Thursday, June 27, 2013

Just breezing by


We live a simple life, the man and I. Little things make us both happy. He pulls thoughts right out of my head and they exit his mouth instead of mine. We laugh easily and have fun together. We were taking an evening drive and came upon a summer concert in Kirkwood, a suburb about ten miles from home, so we stopped and sat in the park next to the train station. Families were sprawled in lawn chairs on the plaza and at the open air patios of the several restaurants directly across the street. The band played Oldies and I was bebopping
in my seat when we heard the train a coming, coming around the bend. We turned around as it chugged by, and this is what we saw. Do you know what it is? At first I thought it was a rocket, then at closer look, an airplane wing. It was being transported on TWO flat bed cars. There were several of these. The crowd looked on in awe as these monsters passed through the community on their way to who knows where?
We finally realized that this was a blade for a wind generator. The turbines were on other cars further back. It was a sight to behold this alternative energy source passing through town.
 
So how do wind turbines make electricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. What the world needs now...

12 comments:

Bookie said...

Such a lovely picture of the two of you, Linda!

Val said...

Okay, nice picture of you, but that wing/blade really commits grand larceny with your thunder.

jabblog said...

Happiness in small things - that's the key to contentment:-)
I find wind turbines rather splendid.

Sioux Roslawski said...

I know someone who has a "windmill farm" and those blades turn at a deceptively fast speed.

I guess it takes one form of energy to get another?

Susan said...

Lovely photos, Linda. You and your hubs look very happy and the shot with the sun coming through the trees and the train on the right is right on, too.

We have LOTS of windmills on hills around here. It's the latest thing.

Take care and hope you have a terrific weekend. Susan

Debra Mayhew said...

My husband passed one of these while driving down the interstate one day. It look two semi trailers to hold it. It's so impressive to see something like this up close...makes me feel like a kid again - full of wonder and awe!

Kim Lehnhoff said...

A windfarm is a pretty amazing sight - and it's eerily quiet.

Sometimes I try to guess what the enormous tarp-covered cargo is on flatbed trucks - and I usually assume that it's something nefarious.

I'd be happy to have one of the creaky aluminum-looking farm windmills, but I'm sure there's an ordinance against that.

Susan Sundwall said...

Oury son is a director in a wind energy company. We've visited wind farms in Oregon - amazing things.Never saw this though! Thanks for taking a pic, Linda.

Sioux Roslawski said...

Linda--I saw your comment on someone's blog...I can't remember whose.

You really should not call Bill a "Rummy-O." He's deserving of so much more. ;)

Pat Wahler said...

That thing really does look like an airplane wing! Amazing. I agree. Let's bring on those alternative energy sources...we really do need them!

Pat
Critter Alley

BECKY said...

I have never seen anything so unusual on a train! So glad you and Bill were there to photograph it for us! :)
Have you seen any turbines around here, Linda? I haven't. I was so surprised a few years ago to see many of them in Iowa. I still think of Iowa as only using vintage items! Great pic of you and Bill, too!

Connie said...

That must have been quite a sight! Lovely photo of you and your husband.