Wednesday, June 29th 2005
Home at last!
We moved on Saturday as planned and we want to thank everyone for their precious help. Since you came in great numbers, everything was done quickly and we then enjoyed a refreshing swim on this scorching day and a delicious roasted lamb. A special thanks to Johanne and Pierre who spent the afternoon making beautiful stone steps to get to the river. You can see more pictures of that memorable day if you click here.
While waiting to get started with filling tires, there are still many details to take care of. A few trees still need to be cut and ALain wanted to wait as long as possible so as not to cut more than necessary. We should have the plans within 2 weeks which will allow us to complete the excavation and install the septic system at the same time. The soil test should be back shortly in order to complete the request for the permit.
Everyone wants to know how and where we'll get the tires. ALain spoke to Recyc-Quebec and they were very helpful. We should get delivery of the tires in about a week. They will all have been sorted because we need them to be all the same size. Last Thursday, we went to the recycling plant in Laval and saw the trailer they'd started filling for us. Otherwise we would have had to make numerous trips to neighbourhood garages and sort them out ourselves.
The solar electricity should arrive early July. The world wide shortage of solar panels has delayed delivery that we had hoped to get this week. We found 5 thermal glass window in good condition, thanks to the plastic repairman who came to fix the kayak and seal the tanks for the floating pier. We haven't figured a way to attach them properly to the wooden pallets yet but the stairs has done the job facilitating access to the water.
I'm really eager to get our new puppy. A female mixed breed from a malamute mother that should accompany me on my long walks next winter. She was born May 23rd and will be ready to join our family around July 15th. We also have new roommates, not all of which are identified but we find traces here and there. We have to be extra cautious not to leave any food around or we'll have all the small and large local rodents to deal with, not to mention the bear footprints we saw last fall. We sleep very well in our shelter in the relative silence and darkness of the forest. What joy to get rid of that lamppost and the transformer that stood in front of the apartment... the starry night sky and hundreds of fire-flies are magical, the frogs and birds much more melodious.
Last minute update, July 4th 2005
Did you read the articles about our adventure? In the summer issue of "Maison du 21è siècle" and in the "Votre Maison" section of Saturday July 2nd of the Journal de Montréal. We've received many e-mails offering encouragements and help. It's very stimulating to see the web of support that is developing around us and all the little things falling into place. It feels like a new beginning and I think we're riding the wave that will take us to where we want to go. Thanks to all of you...