Log Flume

[Buster]

What a great day! I slept in until 11, when my stomach forced myself to get up and eat. So I got dressed and headed off to grab some lunch at Hutton's, a great place for grub for the Log Flumer on the run, which I usually am. But not today. Today was my day off, so the plan was to eat and then Flume.

Hutton's is known for it's Sunday Brunch, so I ordered my usual. Pancakes w/ Maple Syrup. Sausage. Scrambled Eggs. Grits. Coffee and Apple Juice. Then I read my copy of the Sunday Granite Falls Dispatch. Mostly the comics, which I find to be pretty funny.

After brunch, I headed back up to the hill towards my home and Log Flume. That's right. I have my very own Log Flume.

About 10 years ago, an Uncle I didn't know passed away and left me a large inheritance. But for the next 8 years I left the money in a special account, which I didn't touch. For all that time I just figured that I had everything I ever wanted in life. A great job at the Recycling Plant. A wonderful Cabin and plot of beautiful land here in Granite Falls. No family to drag me down.

So for all that time I left the money alone. Until one day, 2 years ago, when I decided that there was one thing missing from my life: A LOG FLUME. I don't know why, but to me, there is nothing like riding a log down a flume. Or up a flume. Just the feeling of wood against your body and the wood against the water, which is against a flume. And you are at the mercy of the water and where it flows. And at the mercy of the log. And nature. It's just a wonderful thing.

Anyway, after brunch, I went back and rode the Log Flume ALL DAY LONG. I must have gone something like 200 times today.

That's me on trip 116.

And here's a great shot of the back part of the Flume.

Sometimes I like to stop the Flume while inside the wooden building, and watch some television or drink some beer, before starting up the Flume again and cruising down that little fall.

What a day indeed.

 

[Buster]

Another busy day down at the Recycling Plant. I work on the end of the 2nd floor seperating line, seperating metals and plastic. Actually I just knock objects off of the conveyer belt with a stick, down their respective holding pins. It's hard work, but it makes me feel good that I'm doing my part for the earth.

I work 6:30am to 2:30. After work today, a couple of guys were going bowling and asked me to come, but I decline. Instead I walked back up the hill to my cabin and immediately hopped in the Log Flume...and rode it 24 times.

It was a blast.

 

[Buster]

I'll be honest. When my alarm went off at 5:45 this morning, I did not want to get up. I stayed up way too late last night, but I was Log Flumin' and just lost track of time.

I'm so sore today. Every step down the hill to the Recycling Plant jarred my tender body. Mostly in my thighs and forarms, from bracing myself around the Flumes sharp turns.

I'm currently in the Breakroom/Employee Lounge here at the plant, which now includes 4 computers. About a year ago us Recyclers went on strike until 3 out of 5 demands were met. One of the met demands was computers.

Man, it even hurts to type.

Still though, I can't wait to get home after work today and Flume. If I can get up the hill.

I think I can. Especially when this is the prize!

 

[Buster]

I am up way too late. It's 1:30 now, it'll be 2:00 before I'm asleep, and I have to wake up at 5:45 am to go to the Plant. I can not stay up this late anymore. I really can't. Otherwise the planet suffers, because I'm too tired to properly seperate the recyclables.

And why am I up so late? That's right, I was Log Fluming. What else?

After work I went to David's Hardware store to check out his new Brace inventory. David has a lot of great braces. And some cool clamps.

Then after David's, I walked back up the hill to the house. Had some dinner of Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Then I hit the Flume. And rode it about 79 times.

Perhaps I should place a Clock on the second Rise of the Flume, that way I can accurately keep track of time. Cause honestly, even on ride 79, it felt like 10:00. But I now know it was actually 1:00 am.

Well, at least I wasn't just wasting time. No way. I was Log Flumin'!

 

[Buster]

What a day. When my alarm went off at 5:45 am, after less than only 4 hours of sleep, I actually said, "SHIT!". Which is big for me, since I never curse. But, I woke up, and got ready for work, and walked down the hill towards the Recycling Plant and did my job. All day. Doing my part for the planet.

After work, I stopped by the Granite Falls Police Dept. to see if anyone had turned in my puppy, Jackson. They hadn't.

