4/15-19/24 I went up to Camp Serendipity for five days: Monday through Friday.

It rained most of the way over. I arrived at 12:15 and the rain had stopped. I parked in the hairpin turn for the first time this year. I brought my gear up in one trip. I hoisted the flag then had my lunch and a nap.

When I got up, I walked to the grave. There was a stiff wind but no rain. My back was feeling normal, so I carried the backpack full of rocks.

On Tuesday I practiced the piano then listened to the radio for a while. Then I walked to the grave. After lunch and a nap, I went outside and tightened the rope rail I had installed. It was a little too slack.

Next, I placed four rebar anchors in their final positions on the foundation ledge. That was the start of preparing to lay up stones on the ledge without mortar so that they will be ready to mortar in place when the weather turns warm.

On Wednesday I started by practicing the piano, then listening to the radio for a while, and then walking to the grave. Then after lunch and a nap, I began the process of cleaning, shaping, and placing stones on the footing ledge in anticipation of mortaring them in later when the weather is warm. I placed about 10 lineal feet of stones.

Next, I went into the woods and checked on Paul. I thought the irrigation drip might be too slow, but after looking at it, I could see that it has filled the funnel cup so it's not too slow after all. It's just perfect. On the way back I stopped in and checked on Runty and it is doing just fine. Then I spent some time relaxing on the front porch in Dave's Adirondack chair. It was a beautiful day.

On Thursday I practiced the piano first thing, then listened to the radio for a while, then walked to the grave. I talked to Barb, who was driving by toward the end of the walk. She says Byron is doing well.

Then I loaded two concrete blocks into the truck by wheeling them down in the wheelbarrow. Ellen has a project for me in Seattle that needs the blocks.

After lunch and a nap, I went into the woods with a clipboard and did the annual measurement and assessment of all the Sequoia trees. I was happy with how they all looked with one exception. Brian is obviously dying. I also removed the splint from Ellen that has been in place for a couple years and was happy to see that the injury has completely mended and is invisible.

While I was in the woods I walked up over the hill and checked on the spring. I haven't looked at it for quite some time, but it is doing fine. There are no fallen trees I have to remove, and the water is flowing nicely out the overflow. I could have cleaned out the pond, but I didn't. It was working just fine the way it was.

Next, I hung a block of salt from the tree up on the bluff for the deer. Then I went back on the bluff and checked all the transplanted Cedars. I haven't looked at them for a long time and I was surprised how well they're doing. A couple of them are taller than I am. I was also happy to discover a series of volunteer Western Redcedar seedlings growing along the trail to Paul. I have decided to help them out by removing most of their competition for light and water. I'll do that in future trips. It was a delight to be out in the woods on such a beautiful day.

On Friday morning I practiced the piano and then walked to the grave. Then I had an early lunch, packed up my gear, and left for home at 12:30. Next week will be a short week because of doctors' appointments but I was happy that this was a full 5-day week, and I got a lot done.