11/8-10/16 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 3 days: Tuesday through Thursday.

Earl had called me earlier and asked me to do him a favor by driving him to Wenatchee so he could get his car serviced before they left for their winter get-away. His cornea transplant had recently failed so he couldn't drive. I stopped at his home around 10:30 without first going to Camp Serendipity, parked my truck in his driveway, and we headed straight for Wenatchee.

I finally arrived at Camp Serendipity at 4:30. I built a fire in the stove and split some more wood before it got dark. Then I moved in, had my shower and dinner and the day was done except for catching glimpses of the election returns on a couple Canadian radio stations which barely came in.

On Wednesday, I got a fire going in the stove before Dave called. We had an interesting conversation, mostly about the election of President-Elect Trump. After we hung up, I fixed my breakfast, and then split some more wood. I had the radio on instead of listening to my usual lesson from the Great Courses. The radio reception is a little better in the mornings.

I made a trip down to the truck to get some things that I hadn't brought up the night before. It started raining and rained most of the day.

The vine maple rail that I had tied in place on the front staircase, and which was smooth and pure white when I left it last week, was now covered with patches of what looked like mold. I wasn't sure what it was. For all I know it was cambium cells from the tree that decided to start growing. The wood was damp to the feel because of the rainy weather.

I untied the rail and brought it back up onto the porch deck so that I could get rid of the mold. I was still having some pain from my surgery so I moved slowly. After lunch and a nap, I started scraping the mold off the rail and I got it smooth and white again.

Bill called sometime in the afternoon and we had a nice long conversation which again revolved mostly around the election results.

On Thursday morning, right after I had gotten the fire going in the stove, Robert called and filled me in on his plans. He said that he had had a bad couple of months, both financially and equipment-wise. He had problems with a couple of his vehicles and he had trouble fixing them. But now he said the timber prices were high and he has recovered from the two bad months. He is ready to come up to Camp Serendipity and resume logging. He asked me to call him when I return next week.

After fixing my breakfast, I sprayed the newly scraped rail with Board Defense. If that stuff was bacterial, or fungal, the treatment should prevent it from coming back. I guess we'll see when I get back next week.

Next I took the wheelbarrow down to the truck and hauled the load of yard waste I had brought in the truck and stacked it on the compost pile. The doctor said the pain in my groin should subside by about next week so I am looking forward to being able to work at a more normal pace soon. I left for home at 12:30.