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Day 11, Monday, October 26 Wil Wilkins joined us late last night. Saw him at breakfast. He will be good fresh energy. He brought a hand-forged scribe made from old garage door springs. Peter Bull and Lon Tyler also came back from their sub-excursions. With Wil here, the forging will begin. The forge is in place. Meanwhile, last night Sydney, the demo guy, and Hew began their witches brew on the hill. They are turning aluminum into unobtainium. I don't know what they're cooking, but it sure did interest the film crew. They filmed Marcus on the lathe and the slinging of a ball to check for length, shape, etc. The head blocks of the fixed machine are done by now. We roughed them by lunch and Peter and Derwyn finished them. The last wheel is round and the carvings are looking fantastic. The children are doing a great job carving them. The fixed arm is now an octagon and the hinged arm now has two square axle mortises. The side frames of the fixed machine are assembled and braced and ready for bolting -- BOLTING!! Hey, it's histerical, so we're told. The king post for the hinged dude is mortised and ready for the journals at the top. That should just about complete the round pockets, other than the basket hubs. The rounds on the basket bottom or "felloes" as they are called, are cut and I would suspect they -- Matt, Michail, and several CO brothers -- will have the basket complete by tomorrow. Okay, so the Gakemeister [Dave Gaker] is grubbing in the muck, still setting the bedding for the fixed machine, and I've got my video cam. Excellent. I'm trying to capture this Monty Python moment so I ask Dave to reset a timber he's already placed. Of course, he obliges me and I get the footage. As I'm walking away for my next shot, THWACK right in the back of the head. I get a nice greasy mudball that just rolls down my neck. Perfect shot. Well, you know one act deserves another so I just wanted to let him know it's okay. I deserved that so let's hug and make up. Yup. Body slam and rolling in the muck we go. Where's the camera crew when you need 'em? I guess it excited Dave so much he went skinny dippin'. He and a few others left early to come back to the Abbey. Kids, too. We all had a little mini-school to do homework. I tried to wash a load of clothes, but it took about 8 hours. Everybody else sent theirs out to Inverness. After dinner Vern [Foley] did a presentation on trebuchets but some of us were involved in a deep political conversation in the dining hall. Wil W. called a serious metal meeting. He's gonna make that happen now. There is a lot of metal work to do. Day 12First thing this morning we got Rick and Laura all set up for the pouring of the lead; set up took all day for quite a few folks. They have to prepare an uphill melting pot with a lower pouring mold next to it. Above it all, they have to have some way to lift the lead to the melted, the crucible with hot lead, and the finished D rings out of the molds. Dave Dauerty, Matt Andy, Wiley, Ellen, Rick and Laura Brown built a derrick arrangement for the task. Henry Russell and Marcus continued on the remainder of the axles. The Carpenter Oak boys are wrapping up the basket with the help of Dave Gaker. The art for the fixed machine is complete, along with the bedding and we rolled that big old Fred Flintstone cart into place. The wheels creak and groan just like the firing of the Lexington, VA machine. We now have a laboratory set up for Sidney to start mixing his components. I think I understand what he was doing on the hill in the fire, rendering deer bones into calcium phosphate. He's got his little sign up that says Laboratorium and he's got his little fire going and grinding and mixing. One strange bird he is. The Army came and got one of their tents and we now have a nicer coffee tent. Who keeps eating all the Danishes? The hinged arm is now complete except for the banding. I'm sitting in the coffee room with my daughter at the Abbey trying to allow her to do her homework. The fixed arm is cut to length and is being notched for the lead D rings. All it needs is the axle mortise and steel. All of the axle journals are roughed out and probably finished by now. I have had to leave the site early to come back to the Abbey to do homework with Micah. Wil Wilkins made hooks, repaired manganelle parts, made parts for the gin pole with Dave D. and Grigg 2. Iron order has been placed and Matt will go work with the fabricator tomorrow. Lunch was fantastic today: chicken fricassee and curry vegas over rice. Cold day, hot lunch, good combination. Today was the rainiest and coldest day yet. "The mire left much to be desired," says Matt. In the evening after fish pie with scalloped potatoes and potatoes for dinner, (no, I didn't write that wrong -- there were potatoes in the pie and potatoes on the side), Michail and Nils gave a talk on the German journeymen system complete with traditional signs followed by one serious jam session. All the musical instruments came out: fiddle, bazookee, mandolin, banjo, triangle, sticks, coconut shells, eggs (you shake 'em). Day 13We arrived at Castle Workhard a wee on the slow soggy side. I didn't wake up till 6:30, breakfast time. We can't miss our potatoes. It was pretty wet all day. Rick and Laura made a few dough rings of lead. Everyone working in the area wears masks. They've moved to the outskirts of our little village to keep the toxic smoke away from the rest of the village. Life continued in our little town. Renaud had us install stiffeners to the hinged arm around the axles. The frame for the fixed is up and ready to raise the arm in place. We'll do that tomorrow. The basket for the hinged machine is ready. All parts of the hinged are ready. We'll do that tomorrow as well. Sidney set off one of his Greek bombs, lotta smoke, lotta fire. He and Hew are like a couple of kids. Hew got a stick and started poking at the bomb. Micah stayed at the Abbey today to make tie-dyed