I love Jackson. I found him about 4 months ago, trapped in a half-rotten out log over near Dustin Creek. He was small, and wet, and cold, and scared, and I resuced him and took him back home. Then I let him ride the Log Flume, and he barked in happiness the whole ride. I then knew he had to be mine.

But a week ago he ran away. Possibly looking for more adventures or maybe an actually white water adventure.

But I can't find him. Hopefully he'll come back to me.

I am so tired. I should nap. But I won't. Instead I'm going out to the backyard and jumping in the Flume.

HI-HO!

 

[Buster]

I got to bed at 11:00 pm last night, back on my regular schedule. Today was a great day at the Recycling Plant. A lot of Copper today though, which is weird, cause it's not really Copper season yet. That's usually in June. But oh well, Copper is easy because there is a Copper seperater 10 yards ahead of me on the conveyer belt, so I don't ever have to deal with it.

I've decided to cook myself some BBQ Ribs tonight....meaning I may have to forget riding the Log Flume right now, and instead watch the grill. Ribs take a while, especially using my father's secret recipe- god rest his soul.

I slow cook my meat. And my women. Just kidding. I'm a virgin and have never ever dated. I'm the classic loner....which is why I loved Jackson so much. Jackson provided just enough companionship without all the headaches. That is, until he ran away. Or was stolen. By the Dixon Brothers, who live over on the next hill.

Me and the Dixon Brothers don't get along.

Oops, gotta flip my ribs and rub them down with some spices.

Then, after dinner, it's LOG FLUME TIME!

 

[Buster]

I worked really hard this week down at the Recycling Plant. All week. Doing my part for the planet. But here in Granite Falls, when the week is done, it's time to have some fun. So me and bunch of my co-workers went over to Richie's Saloon after work, to blow off some steam.

As I've said before I don't drink, but I'm also not one of those prudes who, because they don't drink, refuses to hang out with friends at a bar. No, I hang, and tell stories, and laugh, and drink my root beer.

It's a bit sad though, since most of my co-workers fall into that pathetic pattern of cashing their paychecks on Friday and immediately blow most of it on booze. And, here in Granite Falls, it's easy to drink yourself silly since most people just walk whereever they go.

Oh, and the Dixon Brothers showed up at Richie's around 7:00 pm, but they brushed past me without starting any trouble, which is a nice change. The fued between me and the Dixon Brothers is a long one. I don't feel like going into it right now....just know I hate them.

Wow, it's getting late. Where has my Friday night gone? I hope I can fit in at least 50 trips on the Log Flume. I think I can.

 

[Buster]

Oh, what a day. I just got back from the Recycling Plant, where all of us recyclables separators really worked hard today. We got a 20-ton shipment in from a building demolition in from Olympia today, with tons of aluminum, steel, plastic, copper, and gypsum. When we get such a massive shipment all at once, it really strains the conveyer and all of us workers feel the pinch.

Some of the boys even agreed to put in some overtime today at time and a half, but not me. I had to get back up the hill to my house and BROKEN Log Flume.

Well, it's not actually broke. It was vandalized or partially destroyed. And because of those actions, became broke. It didn't break itself.

Yeah, I woke up Saturday morning at 8:00 am. Made myself a breakfast of Apple Jacks and Grits. And then put on a flannel shirt and headed out to catch a couple of sunrise rides in the Flume. And during my daily pre-ride complete Log Flume inspection, I noticed a large hole in the Flume around turn 5. The log casing that holds the water had been busted out with a cinderblock.

Now each wooden casing is double lined with PVC sheets and rubber lining, but the Wooded casing is really what gives the Flume it's strength. The PVC and Rubber would have been strong enough to support it's self, and there was no water leak (luckily), but it still needed immediate attention.

Worse yet, the cinder block was still inside the Flume, hiding just under the water line on the tracks. Meaning if I would have just skipped the inspection (which I rarely do) and taken a ride, when I reached turn 5 and the cinder block, the log-car would have immediately stopped, and I could have been thrown up into the water, or worse yet, over the wooden casing, down 7 ft.

So I've been dealing with my vandalized Log Flume since Saturday. Meaning I had to spend 8 hours on my feet today, doing hard labor, in a body that hasn't Flumed in 4 days.

