LEAVING CURLEW LAKE

Good morning!
    I sit here, looking out on the lake for the last time this year. Packed and ready to go, I enjoy one or two last pots of coffee in Curlew Lake Canoe Camp. It's been one to remember!
    Melissa and Tom Rose have been wonderful to me and the canoes! I have told them of my intention to return, and finish the canoes in the Spring. They will let me leave my camping gear here, to facilitate that endeavor. I have TWO CANOES to finish, here, and won't feel right until I have them done! I'm going to try and have a moment with each of them, before I roll out of here, this morning. I'll miss those trees! I really BOND with the trees, when I work on them. I am one with the trees. Truth.
     Can't keep playin' on this computer... gotta load-up!
                               CANOE! CANOE!

WINDING DOWN

Good morning!
    Today, in theory, I will meet the legendary "Bearpaw". Maybe. He and Peter Tack are like me... on "river time". This guy has been doing wood-carving in Ferry County for years, and I like his work! I'm anxious to show him the two canoes! Meanwhile, I have friends waiting to see me, as I make my way across the states... AGAIN!
                                CANOE! CANOE!

SNOW!

Good morning!
    I finally got my travel plans secured, after yesterday, after going just about CRAZY in the process! I'm thinking about cleaning up her bottom. WAS thinking... it's SNOWING, as I write this morning! There's a light coat on the whole area, but the snow just kicked in, again! I'm so glad we flipped the little canoe!!! I should have oiled the bottom immediately, but I DID figure on a little touch-up, first. We'll see how much it snows...

                          CANOE! CANOE!

WINDING DOWN

Good morning!
     Not much to say, today. Canoe Camp is winding down, and Winter has started rolling in. Another journey is looming, yet this one is incomplete. The TREES have the magic, and help me on MY journeys, as I do, with them. I'll wax poetic soon enough, about THIS camp. I'm writing lyrics for my first BAND... 

                                CANOE! CANOE! 

FIRE

Good morning!
    As I continue making plans to move...somewhere... the cold, wet weather is moving in! Late last night, a crew of pyros came and lit the piles of wood on fire. It was planned, using the term loosely. Got some great shots of the BIG pine, with the fire behind it! I'll be wrapping up Canoe Camp soon, and watching it come to a FIERY FINISH was kind of COOL!
                           CANOE! CANOE!

Crazy

Good morning!
     Crazy day in camp, yesterday! (too much to tell) Haven't been choppin' so much, but I'm busy looking for my next direction... I'm probably heading towards Colorado,but nothing is in stone. I'm going to start a rock and roll band! I've decided to IMMERSE MYSELF in my music, and let the lyrics FLOW! I've had writing binges, but never got serious about it. Now, I'm ready to rock!
                                Canoe! Canoe!

LOST

Good Morning!
    Well, I am still trying to figure out my next MOVE! Either I go back to Cali, or someplace warm... or I head somewhere else. If it ain't warm, it's gonna have to be a music town. I'm leaning towards getting a BAND together, finally. Chop or sing... sing or chop??? Either way, I'm happy.
    I just wish I knew what STATE I was headed to!!!
                              CANOE! CANOE!

HEALED?

Good morning! 
    I rested my torn whatever-it-is, and it seems to have helped! I will wrap it up today, and see how I do. I must figure out which way I'm headed for the Winter, and what I will do with the little canoe. The big one is staying where it is.
                                CANOE! CANOE!
   

HURTS SO GOOD...

Good morning!
   Yesterday, Tom and Melissa helped me re-position the little canoe at Curlew Lake Canoe Camp. After "dressing" my camp, I got choppin'! 
    I started opening the middle of the canoe, and continued by opening the gunwales on the port side. I was excited to be chopping up top, in a suitable place! I may have been TOO excited. I ripped something in my right forearm... possibly a tendon. It's not good. The wood was cutting so well, and I was making much better progress, as I chopped. This set-back hurts in more ways than one. I could FINISH this canoe in about two weeks, if only I could keep choppin'!
    For now, I'm contacting local schools about coming to camp. I'm also making final touches on my new web-site for my canoe business. Will I ever be able to make a living doing this?
    I HAVE TO!

                         CANOE! CANOE! 

GOOD NEWS!

Good morning!
    Good news! The little canoe finally made it to Curlew Lake Canoe Camp! After my coffee, I'm headin' out to CHOP!!! The BIG PINE may have to be finished in the Spring, when I can spend more time on it, in it's awkward position. We'll see. It's possible that the tree brought me here to make the little one!
    The people I have met here, in Ferry County, have ben wonderful! There are SO many trees around here, that I might make this my Summer Canoe Camp on a regular basis. The Winter is NOT accomodating, however, and I still need to figure out my next move. Welcome to my world!
                               CANOE! CANOE!

COME TO ME

Good morning! 
    My little canoe is still missing. I'm a little concerned, to say the least. I've been leaving the BIG pine alone, since she's already oiled and happy. I'm getting stir-crazy, though, and might have to chop!
    It's clear to me, at this point, that part of THIS dugout journey was learning that I need a proper rig. or a better system of retrieving these trees. The arch-type skidders would work, IF I had a good truck. 
    I would have to trade or sell a canoe for a truck... or anything else. It's about time to market some of my beautiful canoes. I just wish I could FINISH the canoes I've been working on, lately!

