Outhouse Up!

Monday morning and reporting! Friday night and Saturday morning Harold and Nick put the finishing work into the outhouse, mainly putting in the actual seat structure. Then Harold and Nick, with some help from Jeanie, Sue and Joey, broke it down and got it onto the trailer for hauling to the property. Sue and Jeanie packed up food for the week-end and we headed out, arriving in Hope approximately 2:30 p.m. We had to clear a tree that had fallen across the driveway and then attempt to back the trailer down onto the lot. The backing down proved problematical due to the steepness and “dip” of the driveway and we had to wait for Matt and Arran to arrive for help in straightening out the truck/trailer for a second more successful attempt. Finally arriving in place everyone hustled back and forth hauling large panels and various pieces over the trail to the outhouse site. In order to level the outhouse securely, several loads of gravel had to be hand carried from the parking area and placed around the buried drum. Once the floor panel was in place, the rest of the panels came together relatively smoothly, and everything (except windows, doors, and trim) was assembled in plenty of time to head to the Gillespie’s cabin to make dinner (quinoa salad, salmon, and burgers).

After a relaxed start on Sunday morning (we didn’t get to the Holler until noon) everybody put in another solid day of work. The finishing touches (which take the most time) were put to the outhouse, and it is currently fully functional (all that remains are the cedar shingles). Jonas was the first customer. We started a large brush fire in the pit at the parking area and hauled and burned two huge piles of brush. Jeanie and Sue also assembled the white canopy shelter at the end of the parking area.

Last to leave, Sue and Harold ran into Robbie and talked about the finishing touches he would make to the driveway. He and his brother Willie were busily dumping F-1 gravel (two grades smaller than D-1; spec’ed for paths and tent sites in campgrounds)) and packing it down when we returned after a quick sandwich at the Discovery Cafe. They smoothed out the dip in the driveway hill and created a parking spot at the top. Harold took a couple pictures but we didn’t stay to see the end result. Robbie gave us the final bill, which is $3468.00 (works out to $1156 each partner). We put the check in the mail to him on Monday. They dumped a small pile of the gravel near the canopy for us to use on our paths. Robbie said if we need any more, we can go to the big pile at their property.


 

Outhouse loaded for transport!

Tricky trailer work.

Hauling outhouse panels through the woods!

Culvert Installed

Larry Harmon called from Hope, said he was standing on top of our newly installed culvert! Larry’s driveway is completely done, and he said that the 30’ culvert is not too long. He said ours has a fine-looking layer of D-1 over the culvert and the upper drive. The upper parking slot has not yet been covered with gravel, and apparently there is not yet any gravel added to the hill. 

Also, the first birch on the right (which had its roots chopped into a bit during the digging) has toppled in the wind and is blocking the drive. Our security system is in place! We will have to move a small hemlock into that spot and let it grow.

Loreto

Harold called Robbie and had a long chat.  It turns out Robbie and his wife have started a small vineyard near Loreto, Mexico, on the Baja, and they had to be there for the grape harvest!  He said their timing was off, but they had to come back anyway.  He said they have a lot to learn about making wine; they have made 60 gallon batches but have yet to get a tasty batch.  Robbie is still busy making sand in Portage (he said the excavator broke down there twice and he had to get an exchange), and could not yet make a promise on when he will get the culverts done.  He will get them fairly soon, spread D1 on the top landing, and add some fill to the steep spot on the hill.  He will leave the pit open for burning, and figure on filling there next year,  He said it’s likely to settle a bit by then anyway, and will take 3-4 loads of pit run, plus some D1 to cover.

Finished Digging the Outhouse Hole

We all met in the Holler, and finished digging the outhouse hole.  Nick, Matt, and Arran dug, and then back-filled the drum level with the ground,  while Sue, Jeanie and Jonas cleared more trails and branches (Harold supervised and stayed out of the way).  We got a fire going in the pit at the back of the parking lot and burned a lot of branches.  We are thinking of telling Robbie to leave that pit open until next year, so we can get a bunch of burning done.  When it was time to go, Nick loaded up the Ranger with birch to carry home.  Harold checked on Robbie down at Davidson’s store, and talked to Robbie’s son Drew, who seems like a real nice guy.  He said Robbie took a week-long trip to Mexico, and left his phone with Drew (that’s why we get no answer).   He is to be back on Monday, but has a sand contract in Portage that must be completed by 9/15.

Tendon Surgery

Harold had surgery to re-attach the tendon and nerves in his thumb.  It will be in a splint for about 6 weeks, so that right hand is seriously out of action.