HEADED NORTH in the morning. On four wheels, not the usual two.
Traveling in the modern style, real incognito-like.
The travel van D2 and her husband built. Solar power, refrigerator, inverter, running water…
This is more my natural habitat… sleeping on the ground in a turn-out, Oregon log haulers roaring by all night. If you don’t sleep like the dead you didn’t roll enough miles the day before.
I’m off to Vermont to find the corners on a thickly wooded 5-acre parcel Jenna and Jonny bought. When I do, I’ll clear a 1,600-foot trail around the perimeter, show where the line is without anyone needing to hunt for it again.
The land’s on a private road, a single-lane gravel track in a sleepy Vermont town. It shares a property line with an 1,800-acre wildlife refuge.
They plan to build a vacation house, but for now all they want is access to the property so they can park the van there on ski weekends and camp out. Three of the mountains they enjoy most are within 20 minutes of the land they bought.
Jonny was there two weeks ago to meet with a site engineer. Now he’s awaiting a quote from the guy on putting in a culvert and a driveway.
Elevation’s about 2,000 feet. The 5 acres are sheltered by higher elevation to the northeast. That’ll be nice in nor’easter season.
I went along for the ride on the meeting with the site engineer. After he left we poked around and found two of five corners a surveyor had marked in 2008. We made an effort to find the others but the day was nearly over and we had a 3-hour drive home.
I had taken a 77-degree bearing off one of the corners with the compass app on my phone. The survey said the next rebar driven into the ground was about a hundred yards into the woods. But where do you set zero? Magnetic north, grid north, true north? Later on, at home, I learned that Vermont surveys figure their headings off grid north. Maybe that’s standard in all states, what do I know?
Now that we have a better idea where to find the corners, I’ll head up in the morning and do so.
I thought about riding up on the iron piggy. It would be fun to bivy out in the woods for a few days. Throw my camping gear aboard, an ax, a chainsaw…
Point the saw aft, obviously, for safety’s sake… Job 1…
Well, ruled that out, seeing as how I’m headed to Vermont, not Bartertown.
The ’49 truck? Thought about it…
Decided the truck would make a poor first impression on the neighbors as well.
Maybe not as poor. I’m not saying “hillbilly” isn’t a much better impression than “Thunderdome psycho.”
The thought would never cross my mind if it were just me, but, clearly I’ll be representing Jenna and Jonny. Neighbors are bound to hear the saw and come looking for whoever that may be. The first thing they’ll see is what I rode in on. So the spiffy new van it is.
Did the quarterly blood labs yesterday, met with the oncologist this afternoon. Nothing to report. Which Pam never believes so I just tell her anything.
What did Dr. Barth say?
He said I should get my affairs in order.
Stop it! What did he say?
He said memento mori.
I hope you never need to weigh such matters yourself, but when choosing an oncologist do consider the difference between experience and antiquated experience. In a specialized field, one changing ever so rapidly, you don’t necessarily want to hire a boomer who’s recently subscribed to a fishing magazine.
Two years ago I asked our family doctor to find me someone on the way up. Someone with recent training. Someone young enough to stay up late, stay current, keep up with the literature. And that’s what she did.
Me, I happily do my part by konking out on the couch at 8:30. It’s not like anything’s at stake in me knowing what I’m doing.
Today’s Phantom strip. The Phantom and Savarna follow a trail of knocked-out goons as they make for the exit at Gravelines Prison.
Look at the natural body movement on Savarna. So well done. Her hips point where she’s headed, her shoulders point where she’s looking…
My friend Mike Manley’s a fine artist first, knows how the body moves. It really shows in his comics art.
In closing, a word about the smooth jazz baby formerly under my wing, the 2-year-old who digs (maybe just used to dig?) the bossa nova.
My influence has waned. Now that her Mimi’s in charge of daycare, the little girl sings stage tunes on the drive home with her mom and big sister.
Stage tunes… on a loop.
Tony DePaul, August 18, 2021, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
I love reading your updates and hearing what life is like on the other side of the World. Looks like I have some catching up to do, I see another edition ready to read
Keep it up mate
Glen! I almost sent you an email the other day to catch up. When you get a chance, send me the news on what you’ve been up to motorcycling-wise.
Dude
“Stage tunes on a loop” may be my favorite thing you’ve ever produced 💝
Haha! I got home from Vermont today just as the little girl was leaving the house, headed home with her dad and big sister. She rushed at me with open arms but I had to ward her off. Told her she can hug me tomorrow.
I’d been soaking wet for the last four days while hunting survey pins and cutting trail, add in bug spray, chainsaw exhaust, my lousy cooking, wow did I ever need a shower before getting within 10 feet of another human.
Awesome van/home. Will it be available to rent next summer?
Hi, Charlotte. I think the van will be in the west next year. Hard to say… I hear bits & pieces of evolving plans.
