Log Cabin Play House

We had a very long and stormy winter that resulted in a lot of trees blown down in the back of our lot.  I was going to cut them up for firewood when it occurred to me that they would make a great log cabin play house for the grandchildren.  What 2-year old boy does not want a log cabin to play in.

I began with a few of the biggest logs to form the base.

Basically, I just made Lincoln Logs using my chain saw.

They fit nicely together with a little fine tuning, again with the chain saw.

This is the finished log base.  A flange made from treated lumber was added to the top so I would have a square and level surface to mount the roof.

The roof was constructed using prefabricated trusses, which I made in the garage.  I used the lawn tractor to move the heavy gable end trusses to the building site.

The two gable end trusses go up first.

They were followed by the three center trusses.

The main roof structure was completed using spaced battens.  This is the traditional method used for a roof with cedar shingles.  The spaces allow the shingles to "breathe" so they won't rot (at least not as quickly).

Now in the process of adding the cedar shingles.  The West exposure is almost done.

Putting on the last couple of rows of shingles

Now I just need a ridge cap to complete the roof.

Completed south gable end with board and batten siding

West side with window and installed roof cap

View from the woods

Interior view looking North

Interior view looking South

Ready for guests

DONE!

Skyline Hike

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Pillar Rock, just inside the park

The coastline at Cap Rouge

Betty on the beginning of Skyline

The Cabot Trail from Skyline

We had lunch near the end.  It was very windy.

The boardwalk down to the end of the point.

View of the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Skyline, close to the end.

Skyline trail with the Cabot Trail in the background.

Lone Shieling - a replica of a Scottish crofter's hut.

Pleasant Bay from the Cabot Trail

The Dock Comes Out of the Water

Well, Summer is almost over so it is time to pull the floating dock ashore.

We used the car to pull the first dock out on the same rollers that we used to launch.

After the first one was out we hooked on to the second

The tow line had to pass through the first dock

Soon we had them both high and dry (well sort of)

We used the lawn tractor to move the docks into final position

We were lucky to have an experienced driver

And, with the fixed section high and dry, we are done.

Arthur Hikes to Uisge Ban Falls

Arthur had always wanted to visit Uisge Ban Falls near Baddeck.  Uisge Ban means "white water" in Gaelic so it really sounded like something Arthur would like to see.  Arthur decided that today was the day.  He was going to hike to Uisge Ban Falls with a group of friends.

Arthur had heard that the trail was short but wanted to make sure he didn't get lost so he studied the trail map carefully at home on Spruce Point before heading out for the hike.

Since William was not there to lead the way, Arthur went up the trail first.  He was hiking very fast and often had to stop to wait for the other hikers.

While he waited he had a chance to rest and enjoy the woods with the sun shining through the tall trees and birds singing in the forest.

Along the trail there were benches where the hikers could sit, rest and enjoy the forest.

Eventually, the hikers came to a bridge.  The rest of the hikers thought they should follow the trail across the stream.  Arthur looked carefully at his trail map and said "NO,  this is the wrong way".

"This is the bridge to the falls," Arthur said. "It is the one on my map".

So, they hiked on, stopping every so often to enjoy the view (and get a short rest).

Finally Arthur said, "We are here, this is Uisge Ban Falls".  All the hikers thought it was a beautiful sight and well worth the hike.

Arthur pointed to the upper falls, which were very high up and seemed to be falling through the forest.

The upper falls were a spectacular sight

and so were the lower falls.

The hikers sat and enjoyed the view of the falls and the sound of

water crashing on the rocks below.  After a while they hiked back down the trail and drove home.

Thanks to Arthur, they saw the Falls and did not get lost along the way.

Arthur was very tired after the hike.  When he got home to Spruce Point he had a big dinner and went to bed early.  That night he dreamed of his big adventure on the hike to Uisge Ban Falls.

Dock in Storm

We have a storm blowing today so you can see what kind of beating the dock takes under those conditions

Notice how little water there is.  For some reason the wind seems to have pulled the water out of the Bay

After a strong NE wind the water levels are the highest of the season