Good news, despite copious amounts of snow and winds that would embarrass those who refer to that Illinois city as windy, the Harbor Freight shelter still stands. Framework is sturdy and intact and tarps are securely in place. At this point I’m believing it will endure the winter not much less worse for wear.
Bad news, the materials to close off the bottom couple inches were acquired and still sit in the garage. Seems that along with getting older and health issues, I don’t handle cold very well. So my excursions out to work on the shelter though frequent were short lived and accomplished little compared to the task at hand. I’m also coming to grips with a bit of depression resulting from the passings of my niece and my mother. At least it is in retreat without the use of additional meds (shucks I already take enough of them). So the bottom remains open, plus snow and ice arrived early and stayed which is a little unusual. There is no way I will brave riding a bike the size of a 1500CC Goldwing on packed snow and ice. The bike remains in the garage.
Giving consideration to the amounts of snow this fall and winter already I’m somewhat pleased the bike didn’t make it into the shelter. Not to say it would have been less secure there but the truth is if snowfalls continue in amounts and frequencies we’ve already experienced we are in for a very wet back yard come spring. Now I don’t expect we will have flooding here but very few miles east, the Red River will. And there is the football field distance of wet clay to be traversed before getting to pavement. That is more challenge than an 800+ pound motorcycle plus rider (the rider would be me) may be willing to accept. Even not flooded it will be very wet and clay is really greasy when wet. Yep, considering that, I’m glad it isn’t back there.
In the meantime Janice is using the garage next door. The next door townhouse is for sale and unoccupied, so we came to an agreement with the owner to use the garage until the property sells. For us the price is right since all I have to do is keep the drive, walkway and front steps cleared of snow. Considering the amounts and frequencies of snow so far it does mean I’ll have ample cardiac rehab whether I go to the gym or not. In general though I think we have a win – win.
The shed continues to prove itself a worthy investment. It has endured high winds and copious snow. Let me tell you about the snow, or better yet I won’t. Put it this way, if it’s still standing come spring, it will get covered with pole barn siding and made into a much sturdier shelter. That was the intention from the beginning. This could be an inexpensive way to end up with a good storage shelter. Hmmmm.
