Busy, Busy, Busy

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted. We have been very busy with a range of activities that includes The Lot, the “new” utility trailer, a couple of ATV rides, fall colors, and wood cutting. Here is a bit of an update on all these topics.

I had wanted to add stake bed sides to the utility trailer to increase it’s carrying capacity, particularly for hauling slash to the burn pit. It took me a few night’s work, but the stake bed is finished and working very well for my intended use(s).

Stake Bed sides help load capacity – burn pit wood, in this case – from The Nook area

In a bit of an unusual design, both the front and end panels can be removed giving me great flexibility in loading stuff. At the burn pit I can remove either side or end and unload the trailer right from the deck, a much appreciated feature.

Over the last few weeks I have taken several loads of wood to the burn pit and brought home two loads of firewood with this trailer and am very pleased with the way it has worked out.

One thing left to fix; the tailgate of the truck won’t drop down if the trailer’s tongue jack is in place. This is not a major problem but is inconvenient. Back in the day truck tailgates were not as tall as they are now and there was no clearance problem but the newer Ford F-150 tailgates are pretty tall, causing interference. I will either buy a bolt-on jack and mount it further back on the tongue or weld up a plate and re-use the original jack in a different location.

The trailer upgrades are tied in with work on The Lot, which pretty much ended last weekend due to encroaching cold weather. (Last weekend you could see a white tint on the top of Boreas Pass and other high peaks. Good thing we already “visited” Mtn Laurie up there for this year.)  We finished clearing The Nook to our satisfaction; the last of the firewood from this area is in the trailer and waiting for me to finish cutting it up later this week.

Last load of wood for 2015

Firewood waiting for delivery

It is always sad to shut down The Lot for the year and bring The Box home. It means summer is really over and signals an end to our weekends in the high country. I’ll miss my campfires under the stars.

Last campfire of 2015

Speaking of campfires…

Our gas range, 21 years old and original to the house, developed a leak and is not worth repairing. We have a new GE unit on order with expected delivery of October 13th. In the meantime we are using our 2-burner Coleman camp stove and microwave for cooking. Camping at home!

Camping at home with the Coleman stove

I did get one last ATV/Fall Color trip completed a couple weeks ago, a re-visit of Webster Pass and the surrounding area.

Old cabin along Forest Road 290

Gold Aspen along Handcart Gulch

I can say I am tired. August, September, and early October — a very busy time, including nights and weekends. Once we get the last of the wood cut and delivered, get The Box home from The Lot, and complete a few chores around the house (Pam wants a new raised flower bed and some fence work done) I will be ready for a break. By that time fall chores will have started, mostly raking leaves and mulching flower beds so we will see how much of a break I actually get!

A couple of miscellaneous notes…

KitKat has decided she wants to be an indoor-outdoor cat and has taken to coming into the house for long stretches of time, including overnight. She was the most anti-social kitten we fostered, and after Pam put KitKat outside I didn’t think she would even stay around. Surprise! KitKat even lets me pet her while she is in the house. Unbelievable.

The Honda turned over 377,000 miles last week. We are aiming for 500,000 miles. There are signs the transmission (automatic) is not what it used to be, particularly when cold, and we are just hoping it hangs in there through the winter.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

With the conclusion of the work on the Sanderling property for the year, we commence the winter project – our search for a retirement house.  Actually, the realtor who sold us the Sanderling property has already shown us several houses in the Fairplay area, so the search has begun.  Two schools of thought about a retirement location – we are attracted to the water and recreational aspects of Vallecito Lake near Durango.  But, their internet situation at the moment is not good and I need reliable internet to work at home.  An alternative would be finding a retirement home near the mountain property in the Fairplay/Alma area.  Internet is somewhat more established in Park County, and of course it would be nice to be a half hour drive away from Sanderling rather than four hours.  Homes everywhere in Colorado are expensive; it will take us a bit longer to put together the [outrageous] down payment needed, so the search will continue. If it takes as long to find a house as it did to settle on the Sanderling property, we are in for a two year run.

Clover Court home for sale near Fairplay

Happy Trails!