                             CANOE...

                        COME TO ME!


                      CANOE! CANOE!

PLANS

Good morning!
    Nothing but the same ol' FOG up here. I'm still waiting for the Barter Faire canoe to come home! I want to finish at least ONE of these canoes before the snow comes! I'm still up-in-the-air about my Winter home. Gotta get ready to move soon.
                                     CANOE! CANOE!

DEJA VU

Good morning!
    Waited again, and nothing happened. Keith was coming by last night, I thought, with the little tree. Maybe he'll make it, tonight. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out my plans for the Winter. Where will I finish these canoes?
                              CANOE! CANOE!

Anticipation...

Good morning!
    As I sip on my coffee, I wait, with great anticipation, for my tree. The BIG pine looks good, but I don't want to chop on her until I get her up top, too. I'm thinking ahead, now, and must keep both canoes covered with linseed oil. I'm running out of time here, because Winter is sub-zero territory, here. Not suitable for chopping!
    I haven't heard from my old roomies, so I don't know where I'll be for the Winter. I really would like a place to take THESE trees, so I can finish them! We'll have to see how this pans out. 
                              CANOE! CANOE!

RESTED

Good morning!
    After two days of rest, I have basically recovered from Barter Faire! The canoe should be delivered tomorrow, and I have my camp set... up top. Hopefully, we'll hear from our other "tree guy", Paul, and find out when the big canoe will join the party.
Meanwhile, I continue to edit the footage from the fair...
                                         CANOE! CANOE!

SUCCESS!

Good morning!
    I'm back from Barter Faire. What a weekend! Hundreds of people, mostly kids, helped carve  about a thousand pounds of pine! We worked with the canoe right-side-up the whole time. At the moment, we have three seats carved into her! I have to open up the inside some more, and finish the ends of the canoe. 
    Dave Konz, after DUMPING the canoe off, came back to the Faire on Saturday. After spending the night, he and Martin went back to Republic, and worked on a ride back for the canoe. Keith, from Anderson's Grocery in Republic, came down with a big truck and a flat-bed trailer. A small crew of helpers, including our Netherlands friend, Martin, got the canoe on the trailer.
    Today, I wait to see when the canoe will come to town... sometime today, apparently.  I expect to set my new Canoe Camp up top, at Curlew Lake. Dave has considered having me at the ranch, I believe. We'll see. I've got TWO canoes to work on, now... and Winter is coming! Where will I go for the season??? We'll see...
                          CANOE! CANOE!

OFF WE GO...

Good morning!
    I'm taking the new tree to Barter Faire today. Gotta get going! I'll be back on Monday, friends.
                                 CANOE! CANOE!

READY FOR BARTER FAIRE!

Good morning!
    What a day, yesterday! I spent the day preparing for the move to Barter Faire, in Tonasket, Washington. Worked on making the camp "presentable", and went back to Dave Konz's place, the K-DIAMOND-K Ranch. Big Dave took a BIG chainsaw to the pine tree, and "roughed" it out, as we did last year. The tree now has a flat bottom, with the top basically flat, and the ends coming to a point. It's up to me and a couple of thousand friends to take it from here! Tomorrow, we will move to our new camp, and get CHOPPIN'!

                       CANOE! CANOE!

ANOTHER TREE?

Good morning!
    Another frosty fog this morning at Curlew Lake Canoe Camp! Had a big day yesterday, as I continued searching for some help. Dugout canoe magic is here. Only my "Blogger" friends will know about this FIRST...
    Melissa introduced me to a very nice man the other night. Dave Konz came over, after dark, on Sunday. He thought he could help get the BIG pine out of the hole... until he saw it! We talked for a while, and he invited us down to his ranch yesterday. 
    We took a look at his guge "dude ranch", while we waited. Very nice! He shwed up, and took us to see some logs he had lying around. Wow. WOW! He actually had three or four possible canoes! We agreed on one that was accessible for him, and will be heading back to the ranch today. We're going to slab off the bottom and top, and perhaps the ends, the way we did last year, for Barter Faire. THIS will be the 2013 Barter Faire Dugout Canoe!
     While in town, we ran into Paul Anderson. He is still planning on helping us with the BIG pine, as soon as he fixes the brake lines on his big rig. I'm hoping we can do this before I leave for the Faire. Either way, we'll get her out. I'll finish this beauty before I leave for the Winter.
I just didn't expect to carve TWO canoes here!
The trees come to me. I'm just goin' with the flow...
                        CANOE! CANOE!

WAITING

Good morning!
    Waiting on the latest "tree guys" to show, I ready the canoe for the big move UP. Chopped a little in the stern. Waited some more.
    Still waiting.
    At this point, I need to come up with a back-up plan, since the Barter Faire is FOUR days away. A local rancher, Dave, came by, after dark. I'm going to his property today to look for a back-up tree. He said he has a dump truck that could drop it off... We'll see...
                        CANOE! CANOE!

