As with everything else, there were many rules and regulations around the placement of the trailer: it should not be visible from the road or the sky (alien invasion??). This property is two acres and has a very large open area in the centre and ‘falls off’ towards the back of the property. This made hiding the trailer a tad difficult. We ended up picking out three spots, two had much too much visibility, the last one had to work!
Daryl went to work cutting trees and brush. Some of it would be good for firewood, although we prefer spruce over aspen for burning, lots less ‘flankers’.
We were able to burn some of the brush and place most of the bigger pieces to make a ‘fence’ to try and keep the cows out. Those cows can make a big mess!
We ended up taking truck loads to a big burn pile. As the summer progressed, we watched that burn pile get smaller and smaller….not from burning but from decay.
Getting the tree stumps out of the ground was a real challenge without a ‘stump remover’. Daryl said it took hours. After building a sturdy base, it was time to bring the trailer up and park it. Then we could stay overnight.
Finally the spot was ready!
The place was really starting to take shape. Next we built and stained the picnic table.
Summer 2021, when we knew we would eventually be bringing the trailer to el parque, the access road was in terrible shape. There was no way we were going to get the trailer across that road without bottoming out. So last fall we took it and had the axels flipped. It certainly raised the trailer enough that it went over this rutted road without any problem. Thankfully the road was graded and widened over the summer, so access no longer a problem.
What we did find after flipping the axels is that the bottom step was too high off the ground.
Another rule is no permanent structures….except the storage shed, outhouse, wood shed and waterhouse….. which meant no deck. So we built a very large ‘step’.
The free/used wood that we had removed nails from earlier sure came in handy. When you put a mat on top of the wood, it looked just fine.
When we were in the Okanaghan earlier, our friends had shown us a camp game. Sounds crazy but it is fun….and competitive. You take the sharp edge of a hatchet (use an old one), a good size stump and a 4 inch nail. Then take turns getting one smack at the nail, no mulligans. Sadly, Daryl was the winner this game 🙂
The trailer is all settled into its new home. Already we have spent many, many nights. It truly has been a most enjoyable summer.
Cheers
Ruth
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