Mar 6, 2013 The Adventure Continues



Bare ground in and around
the grove Tuesday Morning



Monday, 3/4.  JB left at 8:00 am in his Jeep and my stomach was churning, but he called less than 15 minutes later to say he was at our sign on the main canyon road.  Yes!  The Jeep Jamborees that he attended before he retired were not just for fun.  JB is putting everything he learned to use Up Here.  Unfortunately once he got to town, the stores he just knew would have the belt we needed for MAX, did not.  He had to order one and it will be here tomorrow.

Water was gushing into the cistern when I turned on the well pump after the dishes and laundry, so I ran it for 45 minutes.  I washed towels today which means I have to hang up laundry three times because there is only room for less than 1/2 of the load on the inside line.  That's a good thing.  Means less but larger loads.

Sande called this morning.  She attended the big model train show at the San Mateo Expo this past weekend.  She has been a model train fan for years, decades actually, and has decided to finally make a permanent layout for her N-gauge.  I told her that I can send, literally, boxes of all the tree moss she needs for trees and bushes.  Was actually able to collect some on my morning walk with the dogs.  JB called from Larry and Elsie's at 11:00 and was on his way back Up.

After lunch we hiked down to MAX with the new battery and a couple of used belts.  We installed the battery, then after several attempts, learned that neither of us, nor both of us together, are as strong as Larry is when it comes to putting the belt on MAX.  We thought that if we could get a belt on, it would hold at least til we drove the short distance home.  Don't know exactly how far MAX is parked from the house.  It keeps changing.  1/4 mile down.  1/2 mile back up.  JB is going to call Recreative Industries on Tuesday to see if there is a certain trick to putting on the belt.

I brought in firewood when we arrived back home.  Even with all the melting, the paths to and from the wood shed remain icy, and my sled, like an untrained puppy on a leash, constantly tries to pull ahead of me.  And if I let it go, it often runs away.

Tuesday, 3/5.  The day broke overcast and 19.  Supposed to get snow by tonight, in fact it sounds like most of the country will be turning white soon.  Very fine, small flakes started falling as JB and the dogs were on their morning walk about 11:00 a.m.

After dishes and laundry, I stayed inside reading the last of the papers, mail and magazines.  Then just puttered around.  Did go outside for wood and our afternoon walk.  JB finished reading, then started a pot of pulled pork.  Still trying to get all the grease out from under my fingernails from yesterday.

JB made the call to Recreative Industries and was given a good tip on putting the drive belt on that sounds like it just might work.  He is going to leave for Down There early Wednesday morning to pick up the belt and run some errands.  Maybe even do some grocery shopping, depending on the weather.  It is supposed to be cold all week which means the road should be good for the Jeep.

The snow kept falling all day but by our afternoon walk it barely showed on the bare spots.  It melted upon landing on the roof and deck, although a little stuck on the edge of the porch.  The dogs and I went for our walk while JB stayed inside to finish his book and keep an eye on the pulled pork.  The snow was just a thin veil, allowing me to see a couple of canyons over and even down to the Columbia River.  I think we are right at the level where it starts to stick, even with a high of only 24.  The panels needed cleaning, so after our walk JB fed the dogs, and I went back up to do just that.  I scraped 1/4" off, so we'll go with that measure for the day.  By dinner time, it finally started sticking everywhere seriously.

Wednesday, 3/6.  Rose Camp is white again, the ground, the trees, the roofs.  Covered with 3-1/2" of powder.  JB measured it when he cleared off the panels at 6:45.  He still plans to go Down There this morning by 8:00, and it is still snowing.

Thought for the day:  It's easy enough to be pleasant, when life flows along like a song, but the man worthwhile is the man with a smile, when everything goes dead wrong.