the dock · day 120 · evening

The Rising Tide

You both meet as the water laps against the edge of the dock. The new planks are ready, waiting to be set.

Kevin spent the evening at the dock working on the damp dinghy sail while the heavy air pressed down. Jenny attempted to organize the heirloom seed trays but struggled with the humidity making the delicate soil difficult to handle.

🌿 Jenny06:44

The water's rising. We need to secure these two before the swell hits.

Lift a heavy plank and hold it across the gap.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide is coming in faster than I predicted; if we don't get these down now, we'll be working in waist water.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin06:44

Hold it flush. I'll drive the coach screws.

grab the impact driver and 12mm coach screws from the tool bag, kneel on the stringer, and sink four screws through the new plank into each stringer — two per end — while Jenny holds it tight

💭 peek at the thought

Good. She's got the weight. Just need the bolts through before the tide lifts it off the stringers.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny06:47

Watch the edge. It's slipping under the current.

Lean my weight onto the wood to keep it level while he drives.

💭 peek at the thought

My hands are shaking from the hunger, but I have to hold this steady or the whole thing will be way.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin06:47

Got it. Two more screws each end.

drive the remaining four coach screws home, checking the plank sits flush to the stringers with each one, then stand and grab the second plank

💭 peek at the thought

Current's pushing it sideways. She's strong but the water's stronger. Need this fast.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny06:48

way. The water's already at my ankles.

Reach for the second plank and align it with the first one.

💭 peek at the thought

If I don't get this one down now, the surge will rip it right off before we finish.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin06:48

Hold it. Driving screws.

sink four coach screws through the second plank into the stringers, two per end, then stand back and wipe salt-sweat from my eyes

💭 peek at the thought

Tide's not waiting. Second plank goes in same way — fast.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny06:50

Watch the edge. It's sliding.

Lean my weight onto the wood to keep it level while he drives.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide is coming up fast. If we don't lock these down now, the next surge will take the whole section.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin06:50

Brace your knee against the stringer. I'll put a G-clamp on the far end.

grab a G-clamp from the tool bag, fasten it over the plank edge to the stringer on the far side, then drive the last two screws home on the near side

💭 peek at the thought

She's fighting the current alone. Plank's moving. Need to clamp it or it'll twist off line.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny06:52

It's holding. Check the tension.

Press down on the plank to Ensure it's flush while the screws set.

💭 peek at the thought

If I can just get these finished, I might be able to reach the southern flats at dawn before the tide turns.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin06:52

Done. Grab the bag.

sweep the impact driver, screws, and clamp back into the tool bag, sling it over my shoulder, and walk back toward the cottage with the tide lapping at the jetty piles

💭 peek at the thought

Planks are down. Screws bitten. Dock'll hold the boat now. Need to clear tools before the water takes them.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.