And you know how, when it's been raining for a couple of days, half the roof falls in?
And you know how, when you're clearing trails with a 5 ton tractor, it gets stuck up to its axles in a bog?
No, I didn't think so.
The week started out well enough, a little cool for July, but at least we no longer had to endure the sweltering humidity of Toronto. In the Highlands, when the rain descends, it's like living inside a cloud. Now, you have to remember, the house had been standing empty for (according to the real estate agent) around 3 years. Since being here fulltime, we've come to the conclusion that it's more like 6 or 7 years. With no consistent heat in the house during the winter, and the action of heavy snow loads, freezing and thawing, rain and wind, not to mention the intense UV rays of summer sun, one would expect certain parts of the house to be in need of a little TLC.
The thing is, a roof is supposed to be able to withstand weather over several years, and the main roof is actually holding up quite well. The same cannot be said of the extension (which we call the sunroom). Our first clue was a steady drip-drip of rain from the ceiling; a well-placed bucket caught the drops, and during a break in the rain, Paul went up on the roof to check it out. Next thing I know, the ceiling has a big hole in it.
Um, you know that skylight you wanted?
The problem was that, although the builder had used red cedar (which should have lasted years), he hadn't put in any roof vents at all. He'd then stuffed the entire roof space with thick insulation, and installed a drywall ceiling. With no air circulation, heat and moisture built up inside. As the wood began to weaken, it only took a little bit of rain to get in and start what amounted to a petrie dish of mould and damp. The timbers that fell away had been steadily destroyed by wet rot, which was in the process of spreading to the entire roof. It's a real shame to see beautiful wood like red cedar ruined like this.
A temporary fix to keep the rain out. You can clearly see the rotted timbers.
When we finally got a couple of dry days, Paul cut out and replaced the damaged timbers. We'll spray the rest with mould control, and cut in roof vents.
Not sure yet how we're going to finish this. The roof needs to be insulated, of course, and we need space for air circulation, but we really don't want to lower the ceiling too much. Any ideas?
So, while the GTA was steaming with a 40 degree humidex, the Maritimes were enjoying overcast skies, 12 degree highs and a constant drizzle. Good Scottish weather, perfect for clearing trails and making a path into ... a bog.
There's one problem with tractors: they're really, really heavy. The hydraulics had failed on the bucket and it was stuck in the down position. The end result of this was that it acted like an anchor, pinning the entire tractor axle-deep in thick, wet mud. The days of constant rain had turned the slightly marshy area into a bog. Paul tried to reverse out, but the giant wheels just span in place, the right rear wheel fouling on the roots of a large tree stump. We tried pulling it out with the old Suburban, but even with 4 wheel low engaged, the Burb's wheels just span on the slick mud. We tried shovelling in wheelbarrow-loads of gravel, but she was stuck fast. As it was getting late, Paul decided to shut the tractor down and try again in the morning.
See, the trouble at the moment, is that the tractor has to be started with a boost from our other car. So as I stood in the kitchen and listened to the all-too-familiar sound of spinning wheels and cursing, I realized with a sinking feeling that the Mitsubishi was also stuck. Even with its excellent four-wheel drive system, the Mitz's tires just didn't have enough tread to bite on the wet mud. It's an older car, but it's successfully negotiated both rough trails and snowstorms. Luckily, the Ford F150 stepped up to the plate and proved its worth: the Mitz was pulled out with ease, and didn't even make a single rut in the grass! Now we were back to square one: saving Boris from a boggy end.
Several wheelbarrow-loads of gravel later, and I'm pleased to report that Boris was successfully rescued from the mud. We stand in awe of Russian engineering!
Finally free!
The bucket was stuck down in the mud, making it almost impossible to pull out.
This picture shows how thick and deep the mud was. The only casualty was the battery box (the small red box on the side) that got slightly dented!
This is where Boris was stuck. What a lot of greasy muck!
The view from downhill ... and Paul making a triumphant face at the top!
So, next time you stub your toe on your office chair, or trip over the pavement while you're walking down Bay Street, just think of us, and what fun you could be having if you were living off the grid.
The adventure continues ...
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