NEW EXPERIENCE

Ahhh! Flame Azalea's. What a site to see while paddling out on a pristine mountain lake. There won't be a lot of photo's for this entry. Read on and you'll see why. I arrived at Indian Boundary Lake very early in the morning. Everything was perfect. No wind, warm and the water was calm as glass. I sat the canoe in the water and tossed everything into it and was off. I wanted to paddle the entire lake shore first thing, which I did. I kept vigilance for otters and snakes. Both make interesting photography. I saw neither. There were only three tourists back at the boat launch but their voices carried across the water very loud. I'm sure any otter worth calling himself a king of this lake would hear the clatter and stay in his den. I paddled out where Paul and I found the spawning beds at the South end of the lake. This area had stumps and underwater cliffs which would make good cover and provide food and shelter for the crappie and bass. Within four hours I caught eight largemouth bass and one crappie. The crappie was the size of a coffee saucer. I couldn't believe his size. All the bass were one pounders. Of course I photographed them and gently put them back into the water. They are fun to catch. I took all the pictures with my Canon S3 digital while keeping the new Canon D50 with the 300 mm lens safely stored in my new Pelican water and shock proof floating case. It was ready for any wildlife possibilities that might present themselves. I fished from the center of the lake to the opposite shore line. The wind was picking up force. I found it almost impossible to steer the canoe where I needed it to go. It was impossible to keep it on course. So I let it go with the wind and current. This was really neat. I took the lure off the line and sat the rod down. No need to paddle either. I put my feet up on the center seat and sat back in the chair back that Paul gave me. Wow! This is where it's at. Just then I noticed I was being blown strait toward a pole that was protruding from the surface. I grabbed a paddle and tried to turn the boat but I was too close to it. The wind was really pushing the canoe at light speed. We would collide if I didn't take action. The pole approached quickly and all I could do was to extend the paddle out and push against the pole to make the canoe swerve around it. No big deal. Right! This is a canoe we're in. The paddle contacted the pole at approximately my shoulder height (sitting) and I pushed. The boat did not respond as expected. Instead it did a perfect roll over. She rolled totally upside down spilling all the contents including me into the lake. Fortunately I had everything tied to the canoe. Problem was that everything was not in a dry bag. The pelican case with the new D50 was floating but still tied to the boat. The S3, which I keep handy, was on the bottom of the lake. The canoe was full of water but floating. Well, I proved that advertisement to be true. It won't sink. I was able to dump about half the water out of the canoe while on the lake and decided to half swim and half walk the mess to shore. The water ranged from four to six feet in depth. Once on the shore I threw everything onto the grass and turned the canoe upside down to empty it of water. I'm thankful it is warm out or this would have been serious. Two months ago would have been a different story. I loaded up and paddled back to the truck. I did learn a valuable lesson. Dry bags for everything. The cell phone (mine is ruined) also goes into a dry bag. Cameras go into the Pelican case at all times while in the boat. If I miss a shot; so be it. And that's why there are no pictures in this entry. Canoe's are predictable boats. It's when one lets the guard down and becomes lackadaisical that trouble starts. Canoe's require every action to be thought through. I must never forget to think this way: "If I do this, the canoe will do that." I pushed on the pole too high up. I caused the boat to roll to the opposite side instead of move away from the pole. I should have made contact with the pole at the same height as the top edge of the boat and probably not pushed, but simple hold the boat away from the pole with pressure on the paddle only. But I didn't. Same with stepping into and out of a canoe. Stoop low, one foot in and onto the center of the floor and bring the other in beside it. If the body is out past the side of the canoe; its going over. No matter what one does; its going over. It's that little edge of danger I really like about canoes too. They are much like motorcycles. Just a little edge of uncertainty to keep a guy thinking and on his toes. Maybe I should have worked on the remodel project today. Na!

