I'll bet Beavers don't get blisters when they work hard

June 07, 2013

If one’s diet requires variety, perhaps life outside of civilization is not for you.  I haven’t had bread products or milk and dairy since leaving JUNEAU and I don’t foresee it in my future.  I did buy a dozen eggs for $3.00 but passed on the $6.00 gallon of milk and $6.00 loaf of bread.  My PBJ fix will have to wait but I do get to eat a batch of sourdough hotcakes every now and again to break the monotony of oatmeal and jam (no milk).  The last of the chocolate that Lisa and I stashed is gone and the craving for salt last night was satisfied by some microwave popcorn.  I ate the whole bag and it was okay at best as I usually eat only a small bowl. 

I bicycled to a local rafting business (1/2 mile) and met the owner, Walt who rents rafts for use on the Gulkana River.  That is Walt’s summer job and that turns into his autumn job where he is a “hunt planner” for GMU 23 – Kotzebue (north of Nome) for caribou and trophy moose.  The rafts are available for float hunts in that area.  By the way, that is also a part-time job as he also teaches 6, 7, and 8th grade in Anchorage full-time.  Walt was a big help steering toward fishing spots and techniques for salmon and trout.  Alaskan hospitality at its best, Walt said I can use a spare canoe of his anytime I want one (free).

After lunch I had a plan to build a rustic wood stool.  I’d use a drwaw knife to strip the bark from spruce logs I gathered in the surrounding woods, trim the ends with the spoke shave to fit holes drilled in the seat and I might just have something to sit on.  Five hours later and it is sturdy but needs a couple of finishing touches…cone out the holes, wedge the legs and trim legs to level stool.  I only used a chainsaw to trim logs to length and an electric drill for the four holes in the seat.  The remaining work was done with an axe and draw knife. 

 Stool project – one down, three to go

Finer detail

 Seat, axe and draw knife

 Almost there

 

Will trim and wedge legs tomorrow

 Legs will be flush trimmed at top with a saw kerf for the wedge, holes will bow cone shape (larger diameter at top) to accept wedge, then cut legs to final length for level