3/25-27/03 I went up to the property for two nights and two days: Tuesday through Thursday.

I took Gus to a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon so I didn't arrive at the property until 8:30 PM. There was no moon so it was pitch dark by then, but I could get the pickup far enough into the driveway so that the headlights lit up the path to the trailer. I had no problem moving in in the dark.

On Wednesday, I began ripping the edges of more planks. It was sunny and beautiful out and it looked to me like the snow would be melted enough to be able to drive up the driveway by next week. This seemed to be the right time to put the gate back together.

I carried two steel scaffold frames, some chains, a shovel, and a come-along down to the gate. No sooner did I get the tools down there and start to set up, than it started to rain. It was light at first and I wasn't sure how long it would last so I waited under a tree for a little while. The rain gradually got heavier so I had to decide whether to abandon this job and go back up and work under cover, or what. I decided to put a raincoat on and finish the job.

Mike had torn the swivel post out of the ground scooping out the driveway during the winter but the post had not broken. The post hole was still okay but it was full of water. I dug a little mud out of the bottom of the hole, but it was still plenty deep and I could just stick the post back in the hole the way it was. I had to backfill on the side the post had been pushed out, but that was pretty easy.

I had to dig about six feet of the log out of snow and ice so I could move it. I dragged it so it was alongside the two posts. Then I set the two scaffold frames up above where I estimated the center of gravity of the log should be and chained the tops together. Then I chained the come-along to the top and fastened it to what I thought was the center of gravity of the log. The log was upside down so I choked it with the hook under the log so it would turn right side up as I lifted it. I cranked on the come-along and was very pleased that the log skidded into place, turned over so it was right side up, and went up above the rebar sticking out of the post. It went perfectly. With just a little nudging, the rebar went into the hole in the log, and I cranked the come-along back down. When the other end came down far enough, I nudged the other rebar into its hole and it fit perfectly. I was happy the job was so easy.

The rain got heavier all the time and when I was carrying the tools and frames back up the hill, the rain turned to snow mixed with rain. I went back to work on the planks and watched small slabs of slush slide off the roof. It was good to be working under cover again. I notched and fitted the plank on the other side of the Grid F2 post.

Bert and Ernie visited me a couple times and they seemed extra affectionate. Bert leaned into me while I was petting him and just sat there motionless. He seemed resolved to make sure I was the one who quit and not him.

On Thursday morning, I fitted another plank and notched it for the Grid F3 post. Then I went up and checked the spring. I couldn't see any string coming out. The snow is melting fast so I am sure I will be able to drive nearly up to the trailer next week. Before I left at 1:30, I rammed the pickup partway up the driveway. The tire ruts will help the snow melt a little faster during the week.