TOM'S PARTY

Good morning!
    Yesterday we had another Birthday Party for Tom. His musician friends Barry, Johnny, Dave, and Blaine came over, and jammed in the house! It was a wonderful time!
    I did, however, continue making headway in the canoe. I opened up most of thhe starboard gunwales a bit. She's getting roomier! I cleaned her up real nice, and oiled her down. This tree is responding well to the chopping. Today, if all goes well, we'll be dragging her up top.
                          CANOE! CANOE!

DUGOUT CANOE MAGIC

Good morning!
    After a cold, frosty fog lifted, I got choppin'. Realizing that Barter Faire is only five days away, I call on the tree to give us some love. Right on queue, a young trio of guys shows up in Canoe Camp! Paul Anderson believes he can move this tree, so we're shooting for Sunday, to get her up top! Dugout canoe MAGIC is real. Dugout Canoe Love is here!
    By the way... I pulled the starboard gunwales OUT a bit...
                                    CANOE! CANOE!

FROST

Good morning!
    27 degrees, with :a mix of wintry precipitation happening nearby"... looking at the current weather. Frost on the ground. I'm running out of time, here! Didn't get any chopping in yesterday, as I looked high and low for a little HELP. I think it's about time I did something, myself. Today, cold or not, I'm choppin' like a madman! We WILL be able to move this canoe with cables that are already here, some rollers, and the right rig. I've got 6 days.
                                          CANOE! CANOE!

CRUNCH-TIME

Good morning!
   Got crazy yesterday, choppin' all over the canoe! I even broke out the scorp, a beautiful draw-blade, to clean up the gunwales. She's cleaning up nicely, with a week to get her to Barter Faire! It's crunch-time, people!
                                            CANOE! CANOE!

DIGGIN'

Good morning!
    Chopped down between the second and third seats, yesterday. The third seat is a strong possibility as the stern of the canoe, although I allowed for four seats. I have found her width now, and still have a big dcision to make. The blue-colored wood LOOKS nice, and would allow for a wider canoe. The HOLES in the blue wood, from the beetles, pose problems. There are a LOT of holes! If I use the heartwood only, I have no holes, but I have less overall width. A smaller canoe would be more stable, in that case. Decisions...decisions!
                         CANOE! CANOE!

OPENED-UP

Good morning!
    Opened her up around the third seat, yesterday. I had to stay away from the knots, and give my back a chance to recover! At the moment, I'm allowing for the possibility of a shorter canoe. I just don't know, exactly, how we're getting her up top! This CONTINUES to be my biggest problem, besides the critters. It's opening up, in there! 
    I stopped BEFORE my back told me to, and just before some heavy rain. Hopefully, my back does as well, today! After the rain, a beautiful double-rainbow appeared over Curlew Lake Canoe Camp! I believe this is a good "sign", and the tree guy will come! I got some cool shots of the house, but couldn't make it to the tree in time for photos. 
    Tom got back from his sailing adventure, and they brought back some Mexican food! After my coffee here, I'm headin' out to CHOP!
                                  CANOE! CANOE! 

CRAZY

Good morning!
    Once again, my back is slowing me down. Of course, TIME doesn't matter here, but I'm hurting a bit, and frustrated, more than anything. I DO have to get her up top by next week, and I'm not sure how it's going to happen. I haven't even found her a ride to thr Barter Faire, YET!
    I did chop a little... on the starboard gunwales, again. I'm seeing this canoe much better, now. Looking at her from differetn angles, including from the TOP of the tree, gives a different perspective. I think I MIGHT be crazy!!!
                                   CANOE! CANOE!

EVEN IT OUT

Good morning!
    I decided to hop in the canoe, and work on the starboard gunwales. The canoe is presenting itself to me, now. Her lines are becoming more visible, even to a blind guy! (half-joking) I took a walk with Melissa, and wound up at the top of the tree. I had only been up there once or twice before. It's a very different perspective!
    This really IS a crazy way to make a canoe! It's almost surreal! Looking back DOWN the tree, the stern was about fifty to sixty feet down the hill! The bow, in comparison, is another 24ft or so UP the other hill. On the far side of the whole thing, the 25ft stump still stands. My little tent sits well below all of this. 
    I have cleared out debris to make access for Darren (the tree guy), so he can pull it up top, if he ever decides to. At this point, I'm figuring we'll have to get her light enogh to CARRY out of here. My only problem is the time-frame, which I don't usually HAVE in my camp. I promised I'd bring a tree to Barter Faire, and that is a week from Thursday. I've got to have her on a trailer by then. Oh yeah... gotta find a trailer... and a rig to move it...and a driver. I'm workin' on it!
                               CANOE! CANOE!

GRASSHOPPER

Good morning!
    Looks like a good day to get choppin'! Had another visitor at Curlew Lake Canoe Camp, yesterday. A grasshopper actually let me pet him! Too cool! Anyway, I kept working on the port gunwales with the adze. In particular, I dug into the knots by the bow and bow seat. 
    The knots are VERY hard chopping, and I can only do it for so long. Actually, I have trouble chopping for too long, on a regular basis. My back ain't exactly... good. Lucky me, there is NEVER a time constraint in MY Canoe Camp! It's done, when it's DONE! Of course, THIS canoe IS going to Barter Faire, later this month. I don't know where we're going from there...yet. This is my life...

