Down to Business

With less than three weeks left on the clock... we drew our plans and called in reinforcements!

Step 1: Build the floor. Steve and Casey were quick to put their heads together and get the ball rolling. On a Saturday afternoon the dynamic duo designed the unique elliptical-shaped floor, purchased several car loads of wood and laid the framework into the night. Steve and his wonderful neighbor continued to work the whole week after we'd returned to Athens and had the masterpiece finished before the next weekend.

Step 2: Prepare the site. The Turner crew met us in Athens the next day to start clearing and leveling the site. The backbreaking shoveling, raking, and root-pulling soon resulted in a mostly flat circle of dirt. Only one tree had to be removed during the process... a baby cedar which loves its new home outside of the front door.

Step 3: Prepare the poles. Greg also spent the following weekend with us helping fell and peel 17 30 foot pine trees. A little mountain biking, world famous Turner-style camp food, and cowboy camping under the stars made the weekend.

Step 4: Lay the floor. Fortunately... the tipi was later than expected. We had another weekend to finish peeling poles, haul the deck up from Griffin, lay pavers and get the deck pieced back together on the ground. The Magner and Turner crews were there to help and we all shared some delicious Agua Linda after the long day :)

Step 5: Raise the TIPIII! Everyone came out to help us raise the tipi on that first Saturday in November. Greg and Casey got to work bright and early reading the instructions and getting the plans started. By late afternoon, the Athens crew had joined us and gotten to work erecting the poles and wrapping the canvas. With the tipi finally... finally upright we enjoyed pizza, beer, and one of the coldest nights yet by the campfire.

Steve and Casey spent the following morning working out the kinks and repositioning the canvas and poles. We put up the inner liner that afternoon and experienced our first cold, quiet night in our new home... thanks to the tireless work of family and friends :)