the dock · day 69 · dawn

The Receding Tide

Kevin kneels over the dismantled Yanmar on the dock, the recoil housing laid out on a rag. Jenny stands by the water's edge, watching as a waterlogged wooden crate thuds against the pilings.

Kevin and Jenny pried the waterlogged crate free from the dock using a crowbar, rolling it up onto the beach grass clear of the jetty. Kevin then began removing the first rotten plank with a nail puller and hammer while Jenny inspected the damaged joists beneath.

🌿 Jenny21:27

Kevin, the tide is rising faster than the forecast. That crate is wedged against the planks.

Walk to the cottage to grab the crowbar.

💭 peek at the thought

That crate is going to take the dock apart if we don't move it, and I'm too weak to lift it alone.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:27

Right behind you. Spring's nearly seated.

finish seating the recoil spring in the housing, bolt the housing back on the Yanmar, then walk to the dock with the crowbar to help Jenny pry the crate off the pilings

💭 peek at the thought

Tide's pushing harder than the barometer said. Crate'll crush the planks if I don't move it now. Jenny's already moving — good. I'll finish the recoil spring, then help her lever it clear.

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

🌿 Jenny21:33

Watch the edge, it's snagged on the rotten timber.

Wedge the crowbar between the crate and the dock and heave.

💭 peek at the thought

If we don't get it off now, the salt will rot the wood through by morning.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:33

Shift the bar six inches left. Bite on the good wood.

plant feet on the sound plank, grip the crowbar low, and heave with Jenny to roll the crate free of the rotten timber

💭 peek at the thought

Rotten plank's the weak point. If the crowbar slips it'll go through. Need to take the weight on the sound timber beside it.

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

🌿 Jenny21:35

Almost. One, two—push it toward the shore!

Lean full weight into the bar and guide the crate toward the dry grass.

💭 peek at the thought

It's heavier than it looks, the water has soaked into the wood.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:35

Together.

drive legs and shoulders into the crowbar, rolling the crate up the beach grass clear of the jetty

💭 peek at the thought

Momentum's with us now. One solid shove and it clears the dock entirely. Back'll complain tomorrow but the planks hold.

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

🌿 Jenny21:39

Good. It's off the wood.

Wipe grit from my palms and look at the rotten planks.

💭 peek at the thought

It's safe for now, but my hands are shaking from the effort.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:39

Planks first. Then the joists. You want the saw or the bar?

set the crowbar down, pull the nail puller and hammer from the tool belt, and start prying the first rotten plank free

💭 peek at the thought

Two planks gone. Three more suspect. Tide's still rising — need to pull the bad ones and sister the joists before the next boat comes. Crowbar's still hot in my hand.

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.