Pam and I had decided to spend Father’s Day weekend at the lot. Goals for this trip: More lot clean up and set the posts for the gate. All the materials had been hauled over previously so we loaded up the Honda for the trip:
Loaded for the lot
Pam began cleaning the aspen grove by starting a pile of dead wood and trees that she hauled out of the grove. The pile was located where we could get to it with the ATV and trailer when we come up for a longer work session over the 4th of July weekend. Here is a shot of Pam hauling some of the stuff she collected:
Pam cleaning dead wood out of the aspen grove
By Sunday afternoon, when we had to leave to come back home, we had a couple of wood piles started. The first is small stuff to be taken to the burn pit and the other is stuff suitable to be cut into fire wood:
Slash wood to go to the burn pit.
This “salvageable stuff” will be cut into firewood.
By Sunday morning the work was having an impact; here is a shot of the cleaned area:
Cleaned area of aspen grove.
You can actually walk around now without tripping over the dead wood!
While Pam was cleaning I went to work on digging the holes to set the gate posts. We plan to have a gate across the driveway which consits of a right-hand and left-hand gate sections and each requires a post to act as the pivot point.
I knew this was going to be a job as I don’t have a jackhammer to break up the rock that I knew I was going to find. So, armed with a maul and some steel bits and pieces I proceeded to try to dig the first post hole.
What a job — 2 hours into the first post and I called it good enough. The hole was not as deep as I would like but I hope it is deep enough to do the job. With QuickCrete mixed up in a bucket I set the post in place.
The second hole was worse but I eventually ended up with a usable excavation and set that post in place as well. Below is a photo of Pam watching an incoming storm but note the two posts, one on either side of the driveway.
Pam watching incoming storm. Note the two gate posts.
All in all, not a bad bit of work for an “overnighter.” We plan a long 4th of July stay and hope to get the gate up (it’s in 2 sections) and haul the slash pile to the burn pit. After that there will be railroad ties to fasten together along the driveway, then more lot cleaning to be done.
One problem…we ran out of battery power. This meant the weekend was a little more “camping” than we had planned. Heating hot water over the stove, no shower…but we survived. I pulled the batteries and took them home with us. The batteries where checked and recharged at the local NAPA shop and did not have to be replaced; they just are not recharging from the solar panels. Work needed there….
Cats and Dogs:
Sinbad the Kitten is doing well, and apparently loves to be petted and held. He had his shots today but it is still a little early for his neuter operation. We hope to get him adopted into a home.
The dogs do OK at the lot, though most of their time is spent sleeping in the trailer. Definitely not outdoor dogs by choice. Here is a shot of Blondie and Bru in the aspen grove:
Blondie and Bru in the aspen grove
Postscript:
I took the truck over to the lot this last Saturday. I reinstalled our now fully charged batteries, did some work on the electrical system, and pulled the trailer over to the dump station to empty the holding tanks. After that I topped off the fresh water tank. This trip also saw me taking our small generator along and leaving it at the trailer. It will be used to charge the batteries in the event the solar panels don’t do the trick. We wanted everything to be ready for the 4th of July long weekend, and now it is. Headed home over Boreas Pass, approaching from the Como side. (Hello Mountain Laurie…) I was amazed at the variety of flowers blooming at this time of year. I really enjoyed taking this route home.
Pam’s Two Cents Worth:
We should have our first high country guests on July 5th. We’ll be “entertaining,” whoo-hoo.
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