Good morning! A beautiful day, yesterday. Sun all day, with very little wind (by Wheat Ridge standards). Lee gave me a proper marker, enabling me to "see" the TWO possible bows that I'm working on. I made basic, vertical lines for the bow end, and started digging towards them. In doing so, I went into the small check, and toward the center of the canoe. Today, we'll find out if this was a good move.
While most of my focus was on the bow, I did give the stern a little love. I finally took a chunk of the port side out... the already split "jowls." I got a good chunk out, but there's a bunch more. I proceeded to start shaping the stern, mostly, again, on the port side. I've hit a low point, at the jowls, and can't chop below it, with my back. Within a week or so, I'll have to flip 'er over, and work the top side, and inside, of the canoe.
My back seems to be doing worse, by the day. I've been VERY bad about hydrating, and that's NOT helping! I'm trying to focus on that, today. My brother, and his family, are coming to dinner, this evening. Though I'm hurting, and didn't sleep well (back pain), I'm resisting the temptation to take the day off. It's another beautiful day, and Tess is calling me! The neighbors are getting more curious, by the day. I can't let them down. Tess and I started something, here... Canoe! Canoe!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Shaping Up!
Good morning! Crazy day, yesterday... Woke up to seriously overcast skies. It didn't look good. My mind was telling me to stay home, but my heart told me to go chop. Lucky me, I follow my heart, nowadays! When I got off my last bus, it was clearly raining in the mountains, not far from Canoe Camp. It looked like we were gonna get hit. I walked to the tree, anyway, to see her, if nothing else. I pretty much gave up, looking at the coming storm. I walked down the street, to my friends' house, while I was there. After a short visit, the sun seemed to be pokin' out... so I headed back, saying, "Good morning" to the horses next door...
The checks are still the main concern. I'm going to attempt to stop them, I believe. I'll know more, when I see her this morning. I was a bit in limbo, as far as where to cut. I have two possible "lines" to work with, at the moment. I still like my original lines, but I have figured out my alternative "check lines." I went ahead, and carved 'em out, a little, so I could get a better look at the canoe. Now, on BOTH ends, I have two different "points." The tricky thing is, one is an upright view, the other is the hull! It looks a little strange, honestly. If I can figure out my plans, I can rock out ONE set of lines, more clearly, today! I get excited, when I see her taking shape!!!
As sore as I am, my hands are already callousing-up! My wrists are getting stronger, as well. My back... is my back. Miss Ellie gifted me a fine hand-cranked Red Cross flashlight, and a collapsible knife! I helped her move some boxes of clothes out front, for the veterans. She's a wonderful person! I can't wait to see her garden growing!
I'm not much good at this blogging thing, but just realized I can throw a picture up, so...
+BOW+FLIP+PORT+X.jpg)
+BOW+FLIP+PORT+X.JPG)
This is the progression, from Day 1 - Day 5... looking at the Bow, from the port side...
I'll attempt to put pics up, as I go. More are available at Dugout Canoe Love, on Facecrook! Find it. "Like" it! Canoe! Canoe!
The checks are still the main concern. I'm going to attempt to stop them, I believe. I'll know more, when I see her this morning. I was a bit in limbo, as far as where to cut. I have two possible "lines" to work with, at the moment. I still like my original lines, but I have figured out my alternative "check lines." I went ahead, and carved 'em out, a little, so I could get a better look at the canoe. Now, on BOTH ends, I have two different "points." The tricky thing is, one is an upright view, the other is the hull! It looks a little strange, honestly. If I can figure out my plans, I can rock out ONE set of lines, more clearly, today! I get excited, when I see her taking shape!!!
As sore as I am, my hands are already callousing-up! My wrists are getting stronger, as well. My back... is my back. Miss Ellie gifted me a fine hand-cranked Red Cross flashlight, and a collapsible knife! I helped her move some boxes of clothes out front, for the veterans. She's a wonderful person! I can't wait to see her garden growing!
I'm not much good at this blogging thing, but just realized I can throw a picture up, so...
I'll attempt to put pics up, as I go. More are available at Dugout Canoe Love, on Facecrook! Find it. "Like" it! Canoe! Canoe!
Monday, April 7, 2014
Hurtin'
Good morning! Great day, yesterday, as I continued flattening her big, wide, bottom! Miss Ellie came to look, bringing a friend. She invited me in, for coffee and a brownie! What a wonderful hostess! She has a very big lot, with lots of work to do. I'll be helping her, once in a while... probably in the huge garden, mostly. I'm grateful to have such a perfect place for Canoe Camp!
