Raindrops keep fallin' on my Montecristi...

[Brad Bowers]

Well, it happened. My new Montecristi got drenched with rain last week, but survived admirably.

I had to catch two different buses to get back to the motel from the National Archives in College Park, MD, and one day, I decided to walk the mile and a half or so back from the first bus stop instead of waiting for the second bus, which could take an hour. The weather was fine as I started out, but about halfway to the motel, a downpour set in. The rain was so heavy that it was more like swimming than anything else. There was about an inch of water in my shoes, and it took them several days to dry out, along with my briefcase. My good wool pants need a serious cleaning and pressing, too. This was the one day I didn't wear a suit or sportcoat and tie, so I was lucky there.

I was worried about the hat, but I set it flat on its brim on a towel on the rack over the coat hangers back in the motel room. The great block that Art did just a couple of weeks ago survived, though the brim needs a little ironing.

People were complaining about the rain back East, but I enjoyed every minute of it, wishing we could get even half of that out West here, where we've been in a drought for about six years!

Brad Bowers

 

[jamespowers]

Boy, that was a piece of bad luck there. I don't think Art blocked the hat with Noah type downpours in mind. LOL Even so, it did survive fairly well considering.
You can have as much rain as you like. I am not all that enamored of it but I am a California type of guy. It rains here once in a while just to make it look like the seasons change. LOL LOL

Regards to all,

J

 

[Panamabob]

Baseball cap day here, too. Rain, rain, mow the lawn, rain, rain, mow the lawn.


What were you researching?

 

[rayk]

SHARPETOYS' recommendation to carry a folded plastic bag sufficiently large to put a hat in would have come in very handy in this instance.

The folded bag would demand roughly as much pocket room as a standard size wallet, and, after time, remembering it dailiy would become quite perfunctory. All in all, a very good insurance against damage to your fine hats.

Glad to hear that your Montecristi weathered the storm with characteristic style.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Uh Oh Brad,
If you want a reset of the brim just send it on out, no charge!!

 

[jamespowers]

Originally posted by Art Fawcett
Uh Oh Brad,
If you want a reset of the brim just send it on out, no charge!!

What a guy!
Brad you sure are lucky. It will be looking brand new in no time.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Zane]

Hi Brad and Art,

Brad, I want to say that I have read after you some and you seem to be an extremely educated and certainly a gentleman of a person. I appreciate such folks as you and just wanted to say it so as I feel an honest compliment cannot ever hurt.

Art it is folks like you that understand the finer points of humanity and are so understanding and gentle with folks that are less understanding that will keep hats alive and growing.

I wish I had more of the qualities of you both and strive daily to learn some of each as I believe it to be a learning process.

I think among the many factors that caused a decline in hat wearers may well have been the hat sellers that have got completely out of touch with their customers wants and needs and offer such small customer service that I am sure their very cooperate methods have run off many hat wearers or ones to be that associate the grouchy person with a bad tradition needing broke.

Thanks again to the both of you.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Replies:

Art,

Thank you so much for your gracious offer to reset my hat brim! You are truly a gentleman! I accept your offer, as the brim is drooping precipitously, looking a bit like a bucket hat.

Zane,

Let me extend a hearty welcome to you here, and thank you for your kind words. It's been fun and informative reading your posts since my return. Glad you found a home here at the Lounge.

rayk,

The plastic bag would have been a good idea. Unfortunately, I read Sharpetoys' post after I got home. Oh well, I'll know next time.

Panamabob,

I'm doing my Master's thesis on a shortline railroad that operated in Colorado from 1912 to 1957. The most interesting thing about it was that it was managed by a woman, from 1940 to 1957. Very few railroads can say that, if there are any others.

Brad Bowers

 

[Zane]

Brad, was this a steam engine?

Are you familiar with the one in WVA taht still runs and had to be special built to tugg the huge load up the steep incline. I have not personally studied the old trains but I have an acquaintane taht loves them . I do want to take trip on one some day.

 

[Michaelson]

You're not referring to Cass Scenic Railway, are you Zane? Regards. Michaelson

 

[Zane]

Michaelson, I just do not know the name of it. I only heard Mr. Anderson telling about it some years back when he and his wife had ridden it about then. It sounded fascinating. I recall it had to be geared extremely low or some special tooling so it could haul the logs of the mountain or maybe just to get up it. I think it was a still in use steam engine.