Grading, Trenching, and ATV'ing

What a weekend. Our first overnight to get things done and what a successful and amazing weekend. Todd (our local tree guy) had cleared the building site for us on Friday so when we got there at 8:15 Saturday A.M., things were looking great. Todd met up with us and finished the grading and then helped us a little with some trenching along the driveway for water and also some water re-direction in another spot. It all seemed to work immediately. We made a last chance run to the store for food and bought some adirondack chairs for the lookout spot. Then, we returned to the site, got the bonfire going and set up the tent and got settled in. We spent the rest of the day tending to the bonfire (it was pretty big, probably close to 10X10 feet) and throwing in more deadwood as we found it. Chris set up the grill we bought and I set up some deer netting around the blueberry bushes, which are still doing well.

On Sunday, we got up early, had another fire for some new wood we had collected and then left to see Cab (our uncle) in Chester to pick up the ATV. We stopped at the Putney Diner for some breakfast along the way. We stayed in Chester for an hour or so and returned home, picking up more food for the day. Once we got back, we took turns driving the ATV all over our land and the surrounding trails. It was a lot of fun. We cut down a few more trees and set up a bonfire for the next trip up.

Next trip is in two weeks. We'll be digging the concrete pier holes for the sonotubes and filling them with concrete. Should be our toughest and most intensive trip yet. Things are looking great though. It was amazing to spend a night there. We sat in the adirondack chairs and looked up at the stars in total darkness around 11PM Saturday night. Incredible. Packing up to leave was sad because it was such a great two days, but more fun is soon to come.

Chris Goes It Alone

Quick trip to Vermont for Chris with the hope of burning the big brush pile. Unfortunately, the wood was too wet from all the rain we've had recently. He was able to burn a smaller pile though. Lots of water all over the land and the brook at the road was flowing (see picture) but none at the building site. We've got plans for water redirection as well. We're both going up next weekend for a full weekend (Memorial Day). Hopefully the land gets graded, we can burn the brush pile, and there may even be an ATV we're getting!!!!

Trail Clearing and Relaxing

Chris, Amanda and I went up to the land today. Even though we had heard there might be showers, the weather was perfect! Sunny and 60's. Amanda and I did some trail clearing while Chris cut up the tree we had cut down last time up. Chris nailed up the building permit in a symbolic moment for us. More work was done to the front lookout post and a trail was made to connect that spot to the cabin site. Chris had built a small bird house at home so before we left he and I stood on his truck and nailed it about 15ft. up one of the trees along the driveway entry. It looks great! We also had a small brush fire while we were there--three more to go.