The wife & I acquired 50 acres of private wooded land in a fairly remote location early in the winter months of this year. 2 sides border state land that goes on for what seems like for ever.
We have prepared a building site & have started building our hunting cabin. 24 x 32 cabin with 3 bunk rooms, kitchen/dining area, small living room type area & an attached sauna room. Wood and or propane heat, propane range/oven, probably the lights too. No electricity, no running water. Thinking about putting a sand point in & a hand pump for water to wash up with.
It's accessible by truck but it's a slow trail a good 3/4 mile off the closest decent gravel road.
The most notable part of this new camp is a new member to our hunting group. My best friends son, 16 years of age. My best friend, also my cousin, lost his life recently in a plane crash. I invited his boy to take part in the building of this new camp & asked if he could come up & hunt with us as well.
He's taken to me, taken to the project & taken to the idea of calling it his hunting camp with the passion & enthusiasm that only a starry eyed young hunter could bring. It's a true blessing and a wonderful thing. The bond between us is strengthening and it is helping me deal with the loss as much or more than it could possibly be helping him. Me & his dad were only about 12 days apart in age & have been best friends since before we could talk. I suppose we are as people would often say "like brothers". Looked alike, talked & thought alike, I suppose that makes it easier for his boy & I to bond so well.
We're trying to keep things pretty rustic, we like the absence of electricity, the hand pumped well idea, Wood stove, It's going to be quite the place, a foundation for many memories to come. I have 3 kids of my own, 1 girl & 2 boys, all are already or at least show promise of being hunters. My wife likes to hunt, I have brothers, I'm sure my dad will take part. It's the beginning of something good, the birth of what will be a sentimental memory factory.
I'm standing at the beginning looking forward, and I know well enough to absorb it all, soak it up & live in the moments, because they move so fast.
Well, there's the intro, lengthy, but there it is. Any shack/cabin tips and or considerations from those that are past my point & looking back are certainly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
This was my opening post for this thread on 08/09/07
I had no idea where it would lead or where we would be in 2 years.
When I say 2 years, I mean 2 years from the event that anchored the whole project & brought our camp group together as a tighter family.
I mean 2 years from the loss of a man we all miss so dearly. We've all been charging along for 2 years now without him. 2 years ago today we lost him.
At his funeral I read a few words the best I could to his immediate family. I did the best I could to pay tribute to the best friend I have ever had, a great man, man of truth and integrity... I did the best I could with words to explain how I choose to basically honor his life by making efforts to live as he would live when ever possible. And I do, I find myself making decisions based off what I think Waylon would do.
And it makes me feel good, it keeps me out of trouble too.
Today we reflect & remember a father, a brother, a husband, a son, a best friend. We remember a great man, celebrate his life & cherish his greatest accomplishments which are his 3 wonderful children.
Here's to you cousin, I love you, and I sure do miss you.
