4/8-12/24 I went up to Camp Serendipity for five days: Monday through Friday.

I left early with a plan to be at Camp Serendipity during the peak of the eclipse at 11:30. The weather was cloudy and overcast and rainy all the way over, so I thought the prospects of seeing the eclipse were pretty dim. But at 10:40 AM, as I was approaching the rest area, there were sun breaks lighting up the road in front of me. I pulled into the rest area, got out my eclipse glasses, and saw the sun with a little notch cut out of it. I hopped back in the truck so that I might get to Camp Serendipity by 11:30.

The sun breaks were intermittent as I drove. They would come and go, but there was a nice one at the Little Wenatchee Village when I reached it. I pulled in and found the two young women proprietors inside. I invited them to come outside and look at the eclipse through my glasses. They were delighted and had a good time looking at the eclipse.

It was 11:00 when I left there, and the weather was more overcast with fewer sun breaks as I proceeded on to Camp Serendipity. I stopped at Tutino's and could see the eclipse through the hazy clouds, but nobody was home. Then I drove across the street and parked and went in and got Nancy and Dave to come out and look.

The sun shone through enough so they got some good views through the glasses. Then I walked over to Larry Ann's cabin but there was nobody home. I got back in my truck and drove to Camp Serendipity and parked just at 11:30.

I was just about to carry my gear to the cabin when I saw Larry Ann and Bodhi walking back home. I ran out in the road and hailed her, and she enjoyed seeing the eclipse through the glasses. Then Barb drove by and stopped for a couple minutes to also look at the eclipse through the glasses. I felt fortunate that I had enabled 6 people to see the eclipse who otherwise wouldn't have seen it.

Next, I carried my gear up to the cabin in one trip, hoisted the flag, and had my lunch and a nap. When I got up, I walked to the grave but since my lower back was hurting, I did not carry the backpack full of rocks. The walk seemed to help my back. When I got back, I practiced the piano.

On Tuesday morning my back still hurt but it seemed to be healing and getting better. I practiced the piano and then started my walk to the grave without the backpack of rocks. When I got to the Smith's house, I discovered a fairly good-sized tree had fallen across the road and shattered and was now blocking traffic. There were no cars and no evidence that anyone had tried to move the tree, so I took on the task. There were no big pieces that I couldn't lift or drag so I picked up all the debris and threw it in one ditch or the other. I abandoned the rest of my walk and went back to the cabin.

I had bought a new wye valve, so I took it up to Paul and replaced the one that had failed. Then I went through the woods and checked all the trees. Most of them were doing well but Brian is dying. It has always been scrawny but at least it used to be green. Now it has turned brown so I'm afraid it isn't going to make it. All the rest of the trees are out from under the snow, standing up nicely and vibrantly green. The leaves have not started coming out on the vine maples so there is plenty of sunlight for all the Sequoia trees now. It looks like they love it.

After lunch and a nap, I took my post hole digger, a piece of plastic, and some other tools outside and installed a stanchion for a handrail for the upper section of the trail. Before digging the post hole, I selected a 4x4 and treated the bottom of it with preservative paint. Then I dug the post hole, planted the post, tamped it in tight, and was satisfied that it would serve as a nice sturdy anchor for the handrail.

On Wednesday morning my back was better yet. I practiced the piano and then walked to the grave again without my backpack. I stopped to watch a woodpecker banging away at a snag nearby and got a nice video of it.

After lunch and a nap, I installed the rope rail to complete the handrail to the new stanchion. I was pleased with the result and took a picture of it.

On Thursday morning Dave called first thing and we had a great conversation. He told me he was going to be visiting Camp Serendipity soon. After we hung up, I practiced the piano, listened to the radio a little, and then walked to the grave without the backpack. Then I had my lunch and a nap.

When I got up, I put my work clothes on and went outside and cleaned off the foundation footing ledge in preparation for laying up stones. Then I prepared a bunch of cotton balls by soaking them in peppermint oil and shoving them down between the rock wall I had already built and the foundation wall. Ellen had learned that this is the most effective repellent for rodents, and I don't want them living in that space.

On Friday morning I practiced the piano, walked to the grave, and then had my lunch. This time I carried my backpack of rocks which was not a problem. I left for home at 12:30 happy with another fun week and glad my back is healing.