April 14

Speed doesn't tend to improve when you do a job only once or twice a year. It took me far too long to finally get this surveying instrument centered and leveled over the post we'd pounded in last fall. And then, within seconds of taking the first shot of the wetland's boundary, the dark clouds overhead let loose a couple of raindrops.

Electronics and water don't mix very well and I'm grateful that the sprinkle didn't turn into a full-fledged rainstorm. Although I bet if I had been forced to tear the machine down and start over later, I would have managed to get the machine set up in half the time it took me this morning!