Today was the day I finally pulled the trigger and started the roof project. I’d been hesitant to begin, knowing that once the old roof comes off, there’s no stopping until the new one is on. My plan was to keep things manageable: untie the tarp, fold it back over one half of the roof, work on that section, and if bad weather threatened, pull the tarp back over for protection.
The morning went smoothly enough, removing two layers of roll roofing from the first half. But during my lunch break, a gusty wind took matters into its own hands — blowing the tarp completely off and onto the ground. That was the end of my “half-roof-at-a-time” strategy. With no going back, I worked through the rest of that section, replacing two roofing boards — one damaged by the old wood stove chimney and another badly cracked. By the end of the day, the first half looked good.
Tomorrow, the focus shifts to the other half of the roof. The forecast shows a stretch of dry weather — only a 25% chance of rain Thursday and 55% next Sunday — so I’m optimistic. This roof is built differently than most: not with 4×8 plywood sheets, but with individual 1x8x12 pine boards running from ridge to eave. They don’t interlock, so there are visible gaps — anywhere from a quarter inch to a half inch — between some boards. I just hope the mosquitoes don’t see those as an invitation tonight.
With the tarp gone, I can finally open the cabin’s four side windows, allowing both cooler air and heat escape. It should be a more comfortable night, despite today’s high in the 80s. Speaking of heat, one of the items I picked up in Calais was a floating thermometer for the lake. This morning the water temperature was 74°F; by afternoon, it had climbed to 79°F — a big swing in just 12 hours. I took full advantage of the warm water with an afternoon swim, which felt fantastic after working in the sun.
This evening, I’m winding down with the replay of the Phillies game and planning for an early bedtime to be up and working on the second half of the roof first thing tomorrow.