The Week of February 10, 2019 — Severe WINDS, Windows, and a Little R & R

The featured image for this week is of the east elevation of the Adult Hospital tower. The aerial lifts were shut down because of the high winds, which exceeded the safety rules. On the 16th-floor, north of the aerial lift, the safety netting covering the opening of the Terrace blows in the wind. The laborers in the yard are calling it a day.

Severe winds hit the Inland Empire on Monday, February 10, 2020. The wind force was so strong at the construction site, McCarthy (the contractor) was required by OSHA rules to shut down the outside aerial lift. This action resulted in sending everyone working above the fourth floor home. Because of the high winds, the aerial lift would be out of service through Tuesday, February 11.

On February 12, a friend and I took a road trip to southwest New Mexico, where there are clear, dark skies, a mecca for amateur astronomers. This is a place where the celestial objects appear, even when they are millions of light-years away, close enough to pluck from the heavens. We spent two evenings observing the heavens through various sizes and types (including a Dobsonian telescope and refractors) of telescopes. I spent some time photographing constellations, nebulas, and the faraway Andromeda galaxy. Unfortunately, my star tracker went on the fritz, so I was unable to take advantage of longer exposures. On our return home, we stopped briefly at the Ramsey Canyon Nature preserve, where I was able to photograph a Rufous Hummingbird at one of the feeders. Currently, there is little bird activity at the preserve, but come April and through the summer months, the preserve will be teaming with birds and birders.

Despite the winds, Tower Glass was able to finish installing the glass windows on the west connecting bridge, and the corrugated sheet metal was put on top of the Galleria’s steel frame.

Images From a Little R & R