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Return to Paradise - Homestead and Adventure!
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06-09-2015 5:53am#1Previously, from WR:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057302784
Well, it’s that time of the year again and it was with a buzzy heart I boarded the great plane west for the Americas!
On the flight there were no dramas, on the ground at Chicago it was business as usual. The Customs folks read my declarations, checked my lithium batteries and all was well. Apart from my hand-baggage the main bulk of my gear was not searched. Nearby my position a Lebanese dude was having the full search done as multiple food packages were inspected. I think they were ok with him in the end though.
As I passed through the airport into the main area with my bags I thought it was going well, until the weather turned…
Great thunderous rain and clouds drenched mid-west America. Nearly all American Airlines flights were grounded and mine was no exception, 'cancelled' read the flight to Denver, as were nearly every other airline flight to the mid-west.
After taking my turn to queue at the 'rebookings' telephone quad I got talking to a woman about what to do next. I ended being routed onto a Miami-Denver flight the following morning, there was nothing to do but wait it out and people-watch until sleep claimed me for a few hours. As I drifted into sleep I wondered how my little Cabin Shed from last year fared over the hostile-winter.
I woke up at midnight and wandered around, in the main area lots of people had been given cots and blankets, but not the Ryder. They’d all be handed out already!
As I was about to head back to the fringes an older woman saw my wanderings and let me share hers instead so it wasn’t all bad. We slept tail to tail on a four seat bench against the wall so it wasn’t exactly side by side action for those that wonder. :eek:
In the morning she had gone and a New Jersey Jew-dude was sat nearby instead. As I roused myself from sleep and bundled up the blanket he was talking on his phone loudly about business back east and the delays, he mentioned about how some people had been stuck at the airport for a WEEK!
I hoped I would not be there that long and headed over to my departure gate before it was too late.
The good news was I was now booked onto a direct Denver flight. Apart from some frizzy-attitude from the growling check-in woman (she was a bit over-worked) all was well.
The bad news soon became apparent on landing. I was fine with the lack of altitude sickness, but the delayed baggage had me a bit on-edge. No trace was showing up and it was a case of wait-and-see.
I had no spare clothing nor my Ram Pump project gear and of course my scout unit.
I headed to the base to the north hoping the White Baron and the other expensive gear was unmolested.
Mountain Mike was there at city-base and we set up the usual tent for me to crash out in. Mike let me borrow a tent and some old sleeping bags for mattressing. My other Canadian sleeping bag was swiftly washed and dried.
0600hrs next morning I heard an apparition tapping on my tent. It was MM Mike.
“Emergency sorta,” he said and I got dressed to see what the fuss was about.
To my relief the baggage had arrived, but it had been dumped on the doorstep of Mike’s house without even the courtesy of a doorbell or knock at the door. No phone-call had been made either. Still nothing had been taken, although a TSA card inside my backpack said that ‘for the security of America’ my bag had been searched.
That drama over with it was time to get prepared for the expedition. This time I have to scout out a niche in the PNW and do some work on my land in Wyoming! It’ll be a buzzy busy time but should be fruitful!
First stop was mundane things like insurance and tags for the number plates.
More to follow, watch this space...2
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Looking down from the Ryder's Redoubt...
There's not much snow now, just a few patches in the shady areas, all clear on the Golden Hill though.
I partially remove some stuff from the Cabin Shed. It stood up great to the snow! I wonder how it will fare when the heavy snow years come?
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Ok, what I plan to accomplish is two-fold.
I will be over at the Mountain Hold & Exploring my new world up in the PNW!
There's some secretive and amazing land I have set my eyes on. It's a lot of work, but, like the pioneers landing on distant shores, a new world will hopefully slowly rise up....
On the Mountain Road!
Leaving Wyoming and crossing the border into Montana was a real buzz. Green valleys and lush terrain became more and more apparent. The Little Big Horn was my next stop.
As it was Sunday the museum was closed, nevertheless I took some pics of the place.
Some of these veteran Crow scouts of the 7th Cavalry are likely to have known Lonesome Charlie who fell in the great battle of Little Big Horn. They could expect the most horrendous treatment if captured as, to the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes they were considered race traitors for taking the white man’s coin. Nevertheless after the war ended the Crow tribes ended up being awarded the area.
I stopped off at a casino run by the Crow Agency and, like their forebearers, they weren’t aloof or shy about talking to a European. One even told me she’d been to Denmark!
I left after spending two bucks for the buzz on a gambling game then left, a car full of Crow nearly struck the White Wolf as I made to turn left (they were turning across me but seemed to think a diagonal move was more suitable than a wide turn). After the near-miss I wondered if my opinion of them had come close to being a different one indeed.
