"Thinker's Box" Phase I - Step II

This past weekend, Nick and I made our way out to camp on a mission.  Well to be honest, I was on a mission.  My son Nick was joining the expedition as part of father-son time.  The goal was to complete the remainder of holes for the 6" diameter posts that will support the foundation of the "Thinker's Box".

We arrived in town around midnight with just enough time to use the restroom at the local tavern and say "hi" to Joe.  Joe is a staple at this particular establishment and a helluva guy.  If he isn't there when you arrive, you'll catch a glimpse of him before you finish your meal and leave.  So, we did our pit stop, said our hellos and goodbyes and headed toward the mountain top.

The cool sub-60 degree night air was a welcome relief.  The previous two outings night time temperatures and humidity were quite unpleasant.  Things were so bad that when Jennifer and I made our way up to camp prior to excavation day and slept in the Mountaineer, running the AC periodically was mandatory.  Choosing to crack a window was a mistake because it was so humid and warm that the insects maintained their feeding frenzy in spite of the absence of sunlight.  Neither of us slept longer than a 1 hour duration that evening.  It sucked!  As fall approaches, so does the return of the evening temperature drop.  When this occurs, the insects disappear with the humidity and warmth.  I look forward to the experience.  A crackling fire, a cool backside, a pull over to keep warm when needed, silence of darkness and a sky full of planets, stars, shooting stars, satellites, the milky way and alien spacecraft is what I yearn for when enjoying camp.  This trip and this evening provided just about all of that (no UFO's this time)!

Based on the rate in which I was able to jack hammer the holes for the first four posts, I honestly hadn't fathomed that I could actually complete 5 more of them over the course of Sunday morning.  I began my burrowing at 7AM sharp.  The first location had an enormous rock smack dab in the crosshairs of where the post would be set.  Using the spud bar (a steel javelin / spear looking tool) I pried the moss covered stone from the grips of the earth.  It was so large that I could only open it from the hole half way before running out of leverage.  I decided to place bricks in the hole and raise my pivot point up with some additional rock.  This was enough to maintain motion as I rolled the stone from the deep hole and down the hillside to the pile.  The first and last holes were the worst, but once the larger stones from the top were removed it was a matter of breaking through the hard clay and smaller gravel to the finished depth.  The 3 holes in between the first and last went fairly fast.  Because they were capped with top soil and humus, I used the shovel to start and the post hole digger as the cylinder became too deep.  The soft clay comprised the majority of the hole and it was the only last 4-6" that became hard packed and more difficult to remove.

In a matter of 3 hours I was able to complete this stage of the foundation.  I now have 9 holes that are 10" -12" in diameter and approximately 36" deep prepared for concrete.  The work was made easier by the cool morning temperatures, lower humidity and cloud covered sky and sun.  By 10AM I was finished.  I woke up Nick and we headed to grab a good breakfast at the local diner and it was decided to head home instead of hang out at camp.

I would categorize this visit as one of the most productive and least burdensome of the trips I've taken.  I left with a smile!

Here's a video recap of the activities:






The planned structural/architecture of the Thinker's Box is as follows:

• (Foundation) 9 - 6" OD cedar footers sunk 36" deep in nominal 10" OD holes
• (Beams) 3- parallel runs of double 2X10" spanning a 16' overall length
• (Floor Joists) 12-14' depth comprised of 2X8" joists, 16" OC
• (Flooring) 1.25" repurposed solid wood gymnasium flooring.
• (Wall Framing) 2X4X8', 16" OC
• (Wall Skinning) board & baton 1" wood, THANK YOU GREG!
• (Roof) 2X6X8', 16" OC
• (Roof Decking) 1/2" OSB
• (Roofing) 15" felt, ice barrier & 25yr architectural asphalt shingle

(I'll repost this list at the end of each new submission noting by color what has been completed for progress reference.)

