joe b.
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
Since I am a real bug magnet, I am always looking for some new way to keep the bugs, especially the bitters, at a distance. Last spring someone on the forum suggested the Thermocell devices. They have a small propane cylinder that heats a treated pad. I bought a pair of them and found they worked about as well as a citronella candle. Plus the Thermocell cost about $.50 an hour to operate. They worked fine so long as there was absolutely no breeze. Probably have enough supplies to run them for one more trip north and that will do for them. LOL
While we were in Hyder and having lunch at the bus, I asked about the gallon plastic bags of water hanging from the roof covering the "dinning" area. The woman told me they were to keep bees, wasps and flies away. I thought she was just pulling my chain but got to thinking I had seen others in northern Canada and Alaska but never asked their purpose.
Has anyone ever tried this method and does it work? The fish and chips at the Bus are fabulous. Worth the visit to Hyder just to eat. LOL
Here is a photo showing the bags, there were 5 or 6 of them, along with my BIL, my wife and me.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins/Lance
www.pajbcooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper
Alaska 2004/2006/2009 - Colorado photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
|
The Texan
Summer: Cascade, Idaho - Winter: A Warm Climate
Senior Member
Joined: 01/16/2004
View Profile
|
Joe, I agree the food at the bus is great.....did you go on up the road and see Salmon Glacier from the top? I also have seen the plastic bags 1/2 filled with water from southern Mexico to Alaska used for the same reason. I have kinda watched the interior of places that had them and they do seem to work, or at least be 90-95% effective. I don't know about mosquito control, but for flies they seem to work.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 & FT Class of 2002
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins -With-'05 GMC Sierra SLT, CC, Z-71, the pusher & our '07 Arctic Cat 500A & '08 Suzuki KQ 400A, riding in the pusher.
Where the wheels are stopped
|
Hjudge49
St. Augustine, Fl.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/15/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I don't have any idea how those work, but we use bags of water in our horse barns to kill flys. The bags have openings in the top, and an unknown but really stinky substance inside that flies must love. The fly goes in and drowns. But i sure wouldn't want one over my head while I was eating.
|
ddreisbach
Kemah, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 07/10/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
The following is from HowStuffWorks.com
"The most popular reasoning that pops up among entomologists and patent-filing entrepreneurs is simple light refraction. Refraction takes place when a clear or opaque object, such as a piece of glass or a bag of water, alters the course and velocity of light. The rays of light, which normally travel in a straight line, bend. This effect is responsible for a number of optical illusions, such as mirages, that occasionally baffle humans as well."
"A housefly bases its sense of direction on the direction sunlight comes from. Some entomologists believe that when these complex, sensitive eyes experience refracted light, the insect becomes confused and flies away."
"While some supporters claim water bags keep all kinds of flying insects away, most report success with complex-eyed insects, like houseflies."
|
garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
ddreisbach wrote:The following is from HowStuffWorks.com
"The most popular reasoning that pops up among entomologists and patent-filing entrepreneurs is simple light refraction. Refraction takes place when a clear or opaque object, such as a piece of glass or a bag of water, alters the course and velocity of light. The rays of light, which normally travel in a straight line, bend. This effect is responsible for a number of optical illusions, such as mirages, that occasionally baffle humans as well."
"A housefly bases its sense of direction on the direction sunlight comes from. Some entomologists believe that when these complex, sensitive eyes experience refracted light, the insect becomes confused and flies away."
"While some supporters claim water bags keep all kinds of flying insects away, most report success with complex-eyed insects, like houseflies."
yup...what he just said.....
Gary Haupt
I have begun to blog.. .www.gary haupt.blogspot.com. It's not about RV'ing...but RV'ing is a part of it.
Gary
|
|
|
zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Where the heck is the bus in Hyder? When we were there earlier this year, the town was deserted....NOBODY! Ate in Stewart.
Ron
2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
'95 Tracker toad
|
joe b.
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Ron, the Bus is located one "Hyder" block west of the road headed out to the bear viewing platform. I am always surprised that the Bus doesn't have some sort of advertisement on the one main street pointing to it's location.
The road out to Salmon Glacier was washed out this trip, when we were there in late July. Just as well, as the sight of one more glacier, might have been more than I could have enjoyed. LOL As my then 12 year old daughter, so succinctly put it, on a visit to Yellowstone, "Dad, if I have to look at one more geyser, I will throw up". (actually believe the terminology at that time was "to blow chunks.")
|
zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
We didn't venture off the 'main' drag cause didn't think there was anything there. I remember the store and the B&B on the right headed out to the viewing area and glacier, but that's about it.
The road to Salmon glacier was probably the worst we encountered in the two+ months to, in, and around Alaska/Canada. Rock slides, avalance areas, pot holes that nearly shook my Tracker (and us) apart, but we made it and it was worth the 6 hours up and back. Understand about 'one more glacier'. 
|
jmckelvy
North Alabama
Full Member
Joined: 07/25/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
joe b. wrote:Ron, the Bus is located one "Hyder" block west of the road headed out to the bear viewing platform. I am always surprised that the Bus doesn't have some sort of advertisement on the one main street pointing to it's location.
The road out to Salmon Glacier was washed out this trip, when we were there in late July. ......
Joe, we sat in those same seats on July 24. It was wet and rainy as your photo shows. What day(s) were you there in July? IIRC there was a small, not very obvious sign sorta advertising the bus.
The road to Salmon Glacier was washed out when we were in Hyder. The ranger said there were some vehicles trapped on the other side of the washout.
We did see a bear and got lots of photos.
Jim
06 Dodge 3500,Dually,CTD,Auto,QC,4X4,Torklifts,Fastguns
2008 Northstar 8.5 Arrow
|
joe b.
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/24/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Jim, we were in Hyder the day before you guys, on the 23rd. While the weather was bright and sunny at Meziadin Lake PP, where we were camped, it started raining, not heavy but a typical SE rain about half way to Stewart/Hyder. It continued to rain all day while we were in Stewart/Hyder. Drove out of the rain half way back to Meziadin Lake Provincial Park and it was the outside picnic table for dinner.
We heard some of the mining company vehicles were trapped on the far side of the wash out. The company sent more vehicles out to get the employees as they walked through the woods around the wash out. So the mine company employees did this both directions each day till the road was repaired. Didn't hear if any private vehicles got trapped on the far side or not.
I think the rain of SE would get depressing to me. Probably why I never had any great desire to live down there during my Alaska resident years.
Here is a photo entering Hyder AK from Stewart BC about mid morning.
|
|
|
|
