Project Eveningland

3/19/2023 Sunday

I did everything I could to block the draft under the door, but the heater couldn’t keep up. Room stayed in low 50s. It reminded me of my first shabby apartment in Pittsburgh (not to be confused with my second shabby apartment in Pittsburgh). It was on the first floor of a lovely old Colonial Revival in Highland Park. It was so leaky that I had to keep the heat at 58 and it still cost hundreds a month to heat. Back in 2023, I slipped into my 15 degree sleeping bag. Slept until almost eight. Went into common room to warm up by the wood stove.

I don’t want to be cold again at night. I also don’t want to sleep inside my bag when I’m paying to stay indoors. I am going to work this problem. What a treat to have an interesting technical problem to gnaw on while I am resting! (That is not sarcasm). Step one: acquire better insulation to cover gap beneath door.

Went over to the barn/common area to warm up again after doing morning tasks. Thank god for that wonderful low fiber food yesterday. GI tract feels normal again. The sink in the barn froze. Had to fill bottle from faucet in bathhouse, although I could just get water from the icy creek ten feet from my door.

I got a lesson on boxing stance from Greenman, a 17-year-old who wears headphones all the time, and who’s shy at first but then warms up and talks like a profane man from, I dunno, Brooklyn? It’s jarring. Good guy, “doesn’t give a fuck.” Honey Badger strummed an out-of-tune guitar. He’s another young one, an 18-year-old with perfectly tousled hair (mine sure didn’t look that good at 18!) and more of a burn-out vibe. I wonder what those two are seeking out here. I hope they find it.

Got something to block the gap under the door and gave it an hour, but it made no difference. Amy got me a different heater but it’s much smaller. I’ll test it this afternoon and then go from there.

Fell asleep just before noon and woke up at 2:30, still very cold. This little heater won’t do it. Texted Amy to ask for a different one. She stole a heater from a bunkhouse that isn’t in use. That still couldn’t do it. Then I looked at the TWO heaters (three total including the broken/dying one). Could I plug in two at once or would that throw the breaker? Then I remembered that Taft, who built these cabins himself, was an electrician or similar. I thought about how Dad does wiring. People who wire their own stuff like to over-engineer. I bet the breaker can handle two. It can! Deductive reasoning for the win!

Wedge and L&F (Lost and Found) talked me into another shuttle, this time into Mars Hill, for dinner at a Mexican place. Very generous fillings on those street tacos. Carne asada is far superior to frozen pizza! Stopped at the grocery store on the way back to the hostel and got snacks for tomorrow and a big thing of pineapple to eat before bed. Tonight will be the coldest yet.

We plan to send most of our gear ahead to Uncle Johnny’s Hostel, do 12-13 tomorrow to Spivey Gap, whereupon we will be shuttled to sleep at Uncle Johnny’s. Then we’ll get shuttled back to Spivey Gap on Tuesday morning, and hike back to Uncle Johnny’s for another night. So, lots of indoor sleep this week for ol’ Doug/Rhetoric.