kilts for our little prank. Marilyn Tyler helped. She also babysat for Janice's kids. The first few castings were rough, but Rick says anytime you build a foundry or something of that sort, you have to fire it to see where the glitches are. Corbels were installed in the hinged arm king posts. The corbels will add bearing to the axle. It seems both of our throwing arms are borderline in their integrity; they may break when we fire! So we're doing everything possible to prevent that. Capstans are ready for the lathe; capstans for the hinged machine. We still haven't worked out quite how to position and install them. Just build it and the idea will come. End of the day we got started on a quick build siege tower for Sidney to blow up before he leaves tomorrow. There is still a good bit of work to do and at this point we shouldn't be fooling around with stuff like that, but that's show biz. So here's the breakdown of the lineology of this project: the village people of Castle Workhard are broken into three clans: the Lodges clan, the Abbey clan, and the B&B clan, which is largely made up of COW boys (Carpenter Oak and Woodland). After dinner, we heard the "Charge of the Unfunded" by Paul Denney with apologies to Alfred Lord Tennyson, followed by Bill Keir's limericks of the first firing. Then we took a tour of the Abbey with women and children led by Father Aelred. The masons have really gotten into the project and are now part of our clans, which one I can't tell. Maybe they'll form a new clan: the Lock Inn clan. Day 14This morning we'll knock out the siege tower. Everyone seems a little more chipper. Even the folks who closed the pub last night. I was totally occupied on the hill with the siege tower, Renaud's son Bertrand, and the film crew doing their siege tower assault, while Sidney tried to blow it up and burn it out. The wood was way too green and built too well (I only used one nail per board). So this day is recorded as what I'm told happened in the village. They moved the throwing arms into position. The big one and the little one were moved by rolling and pivoting. It took everybody, but nobody lifted much at all and nobody got hurt. We will raise them tomorrow. In the morning I understand Sidney chucked a failed experiment into the trash can (plastic bag) only to have it ignite. They raised a gin pole inside the fixed machine to assist raising the 30' shear legs. The shear legs are in place and ready to pick the throwing arm. I've heard talk of raising the sides of the hinged machine simultaneously. With guy lines and a gin pole in the middle, it should work quite well. All but one or three D rings are poured. Cormac is back. Grigg is back today after a day off (that's why they didn't raise the arm). We all worked till very late and very dark. Can't wait to get back to find the tools we left out. The kids made a couple of mini trebs using pegs for arms. We have successfully withstood rain every day. The rain was more successful than we. Day 15Tomorrow is Halloween. We all wear our tie-dyed kilts on Saturday. Today was gorgeous with only one rain spell. 100% rain so far. The pace has slowed considerably due to all the rigging needed for all the various raisings. We raised the sides of the hinged machine. Had a couple of glitch cuts -- nothing that couldn't be fixed. At least, the wood was there -- not gone. Lead D's are done and the forging is continuing. Matt is cold framing strapping on the arms. He's had a portable mig welder -- nice but slow going. The muck is slowing movement and there is a crew laying fresh hay paths, like, all the time. Peter and Donna, Dan and several others were pounding the capstan parts. Parts-o-plenty. I failed to mention earlier the guys were shaping the capstan heads, readying them for the lathe. Today they finished turning the heads, and are now prefitting the frame parts. I think the plan is to use only one pair of capstan for both machines. Jeanne K. finished truing up some of the ingots (first pourings). All in all, today was a lot of pulling of ropes. A lot went up and progress was made. We've started a big fire to burn all the scrap after getting approval of course. Tonight's dinner was pepperoni pizza and baked potato for the vegetarians and baked trout for the regular entree. Michail and Paul (a COWboy) gave a talk (very impromptu and laid back) in the piano room, whilst Marti and Michael B. questioned Ed. Henry, Paul and John played mandolin, guitar and bazookee with Suzanna Kricker on violin.
Day 16, Halloween.
We hustled to get the capstan finished so we could use them hopefully to raise the arms into place. But where do we put them? Ed pondered this one all morning. See, the site was pitched such that we were throwing up hill to the wall with the water behind us. Where the slope fell away is where we were supposed to use them; but this would make our angle of pull very awkward, and the handles would hit the ground if we canted them.
As everybody filed to the site, we had already slid into the same pace we normally had. The fire I started last night burned completely and I didn't even think there were coals. I went ahead and swept the chunks of wood into the middle to clean up a bit. It wasn't a few hours later the smoke was rising. And as the sun rose higher, so did our spirits. As we assembled on the haul line to pick the first arm, Dave Crocco read his timberframer's prayer, it went something like this... "Hey, Bossman, when we need to pull a rope you help us grip tighter, when we must move the beam you make the wood lighter..." I wish I had it written to insert. This was the first tear that wet my face this trip. And as we lifted in complete silence, I thought, "We made it!" Even though we had a lot of work to do, we succeeded in our goal. We found the magic, the swing that drives groups to accomplish incredible tasks. We've made wonderful friends as we wallow around the site. Everybody has that grin. I can't wipe it off my face. I don't want to.
