Lone Wolf Cabin

I signed up for a timber framing course last summer but the course and location near Ottawa was cancelled and I was offered a spot in their course near Perth.  I didn't want to spend an entire week away so I deferred until this year.  I almost committed to going away when I saw that you can host your own course.  Say, why not get a few friends together, maybe advertise in kijiji and have the course at Lone Wolf?

Brilliant idea said Jason Gibson, owner of Gibson Timber Frames.  We're working out the details now but we should have a framing course in June at Lone Wolf Forest.  Check out their website at http://www.gibsontimberframes.com/ and let me know if you are interested.  If we can get about 8 people committed it'll be a go.  Cost will be about $725 for a six day course.  Good value I think.

It's February and so far we've had a mild winter here.  Freezing rain about 3 times so far and temps above zero about once every two weeks.  Just a few days of -20C weather.  At this rate my 1 year wood supply should last me an extra year!!!

We've been opening new trails this winter.  I was able to do quite a bit of trail maintenance, cutting down brambles and brush on a couple of new trails. Lucy has a new groomer behind her snowmobile and she's been keeping them nice and flat.  We've been indulging in riding the trails on our snow machines.  The troll bridge lets us connect to the trails across the creek at two points now.  I broke the trail to the cabin from the yurt.  A mess of trees down just before the cabin but otherwise it's open. How decadent and fun.

Our big tent is holding up very well.  I clean the snow off just in case and I've broken three Costco snow shovels so far.  I find I drive the atv beside the tent on either side, stand on the machine, and have just enough reach to clean the snow completly from the top. I've only fallen off the Quest twice!
Speaking of which, I have the tracks on (first time) and that machine goes anywhere.  I've already dragged a couple of trees out of the woods, nothing big, but you hardly notice there is anything behind you.  You know how some pines grow two trees out of one base (two leaders that both grew).  Well there is one across the lake from the cabin and one half split off and fell knocking down a big cedar.  With the butt still attached and the top resting on a birch, the tree was horizontal about 30 feet up in the air.  I limbed the cedar and was cutting the base from the upturned roots when I looked up and saw this huge tree right above me.  I cut that base and got out of there in record time.  Once I dragged the cedar out I started to cut the birch the pine top was leaning on.  I the birch notched and cut but it it just leaned over a few more feet resting on a smaller tree.  I cut a block off the birch, it fell to the ground and I heard a huge thump as the big pine fell to the grould.  I had been quite aware of what I was doing and was safe all the time, but the thought of that tree falling gave me the willies.  I measured it when it was down.  Seventy feet long and twenty eight inches at the base.  Now how am I going to get the damm thing out with Sid not working???  I'll cut it upinto

More Fun with Sid

Remember how I had so much fun with Zac when his fuel tank was full of grit and he kept stalling?  Well Sid seems just as obstinate, having decided not to run either.

The trouble started in the fall when I parked him for a couple of weeks.  My brother-in-law Martin was over and I wanted to show him how Sid ran but turning the ignition just turned the engine over.  Sid wouldn't start.  No problemo said Martin and we left him there.  Later I tried a few more times but the engine wouldn't catch, and things got worse when finally he wouldn't turn over anymore.

Dave came over and we changed the spark plugs checked the fuel, and air but still nothing.  Finally Sid refused to even turn over. The starter was acting up so I went out and dropped a few hundred for a new starter. Still nothing.  Back to the shop with my complete starter, solenoid, cables, etc .  Faulty cables were the problem so new cables were purchased and back together everything went. The starter would engage but not turn the engine over.  Was the clutch out? Yes.  How about the back shaft to the winch which seems to be trying to turn as well?  Hmmm,  if I push this lever and disengage the winch the engine turns over real good now. Wow, that was a lot of time and cash to drop just to fine out the rear winch was in gear.  The engine whirls effortlessly now but still it doesn't catch.  We even poured gas down the plugs but nothing.  Well after gas, air and spark you need to check compression and timing.  So those are next.  I sure am learning engines these days!@