6/9-13/25 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 5 days: Monday through Friday.

I was delayed in my start because of a video conference with my cardiologist. The temperature outside was 95 degrees during the trip over the pass. When I arrived at Camp Serendipity at 2:00 it had cooled off to 91 degrees. Still plenty hot.

I brought my gear up in two trips, hoisting the flag between the two. After lunch and unpacking my gear, I did my Monday exercises and took a nap. The bedroom was warm, and I realized I had not switched the ventilation fan from winter to summer mode. The hot air from the loft ceiling was blowing right into the bedroom. Not good. I went right down to the crawlspace and switched the fan. There wasn't enough time left in the day to walk to the grave.

On Tuesday morning I was up at 5 eager to get going on my new schedule. I had my breakfast at 6, practiced the piano at 7, and was out to work by 8:15.

I started by wheeling two sacks of mortar from the truck up to the back stoop. I was able to handle that without too much gasping for air. Next, I cut two big stones lengthwise using the Bosch Bulldog, set on hammer only with a chisel bit. Both stones broke exactly where I had marked them.

I used them along with some other stones to lay up batch number 122. Then I changed shoes and walked to the grave carrying my pack full of rocks.

After lunch and a very welcome nap, I practiced the piano for a while. Then I called my cardiologist to schedule a follow-up visit. He wanted to fit me with a Holter monitor and to do some blood work. I was delighted that neither required me to go in to the clinic. Instead they mailed the monitor and I could install it myself, and I could go in without appointment at a more convenient clinic for the blood work. That was great news.

On Wednesday I was up at 5 again, practiced the piano, and was outside to work shortly after 8. I started by re-routing the irrigation hose that was watering the now-dead sequoia tree, Brian, so that it now watered Ellen. I'm not sure if that will revive Ellen but it sure can't hurt.

Next, I harvested a few stones, washed them, and wheeled them over to the right-hand wall. I went through the normal routine of figuring out where they should go in the wall by trying them in place dry. When I was happy with the placement, I stood each stone up on its back edge so that it was leaning against the block wall and exposing the surface that would receive the mud.

Then I sprayed the stones and the wall so they were good and wet. I also sprayed the mortar board. Then I mixed up mortar batch number 123 and used it to lay up the waiting stones.

After cleaning up all the tools, I went inside and got ready to walk. Then I walked to the grave with my pack of rocks.

After lunch and a nap, I did a thorough vacuuming job and then filled and staged 14 water jugs.

On Thursday morning, I was up at 5 again. I watered Tiger, practiced the piano, and was outside to work by 8:30. I started off by taking a picture of Ellen, the sequoia tree to document its condition at the start of the new irrigation program.

Then I selected, harvested, washed and staged a batch of stones. In the process, I got a spontaneous nosebleed which I had to attend to. I stopped it up with a wad of cotton and went back to work. I laid up the stones using batch number 124.

When I went into the cabin, I discovered that the power was out. I walked to the grave anyway hoping that the power would be back on by the time I returned. My hope was fulfilled because when I got back, not only was the power back on but I had dial tone on the telephone which was a relief.

After lunch and a nap, I loaded all the water jugs into the truck.

On Friday morning I was up at 5 again and practiced the piano. I went outside and started laying up stones with batch number 125. Partway through, I got another nosebleed but this one was harder to stop and was a little messy. I managed to complete the stonework and clean up the tools with no problem.

Lunch was more of a problem because the nosebleed just wouldn't stop, and it made lunch a difficult mess and killed my plans for walking to the grave. I was able to pack up to go home after plugging my nostril up with a big wad of cotton. I left for home at 1:00.