Close Call

I was on a very narrow bridge when I see a semi-truck coming at me. I  can move to right only a few inches. I watch as the semi's trailer sweeps by just inches from my left hand mirror. Then I hear IT. Scrapping metal. I have visions of a huge scrape down Serenity's side. Stopping, I am was verrrry relived to find that only the wheel cover had ground into the bridge.

Tonight I am tucked in at the Smith Creek boat launch.

(46.74786, -123.88292)

365 days ago

Hobuck Beach

Tucked away in the NW corner of the Olympic Peninsula is a great beach (48.3392, -124.66435). Dry camping on a grassy field not more than a 100 feet from the beach is $20 a night. Summer is over and there were only half dozen other campers here. Lots of elbow room.

This is a great waking beach. The firm sand makes
for easy walking.

Eight or ten surfers were riding the waves. I was surprised when they told me that the water temperature is 60 degrees. They said it was due to El Nino. 

There were many sand dollars washed up on the beach. There must be a large population off shore. Sand dollars are sea urchins adapted to living on a sandy bottom. They sit on edge with half their shell buried in the sand to anchor them. They feed on plankton that the ocean currents sweep by. 

The artsy attempt

:-) Life is good.

365 days ago

2 years ago

Heading South

I am heading south by going west around the Olympic Pensinula.  Salt Creek County Park (48.16529, -123.69917) is a gem of a campground overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Large grassy areas to feed the local deer and a nice playground for the kids. These terraced sites step up the hill side so everyone has a view, all with W/E for $22 a night. No Verzion signal

I scored a front row seat with a great view. 

Shipping headed for Vancouver or Seattle

Tide pools below the campground

 365 days ago

Build Done

Finished our two week build. Habitat hosted a nice thank you lunch for us.

Tommie, Robert, Allen and Jody spent their two weeks
building this shed outside the Habitat Restore.

Two years ago

Gables

Milo and I shingled the gable on Eric's house.

The mission, shingle the gable.

Milo is a great guy to work with.

Mission accomplished

367 days ago

Two years ago

The Amazing "Gravel Shooter"

I have been working with Milo and Dave the project manager on the Hancock house. Milo and I stripped the stem wall forms and now we are filling the void in preparation for the slab. This "gravel shooter" can throw the gravel 30 to 40 feet. No more wheelbarrow work like the old days. :-)

Ken controls everything remotely 

This is Milo (red shirt) and his wife Dee's 27th or 28th build. They have lived around the world and worked on builds in Africa, Europe, and South America. 

My turn on the tampez

This "gravel shooter" is the best thing since sliced bread. By changing the direction and speed of the belt, Ken can fill the space right up to grade. How many wheelbarrow loads would it have taken to fill this hole? Soooo many. We will pour the concrete slab next week.

Happy hour with good friends.

364 days ago

two years ago

The Build

The ace RV Care-a-Vanner crew has arrived. We will be siding and dry walling Eric's house. He is a very nice young man that will be moving into his first home in October. The foundation for a new house was poured today and we will be framing the exterior walls before we leave.

(l to r)  Pam & Robert, Sandra & Tommie, Dee & Milo, yo, Allen & Jody.

This is Jody & Allen's first build, everyone else are old hands. 

367 days ago

McCall to Port Townsend

Headed out last Sunday for my Habitat build in Port Townsend, WA.

Serenity along the Salmon River (45.71257, -116.31704) 

The French tappers named the Nez Perce. It means pierced nose. The Nez Perce never pierced their noses. 

When the Nez Perce acquired the horse, they rapidly grew in wealth and power. They are one of a few tribes to selectively breed their horses.

A horse martingale

Rifle case

The skill and artistry of the Nez Perce is stunning.

This man's shirt is made from two deer hides. The quill work is sewn onto cured bison hide strips. Horse hair, glass beads, bear grass, and red wool trade cloth are also used to decorate the shirt, which was worn primarily on special occasions.

Pony beaded mountain sheep hide shirt.

Mural depicting the ancestral village that was on the
riverbank below the visitor center.

Fish harpoon 

Quiet night on the Snake River (46.58593, -118.00635)

I haven't seen my friends Tom and Sherry for two years. It was great to catch up. Tom is quite a hunter and fisherman. He got an Elk tag for this year's muzzle loading hunt. 

Some of Tom's delicious vine ripened tomatoes. 

Which I have been turning into tasty BLTs. Thanks Tom.

Tucked in on the Cowlitz River below White Pass.
(46.65862, -121.61955)

Home for the next two weeks, Evergreen Coho SKP park.
 (48.02177, -122.78553)

369 days ago

2 years ago

Wall Repairing

Into the belly of the beast, well at least the belly of the wall.

An inspection hole revealed that the wall board was in shreds and that piece of plywood was like a wet sponge.

Luckily the major damage was confined to the area
above the window

The styrofoam and wood was not attached to the
outer aluminum skin and came right out.

Fitting in new wood and the old styrofoam. The tape held the
styrofoam and wood in place until the skin was attached when the Trek was built.

Ready for the wall panel. 

I used a contraction adhesive
made specifically for foam and panel assembly

We could not find wall board to match the original.
Adelle covered some 1/8 inch plywood with contact paper.
It has a similar look and she says she can live with it.

Next, find the leak before the next big rain.