Re: Coal

Ahhh..nostalgia.

There was a time I would drive the truck down the coal yard on the Illinois river every month to shovel in a 1/2 a ton of Pocahontas blacksmith coal. Nothing like the sweet perfume of high quality coal in the morning air. Then wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow haul the coal down to the stockpile next to the forge. Those were the sweet days before a "real" job, wife, family, etc, etc, etc.

(Funny how years makes one forget the January mornings in 25 mph wind at 10F with a pick ax trying to break into the coal pile, or the July mornings with a hurricane drenching rain.)

Back in 2008 after moving back from 5 years overseas, Pocahontas and similar blacksmithing coal had transmogrified to unobtainium. All the steel plants, overseas steel plants, power plants and chemical users had purchased the good mines and all output. They were not selling one lump to anyone but themselves.

Then about 7 years ago, the supply of some nearly equivalent coal from a mom & pop shaft in Pennsylvania started opening up. I jumped at $10/50 pounds; an outrageous price but needed to act. Now my garage is covered with bags of coal forming walls between cars. I don't burn through it like in the past. Also, I have to time lighting the forge when neighbor goes shopping, so she does not get smoked out of her house.