Steamy-Hot-Humid TC Weekend

The family and I (and Floatman) hit trout camp together this past weekend.  Jim arrived earlier on Saturday afternoon with the rest of us coming in around 9:30pm that evening.  We met at the local tavern, filled our bellies with wings, burgers and beverages and then made our way up to camp.
 
I had the pleasure of setting up the pop-up in a full rainstorm with my ever-faithful friend Jim by my side assisting where and when he could.  When the camper was finally ready to be occupied, soaked to the bone could not describe how wet we were.  The rain stopped once I was ready to rest on top of my sleeping bag. GO FIGURE!  It was a tolerable, but warm night with passing storms and the occasional but infrequent breeze.

Rain-Heat-Humidity-Thunderstorms-Rain!  

This may sound like one, but it is not a complaint!  I knew what the forecast predicted and chose to go inspite of it.  Why?  Because going to camp and driving around the nearby town is fun, regardless of the weather. I will admit, I cannot wait for the day that we have the 16'X12' shed built and, of course, the big banner camper relocated to camp.  Soon, very soon!  Lugging up the pop-up and setting it up is becoming a chore.  A chore that I'm ready to give up and save for only the times when we have guests up at camp. 

The heat and/or rain doesn't make preparing camp pleasant.  I will definitely appreciate the luxury of having to manipulate only a key into a locked door to start the camping festivities.  I look forward to those future conveniences with open arms.... WIDE open arms!




I've managed to dig four of the nine post holes.  This weekend coming, I'm hoping to get that number to seven out of nine.  Talk about an endeavor!  Digging those holes takes alot of time and energy!  On the positive side, it provides one heck of a full body workout.  Some flee from laborious endeavors, but I see them more as challenges needed to be tackled and tamed. I rationalize the effort expended as a good workout because I manipulate my perspective and steer myself into believing it so.  I tend to do this with most of life's unwelcomed challenges in an effort to make them more tolerable.

The hopes were that Jim and I would rent a two-man post hole digger and get the job of setting the posts finished in a day, but realistically with the quantity of stone buried in the ground and the size of some of the boulders underfoot...it would be nothing better than wasted rental fee money.  I'm content with prying the material and forming the holes using the machine that G_d blessed me with, the one I'm trapped within.  When this bag of blood vessels, bone and limited muscles is functioning correctly, what it can do is truly amazing.  I intend on driving this body like a stole it!  There will be plenty of time to rest when I'm laid down in my coffin.  Again knowing the time, energy, sweat, blood, tears, calories that I've invested will make the end result cherished that much more.

I found out the hard way that the property still has a few stumps that beg for immediate removal.  Due to their location (within the edges of our drive path), the potential to cause damage (both physically and financially) is unquestionable.  $150 and two hours later, I've got a brand new front tire to replace the brand new front tire that fell victum to a sapling laceration to the inner side wall.  Life deals you a series of blows and for me...they seem to be endless, but I'm dealing with them the best I can and as they come.  That's all I have to say about that!

16 minute video recap of some of the weekend's festivities is above for you to review.  Until next week's update, stay warm... I will be!

Project Wojtak!

In a round 'bout way, this post is loosely TC related.  Follow me as I tell the tale full circle...

Several months ago, I agreed to build a deck for my neighbor and friend at his Geneva campgrounds in a barter for "club seating"

C-N-C work on replacement wood slats for a set of folding bleacher seats that are destined for a trip up to camp.  I'm not sure where these bleachers came from, possibly the Old Cleveland Stadium, dunno?, but they needed the wood seat and seat backs replaced and the cast iron framing sandblasted.  Since Shawn is responsible for the programming at Millwork Design Solutions, I envisioned some tricked out seat back slats that will have the above pictured design milled out of them.  Once completed, they are going to look sweet!  I'm not really sure where the heck we're going to install them, but we'll worry about that later!

That agreement was for the first 10' X 15' deck.  In the course of its completion, it was mentioned that a better set of stairs was needed for the camper.  If you've ever climbed in / out of a hard side camper, you'll realize quickly that you need a high level of balance and agility as the stairs that fold underneath them are an afterthought of the assembly line manufacturing process.