I'm really hurtin', today. My back is absolutely horrible, and I feel like giving it a rest. I can't. The tree is talking to me, now, and I've got a big decision to make. The check, that runs down her center, seems to be spreading. It wants to go straight across the bow! I must deal with this. If I patch it, the seal would force the water out SOMEWHERE ELSE. If I don't, she may split in half! The thing is, after looking at this, extensively, that may not be a bad thing! I could, indeed, have TWO CANOES, here! This is a most UNexpected development!
To do this, I would need to get another chainsaw, and follow the check through the canoe. I THINK there's enough gunwales, but I MUST be sure, if I do this. I can't completely flatten the bottom, until I KNOW where it is! This is a problem. By the end of today, I should know where we're going, with this.
I also had my first "woodchucks," yesterday! My best friend, Doug, came down with his family, and they all gave it a whack! A little while later, a whole crew from We Are Change Colorado came by, and a few grabbed my adze, as well! A guy I met on the bus, the other day, showed up before any of these guys, just to see the project, and said he'll be back. Yes, there's DUGOUT CANOE MAGIC in the air! Tess is a very powerful tree, with a lot of energy. The community is starting to feel it. Love is here.
Canoe! Canoe!
I'm really hurtin', today. My back is absolutely horrible, and I feel like giving it a rest. I can't. The tree is talking to me, now, and I've got a big decision to make. The check, that runs down her center, seems to be spreading. It wants to go straight across the bow! I must deal with this. If I patch it, the seal would force the water out SOMEWHERE ELSE. If I don't, she may split in half! The thing is, after looking at this, extensively, that may not be a bad thing! I could, indeed, have TWO CANOES, here! This is a most UNexpected development!
To do this, I would need to get another chainsaw, and follow the check through the canoe. I THINK there's enough gunwales, but I MUST be sure, if I do this. I can't completely flatten the bottom, until I KNOW where it is! This is a problem. By the end of today, I should know where we're going, with this.
I also had my first "woodchucks," yesterday! My best friend, Doug, came down with his family, and they all gave it a whack! A little while later, a whole crew from We Are Change Colorado came by, and a few grabbed my adze, as well! A guy I met on the bus, the other day, showed up before any of these guys, just to see the project, and said he'll be back. Yes, there's DUGOUT CANOE MAGIC in the air! Tess is a very powerful tree, with a lot of energy. The community is starting to feel it. Love is here.
Canoe! Canoe!
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Blisters
Good morning! Yesterday, as predicted, was tough. I rushed out, without having breakfast, to start. Rushing, and NOT eating, are two things I don't like to do.
The bus ride is interesting, always. I'm already recognizing regulars. The drivers frequently do the same routes, as well. It's a 3-4 hour round-trip, so I even bring my mp3 player. I don't usually wear it, when I'm getting around. I like to be aware of my surroundings, and be in the moment.
I proceeded on, working on her bottom, concentrating on the bow. My back is what it is... not good. My wrists are starting to adapt to the punishment, again. My hands are blistering up, and transforming into chopper's mitts. I moved some wood, yesterday, but didn't impress myself. Today, I will push THROUGH this wall, which isn't really there! Paddlers reach this point, when taking long journeys on the rivers. We all do, in reality, from time-to-time, on the different journeys of life. Getting "over the hump," is very important! You KNOW your goal is on "the other side," and you MUST make a decision, here. Do you really WANT it??? Would you rather have REGRET??? Dreaming is the start, but you have to follow that dream, wherever it goes, to see it through! When you DO, your life CHANGES! Believe me. I have learned this!
Well... gotta make some breakfast, before I go. Oh... some kids stopped by Canoe Camp, looking for work! I talked to one of them, and I'm thinking they'll be back. The tree is already stirring up her magic! Struck by lightning, with unlimited energy... Tesla The Dugout Canoe! Canoe! Canoe!
The bus ride is interesting, always. I'm already recognizing regulars. The drivers frequently do the same routes, as well. It's a 3-4 hour round-trip, so I even bring my mp3 player. I don't usually wear it, when I'm getting around. I like to be aware of my surroundings, and be in the moment.
I proceeded on, working on her bottom, concentrating on the bow. My back is what it is... not good. My wrists are starting to adapt to the punishment, again. My hands are blistering up, and transforming into chopper's mitts. I moved some wood, yesterday, but didn't impress myself. Today, I will push THROUGH this wall, which isn't really there! Paddlers reach this point, when taking long journeys on the rivers. We all do, in reality, from time-to-time, on the different journeys of life. Getting "over the hump," is very important! You KNOW your goal is on "the other side," and you MUST make a decision, here. Do you really WANT it??? Would you rather have REGRET??? Dreaming is the start, but you have to follow that dream, wherever it goes, to see it through! When you DO, your life CHANGES! Believe me. I have learned this!