I entered the Pacific North West and was swept away by the valley interstate, there were tonnes and tonnes of Trees! Here was where I would make my autumnal and winter retreat!
Arrival in PNW
The land was shown to me and although it was hellaciously hot (as I’d chosen a time in early afternoon) I looked past the heatwave conditions and looked into the BOL.
It had water close by from a neighboring well, lots and lots of trees. Some mature, many adolescent and youngling. The land was flat and it had good sun coverage too. During winter it would require an elevated solar platform to catch the mountain fringing sun though.
After making merry with the neighbor that night I set about scouting about it the next morning when it was still cool. The markers were only partially set out for the land in question so I had to make some estimations of central masses etc. There were only two cabins close by and I had plenty of privacy.0 -
For a cabin I had plenty of trees around, not all were super-tall and big, but it was enough to get started.
My friendly neighbor G-Man helped me out too, he already has a cabin and other artifact equipment which he offered to lend. All the neighbors are friendly, even T-Man the paramilitary hermit from the low-mountains.
The heatwave that has been sweeping the PNW has been testing, whenever I work outside I have to make sure I cool down again with plenty of water. It's dry too, the wind has been still. That's great for the White Baron to fly in, but not so great for down below on Terra Firma.
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About my acreage amid the All-Forest:
This is the shower area! I stand on the stump and take care of business!
This is the first of four 30 foot purlins, I peeled it with a hatchet and draw-knife.
Here's another, just to the left of this is where my tent is now set up:
This saw action at the Mountain Hold last year, it replaced the one that was torn up by the black bear of rampageon. Hopefully this year it will be less molested!
This is where, all being well, I'll have the Ryder Cabin:
Into this cosy copse of youngling trees will go a shed:
The toilet facilities aren't much but will evolve into a proper composting outhouse in future times:
I'll be leaving those big trees in the center up so I can run my sky-wires for hoisting the great thirty-footer logs into the air.
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More bad news came when I checked the height measurements for the tree I’d be using for a sky wire. The ladder I’d acquired last year wouldn’t get me the height I’d need for the cabin project. Essentially that puts the Ryder’s Redoubt Project on hold for a while. I did reinforce that latter with battoning on both sides so the thing won't snap apart when I'm up at height. The rungs are a bit worn though.
Just look at the water run-off / snow melt effects on the land here!
After a weather check I see more grim news. The Mountain Hold and area is going to be deluged for 5 days. This will mean mosquito heaven for the next 10 days. Movement is tricky during such conditions too. It was time to redeploy to the south and get the trailer completed at the Greeley Grotto.
The next morning I make a quick update to MMM and make a hasty bug-out to the White Wolf with all my gear. It was just starting to rain too but with a poncho thrown on I get the tent down, the shed locked-down and I’m out the gates by 0830hrs.
I outran the storm but by the time I make the Colorado city the rain soon caught up! There was enough time to dry out the tent and hang some gear to dry before the weather front descended.
Now it’s just time to work on that trailer at the Greeley Grotto.
The next day it was gloomy clouds and cooler temperatures. Making the most of it I got to work on the trailer. After sourcing all the parts and bits that had been tidied away I soon had the wheel shields,
This wasn’t difficult but then the rain descended and with Mike’s help it was moved under the shelter of the Greeley Grotto.
The next stage was securing the leaf-springs to the trailer. The guide was vague but I got the right stuff in the slots!
Once this was done it was time for the critical axle to be installed and clamped into place onto both leaf-springs with a set of U Bolts and steel plates. Then is was just a case of getting the wheels on.
Wheel Bearing assembly
I took apart one hub assembly to have a good scan about inside. The Oriental Factory beings had pre-greased it but I added some more just to be certain.
Once the hub assembly was slid in I just had to add the crucial 'castle nut' flush then back it off 1/6 of a turn so the thing could spin freely.
The tools I used to get the hub cap off. You don’t have to remove the entire hub assembly though, unless you re re-greasing it, or wanting to mount it to the axle easily.
I almost forgot to put the cotter pin through the axle!
Next mission is servicing the White Wolf, both myself and G-Man reckon the transmission is a bit worn and could do with a rattle-tattle from the grease-monkeys...0 -
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The transmission work cost just over 300 bucks. The annoying noise has faded a bit at least.
Wiring the Red Mule’s cabling for the brakes and signal lights was a bit niggly but I got it done.