                                  CANOE! CANOE!

Foggy

Good morning! 
    A thick fog this morning. Yesterday, I kept going on the port gunwales, chopping through the knots. My back isn't happy with me, right now! The canoe is looking good, but we still have to move it up top. I've got two weeks to get her to Barter Faire. When the fog clears, I'll proceed on...
                                          CANOE! CANOE!
   

Nothing

Good morning!
    Cold day and night. Didn't chop at all. Spent the day trying to find ways to move the BIG pine AND my little redwood, to no avail. The sun is burning off the cold mist in camp, this morning, and it should be good choppin' weather. Two weeks until Barter Faire!
                                    CANOE! CANOE!

COLD

Good morning!
     I'm typing in my tent, waiting for the sun to clear the edge of the kettle, over the tree. I probably shouldn't have my computer in the very moist air. Anyway, I chopped on her port gunwales, again. Made some habanero chile! A FACECROOK ARGUMENT made it into a long night... we'll leave it at that.
                                    CANOE! CANOE!

CHILE

Good morning!
    I only chopped a little, yesterday. Continued shaping the stern. I'm letting myself get psyched out by the weather, but it will end. I just wish this thing was up top, where I could work on it, freely! Another "blah" day outside, but I'll push through it. Gonna make some CHILE today! (between choppin')
                                   CANOE! CANOE!
 

POT-LUCK

Good morning!
    Rain and wind all day, yesterday. During a break in the weather, I chopped a little on the stern. I'm not sure of her actual width, yet, and MAY have to make her a little shorter. If the critters weren't in there, I would use the sapwood on this tree, to get extra width. That said, I don't normally use the sapwood. The heartwood is what I want. There's more density and color in the heartwood.
    Last night Melissa, Peter, and I joined my Voyages of Rediscovery brothers at their camp in Kettle Falls. A bunch of people showed up for a pot-luck dinner to send them back up the river. They were STILL working on the new canoe last night! They plan on leaving, in the rain, today! I don't think this is wise, but I wish them well. They have to take THEIR journey. I DO wish they would take more care of the dugouts, though. Inchy is beat-up, and needs a LOT of attention. I don't understand. Not my business. They know I'm here for them.
    Looks like a better day, today. Gonna grab my coffee, now. Good to see my friends in Kettle Falls (and Northport) last night! Donna-Gay, Cliff, and Haven will all be at Barter Faire in a few weeks! Cool!!!
                                       CANOE! CANOE!

RAIN

Good morning!
    More wind and rain, all day and night, yesterday. I stayed dry, in the house, but I'm already getting stir-crazy! I can't set a tarp up on the gill, where the canoe is. I wish we had it up top! I'm still counting on our tree guy showing up... at SOME point! I MAY have a drier day, today, and that's all I can hope for, at this point. Cold is here...
                                     CANOE! CANOE!

Good morning!
    Had to go to town yesterday, at the last minute. Gathered some more winter clothes and food. It's over an hour to Colville, which is a little bigger than Republic. When you are this far out of town, you have to make your trips count!
    Though I didn't get anything done on MY canoe, I ran into my boys from Voyages of Rediscovery, in Kettle Falls! I saw THEIR canoe... a David Thompson-style cedar plank canoe. They plan on paddling up the Columbia (from here) on Monday. If possible, we'll join them for a farewell pot-luck dinner, on Sunday.
    Looks like a crappy day out there. Regardless, I think I'm choppin', today. I have some awesome Steady's Coffee (probably roasted by Donna-Gay), and I'm fired-up.
                                   CANOE! CANOE!

Good morning!
    The internet is truly horrible, up here, at Curlew Lake!  I am having trouble putting THIS up, today, let alone VIDEO that I post on Facebook (at Curlew Lake Canoe Camp). Sharing the journey isn't easy...
    I noticed spider webs all over the kettle, on my way up to the house... HUNDREDS of them! I think they came out because of the first frost. That's right, winter IS coming! The good news is that they lifted the fire ban! I hope we can have fires this year at Barter Faire! It's coming up QUICK! 
    I chopped on the bow, stern, and gunwales today. She's showing signs of drying out, so I gave her a bit of linseed oil. This internet connection is driving me nuts!

                                                                    CANOE! CANOE!

LAZY

Good morning!
    After a very cold night, I wasn't motivated, testerday. Sorry... I took the day off. I won't be so lazy today...
                                       CANOE! CANOE!

Good morning!
    It dropped below freezing, last night! A lot of moisture in the air, this morning. Spider webs are all over the ground in camp, all of a sudden! I must have walked by a hundred of them on the way up to the house! I'm having coffee INSIDE this morning...
    The bow. The tree, immediately, tols me where to carve. I started digging in, opening up the bow, and bringing the gunwales down and out. She was looking good. I took a break for lunch, and, actually, thought I'd take a little siesta. Nope! The tree wanted the OUTSIDE of the bow worked on, too! So, I started to bring in the starboard (down-hill) side. Wow. You know it's been a good day's work, when ya see the lines coming out! Yes, sir! It looks like we might have ourselves a CANOE!!!
                                     CANOE! CANOE!

