weekend update

As usual, I raced up to the property after work on Friday. The dogs and I pulled in at about 3 AM. We got a couple hours sleep and then got busy.

Thanks to a generous donation from Don Dockery of the Eagle Lake BLM office, we now have about 150 Douglas Fir seedlings in the ground. Tim planted some last weekend and I planted a bunch this weekend. And then I waterered every one of them. We still have a couple hundred more that I hope to get planted over the Memorial Day weekend.

And speaking of watering plants, the weekend before last, Phillip and I took 6 Current bushes and 2 Choke Cherry trees up and planted them. This weekend I watered them and was amazed that both of the trees and 3 of the bushes are in bloom. When we planted them, I tried this new product which is a polymer that absorbs water. It starts out as grains about the size of salt. After a couple hours of sitting in water, each grain turns into a pea sized glob that kind of looks like Jello. You mix these globs 1 to 4 with good soil and then plant your plants. It holds the water for days and according to the nursery, the roots seek out the globs for the moisture. And then when you water the planting, they fill up with water again. So far, I am a believer. What a great invention for planting in such a dry habitat.

Besides that I: 1) reloaded and reshuffled the eight trail cameras, 2) put a window in the second bunk house and finished one of the bunks, 3) got my pop-up campers set up, and 4)I did some cleaning up around the camp. Next Saturday morning, I will put a door on the bunkhouse and it will be sleepable.

What to bring:

Everybody should bring clothes for warm and cold. It is starting to get hot during the days but still gets down to around 40 at night. You should bring work gloves and some good boots. Our main goal this weekend is going to be putting in fence posts. We may get to the point where we are putting up some wire. So, you should bring a pair of pants that you won't mind putting holes in. Barbed wire has a tendency of reaching out and grabbing you.

You should bring a sleeping bag and pillow. I have 8 air mattresses so you probably don't need a pad. You should bring your essentials for taking a shower because you will surely want to try out Dave's wilderness shower. As I told Peggy over the phone Saturday night, there is nothing like being out in the wilderness and being able to get your hair squeaky clean in a hot shower.

Breakfast and lunch are usually kind of pot luck. Some people eat each meal, some don't. So, bring a little for each and we will be fine. Dinners are more or less on me. If you have a specialty that you would like to add, please do. I will be bring up a bunch of wild game and vegetables. Trust me, the folks that can't make it this weekend will be missing out.

If you want to bring a gun or two for target practicing, that is fine. But, we will have to be careful because it is getting very dry up there and we do not want to start any fires.

The bugs are not bad this year but a bit of bug spray will take care of it. Drinking water is always good to bring. Sunblock and a hat also.

I don't doubt that I am forgetting something but it probably isn't a show stopper. I think I have sent all of the new people directions. If not, please email me and so that I can send them.

Otherwise, we will see you next weekend.

I am getting amped for this trip. I have been up to my eyes in a poitical tug-of-war with the school board. These yeahhoos are trying to cut the Ag program by 33%. The only Ag program in all of my beloved Chico. I need to blow off some steam. Post holes should take a little of the edge off. hopefully a couple Eagle lake fatties will too.