Fixing Mower & Bear Clean-Up...That's Three Days In Southwest Virginia

Two things continue to be a trend at the Cabin in Southwest Virginia. One, cleaning up after our bears and two issues mowing.

Let us first start with bears. When we were here last Dad thought the bird feeder would be fine because a bear couldn't reach it... wrong answer! When we arrived Thursday we were greeted by a pulled down tree limb and mangled the green bird feeder (for a third time). But it just wasn't the feeder. A bear had also gotten into the peach trees and tore a couple of branches out. Anyway, I fixed the feeder, put it back up along with the trail cam. While I didn't get a bear photo I got some of deer.

Number two is one I seem to deal with every time I mow and that is problems with the mower. So, when I got there on Thursday my plan was to mow. Well, the drive belt had come off...again! While looking we discovered one of the pullies had sheared off, so it was slipping off. Luckily we have another Craftsman mower, so we had an extra pulley. After removing the mower deck we discovered they mower belt was almost worn through. So, we had to go to Kingsport on Friday morning to get it and a few other things. But I did find another homemade donut place. Anyway, we got the mower back together, but the drive belt came off and so did the mower engaged. Still, I got it done.

Then on Saturday morning, I took Bax out for our annual hike. As always, he was excited. While he was tired by the end he did enjoy it. Well, that was another three days at the Cabin.

My Upslope Is An Upgrade From Tarp Origami

I do blogs from time to time on hiking gear or as I call it Backpacking DYI and one of my favorites is shelters. I did a blog on Tarp Origami where I took an ordinary tarp and made a shelter out of it. Well, three things happened after that. First I had to use the cheap tarp I did the Tarp Origami to cover the spring at the Cabin. Then there is the number two reason. While the price of this 10X8 tarp is really good ($10) I decided I might want to use it somewhere else besides the Cabin. As I documented I did a solo hike and I thought if I did more than an overnight and I can't sleep at a shelter both nights this would be a lightweight alternative. My tent, a Kelty Salida 2, (with poles) weighs in at just under five pounds. The tarp is just under two pounds and uses my trekking poles, so I don't have to carry any. The third reason was I got a really good deal on the Kelty Upslope Tarp on Sierra.com.

I decided it might be a good idea to set the tarp up before I decide to take it out. So, this past Sunday I took it out in the yard for a setup. I remember the first time putting up my Kelty Salida 2  two-person and my Kelty Discovery 6, six-person tents and I struggled with both of those, but not like I did with this tarp. It came with guidelines attached and I couldn't figure them out. I had instructions, but they could have been a little better. As I was failing to put it up, a storm rolled in. I had just enough time to get it rolled up before the rains came.

After this, I thought it might be a good idea to watch some videos on YouTube. I watched a couple but Enwild's was the most helpful. So armed with this new knowledge I decided yesterday to try again. While the middle sagged a little more than it probably should I got it up to where I can sleep under it. I even tried more than one set up to test my skill with the guidelines. I was asked if I could sleep under it and I think I can, I mean I use to Cowboy Camp in my younger days. However, this doesn't mean I am ready to take it out. I still need to do a night out under it, which I will blog about. Right now I am confident this trap will work out.

Row, Row, Rowing Down The Clinch River

Monday a did something a little different I went out on my first kayak trip as the Clinch Coalition had a float down the Clinch River in Southwest Virginia. This was my first time in a kayak, I had gotten in one at the TCC Naturalist Rally at High Knob Lake three years ago. However, this would be the first time I had been on something that was a flat calm lake and more than 15 minutes.

We set in at Hill Station and came out at Clinchport Boat Ramp (5.2 miles). While challenging to start I got the hang of it. The best part was going out with a great group of people as we were "rolling down the river"...(I might have to get me a kayak).