Good morning!
    Not much new here, this morning. Chopped some more on the gunwales, and found some more canoe. Bad weather came in, in the afternoon, with wind and rain. It seems cooler this morning than it was last night. 40's, I'm guessing. If the rain stays away, it will be good choppin' weather.
                                       CANOE! CANOE!

STERN SEAT

Good morning!
    Chopped down on the gunwales again, and found a canoe! Eventually, I concentrated on the stern seat. We went down and out, and found the actual edges of the canoe. Ran into a lot of critters munchind on my canoe. I offered them to the yellow-jackets. (Some of them met the adze first) Can I make her a canoe BEFORE they EAT her? How LOW can I go? 
    Again... the port side is lower, because the canoe is at an angle, side-to-side...not just length-wise! It's rather tough to "see" her opening up from that angle. As I dig down, the gunwales come OUT, and the canoe widens. Of course, I have to do the same, from the bottom...
                           CANOE! CANOE!

Gunwales

Good morning!
    Had a good day of choppin',yesterday! I continued bringing down the gunwales, and evening them out. I mostlyworked onthe port side, after starting with the starboard. Theport had to come DOWN... about 4 inches! I'm getting rid of the critters! To do so, I have to get rid of most, if not all, of the blue fungus.
    She's going to look quite different, when it's all over. She'll be leaner, for sure, but not necessarily SMALL! I tried out the tarp I got for her, a 20-footer. Too small. Though it covers the inside of the canoe, at this point, she's about 23-24ft, overall. At the moment. We'll see if I can keep those ends oiled up enough to use the way I want to.
    Today, I'll proceed on... choppin' the gunwales, and doing whatever the tree wants. She's getting oiled again,before I go to the Blake Noble concert at the Republic Brewing Company. He's a guitar/didgeridoo player from Australia... transplanted to Seattle. I Youtubed it, and was impressed! Check him out!
                                     CANOE! CANOE!
   

TOWN

Good morning!
    Well, I went to town, yesterday. I wanted to chop, but I also have to go to town, when I can. I needed to get some decent shoes for cooler, wetter weather. All I had with me were river shoes. They're nice ones, but they are, by design, full of HOLES!  That's not so good for the mountains in winter! So, Melissa wanted to go to Colville, which is across the Columbia, near Kettle Falls. I'd be able to run into my Voyages brothers, with any luck...
    The drive over Sherman Pass was beautiful, We came down, passing the road to Inchelium, where we had our marvelous Canoe Camp, last Fall. Headed on to the bridge, just down-river from our Canoe Camp in Kettle Falls. We passed the road to that camp, and I saw the guys had set camp at the Discovery Center, instead, this time. They're getting ready to make a David Thompson-style canoe, and proceed on, up the Columbia. I didn't see their rigs, so we went to town.
    We got supplies, including my boots and socks, and food items. I found a habanero salsa...MMMmmmm!!! Had a fine Mexican dinner, in town. On the way home, we stopped by the Voyages Camp, again, but they weren't there. Tried a call to Adam, but no answer. I didn't have the other numbers with me, so we took off. No worries! I'll run into them, soon enough. I've got to take care of mt redwood dugout, Ol' Red, back at their home, in Index. I'm working on that...
    I've got a lot to figure out, here. My communications have been severed with my old roomies in Cali, so I'll have to write an actual LETTER! If they're game, I'll be fetching another redwood off the Eel River, this winter, and making another canoe at their house. I've got to take care of things back in Denver, as well. My storage unit there is eating me alive, but I have some treasures in there... Lewis and Clark treasures. Buffalo robe. Clothing. Gear. JOURNALS. I need to have a real HOME to put this stuff. I'm having trouble affording any kind of rent, at this point. My eyes aren't exactly good, and my back sucks, as you know. Between the pain, and the numbness, it's a constant challenge! I have to pace myself when I chop, and can only do so many hours in a day. Thankfully, the tree is PATIEMT! 
    Waking up to rain, it seems to be letting up. Today... I chop. 
                                       CANOE! CANOE!
   
 
   

GUNWALES

Good morning!
    I started evening out the gunwales, and getting through the blue crud. Lots of critters still in the tree. I think the cold weather is affecting the yellow-jackets, since they aren't swarming as much as they were. I've got another week, at least, 'until thr tree guy comes. Gotta keep shoppin'!
    I expected to see my Voyages of Rediscovery brothers in Kettle Falls, today, but it looks like that isn't happening. I need to dedicate myself, here, to MY project. My back has been horrible, but I MUST push through the pain. When I clean up her lines, I get more motivated! The problem is, her awkward angle has made that difficult. The hull, in particular, concerns me. After I clean up the gunwales, and dig it out a bit, I'll start stripping the other bad wood off the outside of the canoe. I'm carving this one inside-out, which is an idea Jay and I had talked about on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Make the inside comfortable, then get rid of the fat! That's the idea...
                                      CANOE! CANOE!

