2004 April 6th
Every year people ask me what do I do in Canada, I suspect that some think I set in a rocking chair all day long. For those who might be curious, below is a informal six day log, which is and has been normal Spring time actives
Left Northport 6:30 am, arrived at property 11:30 am, spent 30 minutes cutting down trees on road to house
1st thing as always is getting water to the house, this consists of walking back up the hill to where my water intake is.
(Some have called this my sluice box") I have to remove the box from the creek in the fall
Besides water to the house this is my source of power, feeding from a 1 1/2 inch water line to a Pelton wheel gives me 900 watts of power, not earth shaking but its free,
Getting the place open after being closed all winter will take 3-5 hours depending mostly on what has occurred over the winter. The biggest problem is usually trees that have came down due to wind or snow. This year most of the trees were saplings, although two good size trees did come down with one just missing the pelton wheel house and the other lodging about twenty feet in the air right over the top of my boat. Lucky on that as it would have wrecked the boat.
Day two was spent mostly house cleaning, not ready for company but just getting the place shoveled out. I leave it clean in the fall, but if anyone has ever lived in a drafty old shack you know how the wind brings in the dust.
Day three, I made a trip to the local laundromat (40 miles) three regular loads and three big front loader loads. (sheets, towels, clothes everything in the shack)
Day four , among everything else washed every dish in the house, started the tractor and jeep, cut the butts of the two trees that had fell by the pelton wheel.
Day five, cut the limbs off the one tree on the ground and ran them through the chipper, cut the tree that was holding up the lodged tree, and then ran the tree limbs through the chipper.
Day six (Easter) cut up one tree into firewood lengths, split same loaded on jeep and hauled to equipment shed
I have several wood piles and never burn firewood that hasn't been cut and split for at least five years, the pile here was cut five years ago and will be used this fall and next year.
The below pictures if you care to see them are thumbnails, click to enlarge
Tractor with mounted brush chipper
Mother-in-law spot
The Shack! really two as it was originally two cabins and in 1939 was put together much as you see it now.
Buddy and one of his favorites spots
Arron with the 410, marshmallow time
Due to heavy pine beetle infestation I was forced to clear cut about 35 acres this year
With 35 acres of slash to be piled and burnt I was able to justify to myself the purchase of another toy
Morning visitors, I was sitting on the porch when these two walked past the house to the lake, by the time I got the camera they were in the water, they went all the way across , about a mile, last picture is start of moon eclipse
Steve, Arron, & Ryan Sauther
More than likely I will be adding a few pictures from time to time if you care to check back.