Or, they put much thought into making the cheapest set of metal folding steps that they could get away with and not be held liable in court.  In any case, they are not safe for permanent use.

I was asked if I'd be interested in building a set of rigid wood stairs with a landing and handrail to make navigating in and out of the camper easier and enjoyable for the Wojtasik's.  After a some suggesting, we "super-sized" the stair idea into a second deck project.  This one is 10' X 9' and sits 30" off the ground to the undersill of the camper door.  The photos show it before the last two boards were custom made and installed on the deck ends.

Thanks extended to Shawn's Dad for turning out the boards that fit the sizes needed to fill the end gaps in the photos.  The deck is now finished, Shawn and Amy are happy...so I'm happy! 

Which brings me to the end of the story and full circle.  With the completion of "Project Wojtak #1 & #2", the finishing of a 15' CTS float rod that is being shipped to Canada, the painting of 6 window trims this weekend at home, I can now focus more of my attention on TC's construction needs which of course is "Project Thinker's Box."  Maybe I can convince Shawn to mill us up a ledger board that has a cool graphic and build date when the storage shed is finally finished?

It's just a thought! LOL!

July 3rd, A Great Day @ TC!

the family and I headed out to trout camp early Sunday morning.  We were blessed with wonderful weather.  We got the order of business correct this time and spent the warmest part of the day enjoying the cool spring creek in town and then we headed back to cook up some good eats, get a little work done and challenge ourselves with some target practice.  The Glock is dialed in and groupings of 1-2" at 30' are frequent.  I'm happy that I was able to tweak the sights and save the expense of getting a new pistol, although that Springfield XD and the KelTec SG are calling to me.  In the background, behind those calls, is the nagging repetition of "Build more rods!"  Darn it!

I took up the lawn mower thinking that I'd actually get a chance to use it. That seemed to be a bit premature as the grass is indeed growing, but not anywhere near the rate that I had guessed. No worries, less work is fine by me.

I did haul up 9 newly acquired 6" diameter cedar posts. THANK YOU GREG! and plot out where I'm going to put them. Once they're in the ground and cemented, we'll start the construction.

Here's a video recap of some of our day.

Spending My Day @ Trout Camp

Saturday evening was spent with the extended family at my cousin's daughter's first B-Day party. I hope that my endless rambling surrounding trout camp was not interpreted as anything but excitement for what we've accomplished, how it has been transformed thus far and the ideas of what is to come. I'm outspoken, I'm firm in my beliefs, I'll go overboard with details when story telling, I'm a ball-buster, prankster, even a clown, but I'm not a braggart nor will I ever be. Let's face it, I don't live next to the Jones' and I don't aspire too. Just so there isn't any confusion now or into the future. I apologize if it seemed differently when I was sharing with you guys Saturday evening.
When we arrived home from the party, I took to packing the mountaineer by going down my checklist for the day. That took only a short while and it was off to bed. The plans were to leave bright and early, by 7:15AM.

Well we made it. After a few pitstops before the trek even began, we finally were headed East on Route 6! Yes, Route 6. The motivation behind taking this alternate route was to discover how the road conditions were along the way. Pulling the 22' banner up to camp would be no problem. Most of the driving was over good roads and at manageable speeds.

The plan was to have breakfast, lunch and dinner at camp prepared on a wood fire. During that time I had a list of things that I wished to scratch off one by one. I was able to complete most of them.

Here was the short list:

• Plot out the space for "Thinker's Box" (the shed/eco-friendly-latrine structure)
• Adjust the sights on both the .22 and the Glock
• Get in some target practice
• Address the gravel ruts into camp
• Find the surveyor's pin under a pile of scrub and reinstate it to its original location
• Drop off the gas grill
• Level the mini-deck under the grilling area
• Shoot a video of the drive up the mountain into camp (for my cousin & camper hauler - Dave K.)
• Get some video of the Lake/Dam/Outflow/Recreation Area (for my cousin - Tyler)
• Capture video of some of the in town locations that we visit regularly when at TC

 I promised myself that I'd write less and let the videos tell the story.  Here you go:

A Face Lift That Even Joan Rivers Would Find Spectacular!