We set the fixed arm today, moved the shear leg, finished the capstans. We decided, Ed did, let's just set them opposite, in line of the throw uphill. Lots of visitors came. We kept the fire going and almost burned all the hewing chunks. We worked till way past dark. The moon is getting very full and there is a planet right next to it. The night is clear, the day's weather was perfect. The Ness is as still as can be. As we left the site, total exhaustion was the only thing that kept us from turning around and starting the next day now.
Micah has been helping keep us supplied with water, coffee, and fruit. OK, so a little Danishes too. ... I think she's seen what I'd hoped she would. I feel good, or great rather. That tear is still on my cheek and I can't wait for tomorrow.
Day 17 Sunday, November 1
The tools have begun being
packed as of yesterday. I've got to find time to blow out the chain saws.
The site was an absolute mess. We spent several hours burning and picking
up trash.
All side rails and wheel chocks are in place for the cocking of
the fixed machine. The hinged arm went up smoothly and dropped in its
pocket right on target. A little crowding on the counterweight end of the
arm from the back stays of the shear legs. Michail and Nils read us a
nice long poem whilst perched atop the fixed machine prior to cocking. The
big arm was home about 1:00, then we cocked the fixed. After sorting
through the lengths and pulls and triggers and slings, it wasn't till 4:00 or
5:00 when we shot. We were able to get two rocks off. The first was one of
the heavy shots. First tug of the trigger with a single rope soon got
assistance from a block and tackle. When it fired, the arm seemed to labor
hard and slow. It nudged slightly forward as the lead dropped from 1:30 to
3:00 (standing on the right side), at this time the sling and ball are
traveling at a pretty good pace, which then sent the machine lurching
backwards about 6 ft. The sling released at about 12-12:30, sending that
slug away without too much loft. It made a fair arc, but fell short of the
wall about 40 yds. in a direct line home.
The second shot seemed lighter. I
think Wayne, Grigg, and Andy shortened the length of the sling also. I
noticed our takeoff line was just right of the centerline, which put the
ball just inches to the right of the wall, but in a perfect striking arch.
The light was bad so we wrapped up for the night. God thing, they were
shooting on bad light and would not have gotten a good picture of a direct
hit. Another thing, after the first shot, the arm had settled into its
wedges to its natural position, although it tracked quite well. Final
bolting, pegging and steel was done to the hinged machine. The COW Boys
stayed to help us all day, though they should have left this morning. We
had haggis stuffed in chicken legs, Not bad! I really had to pack but I went
to the pub instead. Today we use the forklift.
We lobbed 4 rocks today. The first hit the roof, sending splinters flying
but no rock wall. The second hit right at the base of the wall. It showed
damage 5' through to the other side. The third hit about 20 feet from the
wall, bounced to rest right alongside the last one. The fourth was a bull's
eye hit. Right square in the middle of the wall. The ball bounced back but
not after doing considerable damage, sending rock chips flying out the
back. Vern has a radar gun and clocked one of the balls at 126 mph. Tools
are packed and hauled up the hill. The hinged basket is finished.
We left
at 4:30 while a few stayed late to fill the basket with sand. They should
fire tomorrow. Now I have to pack my hand tools and clothes. Hurried through
the gift shop and dinner still only making the bus in seconds flat. Went
upstairs and had a smoke, somebody spoke and I went into a dream. About
half of our group stayed a few days longer to work a day or so and travel
some. I wish I had taken the time to travel around a bit.
So now I guess it's time for reflection. You know, given the cold rainy mud, I would do it again!
Given the raw, bloody hands- I would do it again! Given the group of
people again, I would most definitely do it all over again. These are my
friends, some old, some new, they are the greatest people on the face of
the earth. With all we endured and bitched about, I believe we would all
do it again. The NOVA crew -- Michael, Marti, Mary, Frank, Martin, Marc
(Marti's brother/man), Mike, Mike, and Mike (sorry man, I never learned your
real name) -- had taken on way more than they expected. Welcome to the club
brothers. They did it, though, with grace and dignity. They were all just
as demanding and accommodating as we were, and we all worked together
brilliantly. Our work is done, theirs is just beginning. We send you all
our patience, creativity, and love.
Michael Barnes had an idea, a dream that he needed us to manifest. It is people like him that we are ... we are
dreamers, we have ideas and we make them happen. To quote a few of my
friends, "We flew over the castle wall on the wings of the black raven
putting one more notch in the fight against boredom to learn patience,
incredible patience in the land of rainbows." Sometimes I wonder what it's
gonna take to find dignity, I don't wonder anymore. Until our next
adventure ... peace and love to us all.
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The Highland Fling: A Journal
