11/10-14/25 I went up to Camp Serendipity for 5 days: Monday through Friday.

After taking care of some business, I arrived at 1:20. I brought enough gear so it required two trips up to the cabin. I hoisted the flag between the trips. After having lunch and unpacking, I skipped my nap and walked to the grave. On the way, I talked with John who happened to be driving by.

On Tuesday morning, I started by practicing the piano. Then I went outside to work on the big alder log. I reconfigured the come-along so that it made a steeper angle with the log. This helped lift some weight off the maple trees that were holding it, and I was able to move the log a few inches at a time. After gaining another 4 feet, the log got stuck again. By that time, it was time to quit for lunch and go in for lunch and a nap.

When I got up, I went for a walk to the grave.

On Wednesday morning, after practicing the piano, I went out and made some measurements of the alder log. I learned that the butt section, that was teeter-tottered across the outcrop ridge, was 36.5 feet long. I had previously learned that I had already bucked and harvested 42.5 feet of the top of the tree. That meant that the original tree that fell was 79 feet tall. That's a pretty respectable tree.

Since the log was stuck again, I figured that if I bucked a few more rounds off the end that was now sticking out, I might be able to skid the log further. Sure enough, that worked.

So, I continued that pattern of bucking a few rounds and then cranking the come-along to skid the log until it got stuck again. In this way, I bucked about 20 rounds which I just left lying below the end of the log.

The battery on the chainsaw was about spent, and it was time for lunch so I went in. What I didn't realize at the time was that when I set the saw down for the last time, it rolled over because of the irregular rocky ground and landed right on the chain brake handle. Somehow that jammed the chain brake, and I was unable to free it up.

After having my lunch and a nap, I walked to the grave and then turned my attention to the saw and the seized-up chain brake. I took the bar and chain off and cleaned the sawdust off everything and I was unable to figure out how to release the brake. I loaded the saw into the truck so that I could bring it back to the dealer to fix it.

I called Robert to report on my progress and my troubles, and I told him I would keep him informed of developments.

On Thursday morning, the temperature outside was 34 degrees and it was raining cats and dogs. I watered Tiger, practiced the piano, and then had a nice long conversation with Dave. When we hung up, I had my lunch and a nap.

When I got up, it was still raining cats and dogs, so I took an umbrella with me and walked to the grave in the rain.

On Friday morning when I got up, it was 36 degrees and raining outside. After practicing the piano, I walked to the grave in the rain, again using an umbrella. When I got back, I had my lunch and prepared to go home. In spite of the rain and the stuck chain brake, it had been a fun and moderately productive week.