It's Friday evening, Jen and I are headed toward Trout Camp.  The Mountaineer is loaded down with the remaining Craig's list bricks, the trailer is in tow and loaded as well.  The plans are to meet up with Floatman and attempt to catch up to the head start in celebration that he's got on us.  It is nearing the end of my vacation, we've done a lot on this one...99% of it for the kids.  My body is sore and I'm tired.  Two days at both Kalahari and Cedar Point/Cast-Away-Bay can do that to you.  We've all enjoyed ourselves and I was able to spend much quality time with the family.  Working 85% of the time that my place of employment's doors are open takes its toll on relationships, the few weeks a year that I'm able to full immerse myself in family bonding is a vacation within itself.  However, the two remaining days of this vacation will be spent with the wife.  The kids are with Grandma and Grandpa and looking forward to an anime meeting at the local library the following day.  They have their kid activities that excite them and don't appreciate Trout Camp anywhere near the intensity that Jim, Jen and I do.  It isn't their fault, but they can't see the future potential that we see.  There'll come a time when the ideas that swirl in our heads are reality and provide a welcome refuge from the concrete jungle and constant barrage of noise and beehive-like activity of city dwelling.  I would perdict in a few more years they'll be more inclined to travel to camp, maybe even bring their friends up there with us and show them how special it is.  Who knows???

I've got a ritual that is initiated within only a few feet of crossing the border from the "So much to discover, the heart of it all and birthplace of aviation" and entering the "You've got a friend in the Keystone State because America Starts here" that involves purging the toxic stale and bitter gas within my lungs and replacing it with the cool, crisp and clean air of a place that comforts me with its natural wonders.  This trip was no exception, well...except for the fact that I now have a co-pilot that joins me in a well choreographed and only slightly exaggerated disply.

The wheels of the 4X4 spun the mandatory time and eventually hit the gravel parking lot of Trout Camp's local tavern.  It was dusk and the lot had not filled permitting the backing up and parking of the trailer into the very corner much more easy to navigate.

Friday is fish fry night.  Jen and I chose to order separate meals and share.  Her cod was baked, mine was fried.  The garlic wings that were a constant source of desire expressed during the ride into camp were ordered.  The evening took shape and the first of many cold ounces of Yuengling were being depleted from their containers.

Setting up camp in the dark after a joyous time at the local pub is a challenge.  Many things conspire to make effective execution of fairly simple tasks extremely difficult.  Gravity, darkness, bugs, remembering where you put things, heat, humidity, strange noises just past the tree lines, etc...they all play a role in slowing camp setup progress!  LOL!  We survive, but only barely! 

The following morning with claim to a total of about 1.5 hours of sleep, I woke and grabbed the video camera.  Today was a glorious day!  Not only because it was truly glorious, but because today was the day that Mother Nature turned her revolting disgust and temperment away from Jim and I's plans and ALLOWED us to have rain free day that would permit Trout Camp Excavation (cue:  stadium applause)! 

As you'll notice, thirty days is approximately what it takes for a jungle to sprout from a semi barren landscape.   The ferns have run rampant, taking over just about every square foot of ground that isn't covered by something or worn in from automotive travel.  The trees have florished and bright green leaves abound across the entire mountain.

