Above the clouds...

It's been a productive weekend.  To mill or not to mill?  Easy answer, let Home Depot mill so that I can complete Shambhala before I am in need of reincarnation.  This weekend's task is to continue working on the deck for the Columbia tent.  The tent is called Columbia because that is the name the manufacturer, Coleman, put on the box.  It is a rather rare tent as tents go.  It is made from a material patented by Kimberly-Clark laboratories and feels very much like a ginormous Huggies disposable baby diaper.  It is comforting to know that Columbia will keep me dry should it rain or poo.

The deck is one-half completed.  The 2" x 6" x 10' foot planking is hellacious to carry up the hill, but makes one helluva great base when attached to the 3 lodge poles I assembled. So far, everything is leveled and square.  I'll need 12 more planks, then I'll water seal the whole platform.  The first plank attached is a 12 foot long plank installed in the original Simon residence.  Nearly 50 years ago, the Simon cabin was burned to the ground by vandals before it was completed.  I do this to honor the spirit of someone who attempted to live a simpler life and inhale the nutrients that Shambhala provides. 

As described, Shambhala's surface material is decomposing granite.  Sleeves for the tiki torches were inserted by driving metal poles into the surface to loosen the granite. Once the hole was created, the pole was removed and a pvc sleeve was inserted.  The tiki torches will add ambiance and I hope the burning citronella oil wards off insects.

When I left home at the beach this morning, the skies were gray, blanketed by a heavy marine layer -- June Gloom.  It was about 59 degrees and the morning dew sprinkled parked cars.  So much moisture in the air, I expected that rain was possible.  No matter, I'm headed to Shambhala.  A place above the clouds.  As I climb above 3000 feet, I can see blue skies and feel the 81 degree sunshine on my face. 

My arrival time puts me at the hottest time of day, on an especially hot day, on a day that requires many trips up and down the mountain.  One must be prepared for exhaustive work in such conditions by taking the necessary actions to absorb perspiration.  The old saying that "cleanliness is next to godliness" is followed by the reality that "funky is next to nobody".  My newly discovered solution for remaining fresh and non odoriferous in conditions that invoke profuse sweat and potential body odor -- panty liners. I'm partial to Care Free Originals.  They have a fresh scent, compact, inexpensive and make great tinder for fires.  Hell, they are the Swiss Army Knife of personal hygiene.  Place a liner under each arm pit of your shirt and a liner in the crotch of your boxer drawers -- Voilà! -- instant fresh prince of the outdoors.  No more skid marks AND, add a little hand sanitizer and a match to the used pad and you have damn-near spontaneous combustion!

Of course, the proper way to end such a great day is to bathe in the waters of the Eternal spring. This is a "clothing optional" area.  In reality, anyone needing to wear clothing is probably at the wrong spring.  Word to the shy, clothing is not permitted at the Jones Beach area.  Jones Beach is easily located.  It's the sandy area of the spring with the guy signing for you to "take it off" while floating paper airplane dollar bills at you.  However, should you see or hear a banjo, I strongly recommend that you cut your visit short.