It's a big Good Morning from Ivy!

September 23, 2016 - Friday

50 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm excited. My oldest son, Josh, and I were texting back and forth yesterday about the possibility of attempting a climb on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire late next winter. He says he's game. I certainly am.

Josh and I last made the trek fifteen years ago, give or take a year or two. We hiked to just below the summit the first day, camped out overnight, then rose early the next morning for a very strenuous trek to the top. 

Taking a rest during the final push on day two

With steep angles and often knee-deep snow, it's not a sprint by any means. Winter temperatures are usually well below zero, often in the ten to twenty below range, sometimes much lower, and winds on Mt. Washington often exceed a hundred miles per hour. In fact, until recently, it held the record for the windiest place in North America having clocked gusts at well over two-hundred miles per hour.

With crampons, heavier boots, ice axes, and winter clothes in the mix, it's a mental and physical challenge.

Whether we are able to actually make the attempt, no one knows. Health, my physical conditioning, and weather will be the big determination. What is certain is that at my age, it feels good, no it feels great, to think about climbing back into the saddle and doing something more exciting than growing giant pumpkins and sunflowers. It's said that half the fun of going is getting there and mentally, Joshie and I are already climbing Mt. Washington. Stay tuned.

I started work on the garden gate immediately after arriving home from Iron Mountain on Thursday morning. It had been raining and with more in the forecast, I figured I'd build between showers.

Rather than make a million trips back and forth to the shop, I brought the shop out to the arbor.

I'd seen a technique on the internet where a gate was built directly onto the frame of an arbor, then removed for the final steps. It made sense online, so why not try it in real life?

Making the curvature for the top part of the gate was a bit tricky. I fastened a screw in each top corner of the gate, found the middle, then marked the lowest part of the curve. After, I utilized the top section of flexible nine-foot fly rod by bending and tracing it once I reached the lowest middle mark.

It took the entire day, until 5:30 last night, but the gate is made and painted. I'll be hanging it later this morning.

Sargie was home early last night. We spent the evening catching up on programs that had been recorded on DVR. It's amazing how many one can watch in a single evening when he fast forwards through the commercials. 

Sargie opens the Vision Center today. I'll walk my five miles then return home to hang the gate. I need to put a final coat of white paint on the arbor, so assuming the sun is going to shine, I may get that chore out of the way. 

If there's any doubt that winter is on its way, all one has to do is look to the sky. Yesterday saw several large flocks of geese flying south.

The coffee cup is empty and since I'm the only one awake, I guess I better hoist my backside out of the chair, walk out to the kitchen, and pour a refill.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

I was returning from outside last night, after dark, and thought I'd pound on the window and scare Sargie. Knowing my motive, I found her prepared, standing and smiling. A guy can't have any fun anymore.