The slope-sliding-sled-thing entertained the boys until dark. Later they might wish it was a headlamp, not a camera, on the helmet.

Three challenges are created for today’s beach destination. Tywen (and Toby) decide shovels might be useful, so build some.

A small team forms to refine the glider, hoping to improve the flight characteristics for additional tests later in the week.

The first challenge is to build a bridge across the little bay, such that Julie (who wasn’t there to object) can walk across without getting her shoes wet. (Initially it was supposed Robyn, but she WAS there to object.)

To start the bridge, driftwood is enthusiastically gathered. They’re still carrying it. And smiling!

First inclinations are to just lay the pieces of driftwood end-to-end. We’ll be done in no time!, they think. Hence more smiles all around.

Is Hanna testing the first few steps on the bridge, or log rolling? In the guise of the former, much of the latter ensues. Later, there is no guise, just log balancing.

Theo is determined to pursue an alternative design he has thought of. With a splinter team, he eschews the simple log layer bridge and completes the first tower of his suspension “bridge”.

What day at the beach would be complete without some shrieks from Maxine? We never quite understood the source, other than something in the water over there (that no one else quite found).

Their collection of logs growing, it seems the bridge is nearly building itself. Look how much fun they are having! How how nice these logs are for balancing on.

When he hears the plan is to go to the beach, Samir asks if he has to get wet and/or sandy. He is assured that he only has to get as wet as he likes, and then sandiness can be kept to a minimum. However like all Tinkerers at the beach, he succumbs (although never above his knees).

Leo tries a variety of techniques in order to locomote on the log (perhaps in an effort to actually get the log closer to the bridge building project? probably not…). He gives up finally on stand-up paddling and settles on surf-style punting. Twyen is thinking – hey, isn’t that my shovel?!

The chasm is seeming greater, rather than smaller, the longer the work goes on. Perhaps it’s because the logs aren’t actually getting any closer to a bridge-like configuration? Is it possible they’re even drifting away while no one is looking?

Emma has dedicated herself completely to the task of collecting logs. No balancing, no bridge-building, no nonsense. Just logs. And they aren’t all light!

An initial test is done of the far tower, to see if this crazy scheme might actually work. No logs come crashing down, no rope-pullers go toppling over – it’s nearly a success (until it’s noticed that the amount of stretch in the anchor rope is about 100%). The design proves sound (so far).

Logs are needed for the second tower, so Samir braves a bit of sand to get this one ashore.

It’s been determined that moving logs is a lot easier on the water (assuming they float). And if you are serious about moving a lot of logs then you get a bow wave and wake going.

The temptation to balance on a log makes the possibility of getting a little bit wet seem considerably less serious. But make sure your shorts are pulled up out of harm’s way, just in case.

Toby’s shovel gets put to use securing the footings of the tower. A tire found on the beach weighs down the log that seemed most precarious.

This week we have _another_ first-time-in-the-Pacific-er (again from Maryland!). Emma definitely wants to experience the ocean, but only long enough to document it. Then she returns to the warm waters of the mini-bay.

Tom agrees to secure the third log of the tower, since it’s now too high for Theo to reach. He starts to tie a square knot, then changes his mind and tries a trucker’s hitch (yay!). He is THEN caught giving up on the trucker’s hitch and preparing to go back to the square knot (boo!), but Theo steps in to help him redeem himself.

Toby makes a beautiful toss over the top so that the suspension line can be tightened around the tower and to the anchor.

The suspension bridge is actually amazingly stable. Unfortunately it has a real problem with line stretch. It’s about this time (an hour in), when someone points out they should have built the suspension bridge OVER the log bridge, and it could be used as a hand-hold. A little late for that now.

Robyn has been watching the log bridge building project for an hour, and sees that the project as completely stalled. She enlists Leo to get serious about actually making the bridge.

After exploring carrying (only when absolutely necessary), floating (wherever possible), and rolling (as needed), a new method of moving the wood is discovered: tipping. Once up-ended, the log is then tipped over, sort of like a very ungainly inchworm. This method is best-loved (and despised) for the inevitable splashing.

In order to have a really solid anchor, the heaviest wood is sought out. This driftwood is likely somewhat waterlogged, but it is very round so will roll given the right encouragement.

The second challenge identified back in the barn was to build the tallest sand castle within a boundary rope. This potato-castle grows quickly, with 6 hands helping.

Actually, it’s not a shark. It’s a dolphin. A pod of dolphins swam by, and we watched them surf the waves, and jump up out of the water, and generally act like dolphins. But this was the best photo to prove we saw them.

The potato-castle is nearly done. It can’t support any more height (it already has had a significant slide), so it’s time for drip-mode-building.

The log bridge is a combination of stabilized flat logs (like these, with sand to improve your footing), and lashed logs (since there weren’t enough perfect ones).

Why, is that a trucker’s hitch you’re using Leo? Excellent.

All of the movable large logs have been scavenged, but the bridge is still incomplete. So now the super-dry driftwood is being retrieved from the nearby fort. I mean – those logs are SO heavy. How strong those gals are!

Tom explains some techniques for steering while body surfing. Tywen is psyching himself up for the ride of his life.