Well... gotta make some breakfast, before I go. Oh... some kids stopped by Canoe Camp, looking for work! I talked to one of them, and I'm thinking they'll be back. The tree is already stirring up her magic! Struck by lightning, with unlimited energy... Tesla The Dugout Canoe! Canoe! Canoe!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
PILE OF CHIPS
Good morning! I'm FEELING IT, this morning, as I knew I would. I really got at it, yesterday, and made a pretty good pile of chips! I worked the stern part of the hull, and moved towards the bow. The first step, ideally, is always to flatten the bottom of the canoe. This gives you a good place to use as a reference point, for all the other dimensions of the canoe.
This baby's W I D E ! This is ALWAYS a good thing, as width is what gives the canoe STABILITY. Of course, it also makes for a roomier, more comfortable canoe! I'm still not sure how long she'll be. I have to stay on track, and keep working on the hull, today. As I flatten 'er out, she'll show me what she's got. Yesterday, she showed me a built-in BOW LINE. This canoe, like the Barter Faire Canoe, has a metal WIRE embedded in her bow! My goal, as always, is to work WITH her unique properties, and incorporate them into the canoe's form. She may, very likely, have an armored tip, on her bow! It's really pretty cool!
As much as I'm hurting, I got up early, today! My body clock is set to the sun, and I'm up at sunrise, roughly, on a daily basis. I'm not into "time," so much, My back is hurting quite a bit. My blisters and wrists aren't, at the moment. The impact of the chops, especially on the knots, is BRUTAL on your joints! There's a small, but very hard knot, on her stern. It's going away. From what I've seen, that's her ONLY knot! This is wonderful news, as my redwood, and the BIG PINE, both had plenty of 'em!
This tree is quite juicy! The stern end, which was exposed for two years, is rather dry. However, a short way in, she has plenty of moisture. I'm figuring out my plan for dealing with her center checks, and hope top keep the ends solid. Peter Tack, up in Curlew, gave me all sorts of creative ideas. I am thankful, for the lessons he taught me, as well as the lessons from Melissa and Tom Rose. If you're not learning new things, you're not GROWING, as a human being! Life is good!!!
Gotta get choppin'... Canoe! Canoe!
This baby's W I D E ! This is ALWAYS a good thing, as width is what gives the canoe STABILITY. Of course, it also makes for a roomier, more comfortable canoe! I'm still not sure how long she'll be. I have to stay on track, and keep working on the hull, today. As I flatten 'er out, she'll show me what she's got. Yesterday, she showed me a built-in BOW LINE. This canoe, like the Barter Faire Canoe, has a metal WIRE embedded in her bow! My goal, as always, is to work WITH her unique properties, and incorporate them into the canoe's form. She may, very likely, have an armored tip, on her bow! It's really pretty cool!
As much as I'm hurting, I got up early, today! My body clock is set to the sun, and I'm up at sunrise, roughly, on a daily basis. I'm not into "time," so much, My back is hurting quite a bit. My blisters and wrists aren't, at the moment. The impact of the chops, especially on the knots, is BRUTAL on your joints! There's a small, but very hard knot, on her stern. It's going away. From what I've seen, that's her ONLY knot! This is wonderful news, as my redwood, and the BIG PINE, both had plenty of 'em!
This tree is quite juicy! The stern end, which was exposed for two years, is rather dry. However, a short way in, she has plenty of moisture. I'm figuring out my plan for dealing with her center checks, and hope top keep the ends solid. Peter Tack, up in Curlew, gave me all sorts of creative ideas. I am thankful, for the lessons he taught me, as well as the lessons from Melissa and Tom Rose. If you're not learning new things, you're not GROWING, as a human being! Life is good!!!
Gotta get choppin'... Canoe! Canoe!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Day 2
Good morning! I'm preparing to head-out for another day of choppin'! Had to take a day off, yesterday, since it snowed 5 or 6 inches, overnight! This is Colorado, though, and it's about gone, already. My back needed a day off, anyway. Hopefully, I'll hold-up well, today, and make a pile of chips!
I can't tell you hoe good it feels to be back with the trees! Staying in the city, this winter, only confirmed what I already knew... I'm not a city-dweller, anymore! Been there, done that. My place is out there... somewhere... away from the madness that is "civilization." I'm MORE than happy, to give up the internet connection! In my boredom, I have wasted many hours... "trolling" around, which is basically "channel surfing" on the net. When I caught myself surfing the television channels, years ago, I wound up throwing out my T.V.! It may be a sign of another big change coming...
Of course, the main reason I continue to be "on-line," is to share my dugout canoe journeys. So many wonderful things happen, along the way! The smiling faces that these journeys create, is what it's all about! We ALL learn new things about life, and about each other. I find I learn more about myself, as well, along the line. The whole process helps you grow, as a human being, which I rarely found in any other work I have done. These trees do, in fact, have a magic to them, that's hard to describe. They help me help them, in their transformation! I'm very fortunate that they have honored me, in this way. They chose me... that's how I find them. I'm typing too much, and just missed a bus! Gotta go get the next one... Have a great day! Canoe! Canoe!
