Lightning

As I've been moving those 30 foot lightning rods across wet fields as the thunder heads roll in I've wondered about some things about lightning. I've been told that lightening can travel as far as 3 miles from once strike to the next. So using that tricky little thing with 5 seconds per mile, I've decided that any closer than 15 seconds and I need to stop moving pipe. But then I feel like I quit way before I really am in danger, so I decided to do some research on lightening. My research was not reassuring. I learned that lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from where it is raining and that if you can hear the thunder you are within striking distance. That sucks as my first warning sign that lightning is coming is that thunder rumbles quietly on the other side of the mountains. Oh well, I suppose I can only hope that that research was done at a lower altitude than I am at and that my 15 second method will continue to keep me safe. Off to move my 30 foot lightning rods!