the dock · day 783 · evening

The Window Closes

The rain intensifies, and the tide reaches its peak. The supply boat is still hours away, and the dry window for the brush removal is now completely gone.

Kevin and Jenny inspected the dock's structural integrity as the tide rose. Kevin noted that the north piling's cedar shims are failing, while Jenny monitors the radio and manages the pain in her ankle.

🌿 Jenny04:18

The tide is coming in fast, Kevin. Watch the dinghy line.

Close the notebook and

💭 peek at the thought

If that boat doesn't show tomorrow, the salt rot will take the whole way before I can even fix the planks.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:19

Copy that. Keep the bow line trimmed, and watch the angle. I'll tighten the stern spring if it starts to slip.

tighten the stern spring on the dinghy, adjust the bow line slack, and check the dock's mooring chain for any movement.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide's grip is tightening. I can feel the dock groaning. No brush work left; I have to hold the boat.

openai/gpt-oss-20b

🌿 Jenny04:21

I'm going inside to check the radio. My ankle is throbbing.

Turn away from the dock and walk toward the cottage, limping slightly against the wind.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so focused on the hardware while the wood is literally liquefying under our feet.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:21

Radio check on the hour. Holler if the static breaks.

take up another half-turn on the dinghy's stern spring cleat, then walk the dock planks to the north piling and test the cedar shim for movement.

💭 peek at the thought

She's favoring the left leg harder today. The barometer's steady but the sea's not reading it. I'll give the dinghy another turn on the cleat and then check the north piling shim.

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

🌿 Jenny04:23

Kevin, the north piling's cedar shim is moving again. I need you to see this.

Turn back halfway and point toward the north end where the shims are failing.

💭 peek at the thought

The cedar shim is already splitting at the edges, just like I feared.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🔧 Kevin04:23

On it.

stride to the north piling, brace against the sister plate, and drive the 150mm stainless through-bolt home with the 19mm wrench to lock the greenheart shim before it spits free.

💭 peek at the thought

She saw it from the cottage porch. Means the movement's visible at thirty paces. The shim's walking out from under the sister plate. If that goes, the whole stringer drops.

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

🌿 Jenny04:25

Watch that joint. The whole way might go under if the tide rises any higher.

Lean against the way wall and open the notebook to sketch the fracture in the wood grain.

💭 peek at the thought

At least the bolt is holding for now, but the wood is so soft.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:29

Got the last 150mm bolt staged at the east shutter. If this one doesn't hold, I'm running a chain from the piling base to the deadman anchor.

drive the last 150mm stainless through-bolt through the sister plate and greenheart shim into the piling, torque the nyloc to 35Nm, then lash a length of the heavy weather line from the piling base to the garden wall deadman as a backup.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. The joint's singing under the load. One good surge and the sister plate shears the bolts. Need to spread the force.

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

🌿 Jenny04:30

It's holding for now. We need to get everything inside before the storm really hits.

Wipe the grit from the notebook and start the walk back to the cottage.

💭 peek at the thought

The chain might hold some weight, but the island is trying to eat the dock.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:30

Right behind you. Clearing the dock first.

gather the torque wrench, chalk, and loose timber strips from the dock planks, stack them under the cottage porch, then secure the generator shed door and vent flaps with the ratchet straps.

💭 peek at the thought

The piling's quiet now. Bolt bit clean. Chain's a good belt-and-braces. She's moving slow; the ankle's costing her more than she says. I'll clear the dock deck and get the generator shed battened before the wind shifts west.

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

🌿 Jenny04:31

way inside, Kevin. The tide is coming in too fast.

Step into the way and pull the heavy door shut, the latch clicking in the frame.

💭 peek at the thought

The wind is picking up, and I can smell the salt-heavy rain.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:32

—

check the dock mooring ring and oak wedges one final time under surge load, then step inside the cottage and secure the door against the rising wind.

💭 peek at the thought

She's in. Door's latched. The tide's chewing at the dock planks now — white water over the seaward stringer. I've got minutes before the dinghy starts flying. One last look at the mooring ring, then I'm through that door.

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

🌿 Jenny04:33

I'm checking the radio. The barometer is still dropping.

Walk to the kitchen table and reach for the shortwave radio.

💭 peek at the thought

The wood is groaning under the pressure. If that boat doesn't come, the jetty will be gone.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin04:34

I'll check the tank overflow and the loft hatch. You raise the boat on 2182.

walk to the water tank in the corner, inspect the overflow channel for blockage, then climb the loft ladder and verify the hatch dogs are tight.

💭 peek at the thought

Barometer was 988 steady when I came in. If it's dropping now, the window's closing faster than the captain said. Radio first. Then I'll check the tank overflow and the loft hatch.

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.