Playing Bridge

Today we had an impromptu work party. The weather was suddenly extremely hot and dry - perfect for sealing the bridge to protect that important asset. I noticed that our current group of visitors is very motivated to help, so I thought I'd initiate the project and convince others to do most of the actual work a la Huckleberry Finn. Piwacket was on board for the same idea.

[Piwacket hauling tools and supplies]

[The bridge before: dry and filthy]

The first step is laborious and tedious. We rake and sweep the surface, dig out debris from between all the decking, rake and sweep some more. This goes on for a few hours until the bridge is clean enough to seal all the decking tops and sides.

[A few hours later: dry and clean]

Then we spread a giant tarp to keep waterseal from dripping into the creek. The wood is so dry that not much is dripping through, but there's almost no flow in the creek, either.

[Creek-protecting tarp]

[Piwacket and Paul apply the seal]

[Oops. The wood is extra thirsty!]

In the end, we only attracted one visitor to help, so it was Piwacket, Paul and me getting it all done. Others dropped in for a few minutes here and there, but we ran out of waterseal anyhow. Now it's time to quickly balance budgets and get another can. Apparently, it has been a few years and the wood is just drinking the stuff. It's cheaper to maintain than to replace!

I got to the weaving studio quite late and the temperature quickly passed 100, sending me away from the loom and down the hill to make a dish for our first (in recent memory) Wolf Creek greater community potluck.

The food was fantastic. I can still hear people laughing as I write these words from my cabin on the way to sleep.

[Visitors and guests from town enjoying food in the meadow at sunset]