SO, WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

click pictures to enlarge So where have I been, you wonder? I started a bathroom remodel project back in January and I found out it is more than I bargained for. I have no plumbing experience or tile experience, for that matter. This project has had my attention for every day off work accept for three since January. The task has become burdensome, frustrating and a tension creator. The dry wall portion of the project was a pain also. I would apply the joint compound and have to wait 12 hours to sand it. Apply and sand. Week after week the same process continued. There was always a spot that needed compound application; and of course sanding 12 hours later. It seemed never ending. I finally stopped fooling with it and started applying tile to the floors and to the walls. The tile are 6"X6" stone tile; all different surface textures. They are extremely porous on the surface and vary in thickness. This porosity caused me major headaches with the grouting process. As I wiped the tile and grout joints with a wet sponge; the grout was smeared over the porous surface causing the grout to adhere to the porosity on the face of the tile. This would have to be removed from each tile after it dried with a fine wire brush and steel wool. Presently the tile are dirty and will be wiped with tile cleaner. The photos will show a haze on the surface. The toilet rebuild went well and fit the reconstructed waste pipe and closet trap perfectly. I really thought I would have a problem with that fitment but, didn't. However; there is a serious set back. The bathtub plumbing went well. The project was nearing the final hours. I turned on the water and there was no hot water. coming out of the water spout. I had no idea how to adjust the water valve that supplies hot and cold water to the tub. I did call Home Depot and gained information pertaining to adjusting the hot water gate in the valve. Great! The plumbing is done and now I have to access two slotted adjusters that now lie tight against the tiled wall on the back side. I drilled several holes in a row and chiseled away pieces of tile and backer board to allow access to the adjusting screws. Why the factory didn't set these during production I'll never know. I turned the adjuster for the hot water and water started spraying out behind the adjuster. Oh no! That's it! That's it! I'm done. Call a pro plumber time. I had to cut the hot and cold water lines and put caps on them so the water could be turned on in the house. I hate to do something and then have to tear it apart and redo it later again. I believe the word is frustration. Now, I enjoy building things from wood. I like the accuracy of it. Wood working is exact. I know what I need to do in order to get from point A to point Z. But this plumbing, tile, Spackle junk is like working with a puzzle and not knowing what I'm supposed to see when its done, and no idea how to get there. I feel bad about not being able to adjust that water situation but, then, I told the person who asked me to do it that I am not skilled at plumbing or dry wall for that matter. One other point I'd like to make is that the process of building something like a bathroom calls for a lot of personal input from the installer. Start here with full tile and end here with full tile. It's difficult to ascertain how the owner will view decisions pertaining to final visual results. What is suitable to the person putting the tile on may not be satisfactory to the person who has to live with it. One thing for sure. I'll never do another bathroom. Ever! Everything is some kind of kit, or erector set, tricky kind of part with specific applications to the install. I'll give you a tip. When installing water faucets on anything; buy a water valve that has a hot valve and a cold valve. That way the hot water pipe simply goes onto the hot water valve and the cold pipe goes onto and is regulated by the cold water valve. Simplicity! Single lever or handle units all have complex water regulators that require a skilled plumber to adjust. A hot spigot and a cold spigot; easy. Some photos follow if you care. It is a great looking bathroom though. Here is a look into the bathroom from the adjoining wash/closet room. Note the wall and passageway. Here's another view into the bathroom The wall separating the wash/closet room was removed. The old bathtub was made of fiberglass and had a fiberglass surround. I cut the surround and the tub in six pieces with a circular saw and removed them from the room. The toilet was ripped off the floor and the closet drain saw off even with the floor. It would later be prepared for the inclusion of the new closet drain. This is the old closet drain that the toilet sets upon. I cut the drain flange off with a hack saw and filed the inside edge down. This procedure will allow the new drain parts to fit inside the old plastic drain. The new bathtub was moved into place and leveled perfectly. The studs on the walls were straightened or removed and replaced. Backer board would be installed on the studs and everything had to be perfectly level and strait. Tile will not bend and the tile will be cemented to the backer board. I then screwed the backer board onto the studs that surround the bath tub Next the backer board is screwed onto the underlayment of the floor. Below is the fitment of the backer board to the edge of the bathtub The backer board was measured for the closet drain before it was attached to the floor Bingo! The cut hole matched up perfectly to the toilet drain. The water supply valve for the toilet was pitched. A new one would be installed The backer board is now applied to the bathtub and the floor. Almost ready for the tile Note the sanded joint compound. The tile installation begins. Note the soap dish in the corner A better shot of front of the tub Fitment of the tiled wall to the wash cabinet Look closely and you will see a baseboard made of tile. I cut tile in half and set them flat against the tile on the wall touching the floor. Remember the hole that was cut in the backer board for the toilet drain. Here is the new closet drain with the bolts that attach to the toilet A gasket made of wax is applied to the toilet bowl to match up to the floor closet drain. This will totally seal off the possibility of gasses and liquid from escaping from the drain. And here is the toilet install onto the new closet drain The old parts to the toilet water tank were ripped out and pitched onto the lawn. And replaced with these new flashy, modern parts. The additional height of the backer board and the tile combination raised the bathroom floor higher than the adjoining room's floor. A threshold will be created to eliminate this situation. Grout is then applied to all the tile joints A granite table top was applied to the old wash cabinet and an external metal, antique wash bowl and spout installed. The tile was continued around the back of the cabinet to form a splash guard This open entrance leads from the bathroom to the bedroom It now sports a set of new oak French doors. Note the neat mantle surrounding the fireplace to the right. Yep; one of my creations So there it is. That's where I have been. Not too many boat rides and no motorcycle rides. All that is soon to change. The canoe is going out tomorrow as a matter of fact. Stay tuned for more fantastic adventures filled with daring do's. This bathroom has been a chore for me. I learned as I went and there wasn't anyone around to ask or show me how. That's why it has taken so long. I did the best I could with it and I hope the owner is happy so far. Until next time---------stay cool!

