June 2-3 -- project underway

Saturday -- Despite the forecast of rain it was sunny and warm all day. At one point we could hear thunder but nothing came of it.

Sandy continued to work the garden, getting more planted. I diddled with the water system, correcting a couple of leaks in the old piping -- just drips that could have been ignored, but not neat.

I also worked on my bikes -- both the litespeed and the old bike. I cleaned the litespeed; it had picked up a lot of sand from riding on Osprey road. I could hear the sand grinding when I rode yesterday -- a constant irritant to me and also to the drivetrain ! I pulled the cranks again; moisture is getting into the bottom bracket. That bearing is still grinding -- I took the bottom bracket out, cleaned and greased it and reinstalled the cranks only tighter this time. We'll see if the increased tightness helps keep it clean.

Overall a quiet day -- it's amazing how the days fly by up here. When on the road during the bike ride, every minute of every day was occupied and focussed. In "normal" life, much time just goes by ... up here, puttering, reading, chatting, living life.

Tomorrow is Sunday -- I'll go into Sudbury early, to Home Depot, and pick up as much of the DRIcore as I can get into the car. This will be the test -- I figure that I need about 350 of these 2x2 panels -- how many trips will I need ? They open at 8am. After that, Mass at 9am then back to the cottage by 11am or so. I may stop at Costco too -- they open at 10.

It's hot here in the house -- 78. I took the cover off the air conditioner and gave in -- turned it on. I have a hard time sleeping when it's this hot inside. Running it for an hour will take the edge off.

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Sunday -- according to plan, went into Sudbury and managed to get 90 of the DRIcore panels into the X5. They are heavy though, and since this is only 1/4 of what I eventually need, I think that I'll pick up the next load with one of the trailers. I think that I can load them onto a 4x8 sheet of plywood on the trailer from the Boston Whaler. I also went to Costco after Mass and picked up some groceries -- I talked to Sandy on the road and she was on her way to Parry Sound to also get groceries, but more importantly, get some stuff for her garden.

Getting the panels into the cottage was relatively easy -- only three trips from the driveway to the back door with the ATC. Jason helped me with the first load -- I had filled the trailer and worried about it getting away from me down the hill. A full load was 1/2 of the panels so I simply split the rest of the load, which was much safer.

Then ... of course ... I started working with them. Before dinner I had done the area at the bottom of the stairs and was at the wine cellar, working towards the closet and past the bathroom. I cannot do the bathroom until I frame the shower though, since the sub-floor will butt up against the shower. And ... prior to framing the shower I need 2x4's, drywall, etc. This project has lots of tentacles.

Also prior to dinner the power went out for 2-3 hours. There were thunderstorms all around us, constant rumbling, but no rain. I got the generator going and was able to continue working.

I'll go into Port Loring tomorrow and pick up some of the 1/2" plywood to start on the next layer and arrange with Steve for delivery of more material and some drywall. Sandy still has to pick out tile, but I'm a long way from needing it.

Jason left mid afternoon, but before he left we went over to the lodge for a rescue mission. Kim and her friend were out in their small boat and the motor stopped and she could not get it restarted. The rope from the recoil was not rewinding. Jason didn't want to spend any time trying to fix it there -- he was due to head back home shortly, so we loaded the two girls into the Whaler and towed their little boat back to his cottage.

Dinnertime -- I prepared my usual stuffed rainbow trout and Sandy did beans and a salad. We're both stuffed from the stuffing.