Cabining: Axe in Hand ~ Continued...

While I was all sweaty and dirty after my run, I figured I’d try to split some wood for the rest of our stay in Cabin H. I was nervous. I’ve never done that before, or at least it’s been a long while and my back is not in its 20’s anymore. I grabbed the axe and the sledge hammer from the car then reluctantly confident I headed to the massive pile of rain soaked logs. I tried to replicate what David did when we were here last time. Now I was the Lumber Jack and had to provide fuel to keep humans alive. I never knew how heavy wood could be after lying in the rain for days. I muscled one good size log onto the designated and well used chopping block only to have it slip off the edge. I also learned that rain soaked logs are very slippery. But I just laughed at myself and was thankful that there were no other people with in sight.

“Okay, this can’t be that difficult. Just hold the axe over my right shoulder and swing it over my head with all my might!” Smack in to the waterlogged log the axe head went, getting permanently wedged into its grain. The log would not let go. This is when I discovered the use for the sledgehammer. If I couldn't pull the axe out then I’m going to pound it down as far as I can into the log and hope that it gives way and releases my tool. With the sledgehammer in hand I tapped on the back of the axe head. I learned tapping doesn’t work. No, one must use great force and pound metal upon metal, teeth shattering pound after pound. Slowly I was making headway – the axe was making its way through the grain with each bone jerking blow I made with the sledgehammer. Then VICTORY! The waterlogged log succumbed to the abuse and let go of my axe as it split into two large pieces. My joy was visibly evident. I had conquered nature, I had created burnable sized pieces of wood for fire that sustains lives, human and critters alike.

Then an obsession formed. I couldn’t stop myself from splitting wood. The work was hard and back breaking, literally, but it was extremely fulfilling. Put a log onto the chopping block, a mighty swing of the axe and then there was two pieces of log. Then there were four pieces of log. And in some cases, there were even six pieces of log. Finally, a project I could see progress with each swing of the long wood and metal tool. Start and finish in one single event. Now that massive wood pile is not so massive after Lumber Jack deAnn came into its life.

We’ll be warm tonight. And the next campers of cabin H will be warm too. Maybe even the campers after them as well. It was a good day

Cabining ~ Saturday Morning 11/10/07

A cloudy sun peeked out from behind the light blocking roll shades in my room and I figured I needed to finally get up and try to get the fire going again. The cabin had chilled off to nearly the pre-habitation status of our arrival. Deb, still in bed, I tried very hard to crumple newspaper silently while working fast enough so that my fingers would not freeze and fall off. Scraps from trim molding went on next and for a dynamic scene, I threw on not one, but two of the Quick Start logs. Lit a match and before I knew it – I had once again created fire. It’s a neat feeling to create something, especially fire when the cabin is so cold you can see your breath as steam puffing from your nose and mouth. I created fire, I created warmth that sustains human and critter life. I was rather proud. However I was rather cautious of the amount of wood used as we were nearly out and had to get through the whole day and night and morning of Sunday.

Coffee was next on my list. I needed coffee now to warm me from the inside. French press coffee while camping tastes so amazing, one could probably trick me and use Nescafe or Folgers and I’d think I was having the best cup of joe ever. Deb got up, she said that she heard me crumpling newspaper so she got out of bed. Guess I wasn’t as silent as I thought.

Snow was no longer falling; instead it was its fully liquid kissing cousin. It was gently falling on the roof and the sound practically lulled me back to bed. But I resisted! I donned my running gear and set out to conquer the cold wet morning. Which I felt I had earned the right to do, since I did create fire after all. The run didn’t last too long. Only 2 loops around the camping ground road. The air was really damp and quite cold, my face felt as if it was beginning the first stages of frost bite. I knew there was a second cup of French Press waiting for me so I cut the run a bit short. Wimp.

(more from this cabining trip to come in a future post...)