Clearly Toby and Twyen are excellent students.

Theo continues to stretch and re-tighten the rope, hoping to get to a point where the water can actually be crossed.

As usual, wearing your shorts instead of swim trunks does NOT work. If you’re destined to get wet, you get wet. Theo can’t resist the body-surfing scene.

Isaac makes the most amazing noise at this point in the “swim”. Every time. When he realizes his legs are numb, he sort of squeal-bellows, gesticulates, and then dashes ashore. Anyone with a video camera was too taken aback to ever capture it.

The ocean definitely cures whatever ails you.

Maxine (who is already half-soaked), checks to see if it’s ok if she gets completely soaked. It’s ok by me, as long as she doesn’t get ME completely soaked!

He’s already been nearly completely under, so it’s not quite clear what Toby is avoiding at this point. Maybe that little wave is special?

Jiro and I evaluate the castles and decide they are nearly exactly even. Emma decides to try to add one more inch to hers.

Which one is taller? Is this picture even level?

Maxine and Leo test out the bridge, to see if it’s ready to be evaluated against the challenge. Remember, Julie has to walk across it without getting her feet wet. Blindfolded. Oh, did I forget to mention that part? But a guide will be provided. (julie declines, fyi)

Theo, Toby and Samir try one more time to get the rope taut enough to cross the bay. Samir is willing to get his feet wet, even sandy, for the cause but not his chips.

Emma helps with another coating of sand to provide better traction on the logs. Maxine tries it out.

Tywen is one of the few who actually body-surfs (meaning he gets completely soaked). Now he must lie in the sun and absorb some rejuvenating heat. Not to be confused with napping (his hands are actually busy with mini-sand-angels).

It’s determined that the rope is too narrow to be comfortably held, but the towel helps a lot. Toby attaches himself to it, and Theo moves him across. Unfortunately, the towel doesn’t help enough, and Toby can’t keep his grip. It still results in the longest ride across.

The last log in place, Maxine and Leo race across the bridge. Neither make it completely across without falling, so it doesn’t count as the first traverse. After RoShamBo, Leo gets that priviledge.

Jiro has spent a significant portion of his life fooling around at the beach. He knows a LOT of beach tricks. Like the sand pile volcano.

Getting the damp match to stay lit and then light the paper in the wet sand proves tricky. Jiro demonstrates the technique.

The volcano in action.

Now that it’s done, everyone has to cross the bridge (except Robyn and Julie, who respectfully decline, particularly if it involves being blindfolded). There are some excellent, substantial sections, and a couple of really exciting ones.

Isaac demonstrates where one of the shaky portions of the bridge is. With use, it gets even more precarious.

It’s not quite clear why, but Tywen has decided the place where the sand potato-volcano-castle used to be is very reminiscent of a long jump pit. So he jumps it.

Even more mysteriously, Leo break out into a rendition of the Macarena – complete with singing AND dancing – while Isaac is balancing on the very precarious log.

Bridges built, potato-volcano-castles measured, ocean swum. It’s time to head back home.

After dinner there is more wiring to be done, but this time it’s Gever (getting mic’d).

The film crew here for 2.5 days to make a short program sample about Tinkering School has asked us to enter the barn en masse. This is not quite our typical entrance.

Gever lays out the big two-day-build project ahead. It’s just like every other project introduction, except much better lit. Best of all: cool new power tools!

As Gever describes the metal-frame, drill-power-drive cart project, the kids really do forget about the TV crew and start to imagine the possibilities.

It must be some project, to distract everyone from these guys! Tom and Jason are very nice, but it’s just not yet possible to forget they’re there.

This year’s Tinkering School Racing League rules and challenge.

Jiro is a two-wheel specialist, but the team decides to go with three.

Emma sizes up the full-scale blueprint on the table, while Tom talks through a possible chassis design.

Samir is interviewed by the crew, who try to get him to talk casually, not realizing that the barn is currently brighter than it gets at high noon.

Robyn ponders a proposed design, while the team anxiously awaits to hear her thoughts on it.

Maxine isn’t sure how many different ways she can say “it’s fun!” in response to all the questions about Tinkering School and why she keeps coming back.

Toby has only been at Tinkering School three days, but already has the same answers as Max. Why Tinkering School? Because it’s fun!

Theo tries out the Verde Team design sketch, with some pertinent details filled in. Later he describes it as a low-slung wheel chair.

Hanna is pretty pleased with the pretty bike she’s found for her team. It ends up inspiring all the final details of their design.

Red Team is now “Jewels & Pearls”.

The TV crew is back with another small request. Gever is asked to describe what’s going on with the projects. While holding a bike wheel. Gever can’t just hold a wheel in his lap – why would he? He would look through it!

Emma and Isaac are interviewed about the first use of the new power tool: the portable band saw (aka Porta-Band). The kids can’t quite remember the name of it, but they definitely remember what it does.

Emma is first to demonstrate the band saw, which she uses to cut the scavenged bike. In two. She actually just cuts one bar, and Isaac gets to cut the other. Now all three teams have bikes integral in the design. What will be left for the welders tomorrow?

Cart power.

Maxine discovers something underfoot.

Giving up on tightening, and giving in to rope stretch.