Before Gever gets to the barn after dinner (Thursday), the plan is hatched for the final project. Since it’s going to be a surprise for Gever, there is also a decoy plan – complete with questions to ask Gever that will seem like they’re for the decoy but actually help with the real plan (or something like that). Net result: very elaborate planning is going on.

Steve is getting all arty on us. Is Piper collecting wheels for the project, or the decoy project, or just being ethereal?

The plan calls for wheels, and lots of them. They won’t be used for vehicles, though, so need new bolt-axles.

Gus and Sam roll a little car and realize they could make a track, and the track could use the entrance railing, and the car could go a really long way since they have all these wacky pieces of cardboard.

Piper describes a possible use for the chair, which Nik is carefully considering. Is it for the plan or the decoy plan, though?

Theo’s latest glider is getting a serious workout – since it seems to be perfectly balanced and flies really well. The trick was in the wing shape – not too much lift, to keep it from repeatedly stalling. Elena appears to be a natural at launching it.

What seems to have had the most significant impact on the durability of the latest model is the rhino head. It’s a little rubber finger puppet – just the right size to protect the nose so the glider doesn’t keep spearing the ground. Instead it bounces a bit and dissipates the stress of any impact.

I had no idea what happened in the barn after I left each night. I really can’t explain this one.

Carter has used his “free build” time to make a knife. Not satisfied with the wimpy utility knives with their retractable blades, he wants a giant swashbuckling knife with a scabbard. So, in true Tinkering School fashion, he makes one. Including belt. Gever can’t decide how he feels about it, but is pretty sure it should be kept sheathed in the narrow, high traffic kitchen.

The initial Big Plan was created while Robyn was off-site doing errands. She is getting a debrief so she can make sure all the build components get covered. Plus, she’s the expert on available materials and potential alternates.

The giant free-form shape requires extensive cutting. There is a proper saw for the job, but it is clearly found to be both stinky AND noisy. Fortunately/Unfortunately (depending on your perspective), the blade breaks and it can’t be used any more.

Today seems to be the day of serious concentration, as confirmed by the number of times tongues were spotted (seen, Nik, not polka-dotted). Gus’ tongue seems to be a particularly accurate barometer of the level of his concentration. Maybe we should make him lap his juice at meals, and we won’t see the near-daily spill….

Liz is working out which part needs to be attached next, since the wheel sculpture/mechanism requires relatively exacting tolerances. Gus has found a power driver that fits his ergonomic predilection, and just wants to drill baby, drill.

Another load of eucalyptus has arrived, and the call goes out to help unload. It appears that the girl Tinkerers are the only ones with enough energy left this late in the week to do the heavy lifting!

The eucalyptus saplings need to be stripped of little branchlets and have all the leaves removed. Carter works on his mastery of this new type of saw.

Gus helps to move the eucalyptus branches down to the PikiNooiKablooi village, but isn’t sure he can carry the big ones. So he’s loaded up with as many smaller ones as he can carry.

Elena also has a concentration barometer. It looks like two eucalyptus saplings are just about her limit for toting down the drive.

In order to create the proper-sized opening in one end of the creation, they need to figure out how big a rectangular hole must be for all the Tinkerers to fit through. Sam builts a prototype from PVC and takes it around for some kid-testing. Theo does appear to fit, although it’s not the most graceful maneuver – especially with Sam not really holding the frame steady at all.

Anna also tests the PVC frame, using a slightly more delicate approach.

There is a large eucalyptus grove off highway one, and the teams take turns going down to harvest some saplings. Since it’s a non-native, highly robust species, there is pretty much always an overabundance of eucalypus on the coastside.

After the PVC frame experiment, a question is raised about whether Sam’s shoulders are actually wider than Theo’s. We put our measure-tape-skills to the test. It turns out that Sam’s very large shirt has camouflaged his shoulders enough to give the illusion he’s bigger. With 4 years on him, Theo is glad that he’s not smaller than an 11 year old. Or at least _this_ 11 year old. (For those keeping score, I believe it was 11.5″ and 13″).

I’m not sure how we didn’t notice earlier in the week, but it turns out Anna is a whittling junkie. The vast quantities of eucalypus onsite have proven too much, and she just can not stop peeling bark. She has excellent technique (not surprising for the hours she’s put in) and knows she needs to stay away from crowds. The end result is we’re often wondering where she’s gone off to (usually no more than about 10 feet away, just extremely still and silent = hard to imagine unnoticable Anna!).

Cutting the kid-sized opening with hand saws was no easy feat. Robyn thought it would build character (and she cut more than 30% herself once there were no more takers). Gus is putting his all into the task, as confirmed by his concentration barometer.

There are some pretty scary sights out there in the eucalyptus forest.

Carter takes his turn with the hand saw and seems to find the whole thing rather… tiresome.

Sam seems to be mesmerized by the emerging rain icon. Later he is found meditating in the hut. Coincidence?

In order to really lean in to the drill, Sam really leans in.

Anna figures out how to mount the power driver on the back in order to propel the wheel-gear mechanism. Very clever!

In order to see whether the seat is mounted securely enough, the traditional test sequence is followed. First, the lightest gets on. Robyn seems to be checking him for a rollercoaster ride, while Theo has decided that Gus needs a seatbelt, since he keeps sliding off the seat. (Turns out it’s so angled that everyone slides off – an angled cushion is the solution.)

