s now in Phase 2:

Here’s the NIETC page to get caught up on their plan

And this with some narrative & specifics: NIETC Phase 2 Preliminary List Public Release Document and here’s an example of one:

Here’s a bizarre statement to justify that Colorado-New Mexico corridor — claim of a1,200% increase? Have they forgotten those 11,000MW of mothballed natural gas generation and the transmission that serves it?

Under scenarios with moderate load growth and high clean energy growth future scenarios, ERCOT will need an anticipated median increase of 9.8 GW of additional transfer capacity with the Plains region by
2035, a 1,200% increase relative to the 2020 system
(p. 35).

And paired with this, pages later, 31 pages later (p. 66), a scenic tour down Hwy 54?

And does this look familiar — have a Grain Belt anyone?

Yes, looks too much like the ol’ Grain Belt Transmission Line:

And this one looks too familiar too, shades of Plains & Eastern:

As if all these transmission projects in Minnesota weren’t enough… weren’t too much already?!??!

Who said camping isn’t fun! Adrenaline rush for sure. Screen tent was guyed up well, but poles folded and it went flying. Took apart as much as possible at 3 a.m. in the dark and WIND and stashed under the car. Had clothesline, so I tied down the stuff on the table under plastic and got out a tarp for the stoff on the other end. Hope it holds. Rain is supposed to start at 3. THAT’SNOW! Griddle is now holding down mat in vestibule. everything that isn’t the Wawona 6 is flapping in the wind. OH my…

The utensils and dishes holding on for dear life (and that$0.50 old griddle is worth its weight in gold, best ever for an electric site):

And a tarp over the propane and butane assortment, and then in the daylight the tarp goes up like it should:

That was a rough night…