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

Yesterday Monday 12/29,  marked the first day without our High Commander, and we rose to the occasion—holding fast and steady until his return.

After the morning meeting, Molly and I got right to work processing more cardboard and woody bits. Molly also installed a few additional power strips at the kitchen island counter, which will definitely make that space more functional. From there, we spent the rest of the morning continuing progress on our signage projects until lunchtime.

After lunch, we headed over to the Abbey to work on the junkpole fencing repair project. We were able to successfully repair two panels, roughly 24 feet total, bringing that section back into good shape.

As the day wound down, we returned to basecamp, put all the tools away, and wrapped things up cleanly—ending a solid, productive day of holding the line and keeping things moving forward.

B.E.L. Post # 59

After this morning’s meeting, Molly and I loaded up the work rig with tools and big plans. Before leaving, we once again challenged the large ice patch using hand tools, teamwork, and questionable confidence. The ice did not flinch. We poked it, scraped it, and glared at it. It remained unmoved and smug. We declared a strategic retreat and vowed revenge at a later date.

Upon arrival at the Abbey, we wasted no time and jumped straight into the junk pole fencing project. Today was all about dismantling the fallen panels and restoring some sense of order to what looked like a fence that had simply given up on life. We pulled things apart, sorted usable pieces, and organized the fallen poles into neat-ish piles that almost looked intentional.

By day’s end, we had successfully cleaned up and organized 10 panels — roughly 120 feet of fencing — which felt like herding cats, except the cats were poles and occasionally tried to trip us. Tomorrow’s goal is to start rough framing: resetting vertical posts with gravel socks and installing horizontal supports so the fence can once again stand tall and feel proud of itself.

After returning to basecamp, we wrapped up the day working on our wooden signs until the end of the evening. No signs were harmed in the making of this progress, and the ice patch remains undefeated… for now.

Any inclination to spread RMH ash on the ice?

B.E.L. Post # 60

After this morning’s meeting, Molly and I made a beeline for the shop and fired up the rocket mass heater to take the edge off the chill. With the shop nice and cozy, we processed more cardboard and woody bits, then loaded up the work rig with tools and good intentions.

From there we headed out to the Abbey and got right to work on the junkpole fencing project. We set three vertical posts in place, making sure to use the trusty gravel sock method—solid and simple.  

Once hunger called, we headed back for lunch, then returned to the Abbey for round two. This time the mission was road clearance near Ant Village, where three fallen trees had decided to become uninvited gatekeepers. We delimbered everything and got the area opened up again. Tomorrow’s plan is to have it all bucked, lifted, and fully off the ground.

A good, honest day of warmth, dirt, tools, and progress—exactly the kind that makes sleep come easy.

Coydon Wallham wrote:Any inclination to spread RMH ash on the ice?

Happy new year and it never crossed my mind ... thank you for placing it to my attention, I'll definitely spread some rmh ash today....