This is crimped and heatshrunk. Earlier I had tried soldering it with a Harbor Freight butane torch but it wasn’t fine enough and kept melting the adjacent wiring.
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Caregiving Interlude
Before I could do that the next few days were building up for some caregiving duties at the Grotto. Mountain Man Mike was going stir-crazy from being in the city for so long and practically unable to leave his Grotto post! He needed to live free for a while and after some council with the old folksters of the Grotto he had his leave/liberty. As I had to wait around for my trailer inspection date anyway I agreed to help out for a few days by being the .
So Mike prepared for his own solo trip to the Mountain Hold.
After unloading the Blue Mule of 4x8 boards Mike loaded it with gear to take up to the mountains.
Then on the 11th Mike set off, happy and glad to be free from the crushing confines of the city. If pickups could be flown by raised spirits that thing would have been floating to the highway let me tell you.
I was to remain behind and see that the old folks were ok, it was a new world for me, but I owed them for all the support they gave me when I got started in 2012! Both of us could have gone in theory but we/I thought it best to remain behind at the Grotto to help out with the old folks.
As well as this I made sure to work on the boards and 2x4s for painting and whatnot.
I was hoping the caregiving wouldn’t be too intrusive but within an hour of Mike departing for the Hold I had my first test! The elderly man of the house had fallen! He’d not injured himself thankfully but needed help getting up. In my military days we’d practiced carrying people on our shoulders (fireman’s lift) but that was with standing upright to the carry, not from the ground.
Nevertheless I got him under the armpits, kept a straight back and raised myself up with a mighty heave and up he went too! I plonking him down onto the cushioned chair and all was well again. The oldsters of the house were impressed that for such a slender man I was able to pull off the feat!
Only a few hours later I had to repeat the duty, and the next day, while I was at K. Sooper I got a call, he’d fallen again, so back to the Grotto in the White Wolf it was and another session of lifting duties!
By this time I considering this caregiving stuff to be quite a workout! Who needs a gym when you have approx. 170 lb of man-weight to lift about! LOL.
I got a comms message from Mike that the Hold had been drizzly and wet. He managed to get some of the land barriered off with electric wire though.
I hadn’t noticed also but the garage at the Hold was being held up only by the mega-duty filing cabinet installed last year. If that hadn’t been moved the whole garage would have been flat-packed!
One of the old folks took another tumble but no injuries thankfully, then Mike returned and it was back to the Grotto routine...0 -
Getting the side-indicators wired up with the join-crimps.
Also have only just gotten around to mending the wing mirror (following the theatrics with a blown tire-remold).
There’s only the board to go on now then it’s a waiting game for the inspection.0 -
Here's the 4x8 board being matched up for the trailer frame:
The bottom was already painted with four coats of white gloss paint. This is the side that will be exposed to the road-spray etc.
Making some notches for it:
The side bracers need to be modified slightly. Here's the tools I used for cutting the notches:
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The journey from the Greeley Grotto to the trailer inspection depot complex was uneventful. I have to say that apart from the 'max speed of 55mph' warning on the tires the trailer functioned pretty good.
On getting there I put my rusty trailer-reversing skills to the test and moseyed on in to the complex.
The building was like something from Gattaca - all isolated and in stark contrast to the surroundings of high desert plains. An interstate was nearby and I noticed a lot of highway patrol machines. My appointment was with a deputy sheriff no less and out we walked to inspect the trailer.
He wasn't a nit-picker and gave it the once over, then checked the lights were functioning and operating ok. Then it was a case of filling out paperwork and off I trundled to the registration office!
Once there, after queueing-up for what seemed like hours and nearly melting the computer which struggled to process my elaborate and diverse picture IDs, I was finally legit with the trailer!
BUT, the woman dropped the bombshell that there were no proper license plates, only the 60 day temporary ones. The proper ones would have to mailed to my address up at the retreat...
This was only a sidenote at this stage though as I had to get the actual cargo box built for the great voyage north!
But that is another story, for another post... 0 -
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Completing the Trailer Build.
Having a simple bed trailer is fine and dandy, but I wanted a real box trailer for cramming in many hundreds of pounds worth of equipment for a long haul to distant lands without messing with tarps and ropes etc.
The bed for the trailer was bolted down. I only used four bolts and thread-locked nuts but it will do the job ok.
The side bracers would take some work, these needed a custom fit and a lag screw going into the base-section of each 2x4.
The sides and the roof were braced from front to rear with 2x4s internally. MMM was a help with this as he'd already built similar boxes for his old pickup truck. He also helped with the roof section.