COLD

Good morning!
    Big weather change last night! Winter is coming. Got a little choppin' done... mostly smoothing out the inside of the starboard gunwales, and the bottom. Went over to Peter's place for a while. He's throwing out ideas, a far as being an artist... and making money. I need to work on that last part, there. He's always got several projects going, and goes with the flow. I understand this way of thinking, now.
    We went to town... the bustling metropolis of Curlew, Washington! Not much there. Went into a restaurant, kind of. I noticed a lot of musical instruments, and got excited. Then, I figured it out. Jesus signs everywhere... "Jesus is coming!", "Are you ready for Jesus?", and so on. It was a pot-luck dinner, all right, but there was a catch! After a wonderful meal, they broke out some song books. They LOOKED, to me, like very small karaoke books, but I knew what they were. The idea was to sing praises of Jesus, in return for our meal. 
    Mmmmmm....K!
    I grew up with this. Raised Roman-Catholic, I went to Sunday School, and the like. My Mom used to find "Single's Churches" that played lots of music, being single, herself. As I grew up, I grew out of it! At this point, I'm SPIRITUALLY STRONGER than I've ever been. That said, I am not into "relidion", anymore. There were a lot of smiles last night. I hope they are, TRULY, happy. Love is here. Just as a gentleman was preparing a "presentation", Peter wisked me away. Good move! I think it was about missionary work in Malaysia. I'll pass.
    Came back to camp, and crawled into my tent. Cooler than it's been, I was quite comfortable! I swear it looks like snow, this morning! Don't think it will, but it's a good reminder...
                            CANOE! CANOE!

RAIN

Good morning!
   Chopped down, between the second and third seat, for a while. My back was bothering me a lot, so I rested in my tent for a while. Woke up to rain. The rain continued to pour, with very heavy drops, at times. I went up top, into the house, where I remain. Looks like more rain today...
    I've been thinking about my other canoes, sitting outside. Ol' Red is in Index, waiting to be finished. She needs my attention before it snows, hopefully. I don't want to lose her! Knotty, on the other hand, is ready to paddle! She's waiting for me in Twin Bridges, Montana. She survived a storm at the Montana Children's Center, where... go figure... a storm blew over the trees she was tied to! From what I'm told, she is unscathed! Knotty The Dugout Canoe... "Google it!" She's on Facebook and Youtube, of course! 
    Meanwhile, my back still killing me, I wait to chop some more...
                          CANOE! CANOE!

ONE MORE TIME...

Good morning!
    My friend, Peter, came by, We got rid of the last, BIG knot! After choppin', I gave the tree a fair coat of linseed oil. I coated the bow, stern, seats, gunwales, and knots. Hopefully, I can keep this tree from "checking". After I chop today, I'm going to coat the rest of the outside.  
                                       CANOE! CANOE!

VISITORS

Good morning!
    Yesterday, I met a couple of young bucks! They hung out in camp, foraging. One of them tried to get some fruit, up by the canoe! The other got within six feet of me, more than once! He even let me get my camera out of my tent, then sit back down, to film. Too cool!
    I think the flock of geese flew over, before that. They flew low, over the trees, right above me! I could hear and FEEL the heavy flaps of their wings. Awesome!
    Anyway, I smoothed out the inside (a little), and roughed-out some lines for the seats. A good day! Thunderstorm last night, with good wind and lightning. I love my Marmot tent! Drizzle this morning, so I did laundry, up top. I see sun! Goin' back down...
                                        CANOE! CANOE!

THE DECISION

Good morning!
    Well, yesterday was decision time... again. I can't get help moving the tree for a couple of more weeks. Working on the hill has been difficult, to say the least. I needed better footing, at least. Enter... Peter Tack.
    Peter is a very
WOW! ABOUT 20-30 GEESE JUST FLEW LOW, OVER THE TREES... RIGHT OVER MY HEAD! i COULD HEAR THE HEAVY FLAPPING OF THEIR WINGS!
    O.K. Where was I???
    Oh, yeah. Peter is a very talented wood carver/artist who made fis living with a chain-saw, back in the day. Now, he makes walking sticks, beaded jewlery, and portraits! He offered to help, with the chain-saw. I couldn't pass it up! He had already offered to hit the big knots, but I wanted more. With my back and knees the way they are, I was having trouble standing on top of the tree. Well, to make a long story short, I can stand IN it, now!
    I'll be choppin' in a big way, today! Afterwards, I will coat a large portion of the canoe with linseed oil. I must protect the gunwales, since they are exposed, now. The bow needs another coat, as well. I'll do the entire outside of the canoe, eventually. For now, the inside stays dry... I'm choppin' in there!
    Let me be clear... I'm making the best DUGOUT CANOE I can! Using the best tools availeable is
A DEER JUST RAN BY THE CANOE!
    Anyway... Using the best tools availeable makes sense. I assure you, my Great Great Great Great Grandpa William used the best tools HE had! I made KNOTTY THE DUGOUT CANOE (GOOGLE IT) with hand tools, only. That said, when I modified her, after paddling across Nebraska, I FINISHED her with a grinder! She's super-sexy, now, and half her original weight (as a canoe)! I'll paddle her down the Mighty Mo', next Spring...
    My focus, here, is the BIG PINE. Mother nature is going to test me, soon, I feel. It's a cool morning. Godd chopping weather, though! I need to get this beauty off this hill before the first snow! There's only one thing to do... CHOP!
                                  CANOE! CANOE!