I can't tell you hoe good it feels to be back with the trees! Staying in the city, this winter, only confirmed what I already knew... I'm not a city-dweller, anymore! Been there, done that. My place is out there... somewhere... away from the madness that is "civilization." I'm MORE than happy, to give up the internet connection! In my boredom, I have wasted many hours... "trolling" around, which is basically "channel surfing" on the net. When I caught myself surfing the television channels, years ago, I wound up throwing out my T.V.! It may be a sign of another big change coming...
Of course, the main reason I continue to be "on-line," is to share my dugout canoe journeys. So many wonderful things happen, along the way! The smiling faces that these journeys create, is what it's all about! We ALL learn new things about life, and about each other. I find I learn more about myself, as well, along the line. The whole process helps you grow, as a human being, which I rarely found in any other work I have done. These trees do, in fact, have a magic to them, that's hard to describe. They help me help them, in their transformation! I'm very fortunate that they have honored me, in this way. They chose me... that's how I find them. I'm typing too much, and just missed a bus! Gotta go get the next one... Have a great day! Canoe! Canoe!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Wheat Ridge Canoe Camp
Well... good morning! Sorry it's been so long. It's been a rough Winter. The canoes have been on my mind, constantly! I have kicked myself, for this. Every DUGOUT CANOE journey is different, and EVERY one teaches me something. I will NOT leave a project UNFINISHED, again. The canoes deserve better. I left my gear there, and in other places, and have regretted doing so, again. I've learned, in the past, to NOT separate myself from my gear. It NEVER works out well. Sometimes, you have to re-learn things. I have re-learned this lesson.
That said, the Little Pine will be moved to a new location, shortly, so that I may complete the project. Due to circumstances beyond my control, Curlew Lake Canoe Camp is closed, indefinitely. Unfortunately, the Big Pine, that I spent SO many hours on, cannot be finished. I believe it's mission was to connect me to Dave Konz, and the Little Pine, A.K.A. The Barter Faire Canoe. The trees work in mysterious ways.
Since I can't work on the Little Pine, yet, I've decided to answer the call of a BIG cottonwood! It found me, a few days ago, in Westminster, Colorado! With the help of several new friends, I was able to get it to a proper "Canoe Camp," in Wheat Ridge. Miss Ellie met me over the Winter, and offered a beautiful spot, underneath three cottonwoods, to work on this project! She even had some sage, which I forgot (along with my camera), as I raced across town, yesterday, to move the tree!
I proceeded to bless the canoe, for it's transformation, smudging it with the sage. Soon after, I got choppin'! I roughed-out some lines on the bottom, and dug in. She's very wide, but not very long. The width will allow me to carve her into a very beautiful, more traditional, canoe shape. She was estimated at 8000 lbs! I'm gonna get her down to about 200...
This morning, I woke up to 5 inches of snow! My back is thanking me, for taking the day off! Colorado is funny, and I'll have sunshine, and no snow, within a day or two. Though my back is killing me, I'm VERY motivated to chop! Stay tuned. Welcome back! I'm happy you could join us, on this new journey, at Wheat Ridge Canoe Camp... Canoe! Canoe!
That said, the Little Pine will be moved to a new location, shortly, so that I may complete the project. Due to circumstances beyond my control, Curlew Lake Canoe Camp is closed, indefinitely. Unfortunately, the Big Pine, that I spent SO many hours on, cannot be finished. I believe it's mission was to connect me to Dave Konz, and the Little Pine, A.K.A. The Barter Faire Canoe. The trees work in mysterious ways.
Since I can't work on the Little Pine, yet, I've decided to answer the call of a BIG cottonwood! It found me, a few days ago, in Westminster, Colorado! With the help of several new friends, I was able to get it to a proper "Canoe Camp," in Wheat Ridge. Miss Ellie met me over the Winter, and offered a beautiful spot, underneath three cottonwoods, to work on this project! She even had some sage, which I forgot (along with my camera), as I raced across town, yesterday, to move the tree!
I proceeded to bless the canoe, for it's transformation, smudging it with the sage. Soon after, I got choppin'! I roughed-out some lines on the bottom, and dug in. She's very wide, but not very long. The width will allow me to carve her into a very beautiful, more traditional, canoe shape. She was estimated at 8000 lbs! I'm gonna get her down to about 200...
This morning, I woke up to 5 inches of snow! My back is thanking me, for taking the day off! Colorado is funny, and I'll have sunshine, and no snow, within a day or two. Though my back is killing me, I'm VERY motivated to chop! Stay tuned. Welcome back! I'm happy you could join us, on this new journey, at Wheat Ridge Canoe Camp... Canoe! Canoe!
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