FORT LOUDON LAKE IN THE CANOE

click picture to enlarge I did some house chores this morning early and decided to take the canoe out. I needed to stop at Home Depot in Maryville and I needed a haircut too. I could achieve both these ends if I could be satisfied putting the canoe on Ft. Loudon lake. My disdain for Loudon Lake is simply that every conceivable type boat on the planet can be found on it. That, to me, removes the element of pristine, natural beauty. The interstate can be heard constantly and endless rows of homes exist on both sides of the lake as far as the eye can see. Boat drivers come in all varieties and the less than desirable ones seem to gravitate to this particular lake. They seem to have to get someplace and get there fast, all the time. I guess it's close to the city of Knoxville and access is easiest. After my haircut I was set. I gave my friend Shaun a call to see if he was up for a paddle this afternoon. He was. A half hour later we were on the water. There was one little surprise. Shaun brought his little darling daughter Abby with him. She is as sweet as sugar and cute as a button. We launched the boats at the boat ramp located in Lewisville and headed up stream; a long, long way. This was the most lengthy paddle trip I have yet taken. I can't put a mileage on this trip but I assure you it was a big un. The funny thing is that it didn't even bother me in the slightest. The only thing I can think of as a potential problem is that the palms of my hands were starting to feel tender as if blisters might appear. That is from constant rotation of the paddle in the power hand due to correction strokes. Other than that; no big deal. We drove straight across the lake and up the side to a cove with shallow water. I started to take pictures. Shaun was doing great paddling that 85 pound canoe. I don't know how he does it so well. I should have read the owners manual more thorough before putting this camera to the test. A great photo opportunity presented itself in the form of a Osprey fishing. Then of an Osprey diving on the boat. Pretty neat! The problem is I didn't have the white balance set correctly and the "sky" background is overpowering the subject due to it's brightness. I'll get to the bottom of that tonight. But the pictures are interesting anyway. As long as I put a tree or an embankment behind the subject; I got a crisp shot. But the sky as a backdrop is another story. Still interesting shots. The Osprey caught a fish and was flying with it. An Osprey flyby.......... I finally let the Osprey land and enjoy his catch. I was hoping to get a shot as he ascended to the nest. This is a sandpiper. It's a tiny little five or six inch bird that flits from rock to rock picking up insects. It can be found scratching about in the sandy soil of the shoreline. Their neck rocks to and fro with each step. It is humerus to watch. A nifty little bird. That's sort of how the day went. Nothing fantastic. Good company and a pretty little girl who giggles and has shining eyes. Now; to finish mowing grass........