BIG DAY

GOOD MORNING!
    Well, it's back to me and my adze. Today, I'll try and make headway, and see if I can do this. We can't get help moving the tree for a couple of more weeks, so I'm carving her where she is. I'm hitting the down-hill side, today... for better or worse! If I can chop down there,, without incident, we're good. Otherwise, I'll be calling Peter back, to borrow his chain saw. The island tree is still an option, and already is easier to work on. I MIGHT have to wait on this one. We'll see.
                                        CANOE! CANOE!

DEER

Good afternoon!
    Sorry I'm so late today. Just got back. Yesterday, I looked harder, at the stern. Trying to figure out just how much canoe I have, here. Looks like a four-man dugout. I could make a really nice three-man, but the tree seems to want four. That decided, more or less, I headed to town.
    I hadn't stretched my vocal chords in a while, so I headed to Madonna's for their biggest night of the week... karaoke night. The KJ was flippin' discs, old-school. No hard-drive, no computer. I remember those days... What was even funnier, was the HAND-WRITTEN song books! Funny!
    Anyway, a guy I met a few weeks ago found me at the watering hole. I found his place in the wee hours oft the morning, I thought. Since I hadn't been there yet, I wasn't sure, so I slept on the ground, out back. Woke up to a small deer about six feet from me. He was startled, as I raised my head. I was startled, too! These deer are everywhere, in town! Anyway, I finally got too cold, and ventured into the house. Peeking into the living room, I saw the hammock, hanging in the room. It was the right place!
    After meeting the roomies, I went into town for breakfast. Then, I headed towards Curlew Lake, on foot. Some guys pulled over, though they were going the other way! Brandon remembered me from singing last night, and he, Mark, and Justin gave me a ride all the way back to Canoe Camp! Cool!
    Concrete guys put more sealer on, this morning, and it stinks. 90-something degrees. Trying to motivate. 

                                    CANOE! CANOE!
     

STARS

Good morning!
    I didn't get much done, yesterday. I took the option of going to town, and took care of a few things. I'm trying to get this town fired up about the project, and have to spread the word! Still, I felt like a slacker, yesterday.
    Today will be somewhat different. I'll be heading to town, but not 'til tonight. I'm gonna stretch my vocal chords a bit. This morning, however, I'll get choppin'! The sun's coming up, over the tree, as I have my coffee. Birds making all sorts of noises, today! I woke up, in the middle of the  night, and stepped outside my tent. Wow. WOW! A billion stars above me, through the clearing, in the woods. SPECTACULAR! This is ane awesome camp! I'm still waiting to meet the moose that strolls through. Saw a young buck (white-tail) the first week. Darwin, the dog, came and said, "Hello", this morning. Yep. Pretty cool camp.

                                      CANOE! CANOE!
    

BEETLES

Good morning!
    One of our tree guys, Lonnie, showed up yesterday. As I expected, we didn't move the tree. We are waiting on a skidder, which Darren should bring down, later this week. Lonnie is a carver, and appreciated what I'm doing with the BIG PINE. He also showed me some adult beetles. Now, there's a face to my pain! Ugly critters! We looked at the big part of the tree, still in the ground, and found BIGGER beetles! Nasty! Some idiot on a "reality" show would eat these, to be sure.
    Anyway, I learned a lesson, again. KEEP CHOPPIN'! I've been waiting, with great anticipation, to get the tree moved. I must proceed on, doing what I can, while I wait.
I've been sleeping in the house, but moved back into my tent, last night. This will help me focus. More importantly, it will keep me closer to the tree. We're bonding, and I have to be here, for that! 
    So, after my morning coffee, I'll be back at it!
Hope y'all have a great day!
                             CANOE! CANOE!

VISITORS

GOOD MORNING!

    Well, I finally made my way into the knots! Still carving towards the bow, I'm trying to give the canoe some defined lines. It really helps motivate me, to see the canoe taking shape! Apparently, my tree guy, Lonnie, is coming over, this morning. The goal is to get her off the hill, on to high, FLAT ground. Today could be the day!
    While I made progress, I got a little help! As I dug into the knots, I uncovered a lot of the critters. Luckily, the hornets were on the hunt! They went into a feeding frenzy! Unfortunately, they copped an attitude with me, as I was filming them. After a while, it was better to leave them to their work. I already have a spider bite to deal with. I'll let the "circle of life" take it's course, without me!
                                   
                                    CANOE! CANOE!

FOG

Good morning!

