Date: Sun, 31 May 2015 00:01:51 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: [WetWesties] Warning to VanagonPilots
In-Reply-To: <aU3W1q00G08X5Fr01U3YUn>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Just to clarify about caliche, while the link provided is accurate regarding physical properties of the material called caliche in the U.S. and most of the world, it is very inaccurate regarding the chemistry.
Only in Chile and parts of Peru and Argentina does a material called caliche include sodium nitrate. The bulk of the material bearing that name in the U.S. and most of the world is calcium carbonate, precipitated from soil water as the water migrates toward and evaporates from the soil surface in arid and semiarid climates. Much of the caliche in west Texas incorporates calcium sulfate as well, though not in as high a proportion as does gypsum, just enough to give the local water a rotten egg aroma.
Here is a Wikipedia article describing caliche. I can testify, however, that it is as nasty physically as described in the other article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliche
mcneely
mcneely
---- Michael McSwain <michaelmcswain@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Where were you paddling? I spent 5 years in Prescott, AZ driving my '85 to
> the southern Sierra's as often as possible to boat around the Kern river
> area. That was before I knew that my 2wd Westy was not in fact an
> underpowered rally car and should be taken better care of! Made it into NM
> and the 4 corners area a few times. Miss that part of the country!
>
> On Sat, May 30, 2015 at 4:05 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > They actually do ~ & I live in one ~
> >
> >
> > On 30 May , 2015, at 1:50 PM, Mike South wrote:
> >
> > > Holy instant concrete batman! Can you build houses out of that stuff?
> > >
> > > mike
> > >
> > > On Sat, May 30, 2015 at 12:14 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net>
> > wrote:
> > > McNeely let me know that the PicAlbum was locked so I fixed that
> > if anyone is interested ~
> > >
> > > Also on diff' link ~
> > >
> > >
> > https://picasaweb.google.com/109991183317103413704/C62kX50527VDubsRearTires?authkey=Gv1sRgCNajprWezpT8AQ
> > >
> > >
> > > On 29 May , 2015, at 9:38 PM, OlRivrRat olrivrrat@comcast.net
> > [wetwesties] wrote:
> > >
> > > > I've been driving the BackRoads of NewMexico for 45Yrs & have, on
> > WayTooMany Occasions, found myself forced to SlippySlide along
> > > >
> > > > on miles of Wet Caliche Surfaced roads ~ This past weekend, while
> > taking the ShortRoute from ABQ to ElVado Dam for a ChamaRiverRun,
> > > >
> > > > I encountered 3Mi's of the LovelyStuff right @ the VeryEnd of that
> > S'R' (the TailEnd of which is 16Mi's of Dirt) ~ I Trolled that 3Mi's @ 1-3
> > > >
> > > > MPH & actually spent 75Yrds of it Clawing my way (miraculously) out of
> > a Ditch & in the end, made it (VeryThankfully), to my destination ~
> > > >
> > > > The next day I drove the 55Mi's to the TakeOut, Parked VDubaru for the
> > weekend, & headed back to the PutIn in a friends truck, Completely
> > > >
> > > > Unaware of the Damage that had been done to my RearTires in that
> > 55Mi's ~ 3&aHalf days later, after a Wonderful 28Mi RioRun (including
> > > >
> > > > 8Mi's of Class 2-3 WhiteH2O Solo in my 16Ft Bell Chestnut Prospector)
> > I was back in my VDubaru & heading home ~ After just 5Mi's more
> > > >
> > > > of dirt & 2Mi's of HiWay my RearPass'Side Tire Blew & I had to drive
> > on it for about 1/2Mi to a RestArea ~ On pulling that Tire I discovered
> > > >
> > > > that the EntireArea above the TrailingArm from the Shock to the Front
> > of the WheelWell was a VerySolidMass of DriedCaliche, that had been
> > > >
> > > > been fractured into several pieces by SuspensionAction but remained
> > mostly intact ~ I broke it up with a hammer & got it out of there ~ The
> > > >
> > > > DriverSide was similar but Tire appeared to be Fine so I assumed that
> > I had Damaged the PassSideTire during the Torture I had PutItThrough
> > > >
> > > > while trying to get out of the Ditch back on the 1st day ~ I kept the
> > speeds low the rest of the way home as I was not TerriblyConfident in my
> > > >
> > > > Spare & got home without further incident ~ The next day I pulled the
> > DriverSide to inspect & be sure I had gotten all of the Caliche cleared
> > > >
> > > > away & found that it also had been damaged beyond further safe usage ~
> > > >
> > > > Pics of tires & 1 Chunk of Mud I saved here ~
> > > >
> > > >
> > https://plus.google.com/photos/109991183317103413704/albums/6154147871482117665?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1
> > > >
> > > > Some info about Caliche here ~
> > > >
> > > >
> > http://azdailysun.com/a-mud-like-no-other-caliche/article_102317ed-73e2-5039-b2e4-0f7dc88159ba.html
> > > >
> > > > ORR ~ DeanB
> > > >
> > > > __._,_.___
> > > > Posted by: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@Comcast.net>
> > > > Reply via web post • Reply to sender
> > • Reply to group •
> > Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1)
> > > > PICTURES! http://picasaweb.google.com/wetwesties/
> > > >
> > > > To leave us: wetwesties-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > >
> > > > Calendar of events: http://www.wetwesties.org/calendar
> > > >
> > > > For technical resources: http://www.wetwesties.org/links.htm
> > > >
> > > > Please conserve bandwidth and clip quoted material in your posts.
> > > > Include only the information that is relevant to your response.
> > > >
> > > > VISIT YOUR GROUP New Members 2
> > > > • Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use
> > > > .
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > __,_._,___
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> m.
--
David McNeely
| 
