As The Crow Flies

I resigned myself to the probability that I will always need a chainsaw in my life. So, I went down to “Tim’s Saws” and for a little less then a ticket to Peru, bought a new one.

I got the Sthil 250c. It has an “easy start” feature on it, which is truly a nice feature. It is really easy to start. I wanted the 280 but Tim said it didn’t come with the “easy start” feature.

Tim spent a lot of time showing me how to take care of my new chainsaw. That’s the thing about a chainsaw, it isn’t like a blender where you push a button and it does what it’s supposed to do; you’re always messing with a chainsaw.

He said, “Don’t even try to sharpen it yourself, because you won’t get it right.” Normally I would have been insulted, but from past experiences, I knew he was probably right. He sold me two extra chains and told me to change the chain when it gets dull and then bring it back to him for sharpening.

His most stressed points were, to always use fresh premium gas and never cut with a dull chain.

The reason the bar is upside down is to remind me to turn the bar over after cutting every cord.

Other people love their chainsaws. They take good care of them. When they cut wood, they cut it in identical sized pieces and lovingly stack it. I have always treated my chainsaw with coolness, just cut up my wood in willy-nilly sizes, and would just as soon throw it in a big pile with a tarp over it.

I’m trying to change. I’m trying to develop the enthusiasm and interest necessary to keep a chainsaw running properly and my wood pile full. A really cold winter without enough wood, would probably do it.

I resupplied as I went; never sending myself any food. I did, however, have a bounce boxed filled with guide book sections and nutritional supplements that I mailed along about every 500 miles.

I liked the challenge of putting together a resupply from what I could find in the little stores and the freedom from trying to make post office deadlines.

Having to get to the next post office before it closes for the weekend can be a good motivator for getting a lot of miles in, but it would get old if I had to do it too often. I really hate having to get anything in the mail; it always thwarts my freedom.

Resupply at the big stores was a real treat and I would walk out of town with multi-grain tortillas, deli cheese and meat, fresh fruit and veggies, dark chocolate, Crystal Light energy drink, and my water bottles filled with Odowalla juices.

My resupply list.