Mommy arrived from Phildalphia and Nina and Isaiah arrived from Providence. Bulo likes to climb out of boats onto stumps.

I mowed some paths through the field to gather up the tree sleeves that were scattered around in piles. The Ladds were up at the lake and Nina, Isaiah, and i went over to heir house in Shunk for some appetizers before dinner.

I was driving the tractor toward Wheelerville and saw a small bear cross the road. Bulo saw it too and once he got up to where it had crossed the grade, he chased it into the woods. I stopped and waited and after a few minutes he came back, uneaten.

I was driving the tractor toward Wheelerville and saw something up in the road. I couldn't tell what it was until i got closer and discovered that it was a massive porcupine. It was too late to get Bulo not to go after it and he got a mouthful of quills, which required a quick return to the house, then a drive down to the vet in Troy. He was in and out pretty quickly, but definitely groggy for the rest of the day.

I stopped the tractor on the side of the grade and it wouldn't start again. I suspected that it was a wire in the switch, but couldn't get at it to see. Tured out that's what it was, but it wasn't fixed until i left for Vermont.

Bulo will now go out for a swim on his own, not just chasing me or falling out of a boat.

I installed a new swing on this trip, at first with 1/8" cable, then i switched it to 14" cable. Bulo and i took a walk around the lake, then we loaded up with Isaiah, Java, and Isaiah's lizard aquarium and drove to the Crossgates Mall in Albany, where we met Mark, who took Isaiah and his stuff to Connecticut.

Took Bulo up along the Clarendon Gorge.

Went for a paddle at Gale Meadows with Wayne and Kara. Bulo fell out of the canyak a few times.

Took my Mini to Ludlow Service Center to get an oil change and inspection. Bulo and i walked around West Hill Recreation Area and into the woods while we waited. That evening i drove up to the top of the world hill in East Wallingford in an attempt to get a picture of comet Neowise. I never saw it, but the camera barely picked it up in the last picture, halfway up, third of the way across.

Took my FJ in for its 95,000 mile service. The power steering hadn't been working and they informed me that i needed a new steering column, which they'd have to order parts for.

Played league at Magic Mountain again. Had a little bee/wasp encounter on one of the holes. Also had one of the best drives of my life on the par-4 Hole 18. My shot missed the basket by a few feet and landed 30 feet past it. I missed the eagle putt, but got the birdie, giving me a 65 (+7) for the third time in a row.

Took the FJ into Rutland and dropped it off for its service the next day. I'd brought my bike and decided to bike straight south to Wallingford, then up Route 140 to East Wallingford. This would keep me on less-travelled roads. A few miles into the trip, my left pedal worked its way off and i spent the rest of the ride down to Wallingford stopping every mile or so, banginbg the pedal back on, and hand-tightening the nut. I stopped at my friend Christopher's shop and borrowed a socket wrench which enabled me to seat it back on so it wouldn't go anywhere. Then it was a long slow slog up 140 to East Wallingford and i was totally spent by the time i got home. I'm out of shape.

I'd gotten a bug bite or something on my foot and the spot grew into a big red blotch, then my foot started swelling. I went to the Ludlow Health Center today and they confirmed that it was infected. While i waited for the prescription to be filled, Bulo and i walked around the Okemo clock tower base area.

Put some new seatbelts in the Mini today. Now my passengers can actually buckle up!