Weekend Update

Updated Bog Bridges

Hello all! It's been a busy yet low key weekend for me here. Saturday was National Trails Day, typically working on a Saturday is a bummer but this was the opposite. Usually we have a 7am breakfast call time, so not having to be ready until 9am was amazing. We teamed up with folks from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy + a few more volunteers to build bog bridges and remove invasive species. Many of us had not built bog bridges before, and this was supposed to be our hard and fast introduction to doing so. The existing bog bridges were rotting and sinking into the ground, so our first task was to rip them apart via brute force, hammers, and hand saws. Let me back up... first we had to carry all of our supplies in, so all of the long boards and base blocks you see had to be carried down the trail to our work site. It wasn't too bad since we had a lot of people, but my shoulder is a bit bruised nonetheless. Anyway, once the rotten bridges were taken apart we set the precut timber aside to carry out and then tossed the natural stuff back in the woods. Each of the base block had to be set evenly and without wobble, which was a task within itself. Next, holes were drilled in and hammers nailed to keep it all together. Once we got a system going it was pretty fast. The longest part was carrying the materials for six bridges in and out (there's two that can't be seen in the photo). We also got to say hello to a few AT thruhikers, all of whom thanked us for our work. Carrying out semi-rotted, wet timber wasn't quite as fun, but necessarily!

Cinnamon Roll of Glory

We were treated to a BBQ later in the day, but in between the work day and BBQ I rode to town with another co-leader to check out Main St. Great Barrington is a cute little town with a typical New England Main Street, except everything is a million dollars. Everything except my MASSIVE CINNAMON ROLL as pictured to the right, which was only $5.34. I've eaten less than half of it so far. It may be the best $5.34 I've ever spent. Aside from the Cinnamon Roll of Glory, it was nice to just get out and do something different. There was a ton of little shops to check out, from thrift shops, vintage book stores, an amazing leather footwear store, restaurants, cafes, antique stores, and something called "Bra & Girl". Cinnamon Roll of Glory came from a place called the Gypsy Joint, a local favorite. We got back for the BBQ just in time to gorge ourselves until we were on the verge of illness. Blissful, blissful illness.

My axe also got some love this weekend. The first time I spread linseed oil over the handle it didn't quite dry right. I suspected it was because of how it was hanging on the tool shed. I re-linseed-oiled the handle and stuck it in a stump with a satisfying thud to dry overnight. I came back the next morning to find a wonderfully darkened, evenly treated wood handle. So satisfying. I also made a temporary sheath out of fire hose and paracord. I plan to get a leather one sooner rather than later.

Freshly oiled

Today I ventured out on my bicycle to the wondrous world of K-Mart. I had four main objectives: find a cheap rug, find a cheap camp chair, find a cheap replacement bike lock, and figure out how to strap it to my pack and get it back. The rug is for my canvas tent since there is no barrier between us and the tent platform (unlike a traditional tent that has a bottom to it). The rug will give me a decent place to walk around and put my boots. I also wanted a camp chair because ... why the hell not? I need the replacement bike lock because my bike lock is somehow missing (grrrrrrrrrrr). I accomplished all of my goals, including strapping it all to the butt of my pack. It was actually pretty comfortable, all things considered. I did look a little funny with 2.5 feet of rug sticking out of either side of my pack, but whatever. It was a rough ride all around, mostly because I didn't have enough air in my tires and didn't realize it until I was about halfway through the first leg of my ride. It was a really hot, sweaty, awkward 15 miles, but it was worth it.

My Kingdom

I have the tent platform to myself until tomorrow night, and I am taking full advantage to set up my kingdom until my platform-mate comes back tomorrow. It's awesome. I went on a hike with a few people here, only to find out at the top of the steepest section that I was pretty damn dehydrated. I barely drank water after riding hard in 85 degree weather, and I was feeling it. I turned around after chugging some water, I did feel better but it was best to go get more water. I took a quick trip down to the bog bridges and ran into a deer on the trail (almost literally). It was too quick to snap a photo! I then came across a guy sitting on our front lawn. I assumed he was a thruhiker due to his giant pack, so I asked him if he needed me to fill up his water. He politely declined and said "I just landed my paraglider in the field. I'm relaxing until I have to hitchhike back to the mountain". Stranger things have happened, I suppose. A group of us went to town for dinner, where I blissfully gorged myself on BBQ pulled pork sandwich, fries, and beer. We'll be out in the field for four days, three nights this week, so we figured we should stuff ourselves with non-trail food before then. It was a fantastic idea. 

One more week until our crews arrive!