Home for sub-mariners

Another slow week. I am still recovering from the injuries of two weeks ago but am pleased to report that my back at least has improved and I was able to do some light work. I spent much of the week collecting wood from the Indian Reservation Mill, which they kindly loaded mechanically for me. I have now taken four of the five loads of wood they have for me and I will fetch the fifth in the New Year.

The first load of wood from the Indian Mill was this shipment of floor planking. It is 2" thick and will go on the stair well platforms and the bridge areas where they can be seen from  underneath, through the beams.

Next up was two trailer loads of 1" floor boarding (over 5000 linear feet) which will be the flooring for the whole of the upper floor level, less the areas covered by the 2" stuff. The one inch boards will sit on top of the OSB sheeting already in place, hence the difference in thickness. There is still one load of wood on the trailer at the cabin where I am living but, I am waiting for better weather before I take it up to my cabin. It is fascia material for the roof eves and the decking.

The best news this week is that BC Hydro actually connected my electricity supply up on Thursday. By then, I had resigned myself to them not coming until after Christmas but, when I got out to the cabin at about midday with a load of wood from the Mill, I noticed their tyre marks in the snow and checked the metre stand and found the metre installed and running. Deep joy - I can now have light and power for my tools without having to run the genny, which I have now pronounced dead.

The 200 amp main panel in the basement. It is my intention to have a 100 amp sub-panel in the utility area for the garage and North Wing. Note the temporary circuits beneath the box. The one on the left is 220 volts, the ones on the right 110.

The storage room in the basement. It will also screen the plumbing and some of the wiring for the upper floor level. It is just under 10' wide and just over 22' long. I will eventually put a door in doorway.

Inside the storage room there is already 128 linear feet of shelving and …..

….. I have already got some stuff out of storage and on the shelves. It is hoped that I will have all my belongings out of storage before the end of the year. I think sub-mariners would feel quite at home in here.

It has snowed almost constantly ever since the day the roof was finished and even with some packing down we have got about two feet of snow on the ground. I am really glad I have got the jeep and that I put new tyres on it last week.

The stairs between the basement and the main floor of the cabin in place. Easier to build than you might think - just need to get the maths right.

The sun came out for the first time in two weeks and there is a feeling of 'winter wonderland' about the place.

This is what is left of Koocanusa Ranch after the development land was sold off.

The gate to the community with the 'Steeples' or are they the 'Spires' in the background - can't remember.

I am planning on working through Christmas because I am going to the UK for a week in January to see family and have a short (one week) break. So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas in the full knowledge that you will all drink and eat far too much and take very little exercise. Well, what are new year resolutions for! Thank you for taking the trouble to read this blog and for all the support and encouragement you have all given by doing so.