tired. brain dump. this is the shakedown cruise for the new 4runner / trailer rig.

thursday - work a regular day, then pack the trailer, leaving room for Cody's stuff. This leaves the trailer very front-heavy, and needing to be put back in the garage. Ula and N. stand on the back rim of the trailer while I deadlift the tongue and walk it back. This was a mighty feat.

friday, 4 am - awakened by charley horse.

friday - up early to reposition cars / trailer. work through the morning while Ula goes to run final errands (wash dog, pick up munchies and Tuaca and soda). Cody arrives and we load her stuff into the trailer. Leave pdx around 1? hard to tell.

The trailer has been correctly loaded, it turns out, but I'm not familiar with how it's supposed to feel, so it takes a few miles to decide all is well. The v6 is powerful enough if you drive it with intention and forethought.

People pulled in front of me a couple of times in traffic when I had plenty of way on. With the trailer, this rig weighs twice as much as it did yesterday, and has the same brakes. I remember a bit of obscene invective that I'd told Sigivald about a couple days before, but don't repeat it for the sake of my passengers.

We arrive on site (Selma, OR) just in time to unload and set up in the light.

saturday, 4 am - awakened by charley horse in other leg.

saturday - hot, hot, hot. Crown is not supposed to be like this. There is much suffering. In the light of day we can see how bitchen our camp is. Owain wins. Night falls.

The temperature is now perfect, and party can begin, but N. has discovered a previously unknown shrimp allergy. She's in no danger, but very itchy. Antihistamines are procured.

sunday - we start packing. Cody cuts her hand badly while doing dishes, and the team springs into action. Lara and I take Cody to the E-room in Grants Pass, which soaks four hours -- fortunately Ula, N, Rob, &c can complete loadup in parallel. Off site at 3:30. Grab a bite at Applebee's - discover Rob has a flat, and help him fix it. On the road again. Ula gets a call from Kim, which always means something requires attention. We almost run out of gas before getting to Salem. Home 11:15 PM.

Hopefully , this will become the kitchen herb garden, just a few steps beyond the front walkway. For the last few days I've been gradually turning the broken brick bits into the edge of a new planter in my front yard. Though there are not enough bricks to complete the circle, I've had a few folk say that they have some extra old bricks in their yards, so I can finish the design. I had initially thought about one of the "permaculture herb spirals", but already had the star magnolia in the center, and don't want to transplant it. For now the circular planter will get lots of sun,  and in future years, when the tree gets big enough to shade the planter, I can create another herb garden, and use this planter for happy shade things, like lettuces...

For the last several months I've been trying to get brave enough to talk to my neighbor about the overhanging young-but-sickly birch tree  in his yard. It was not giving him any shade, but if it grew up, it would totally shade my garden. Yesterday when i went out to feed the hens, the birch tree was gone. I am going next door, the next time neighbor and girlfriend  are home, with a gift of eggses and some homemade jam in thanks.... Now hopefully he won't plant something like a dawn redwood instead!