Those darn Dixon Brothers. I don't have any proof it was them, but it feels like something they would do. They are always out to get me, and pretty much bully me around all the time. If for no other reason than there is two of them and only one of me. And I'm only 5'9'' and the Dixon Brothers are both 6'3''.

Seriously, I don't know what their beef is with me, but they are just plain troublemakers, and since I'm an easy target, I suppose they don't even know or care what their beef is with me anyway.

Well, I stopped by David's Hardware store yesterday, so I'm about to go out to Turn 5 and replace the casing and strengthen up the lining. Perhaps add some more bracing or H-bolts.

I should be up and Fluming by tomorrow morning, or even late tonight. Although I'm afraid the Waste shipment from Olympia may still be there waiting at work tomorrow...meaning I need my sleep.

Oh, Jackson, won't you please come home....

 

[Buster]

Log Flume is back up and running. All is good for me. I'm a bit tired after a busy weekend, and work was hell today after finishing another copper push, but I'm good. After work today, I walked up the hill, gathered some apples off Ms. Harper's Apple Trees, and then came home.

For dinner I reheated a bowl of Beef Stew, which I made all Sunday. My grandmother's recipe.

I cooked in between Log Flume runs, of course.

Man, did I ride the Flume a lot this weekend. I think I counted up to 226 times, before finally losing track half-way through Sunday afternoon. It was awesome. And it was especially nice with the past couple of days of very pleasent 60 degree weather. Saturday morning it misted some, but not for long.

Oh, and while at David's Hardware store on Saturday morning to pick up some rubber caulking I'd forgot, I splurged and invested in a nice sound system for the Flume.

I've always wanted a sound system for the Flume...with speakers set up throughout the ride, so you can hear at any point. Before I'd just have to make do with having a boombox out my bedroom window, which means you can only hear the boombox when you are at the loading deck. If you are actually riding the Flume, you can only hear the crashing of the waves, or the cranking of the belt-line. Which is nice too....but sometimes you just want to rock out, ya know?

Now I have speakers everywhere, meaning I can rock out on any turn. Or fall. Or tunnel. Even in the sawmill, before half-fall # 6. I call it a half-fall, cause it's only a 8 foot drop. A baby-drop...

And what I rocked out to so far? Bob Seger's "Down On Main Street". And nothing else.

I love Bob Seger's "Down On Main Street". The passion. The truth. The smokey lyrics and sultry guitar licks.

And it makes me think of my father. And my best friend, Jackson....

OH, the other day, during my walk down the hill to David's, I went through Deer Head creek, and saw on the ground, what looked to be Jackson's ol' rawhide bone. Jackson was never without that bone. There were no paw or foot prints in the near-by mud though, so the finding of the bone was just a tease.

A tease...just like my Flume....

 

[Buster]

Well, this entry is not going to be an easy one to write, but I'm going to do it anyway.

This is the last entry in my Log Flume journal. I would have liked to have kept it going for years, documenting my adventures and/or lack of adventures with my life....mostly my life with my personal back-yard Log Flume.

BUT, part of why I enjoyed writing this journal, was because I knew my situation and life was unique. It was my belief that not too many people had their own personal Log Flume...especially someone who works in a Recycling Plant in Granite Falls, WA.

HOWEVER, during an after dinner walk about the neighborhood last night, I discovered that SIX of my neighbors ALSO have PERSONAL BACKYARD LOG FLUMES!

I never curse, but seriously, what the fuck?!

I mean I applaud my neighbors...I understand how great having your own personal Log Flume can be....it's just I thought I was the only one who had one.

But I'm not.

This also means that their could be many other Log Flume journals on the internet....meaning I don't have a unique story to tell. Meaning this the last entry.

I wish I could end it on a good note...like Jackson comes back to me, or the Dixon Brothers fall into a canyon, but I can't.

I'm just ending it.

Log Flume, everybody....Log Flume!

 

[Buster]

Labor Day Weekends make me sad.

The Recycling Plant is closed. David's hardware store is closed. Richie's Saloon is closed. Just about everything here in Granite Falls is closed...

except for my moonshine still, and my Log Flume.

This weekend I am celebrating WORK, by NOT WORKING....

Instead I'm drinking hooch and flumin'!

Happy Labor Day!