Can’t wait to see that beautiful property in Vermont. Nice that you could give D2 and her hubby a hand. Wish we could’ve made it to your campsite in Maine when we were there. Next time. And as your bride can attest to, d1d2 does a great rendition of “Little Bunny Foo foo, thanks to her Aunt Janet. ❤️
I’ll get audio of Little Bunny Foo Foo for next time.
I found one of those pins around noon today. Only took 16 hours of bushwhacking; 12 yesterday, four today. And then the rest of the day to cut a trail to it.
“This is more my natural habitat… sleeping on the ground in a turn-out, Oregon log haulers roaring by all night. If you don’t sleep like the dead you didn’t roll enough miles the day before.”
This reminds me of my days taking buses in rural India, and sometimes sleeping at the base of a tree with a raised circular platform around it overnight while waiting for the morning bus.
Cool. What a great memory, Neil.
It really is the adversity of traveling that attracts me. As long as it’s traveling for no money and it’s down where the rubber meets the road.
The adversity of modern travel… you know, canceled flights, trapped in an airport… that would drive me bonkers. But I love everything about covering ground on a shoestring. No plan, no timetable, just submit to the rigors of the journey and see what happens.
I’d love to see India by motorcycle. Preferably a Royal Enfield. When in Rome…!
Thanks for following the scribble, Neil.
Best of luck on the current project. Great little singer, btw! Now the tune is stuck in my head!
Thanks, Joy. It rained all day yesterday and overnight, I didn’t get into the woods until this morning. Hunted & hunted for pin #3, must have walked miles in ferns up to my knees. It would be easy to walk right by what I’m looking for.
Back at the van now to grab a sandwich for lunch. Will get back to it for as long as the light lasts.
Hi to Wayne!
That picture in Oregon is someone who likes suffering and doesn’t know when to stop at a decent campsite. I do like your saw though.
Saw one like it in your shop, I believe. I love the 372.
Just listening quietly in the background. Crazy times. Yours seem more sane. Keep it up. Mostly, you bring me back to where I need to be. It’s what’s important in life. Thanks Tony. Keep goin! If YOU can, I can!
Todd@Cogent
Right on, Todd! All we have to do is hang in there.
You’ve been holding out. I did not know that you were setting up the ’49 truck with a drifting suspension. I note the drift angle kit for steering.
https://onsizzle.com/i/cars-now-thats-a-nice-steering-angle-because-drift-car-1685178
Carry on and have a nice trip in the luxo-touring van.
BWHAHAHA… because drift car…
Awesome update Tony!
Looking great on all fronts and the recording in the end is so sweet.
The Oregon roadside camp picture is real hardcore.
Take care and keep enjoying.
Best – Prasad
Good to hear from you, Prasad! Thanks so much for reading.
There’s a deluge going on here this morning, it’s made for a slow start. Everything I carry out to the van gets there soaked.
Better scale back my immediate goals: arriving in Vermont will be enough for one day.
Hey, Tony!
If you get tired on the way home, stop off in Bennington, NH for a respite. You can park the van out in back of the barn and be one with nature (and a couple of Saabs).
Have fun and be well……….
Thanks, Linnea. You’re not far off the GPS track from here to there. It’s pointing me through Nashua.
Did Leatherface help you load the chainsaw onto the Harley? That setup may have turned you into an urban legend for the kids of Reading, VT.
Will save that for next season, after you and Jonny are friends with all the locals and the impressions I cast are merely my own.
Your assignment sounds right up your alley. New experience. I know you like the sleeping-under-the-stars, but that van is one special way to go! Have fun and I hope you find all the corners.
Lying on the ground in Maine and gazing up at the Milky Way a few weeks ago was a treat, Cynthia. I’m sure the same will be true in VT. It’s just stunning to look right through the middle of the galaxy once you get far enough away from artificial lights. I was 18 before I saw it for the first time.
Great to hear from you, Tony. Always appreciate your ramblings.
Thanks, Brad. I was just out at the market, stocked the van refrigerator with enough food for a week. Too bad I won’t need to be up there that long.
Beautiful, her singing. She’ll get confidence, and grow. She’s practicing now, and she’s got a good memory for the words and the melody. She must have an enthusiastic teacher…
A metal detector to find the pins can work, if you can borrow one, or rent one.
They find a lot of bottle caps, so they could not miss the pin, if you can get close enough. Good hunting!
Thanks, John. The two pins we did find were sticking up above ground about 8 inches. Hopefully the same is true of the others.
Oh my God, she is so cute (and I actually recognized the tune!). Lastly, is that a 395 Husky on the back of Piggy?
It’s a 372, Will. Great saw.
I haven’t done much woods work at all lately. Felled a 40-inch-diameter maple for a neighbor four or five weeks ago, that’s about it.
I’m eager to hear your MABDR story!