November 17, 2012

• Jersey and Back Again

  Although my trip to the Hope Creek Nuclear Plant near Salem, NJ wasn't particularly "fun," it was professionally worthwhile. It was the first Boiling Water Reactor "BWR" that I've ever visited. For the uninitiated in nuclear vernacular, a Pressurized Water Reactor "PWR" heats water to about 550 degrees, but keeps it under pressure so it doesn't boil. That hot water is sent through tubes in a "steam generator" where the heat goes to water in our "secondary" system, which makes the steam, which turns the turbine, which spins the generator, which makes the electricity, which powers the tools to construct the house that Jack built.   In short, the steam going to the turbine is not radioactive.

  A "BWR" bypasses that whole pressure and tube and steam generator thingy. The water boils atop the reactor and the steam turns the turbine that spins the .... you get the idea.

  Anyway - I helped the folks at Hope Creek review their training program for strengths and weaknesses. We found some of each, as one would expect. Most of my work days were from 7 AM to 5-6 PM, so it was pretty much dark-to-dark the whole week I was there. 

  Plane trip wasn't too bad, so far as plane flights go.

  There was cramped seating:

  

  There was a surge of humanity:

  

  And eventually, I made it where I needed to go:

  

  Kind of looks like the cooling tower is attached to the training building. It's not, but it made for an interesting, albeit blurry cellphone photo.

  Here's a picture of Hope Creek's sister nuclear plants: Salem 1 and 2

  

  Here's a picture of me in the parking lot in the cloudlight. I did step outside long enough on the last day to have evidence I really was there.

  

  On the last day, I was able to do 20 minutes of sightseeing on my way to the the Philadelphia Airport. I stopped at the Hancock House. The Hancock house was the site of a 300 troop British attack of 15 people, mostly colonial soldiers and Judge William Hancock. The order: "Go -spare no one - put all to death - give no quarters." British General Mawhood was miffed at the people of Salem County for supporting the colonial rebel army.  The troops bayonetted everyone, not one shot was fired. 10 died.

  The Hancock house also has quite a bit of history before and after this event. I spent about 10 minutes on site. Here's my proof:

  

  If you look carefully, you may see the face of a ghost in the window over my shoulder.

  

  The patterned brick work is also something that is reflective of the 1734 period, when the house was built.

  Almost 300 years old, and all I could spare was 10 minutes. Ugh.

  My other 10 minutes was at a brief stop to see the Great Salem Oak.

  

  

  Estimated to be more than 400 years old, this ancient tree is said to have shaded the Lenni Lenape, and local lore maintains that John Fenwick treatied with Native Americans beneath its branches upon his arrival here in 1675. What is certain is that the Religious Society of Friends, Salem Monthly Meeting, has owned the tree and surrounding property since 1681. This was the site of Salem’s first meetinghouse and is still maintained as the Friends Burial Ground. The Friends Meeting cares for the grounds and the tree to this very day.

   

  More than 400 years old, with a surrounding cemetery that would make a great place for a geocache. I'll bet I was within 100 feet of one, and all I had was my other 10 minutes. Ugh.

  Anyone remember that scene from National Lampoon's Vacation where Chevy Chase nods a couple of times at the Grand Canyon and then hustles off his family? Kind of felt like that.

  

  The above picture is of a building near the Great Salem Oak, and of the city water tower. If you look very carefully, you can see a ghost looking out the leftmost window on the second floor.

  I did eventually make it across the bridge and back to the Philadelphia Airport.

  

  You can see it was a scenic drive for me.

  When I got home, I needed to tend some siding about 25 feet off the ground, so I wasn't done with my time in the air even after my plane landed. @SaintVI needed to run some errands, but told me to put a cell phone in my pocket in case I fell off the ladder. It was high ...

  

  ... and it was scary ....

  

  ... and I came close ...

  

  ... but I didn't fall.

  I did get this close up of the siding problem,

  

  and also of a view of our back yard from near the BOTTOM of the roof of our house.  It has a really high peak.

  

  I'm glad to be back on the ground again. The siding isn't as good as new, but it is back in place.

  Kind of like me. I'm not as good as new from New Jersey ... but I'm back in my place.

   

  • 8:36 pm
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