Anna has a new spin (or should I say curl?) on the concentration barometer.

Gever is preparing the fire pit, with the help of Leo. Since there is no ax, Gever is showing how to use a shovel to split kindling. Note the duct tape and kleenex bandage on Gever’s finger (we have real ones – we just try to avoid needing them :-). Gever was wounded by GRASS. Yes, running his hands through the tall grass as he was walking, he got a cut (like a paper cut, but from grass). Not even on a project – he was injured while walking.

Not only do the wheels spin as gears, they are lit up! We remove the lights to save the batteries until after dark (so you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see them).

Since the rest of the day’s project will be worked on outside, and it’s another sunny day (on the coast – what’s up with that?), we bring out the sunscreen and require everyone to slather it on. Gus applies himself to the task and obediently covers his face, ears, neck and even some arms. Of course he picked the zinc-based sunscreen, so now he looks a little spooky.

Theo is trying to show Sam how you can lean like against a chair and both be more comfortable. Sam just hears “comfortable” and melts, leaving Theo no support at all so he rolls to the ground.

Sam now understands the concept, and he and Theo lean back and get comfortable. Gus hears “comfortable” and jumps on to partake of the comfort.

All the pieces are moved down, and it’s time to put them all together in situ for the final day final build.

The basic structure is quite simple: just 4 2x4s to install (well, technically, there are about 8 2x4s in those 4 pieces, since there weren’t enough long ones so we had to splice some short ones together for the bottom beams). A couple dozen screws and the structure is up.

To flesh out the structure, the eucalyptus saplings are arrayed over the sides. The opening fit is tested while it’s decided what else is needed.

Sam has been meditating inside the structure while the leaves were being applied. The tasks completed, we’ve noticed him in there. Is he wondering what comes next, or just chilling?

A little leaf there, another twig here – the final touches are applied before putting the Big Plan in motion.

Theo is trying to act casual, while holding a water pitcher. He decides to hide it behind the colander, which just happens to match his shirt. As silly as it seemed, I think it actually worked.

Piper has been sent to fetch the Rain God (or is that River God? oh, right – it’s both). He has put on his finest celebratory costume, and Piper supplied the blindfold to keep him in suspense just a little longer (and ensure he doesn’t see Theo, camouflage or no).

Led to his seat – or should i say throne – the blindfold can now be removed. Everyone is eager to get to the next part. Piper carefully stands obscurring the ladder and everyone else crowds around.

The plan works amazingly well: Gever was immediately distracted so he didn’t notice Theo. Fiona presents the sacred cherries with much fanfare. Including the part about how they are unwashed.

Theo comes in, right on cue. Gever is completely taken by surprise, and loving every minute.

Gever hasn’t really even seen the creation yet; he is just enjoying the elaborate scheme to get him wet. High Fives are delivered all around.

Gever obliges by making his way through the kid-sized opening and visiting the inside of the shrine.

Everyone is eager to explain details of the build, and the ruse, and everything he’s missed since he was banished from the barn today.

Gever wasn’t able to give his prepared speech, since he was literally speechless with the surprise. He has regained a little composure and carefully knights each and every Tinkerer with his newly acquired staff.

The eucalyptus-loving Rain/River God is pleased. Very pleased. Can hardly believe how great this has been pleased.

The face of the idol. (Video will show off the other side better.)

Gever is marvelling at the gear-sculpture-mechanism made from bike wheels. Note the drill behind the frame, mounted using bungies with the business end through to the front to drive the wheel.

Sam has christened Theo’s glider the Majestick Rhino. They decorated it accordingly.

One thing the previous Tinkering Schools NEVER had was dinner outside. Who would want to cook and eat outside when it was cold and foggy? The new location actually has sunshine. And corn.

Dining al fresco put us conveniently across from the tire swing yard.

All the Tinkerers hiked up the hill (braving ticks and curious sheep) to say thanks. It echoed across the valley and was very impressive.

The route down the hill seems a lot more energetic than the climb up. But mostly I just liked this picture.

An innovation for Tinkering School is the Boy Scout tradition of mesh mess kits and do-your-own dishes. Robyn is LOVING this new tradition. Liz has taught us about the bleach rinse, although most of the kids just need a pointer when they’ve missed a spot (or entire side of the plate). An excellent time for the concentration barometer to make an appearance, Gus!

Gever gives a lesson in fire-building, although many of the Tinkerers are already well past the first 5 Dangerous Things.

Weak kindling was no match for Gever and his one-match fire (which is good, since we only had 2 matches left after starting the charcoal).

Theo didn’t make a $40 shelter, but still wants to sleep outside with the kids (or at least have the option). So he runs up to the barn to grab some materials to make a lean-to. Carter readies his stick for marshmallow toasting, and the rest of the kids get in a quick game of freeze-tag.

This is the weather we know and love at the coast. And we’ve been assured that the stars are still up there. The kids all have their sleeping bags and PJs at the ready, but most of the adults are betting that they’ll all be coming back inside after the S’Mores.

For the first year, Tinkering School has included this summer camp standard: roasting marshmallows on sticks we whittled, in preparation for S’Mores. Not a bad tradition to include.

Gever (and the Rain God) most definitely approves.