After our marvelous backpack in Virginia we returned to busy times on South Mountain.  First a day of cleaning and drying our gear, recovering our baseline metabolism, and resuming our typically more sedate lifestyle.  Then, dealing with the unusually wet spring that continues to throw a storm at us every few days.  Thank goodness I installed a drain inlet beneath the basement floor.  The pipe has been taking water, at times lots of water, for more than a week.  On one day we took 3.7” of rain some water infiltrated through the opposite side of the basement.  That required only a minor cleanup.

The incident prompted even more drainage improvements.  I graded and trenched around one side of the house to end pooling there from downspouts and precipitation.  Remarkably I was able to hand trench almost 24” to maintain grade.  No boulders nor major roots stalled the project.  I made a shallower trench across the back of the house and it quickly turned into a flowing stream from ground water that is still flowing.  Hopefully these efforts will end the hydrologic incursions into the basement.

We awakened the motorhome (installed chassis battery and plugged into the house) and began the provisioning for Carolina.  Adjusted tire pressure, disinfected, flushed, and filled water tank, washed exterior, exercised slides, lubricated here and there, and exercised truck engine and generator.  Now, if only the refrigerator starts when we turn it on before we go. 

We also are taking care of other chores and making plans for later in the year. 

Both kids will come to Carolina for a week in June.  That should be fun.  We will go to San Francisco in August for a week to visit Alex.  Then an excursion to Nova Scotia in September “for vacation.”

Meanwhile we enjoy the arrival of spring here.  Today it is “greening up the mountain.”   Anne worked a few hours today in Gettysburg.  On our anniversary we went into this town for a fine dinner at the 1863 House Restaurant.  The forest on the mountain is still gray but the orchards below are variously in flower and sprouting leaves.  At Gettysburg the trees are lime green.  A wonderful time.  Sad to leave, but in Sylva, NC they are celebrating the official “Greening up the Mountain.”  We will arrive in time for spring in the Smokies.