!! In the quiet hours of the bootcamp grind, I found myself: Esteban's Bootcamp Experience

B.E.L. Post # 70

After the morning meeting, I headed over to the Abbey and wrapped up the section of junkpoles I’ve been working on. It felt good to bring that piece to a clean stopping point, and come this Monday I’ll finally be starting on the last section of the completely down panels — a milestone I’ve been looking forward to.

Back at basecamp, I installed the last wooden delivery sign, which tied that project up nicely. I also spent some time doing a bit of beautification on the rock face, which turned into pulling out an additional four 5-gallon buckets of material. I wrapped up the day by sharpening one of the chainsaws, setting things up well for the work ahead.

Today was a much gentler pace, and honestly, it felt right.

I slept in a bit this morning and took the time to enjoy some slow moments—playing with the cats and easing into the day instead of jumping straight into boot stuff. Later on, I filled up one of the work rigs with gas so it’s ready to go when needed.

The rest of the day was intentionally low-key. I spent time with my dog, did some reading, journaling, and gave myself space to rest and reset. Not every day here is about moving logs or running tools—today was about recovery, reflection, and keeping the mind and body balanced so I can show up strong for the days ahead.

Grateful for the quiet moments and the chance to slow down.

B.E.L. Post # 71

After this morning’s cleaning blitz, the pace of the day settled into a nice, steady rhythm. I processed one crate’s worth of woody bits and topped off the gas on one of the work rigs, taking care of a few practical odds and ends around basecamp.

Later on, Samantha showed me the basics of knitting, which was a fun change of pace and a good reminder that learning here comes in many forms. I also spent some time watching "The Wicked" and made solid progress on my online permaculture design course. Overall, it was a balanced day—some hands-on work, some learning, and some well-earned downtime.