From my previous blog posts and linked videos, our intent of transformation for Trout Camp was fairly well documented.  That vision and those plans are now a reality.  We now have a blank slate to build upon.  The endless quantity of tripping hazards, root ball dirt mounds that stood 2-3' tall, the adjacent 2-3' deep pits, the downed and rotting trees from the 85' tornado's fury, the big and small stumps that littered the landscape, the sprouting trees from those stumps have all been terminated, permanently!  Our excavation contractor, Steve, has left us with plenty of room to park our campers, vehicles, play catch and basically use camp at our discretion.  While leveling the mountain side, Steve installed rain diversion trenches, beveled adjoining hillsides and included appropriate grading decisions to make sure that our land improvements would stay intact and not get washed away.  Our property sits fairly close to the top of the mountain, but still the slope and contour of the excavation site is designed in such a way to direct water coming down the road to the left or right and around the "flat" area.  The "flat" area is sloped to facilitate proper run off as well.  While I weed-wacked around the fire pit and deck, Jim used a spreader to seed.  We were advised to use a combination of perrenial rye grass and tall fescue.  Here's to hoping that we get a few good rain showers to spark the germination!  Worst case scenario, we'll reseed in the fall when the climate is better.

The Dressor wide track dozer is an impressive and powerful beast.  Only a couple times did the dozer slightly slow in the battle to tame the mountain, but that was only when huge buried boulders put up a fight.  They were dispatched quickly with a change of blade angle and brushed aside.  Trout Camp's trees were new growth, likely only 8-10 years old.  The Dresser moved them like they didn't exist.  Watching the man and the machine work was awe inspiring and impressive to say the least.

All-in-all, the entire orderal didn't take long.  I was able to condense down the 4.5 hours it took into about 35 minutes of filming.  I expected to upload the full 35 minutes that I rendered using Sony Vegas in widescreen HD to Youtube, but the flash based "advance uploader" they're touting for those of us fortunate enough to be able to upload longer than 15 minutes and up to 20gigs is extremely buggy and doesn't deliver as promised. So, I chopped the videos into 4 parts and lowered the quality of rendering to a more managable size.
 
Well, enough typing...here's the video proof of the event.  If you don't care to watch the entire thing, I would suggest that you watch the first couple minutes of "Part I" and the last several minutes of "Part IV".  The rest of it may be boring to most, but I thought it was important to catch it all for TC's legacy.

Enjoy!  We're headed back up come Father's Day.  Look for a video of the drive into camp which will include us traversing the switch back road from the valley up the mountain, the bumpy secondary road and our private and semi-washed out drive just outside camp's entrance!

The Lumber Pile Grows...

Wednesday morning began with the wife and I dropping the kids at school and then it was "Road Trip" time. We traveled to Sullivan, Ohio in our quest to acquire more free lumber and possibly a 10'X16'  shed for parts to use on our project.  The hour and twenty minute ride went by fast.  Without the constant noise of energetic children and the radio set to "off", we took advantage of the time to talk and enjoy each other's company free of distractions.  And, when a long pause between subject matter occured, we basked in the pure unadulterated sound of silence.  It was certainly something to listen too!

We stopped for some breakfast at Mickie D's and ate outside.  The weather was beautiful, finally!  Fast forward to a dusty gravel country road. 

The rear view mirror reflected a dust cloud that hid everything that we had just passed.  A quick right turn into Kenis' place and a bumpy trek down a farming trail about four acres and we were backing up to a pile of 2X4, X8, X10, X12' and a few 1X6 rough sawn Amish lumber.  Next to the pile stood a barn style kit built 10' X 16' shed that was in great condition except for the inner floor and a few bottom sills of the exterior wall sheeting.  But, for the most part, this barn has all the t-111 and OSB skinning that we'll need for the roofing.  Kenis and I loaded my trailer with all the scrap wood we could (which was alot) and we headed back home.

In the next several weeks, I'll return with a saw-zaw and some other tools necessary to break the shed down and salvage the parts that will be usable.

The best part is whatever I don't want and can't use from the shed can be left where it lay.  Kenis said he'll burn it where it stands. LOL!  I love country living, fewer rules and less neighbors to worry about!  When I finally get all the parts from the free shed back to my place, I'll have to formulate a plan on how to best build our "thinking box/storage shed" so that I can haul it up to camp in pieces like a modular home and assemble onsite.

Here's what I plan on building courtesy of my new Youtube friend BuffCleb (Chris).  It'll be very similiar with only a few changes that involve the access door and a ramp instead of stairs.