Spent my day on the Appalachian Trail harvesting rocks to build steps. When we want nice rectangular rocks for steps, we plant them and water them and cultivate them for 2-3 years until they are the size and shape we want. Then we harvest them. Unfortunately, we can't plant them on the trail because being stepped on constantly by hikers would deform their symmetry during the critical growth phase. It would sure save alot of work if we could plant them where we want them. Instead we have to wait until they weigh 300-500 lbs and move them with a grip hoist. This devise is a cross between a hand winch, a zip line, and an aerial dog leash. Since we had about 40 feet of downhill in our 100 foot hoist line (1/2 inch steel cable) today, the rocks enjoyed a speedy run until they contacted the rotten birch log on the ground. Then we did the dog leash thing and walked them along the line to their drop point. The final drop required three people to tug the line as the cable relaxed it to the ground. Three new stone steps installed today.
Maybe I should have said that I spent my day havesting rocks and dreaming up tall tails. But most of that story is actually true.
Tomorrow I'll be riding. No more time for silly dreams.
