I found this old piece of water logged timber along a beach near Spanish Banks in Vancouver. I cut about a foot off each end with my chainsaw and stuck it in storage to dry out. About a year later it was ready. I was originally going to encase the entire piece in a clear epoxy like one big smooth block yet decided I prefer the character of the rough exterior and the huge spike.
The cedar trough on the end of the desk prevents pens and pencils from rolling off and keeps things organized. Simple yet effective.