I am a lumberjack and I'm OK......

The last few days have been very slow.  Having cleared up after the last pouring we are now awaiting the go ahead from the Planners before we can do much more. But, 288 out of an eventual 324 logs have arrived from Burns Lake in Central BC which, I know certain readers will be interested to hear, has beside it a village called Tintagel.  So maybe I should call the cabin 'Arthur's Seat' or 'Tristan' (and Isolde). But I digress. On average the logs are 16 ft long and therefore there will be about 5,184 linear feet of logs for building.  That is a few more than we are going to need but there will be some rejects and even taking this into account there will still be a healthy reserve for contingencies.  So we are getting close to the interesting bit of the project but it will probably be 10 days to 2 weeks before we get started with the logs.

The logs took two days to get here and came on a large low loader protected by tarps.  The truck was driven by Gary .....

........ who helped with the unloading.

We started with a baby Cat, which I used to move the last tree stumps from around the yard before the logs arrived.

We had unloaded only two pallets before this happened and ...

..... we had to order a replacement.  We asked for a larger vehicle suspecting that the flat tyre was probably caused by a bit too much weight for the baby Cat.  The new one arrived in less than two hours but when it was put to work it handled the loads very easily and quickly and overall we probably only lost an hour.

We stacked the logs close to the trailer (caravan) to give us room for other stores and equipment closer to the driveway.

I thought some may be interested in seeing the logs close up in order to get an idea of their profile.  Note the D shape.  The rounded side will be on the outside and the flat side on the inside of the cabin.  The logs are 8" tall and wide and the contact surface between the logs is 7".  To achieve the same contact surface with a round log using the Swedish Cope profile you would need a diameter of approx 16", which is a much more expensive log.  I will wait until we start to build before I try describing how they are locked together and sealed between logs.

This gives you some idea of how they will look on the outside.  I am planning on staining them but have not yet decided what colour.  The short list is - clear, yellow or a mild cedar red (actually the latter has a touch of orange in it and looks much nicer than it probably sounds).  All should go well with the hunter green metal roofing.  I will wait until most of the build has been completed before addressing what colour to  use. 

In the meantime I have been busy preparing for the cold weather. I have fetched some autumn clothing from my lockup but haven't really needed it yet. I have also brought in some extra bedding because the temperature has been dropping at night and I think tonight I might even cook myself my first hot meal. I have also taken the precaution of putting some survival equipment, clothing and rations in the car to cater for getting caught out somewhere.

I have kept myself busy with converting the log pile into fire wood by cutting it into 16" lengths for the wood burning stove. With chainsaw and axe in hand, not to mention the local wildlife and neighbours, I have felt like a lumberjack and can't get that stupid Monty Python song out of my head. And, if it isn't that it is 'Tie me Kangaroo down sport'. Thanks Matt!

Essentially, turning this ....

.... into this.

I have also been looking at a quad bike with a snow plough blade on the front, which I am going to need to maintain access to the property during the winter. I am going in to see it again on Monday.  It might be a little early to be thinking of these things but I don't want to leave it to the last minute and then have few options open to me.

Socially, it has been all go and I have been invited out to dinner (yes dinner) three times in the last week. I don't know whether people are just feeling sorry for me but I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of everyone here.  I have new neighbours on my left, the house has been standing empty for sale since I arrived, and they are a really pleasant couple about my age from Calgary. The only problem with all this is that it is going to be some time before I will be in a position to repay the hospitality - I think I had better take a cookery course in the meantime.

Before I sign off, I have found a better way to show people exactly where I am using Google Maps - just follow this link: Chris Walch's Cabin (by clicking on it) and it should take you directly to it.

Will write again soon.