Three Rivers Photos
Grading the Well Site

07/08/06-07/10/05

 

Well, now that the land is clear, we looked into renting equipment, and also got estimates for someone else to do it. The first estimate was almost double what we figured it would cost us to do it (and besides we'd have fun learning). But the second estimate was less, and since we don't really know what we're doing, we figured that would be a better idea.

But we're finally beginning to learn how to deal with these folks. It's really hard to nail them down to an actual price. But Rob was very persistent. He finally got them to give us a cost per hour and told them flat out how many hours we would pay for. In actuality, however, it only took a little over 4 1/2 hours to finish.

We found it fascinating, and watched the entire time. Rob was also picking up pointers, so we can do it ourselves next time.

(As always, click on the picture to get a larger picture that you can see better)

 

Rob talking with Mike, the backhoe guy. Take a good look at the landscape... it's the last time you'll see it that way.


Well, here's another 'before' picture.


Getting ready for the first scoop (slideshow)

 

Look how long the arm of that backhoe reaches out. It looks almost alive, the way Mike manipulates it.


The bank is starting to appear. Notice how the wheels are completely off the ground.


Wes checks out the bucket, and tries to see if he can move it.

 

After the dirt is piled up, Mike pushes it into a 'low' spot that we designated.


This is why we didn't want to try it ourselves! If we had run into this rock with a little bobcat, we wouldn't have been able to get it out, except by digging all the way around it for hours. In reality, however, there were only 2-3 big rocks in this area.


Rob and Coco survey the scene.

 

It's starting to level out now.


After Rob saw how easily Mike dispatched a tree that Rob was trying to prune, he decided to ask Mike to get rid of one of the buckbrush bushes.(slideshow)


Looking good.

 

View coming up from the road. Since the grade is below the bank, the well won't be as obvious (we hope..... however, Loretta has plans to build a fake wishing well to cover it up).


Here goes some more dirt being pushed downhill. I'd better get the hell out of the way!


Mike turns the dozer blade over, so he can push dirt with it as well.

 

Done!


We also asked Mike to smooth out the edges of the RV parking lot... it sure looks great now.


After it was graded, we witched the area again. Over and over again, we came back to the same spot. So we put a white stake there, so the well digger would dig right where we wanted.

 

Wes tools around the road on the ATV


Wes finds a huge millipede.

Here are some videos for your viewing pleasure. If these won't play for you, you're probably missing a particular decompressor file for M-JPEG files. You can download one here.

The Backhoe in action

Wes's Millipede

Leveling loose dirt

Watch him walk!

 

Links to other photo pages:

2006
Camp Repairs5    Grading the Road    Finish the Road    Clear Homesite Circle    Start Hydraulic Ripper Installation    Waterfalls & Rainbows    Chain Saw Loretta    Easter 2006   

2005
New ATV-New Year2005    Home Layout     Kyle Comes to Camp     Loretta Kills Road Weeds     Ryan Visits     Starting Counter Top     Finishing Cabinet     Easter 2005     Wesley's Spring Break     We meet the Architect     Finishing the Tree House     Our First Fire     Memorial Day 2005     Water Witching     Preparing the Well Site     Grading the Well Site     Digging the well     Our New Tractor     Labor Day 2005     Rusty comes to Camp     Smoothing the Road     Our own Water     Fire and Rain     Tractor Maintenance     Customize Tractor     New Backhoe     Thanksgiving 2005    Changing Oils     Solar Chargers & Toothbar    Rainy New Year Weekend   

2004
Three Rivers Home Page     Animal Friends     Then and Now     First Pictures     Rattlesnake Campout     Easter 2004     Building the Road     South Camp Construction     Building Decks     Finishing Decks     The Stair Master     Done at South Camp     Labor Day 2004     Leapin' Lizards     Tracking Bear and Deer     Securing the Camp     Our First Rain     Loretta's Family visits     Coco and the Boardwalk         Start the Treehouse     Frame the Treehouse