    Woke up to a thick fog, covering the lake. Down in the kettle, on the other side of the house, I can still see my tent, and the tree. The moisture in the air is keeping the tree from drying out. THIS, I know, for fact.
    Yesterday,  I continued carving out and away from the deep spot in the stern. I worked my way to the next group of knots, digging down, as I went. I feel like continuing this pattern, and giving the tree more defined lines. We'll see what the tree thinks about that, shortly. The good news is, I found juice in the tree, when I approached the first knot! It makes it harder to chop, but will save the tree! We want it to dry, eventually, to get the excess weight out... but not yet! "Checking" is BAD! 
    My hope, again, is that one of the tree guys shows up, today. Once I get the tree up top, on flat ground, I will coat her with linseed oil. This is VERY important, to keep her from drying out too quickly, and "checking", or splitting. I will also have more options, as far as where I carve! Right now, I must chop from the port side, up-hill of the tree, on a slope. Not easy!
     Anyway, I'm doing what I can, and she's coming along... slowly, but surely! We're on "river time", after all! Life is GOOD! 

                                        CANOE! CANOE!

Good morning!

    Well, I finally got caught-up with my analog self! My posts, here and on Facebook and Youtube, are all in sync with my project. Whew! What a relief!
    Not only that, but I took a deeper look into the BIG PINE. She's beautiful! The beetles are there, but, apparently, won't ruin the DUGOUT CANOE! I can't tell you how relieved I am! Peter Tack, a most interesting man, dug into a small section with his chain saw. A bit of bluing, yes, but it doesn't look like Swiss cheese, as I had feared. I'm good to go!
    So... stay with me, here, and be part of this tree's amazing adventure! We've got a lot of work, here...
    OH! I can't forget... my boys at Voyages of Rediscovery have made it to Grand Coulie Dam, a major step on their dugout journey! Find them on F-book, and "like" 'em, for more good stuff!
    Gotta grab my coffee, so I can get choppin'...

                                      CANOE! CANOE!

    Good morning!

    One way, or another I'll be getting a better look at the tree today! I've got a few guys willing to use a chainsaw on 'er, and I must cut down into her to see just how far the beetles have gone. We'll see. Great lightning storm last night, reminding me of New Jersey, growing up. Cool!

    Good morning!
    I finally put some linseed oil on the bow end, and on the various knots that will be part of the canoe. Hopefully, this will keep either from drying out. If the end doesn't "check", or split open, the rest of the tree might stay together, too. The knots will dry up, and shrink, if they aren't sealed. Most carvers don't like the knots. I've found, however, that they add character to the canoe! They are KNOT a problem!
    Keeping my options open, because of the ips engraver beetles, I went to an island on Curlew Lake, today. I was introduced to another beautiful pine, blown over in the same micro-burst that got the BIG PINE, by Madilane Perry. This one wasn't quite as big, but definitely could make a fine canoe! I could see a 15-17ft dugout here, which is a size I like. We may have another project, here!
    On the way back, in a sailboat Tom borrowed from our friend, Sandy, we noticed ANOTHER big tree in the water! Tom brought us in, and I gave it a look. Not bad! It MIGHT be big enough for yet ANOTHER project! One advantage to THIS tree, is that it's IN the water! We could cut it off, and drag it where we want! HMmmmm...
    In the end, the BIG PINE wins out! I'll take my chances with the beetles, and, hopefully, have a beautiful DUGOUT CANOE, when it's all over.

Apologies...

My apologies! I didn't post yesterday. I will make it a habit, hopefully, as of today. I did, in fact, put linseed oil on the end of the tree, as well as on the knots. I still believe in the BIG pine! That said, I am taking a look at another big pine, this morning. I'm ALWAYS looking for the NEXT tree! This one is on an island on Curlew Lake. 
    Of course, if the original BIG PINE is too far gone, from the beetles, I might have a back-up! My goal is to bring a project to Barter Faire, in Tonasket, WA, next month. I believe I'll meet that goal! Canoe! Canoe!

Welcome to Dugout Canoe Love!

    Hello, and welcome, to Dugout Canoe Love! I am your DUGOUT CANOE CARVER, Churchill Clark. I travel the country, looking for really big trees. I go where the trees take me. If the tree wants to be a canoe, I help it on it's journey, by carving it with my adze. Once completed, I must give the dugout canoe a story, as I introduce it to a beautiful river.
    My first teachers were John Ruskey, and Lee Gilbert/Lee Guthrie (Lee squared). They taught me the spectacular process of carving a dugout canoe, while I was re-enacting  the Lewis and Clark Expedition, for the Bicentennial. William Clark is my 4th-great-grandfather, and I travelled the Trail to honor him. The trees have taught me, as well. There's always more to learn. Working on the canoes, and paddling them for thousands of miles, has changed my life! I fell in love with the dugouts. I guess you could say, "It's in my blood."
    My goal is to share the dugout canoe experience with as many people as I can! My "Canoe Camps" are always open to the public, and I encourage visitors to "get choppin'". I love working with schools, and encourage them to contact me.
    My latest project is in Republic, Washington. I just started working on a ponderosa pine, at Curlew Lake. This tree had an eagle's nest on it, when it blew apart in a micro-burst, last year. In a very awkward position, lying on a hill, it poses it's own, unique challenges. I've started choppin', with my trusty adze, already. Now, if you like, you can follow the journey. Welcome, once again, to Dugout Canoe Love!

                       CANOE!   CANOE!