Not raining today but there’s standing water by the woodpile.  A few days of dry weather will get rid of it.  More daylight now but looking forward to when the ground dries up.  Not a lot of traction for pulling wood up to the mill.  Also need to do more burning– there’s lots of dry wood to get things going but it’s easier when it isn’t raining.  I’d like to get back to the painting, too, get some new pictures of the dock and porch.

Thick fog this morning– it crawls into the bay and up into the orchard then gets sucked back out when the tide changes.  Quiet. Ravens and crows are about the only ones making noise, flapping around on the beach. Lots of big lumber in the water from a combintion of rain and high winter tides.  Mostly hemlock washes in but maybe some fir not too chewed up.  Might be worth checking the road end– I’ll have to bring the hoe down and clean off the beach in any case.

There are no groundhogs in BC, but there are marmots on Mt. Washington that would work just fine. Campbell River Clyde.  The only animal checking out the weather on Rendezvous was a seal resting on top of the breakwater. He wasn’t impressed and was back in the water after about a minute.  It seems that should mean the end of winter but it’s been so mild we may not notice.  More seals around than last year, which is good, if they’re following the salmon because it should mean better fishing in the spring.

The official beginning of spring on Rendezvous. Maybe the otters and martens will show up on the beach tomorrow.  There’s been enough sun on the solar panels all winter to keep the lights working and the batteries are still good.  I don’t think I put 10 hours on the generator last year.  First thing is to get the fir that’s down out of the orchard and up to the mill, clean up the branches.  Then go after the two alders that are leaning over the boat shed.  As soon as my boat gets out of the shop….

Work has stopped for the holidays– pipes are drained and the tractor is in the barn. As soon as the days start to get a bit longer and the temperature a bit warmer, probably Ground Hogs, I’ll take down those two cedars at the back as well as the big fir in the orchard.  That should give me enough lumber to get close to the ramp.  The big push this spring should be to get the floatplane dock in place.  I’ll have to order more sand&gravel but I’ve got enough for maybe 4 more pilings.  Like to get at it asap after New Years, at least the milling.

 There were a lot of deer in the orchard when I left, including a couple big bucks who are getting tame.  A raft of scoters out front and a flock of harlequins in by the beach.

The best thing about Rendezvous Island is the view from my deck… A pod of Orcas went by yesterday, followed by a school of dolphins.