It's getting there, just need to get the front and rear sections on. MMM advised to get them both screwed on, but I wanted much better. I wanted a door section for the rear piece for better practicality, but I had to build it first!0 -
It was time for measurements and skillsaw moves...
The front is now done, now onto the rear cargo door...
Some small noggins for the hinges and a hasp lock were what the door started with:
This gives you an idea of the interior specifics. The 2x4s brace the sides and allow the 4x8 sections to join together. I'll add some more for added structural strength later.
Additional bolt-locks are added to the cargo-door:
I deliberately made the hasp and bolt locks slightly offset so by lifting the door slightly it seals a lot better to the main-body of the cargo-box0 -
The trailer is nearly read to roll, both bracers are installed in the internal corners:
Just before I set off MMM advised that I should have the license paper stuck to the rear cargo door. Like a headstrong fool I decided to put the thing in a double poly-sleeve then triple cable-tie the thing...
After bidding farewell to the city Grotto, wishing Mike well in getting to the Hold in future times I was off in the morning! I took with me some of Mike's gear for storage but the trailer was only at 1/4 capacity. According to the paperwork, it can take a weight of more than 1,000 lbs! We shall soon see...
The trailer didn't give me any issues, but I kept the speed to 55 mph which meant for a leisurely, but slow progress to the Hold, my first stop-off for cargo-loading.
The flapping thing that was the license paper seemed to holding too.
BUT, on arriving in Wyoming I saw that Mike's warning ought to have been heeded!
No paper, technically no legality. I still had my little registration slips but no license paper/plate, with nearly 1,000 miles to go meant I had to be a careful Ryder indeed...0 -
I arrived at the Hold without incident though. I slept in the back of the White Wolf just before the start of the private road. I would have slept down in Encampment camping grounds until the morning but it was full of cyclist and rv people.
Just before 0600 hrs I woke up. There had been some drizzle in the night but it had mostly cleared up. Nevertheless I knew there wasn't much time, I knew the rainy weather came in waves and I didn't want to get soaked during the loading saga that was to commence...
First thing I did was make a four-point turn so that the trailer was pointing the right way back up the private road, then I proceed to unload the gear Mike had given me to store. This only took a few minutes and was a cinch, although the 50 lb of concrete was a bit tricky to move with.
It was the long trek up three ascents with broken terrain in between for most of it and a narrow trail to negotiate that would test my balance and hiking skills. I would have to empty out my cabin shed of hundred of lb in equipment too and return down the mountain with it. Thankfully the ground was not too damp or soft.
I wanted to be off the Hold by 1000 hrs but as the long, near sisiphean task dragged on I had to drink plentiful sugary drinks to keep my relentless pace going.
Eventually all that was in the shed was Mike's stuff. His Lee Enfield rifle, the hallowed Big Berkey water filter and a few odds and ends I could not stuff into the cargo-box nor pickup.
I had to leave behind my trust studded snow tires, I also accidentally took some of Mike's Enfield ammunition in my ammo box too. One day I'll have to get that back to him.
Nearly all the other stuff was loaded in fairly neatly though. I was utterly exhausted though, it was just after 1200 hrs when I decided it was time to depart the Mountain Hold. My feet were sore, I was too tired to collapse the failed Ram Pump project (it protudes onto Mike's neighbors land) nor could I re-barrier the gateway area.
It was a shame to leave the Mountain Hold with the original cabin site only 10% complete. The two posts I erected will have to hold the line for a few years, as will the five purlin logs too. I hope they won't fall down the mountain-side with erosion from the snow-melt.
As I drove back up the mountain road towards the highway I noticed how quiet it was, perhaps the rainy weather had kept the many cabin people at bay?
I'll miss many of the cabineers and wonder what the next few years will bring at my new distant destination...
The Pacific North West!0 -
Watch Ryder wrote: »Just received a satellite transmission from the White Baron!
He had a bit of a crash but says he is ok.
Lesson's learned:
10,000 feet is just over the capabilities of a hexacopter (an octocopter is more suited for these elevations).
I need to order a new servo for the undercarriage.
Crashing next to water is better than in the water usually.
For the video 60 FPS is available for those with the speedy internet connection...
Here's the surveillance footage that survived the battle...
I thought the video would show some high altitude footage
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It took me two days of traveling to get to the Green Havens. I calculated I'd used $130 for the 800+ mile journey. To do the same thing in the UK would easily cost double that, maybe even triple!
Driving at 55 mph for nearly all the way was a laborious task after the 500 mile mark
I passed a few Highway Patrol Enforcers but either my Ryder Luck was smiling, or they understood why I had no trailer number plate.
