Synopsis 2020
Chapter 37
March 10 - It has been a long, cold, rainy, winter. It wasn't that cold or snowy, but it was cold enough many days to not want to be outside.We did get (in the garage) the doors and windows installed, and electricity installed, so that was a big help. I have a kerosene heater left over from the Palm Valley trailer days on the floor of the garage.The Hot Spring spa (It's in a corner of the garage) that Mary Hess gave me some ten years ago finally needed major work. I have only had to replace the motor and seals, heater, and circulation pump in all that time. I spent close to a thousand bucks with Mountain Spring Spas and Pools in Franklin,NC, to get it back up to speed. It is a 1988 Sovereign model, very simple, and easy to maintain. I am in it at least every other day. It's very therapeutic and one of the few things in life that feels really good and is good for you.
I have stayed pretty close to home since I resettled here in July 2017, licking my wounds, sorting and organizing, and getting around to projects delayed for decades due to work and the Volunteer Lifesaving Corps. I am active in my church, Wayfarers Unity Chapel in Dillard, GA, which I joined in November 2018. I go to a yoga class, hike with the Nantahala Hiking Club, and participate in a writers group weekly in Highlands. I have begun a letter writing campaign to raise awareness of the undue control the very wealthy have over the rest of us. http://davidsautobio.org/Chapters/Chapter%2030%20Writings/economicSystem.html
I get support and flak on my Facebook page.
Upcoming projects include my 1993 pickup truck, 1994 Geo Tracker, 2 2007 Kawasaki motor bikes, repair and maintenance. Having a garage to work in is huge.There is punch out work to be done on the porch (new deck), the back deck, and the garage. Karen and I will stockpile at least a cord or two of firewood for next winter. Our three acres provides plenty of dead wood that is six inches around or smaller. Karen and I are getting along good. We are both putting more energy into our relationship. The love has always been there.
Smoky and Sadie are getting older, but holding up well. They are a joy and a blessing (most of the time). Red and Goldie, our two chickens, have so far survived coyote mating season, and continue to lay eggs about once a day.
Mulberry Road Waterfall
May 29, 2020
The covid 19, aka coronavirus, pandemic, is apparently in decline, although there is some question whether or not it will flare up again. Karen and I are lucky and were only inconvenienced. Karen sewed masks and I donated a little to food banks.
We lost Goldie, the chicken to an unknown predator, but bought four Golden Comet chicks from Tractor Supply, in March.
Red (the chicken) has been restricted to free ranging in the 5' chainlink pen in the back.
Red got sick and left us in June - RIP. Smoky is getting two teeth removed next week. The Covid 19 pandemic has returned with a vengeance, due to many people not taking it seriously - not wearing masks and not social distancing. Businesses that reopened are closing again, some for good. Millions are out of work.
Artie Cox, who delivered new windows for the garage loft, listened to my black bike run, and diagnosed my engine noise as a spun bearing. I'm looking for a replacement engine, as this one has been damaged on at least four occasions.
We had hardware cloth installed under the cabin to keep the insulation in place and to protect the insulation from varmints, including Sadie, our dog. Lightning struck near the garage in late July and took out the tv and a circulation pump in the spa. Replacing the front porch steps is a next project, along with the front porch deck and installing windows in the garage loft. I rehabbed my original Harbor Freight 4X8 trailer in early Spring. I scraped all the rust (well, most of it), treated it with phosphoric acid, and repainted it red. I gave a talk for church on the hero's journey in June. July 25, 2020.
David Stearns
294 Mulberry Ridge Road
Otto, NC 28763
(828) 349-7361 dspvbfl@gmail.com
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January 5, 2021
Dear Chip,
Enclosed is a little spending $ for you. If you need some more let me know and I’ll do what I can. Are you using your email now? I have the shipstore address.
It warmed up enough on Saturday for me to ride my bike down to the store and back. The waterfall on Mulberry road is really running from the rain. We’re scheduled to get more rain tonight and snow at the end of the week. We stay stocked up and are particularly staying at home with the increase in virus infections.
I had a good talk with Jackie yesterday. I posted the 1968 photo of you and my 305 Honda on her Facebook page. I built my bike from parts and an old 305 that Freddie Carlson had in a garage on 10th Street in Atlantic Beach in 1977. It made one of my trips to California and back in 1979. The cam chain kept coming off and I sold it. I had an unlicensed 350 for a while too, that had been abandoned at Beach Tire on 1st St in Jax Bch. I walked it home to Oak and First after a Summer Beach Run in 1977. I stripped it down and painted the frame red. I sold it to two sailors for an off road bike for $150.
According to Rusty’s Facebook page, he is in Alaska via a small plane. His phone # is 407-748-2835, if you want to give him a call.
We’re on the way to the dentist. Karen has a sore tooth. Hopefully it’s nothing major.
Love you Man
