A wine bottling scheduled for Tuesday was delayed until Friday. Because it was a smaller amount than usual, we started at 10:00 AM. I stopped in George, WA to buy gas – $4.40 per gallon. WA is 3rd highest of the states, behind CA and HI. Tax for roads is high and then there is an indulgence or fee paid by large producers of Carbon Dioxide. This raises the cost of most everything because it raises the cost of moving goods. Our electricity rates are lower than the national average, so a bit of compensation.
The County’s schools do not start until after the Fair and rodeo. School buses are now on the roads early morning and mid-afternoon. I try to avoid those time because of the frequent stops. The town of Kittitas has schools on the main street that’s posted at 20mph. That is to be avoided, too. CWU is on a “quarter” schedule and so doesn’t have classes until Wednesday the 24th. About 8,000 students, faculty, staff, and hangers-on will clog the small town soon.
When we arrived, the County had about 26,700 people. Now it has over 46,000. On the left (below) is a year 2000 view of an 80 acre area just a mile north of the University. The red and yellow stars are 475 yards apart.
On the right is the same area in 2024, about a year ago. This is within the City’s boundary but similar in-filling is taking place nearby – the lots are bigger. There are a few new places out where I am, still bigger but more like mini-homesteads.
About once every 3 months there is a sale at CWU of surplus stuff. For many things there is a number on them and one has to bid on a form. The high bid person will be notified and than has a few days to pay and pick up the item. Other things are available for a fixed price. For example, all sorts of chairs go for 50¢ each. Three of the 5 chairs are shown in the photo = $2.50 total.
I also got 4 waste baskets and three bamboo Tiki Torches. My total was $6. Then I had to buy the fuel canisters with Citronella from a local store. I got 4 for $20.00. 
Back to the chairs: The chairs show a bit of age but are in nearly perfect shape. The green one has a spot on the top left, seen in this small closeup:
One needs new felt pads for easy sliding without marring the floor. I ordered some on Amazon for 53¢ each in a package of 24. Yeah, I have extras. I have a couple of other pieces of furniture I can put some on.
5-gallon paint buckets are 50¢ although the crew seldom cleans them out, so they stick together. In the past, I have ruined a couple trying to get them unstuck. This time, frustrated in several separation attempts, I passed.
The amount of things at CWU’s sale is impressive and this is repeated all over the State and, I assume, other states. I’ll have to find out what happens – and how soon – to non-sold items. Maybe trashed to a landfill. Maybe bought in bulk and shipped to Africa (?) or where.
There was a small rain shower just before dawn today, Sunday. There is 8 inches in the barrels under the roof valleys. The coming week is expected to be clear with temps in the 70s. Nice.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John