First traces of steam for the 2016 season:
And then there was an incident....a weld cracked, allowing the sides to pull away from the pan support rail....blowtorch up the side of the pan, and the added source of O2 turned the pan rail cherry in just a few seconds. Full shutdown.
The repair is simple, once the firebox cools. But to be honest, my heart just isn't in it this year. We have so much going on right now, that my wife and I have made the decision to suspend operations for the season. It sucks, as we are going to pull taps and buckets that we just hung yesterday, but this is an endeavor that you need to commit yourself fully too, for 4-5 weeks. And right now our focus is to get the remodel project done, and get moved in. We're disappointed, and will undoubtedly disappoint others who were looking forward to getting syrup, but with the new job, apprenticeship obligations, and the house ordeal, something has to give.
Hopefully we will be moved in, and ready to hit it hard next season.