Once though an unmarked 'camoflage' pursuit vehicle lingered behind me, then it moved out and drove on ahead.
I slept at a rest area, with a trailer though I could park with the big rigs which I find are a light blocker and don't tend to move as much. I would have preferred to sleep in the trailer than cramp-sleep in the back of the Wolf, but I wasn't about to unload any of the stuff at the rest area. 12 hours of road time later I got close to my destination. Once I was under 50 miles to go time didn't seem to drag so much anymore.
Finally though I made it. The long exodus was at an end. The tall, green forests of the All-Forest were everywhere and the sun was blazing down.
The trailer held together, although one of the side bracers was loose and two of the bolts had come partially apart from their wooden noggins! All that had prevented the door from flying open was my trust hasp lock and the chunky padlock I'd used! Minor repairs were needed! Yet I had to unload all my stuff first.
Then there was where to put it all! I had no shed built yet and only the flimsiest idea for a land-building-plan. After a few hours I had some areas with gear and tarps to protect it all. At the days end my lady-friend called me up! I was on date-time in a few days. These previous and next few days will be most eventful I think...0 -
Here's the water tank in action.
I fill it up at the well and drive it back to the Ryder's Retreat for decanting into jerry cans.
Once I get more trees cleared and felled I'll buzz the trailer into the heart of the acerage.
Here's one more tree felled for construction. It's a bit wonky, but should make an ok eave log.
It may seem slightly close to the power tent but I got it to fall where I wanted it with wedges to direct the fall.0 -
Had a busy day today. A wasp decided to sting the Ryder early on, the heat was on and I had logs to sort out! Resisting the urge to unleash chemical warfare on their nearby nest I shook off the feeling of liquid razor blades in my wrist. Then I planned my next step...
First move was to get the first log for peeling to the position I needed at. I used the trusty tirfor for this duty.
Next was to install a Skywire for hoisting the logs up and down. This is not a job for casuals, in fact it's quite foolhardy if you aren't careful. In the construction industry the technique is colloquially referred to as bondling but is heavily frowned upon. Nevertheless needs must when the Ryder is toiling to get a retreat built!
Using the largest diameter cable commercially available at a big box store I had 3/8s of multi-strand steel-wire. I used bull-dog clips on both ends to make a pair of loops. Then into these loops I used a shackle and a carabiner to make them connectable. Finally Two thick sections of rope on two trees made the Skywire nearly ready!
The final part was to tension the thing. A turnbuckle is doable but awkward as you're wire length has to be adjusted to quite narrow tolerances.
A pull-lift (comealong) is ideal and extremely proficient at tensioning. I had neither so instead had to resort to the cheapo harbor-freight ratchet reel.
This bonked me on the head earlier in the day (:mad:) and my lesson-teaching :thumb: resulted in a crescent wrench now being the method to tension it up.
But tension it I did somewhat, from there it was just a case of clipping on the trusty chainblock and I had my Skywire set up. For now I'll be using it to land the logs on a pair of sawhorses. Later in time though the cabin will be constructed with the Skywire between two of the bigger trees.
This was the first lift. It was capable but you can see the lack of tension caused serious sag in the cable. The weight of the log didn't help either. As it's green there must be about 250 to 300 lbs in the thing!
It's about 15 foot long and a lotta bark to come off too!
Once it was in place it was peeling time! After about 30 - 45 minutes this thing was the result...
Compared to when I was at the Mountain Hold it was a lot more easy, but the lack of high elevation was a factor there, as was the fact I didn't have a Skywire set up for peeling logs.
This is after I re-tensioned the line, you can see the difference. It should be ok for most of the post lengths, for the jumbo-logs that are 30 foot long it should be interesting though.
I decided that a production-line effect was needed, so I clumped a few mish-mash logs next to the peeling-zone, removed a few dead treelings and this was the result:
So it's just a case of 'roll-off', lift-on with each log. They can dry out over the rest of the summer all being well.0 -
Today, despite it being 100 degrees in the shade, I managed to finish off the peeling and get the mighty 30 footer stacked in the racks!
This wasn't as easy as it sounds as several stumps, a tall dead tree and several small trees barred the great logs passage!
With my shirt feeling like an oven was slowly cooking me I kept on at it.
Eventually the log was tirfored into position with a post log for company.
Using G-Man's metal sawhorse I got the big log landed for peeling and it took the weight without buckling.
Here's the video of how I got the trailer put together for those folks that were wondering:
Just to give the impression of the awesome weight and size of the big ridge/purlin/eave log:
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