Just one fish out of 27 million

Bottom line up front - not a bad week.  The roof still hasn't been started but we did start the decking, some of which (where it is covered) has to be completed before the roof can be finished. So, although I am still itching to get the roof started I am content that more resources are being devoted to my place and my Contractor has agreed that from now onwards my project will be the company Main Effort. I am planning on holding him to this promise and under my new policy of "name and shame" announced last week, will give you regular SITREPs on his performance.

For the first half of the week, I was still working alone and managed to get quite a lot done despite the lack of that ever helpful extra pair of hands, for which I was forced to improvise on several occasions by using mechanical clamps. First up, I put some more stud walling up in the utility area to complete the walling for the walk-in pantry, fridge/freezer alcove, utility room and downstairs toilet.

From the gangway to the garage, looking over towards the kitchen end of the utility area. Walk-in pantry at the far end, then the alcove for the fridge/freezer and the utility area in the foreground.

Looking the other way is where the downstairs, two piece bathroom will be.

From the kitchen looking obliquely into the pantry.

I also put the three garage windows in, which wasn't easy doing by myself and I am minded to wait for help before putting any of the rest in. There is a risk of the inside woodwork of the windows getting water damaged without the roof on, so I have put polythene sheeting on the inside and have already stained two out of the three and will do the third next week, before the next rain comes - it is hoped.

Here you can see an example of the trim work that will surround the windows on the inside of the cabin. It will be stained a dark brown to contrast with the golden wheat colour of the logs. Unfortunately, none is available yet to show you.

Not to be idle, I have also put up some shelving in the garage in preparation for when I can secure it and start using it as a workshop for doing all the work on the inside of the cabin. This 12' section will eventually go on the other side of the garage and back onto the pantry and utility area behind the fridge.

These two sections will probably stay where they are as this end of the garage will almost certainly remain the workshop end. As you can also see, I have moved the workbench out of the trailer and put in the garage where it can be used for the purpose that I made it. I have replaced it in the trailer with a section of shelving similar to those above but I forgot to take a photo for you - next week perhaps. Anyway, it has made more room in the trailer and I have managed to mount the bench-saw on its trolley so that it can now be wheeled out into the garage for doing what it is designed for. As a result of all of this, this end of the garage can now take on much more of the role that I intend for it. I am being careful not to damage the logs on the inside of the garage and if I want to hang anything off them I will first put a board in order to minimise drilling into them and generally otherwise marking them.

And so to the deck.

We started outside the front door and worked our way around to the South side of the house, replacing the temporary steps where the finished ones will eventually go.

Turning the corner one can already get an impression of how the deck is going to add to the appearance of the cabin.

We have also made a start on the main deck area on the lakeside of the cabin and I hope to be able to report that the framing of all the lower section of the deck is complete by the end of next week.

For those interested in the technical detail, all of the framing, (including the lower posts) is made from pressure treated wood. This will ensure a longer life for the deck. The joists are all hung on joist hangers secured to a plank, which is bolted to the main rim joist of the cabin on the inside and sit on a beam supported by the posts on the outside. Once the tricky task of lining up the posts and making sure they are upright is done, the structure can go up quite quickly. What you see in these photos took three of us two days to put up.

It has continued to be very hot and dry, the temperature hitting 43 degrees C in the sun on Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately, on both days I was able to work predominately in the shade in the garage and avoided the worst of it. It was still very hot for the rest of the week and the Canadians pulled stumps early on Friday due to the heat and consequently I had to work on until 1900 hours to achieve the day's goal. The heat is also taking away my appetite and I am losing weight quite rapidly, as I did at the same time last year. I am existing almost exclusively on fruit and salads but, I am keeping up my fluid intake so at least I am not suffering any dehydration.

I have missed virtually all the Olympics but have kept up to speed on the internet when I have got back to my room in the evenings. Well done team GB and the whole organising and supporting cast who seem to have put on a pretty good show. It seems that even the weather was kind and helped make it a very memorable experience for everyone.

The guy from the roofing company came on the third appointment, just in time to save himself and his company from being named and shamed. He did a thorough job estimating the requirements for the metal roofing and he has already submitted his quote to Owen.

To end the week, Owen, Tex and I went fishing in Koocanusa Lake this evening, not getting back until after ten o'clock. We had lots of bites but caught only one fish (a small salmon), which we let Tex have for his supper. A pretty disappointing bag since, according to Owen, there are 27 million fish in the lake. Most of the bites we lost just before landing them. Anyway, we had fun.

Until next week.