Creating a Lake

[ben2go]

Thank you everyone. The two most common comments that we received about the gazebo is that you have to see it in person, and that we really need to rent it out to others to get married there.

While building the gazebo, I also built a zip line for the party after the wedding. While we thought it would be fun, we didn't realize how much fun it would be!!!! I went on it several times and enjoyed myself, but I also enjoyed seeing everyone else go on it too. That became the main focus of entertainment. Seeing how far somebody would go, and sharing in their enjoyment of going on it. There line is 500 feet long, but when subtracting the distance from the tree to the platform, and how far you go until you hit water, it's closer to a 300 foot run if you stay on it as far as you can. Most people let go after a hundred feet or so, when they where still up high enough to get a good splash!!! A few did back flips.

More then ever, I'm so happy that I dug the pond. It's use and enjoyment has proven to be priceless!!!!!

Eddie

Sweet! The gazebo project made me forget about the zip line project.Great to hear everything was worth the time and energy.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm trying to upload pics, but it's not working. I'll keep trying, but we are leaving for our honeymoon in South Africa in half an hour.



Eddie

 

[ben2go]

Interesting honeymoon choice.Isn't it winter in south Africa right now?

 

[cartod]

That gazebo is just flipping awesome!

..........and you asked me for building advice?

Nice job Eddie.

 

[aginn]

I, for one, sure appreciate your taking the time to share all this with us. Time is one commodity that you use to the maximum benefit. Wishing you a great honeymoon and life going forward.:drink:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

That has got to be one of the coolest after parties I've ever heard of.

 

[txdon]

After seeing the zip line I was wondering if it was used in the new Trash The Wedding Dress trend?

 

[s219]

As a kid, it seems like I always got dragged to weddings in a musty old church, followed by a reception in a stuffy country club or reception hall. As a grownup, I have come to really appreciate folks who have nice outdoor weddings and picnics afterwards (we even did pot luck at ours and had some great home-cooked dishes). Looks like Eddie and his bride did a good job all around, and their guests must have had a great time. :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm thinking of renewing my vows at Eddie's place just to get wet in a tux! Well not just for that but jeez, what a story that we got to witness. Way to cap it off!!!! :drink:

 

[bindian]

Eddie,
A truly magnificent setting for a wedding. I have enjoyed following your threads over the years and I wanna try a zip line now! Have fun and Y'all stay safe while on safari and flying home.
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the nice comments. The zip line really turned out better then I had hoped for. Getting it back after everyone went down it was kind of a problem with the fishing pole because once you let go of the handles, the trolley would spin around on the cable. Once that happened, you had to work the fishing pole around the cable to get it untangled. My solution to this is going to be some kind of remote control device that will run on the cable and push the trolley back up, then send it down the cable to the end before the next person goes. I think this is something that I can fabricate easily enough once I get some free time to search online for what I need to make it.

Then honeymoon was booked before I proposed, and once I asked Karen to marry me, we figured that would make for a great honeymoon. We booked it for August to be away from Texas during the worse heat of the summer. From what we've been told, we timed it just right!!! Temps there where from the mid 30s in the morning to a high in the 50's on some days, cooler on a few, a bit warming on a few others. We had rain, lots of wind and one of the best lightning shows I've ever seen!!!!

We took over 5,000 pics and posted a few on FB from our phones and Ipads while there. Once I get a chance to go through the pics, I'll start a thread on here somewhere and post pics there. Either Announcements or Photos.

Eddie

 

[SirReal63]

Fantastic work Eddie! I haven't had the time to go through the whole thread, but I will find the time next week. Congratulations on the wedding too!

 

[MacLawn]

Now hold a minute here, Eddie. Leaving on ye honeymoon in 30 minutes, and ye take time to come here to post?!? Ye ain't right. Ye just ain't right.

 

[wngsprd]

Fascinating thread.

Congratulations on your wedding!

 

[captjohn]

This is an awesome thread Eddie! You built something for many generations to enjoy. Just think, some day someone will say, "my great grandfather built all of this!". :thumbsup:

 

[jrepp44]

Eddie, are the trolleys expensive? Maybe you could have multiple trolleys ready to go and not worry about returning each one. Looks like fun.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the nice compliments.

As for the trolley, they are not very expensive, but the type I'm using is bolted together. The type you use at the zip line parks is different because you are hanging from a sling, which just rotates around the cable to attach it to the cable. Then you are hung from it and that keeps it on the cable. With the type I have, you hang onto it by the handles, and once you let go of it, it bounces around all over the place. This also causes the line to twist around the cable and creates the problem of getting it back. Unbolting it wont work because it doesn't always go down to the end of the line on it's own, and then you have to unbolt it, carry it back to the platform and bolt it back together again. Not impossible, but very likely to loose something and it takes a lot of time.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the nice compliments.

As for the trolley, they are not very expensive, but the type I'm using is bolted together. The type you use at the zip line parks is different because you are hanging from a sling, which just rotates around the cable to attach it to the cable. Then you are hung from it and that keeps it on the cable. With the type I have, you hang onto it by the handles, and once you let go of it, it bounces around all over the place. This also causes the line to twist around the cable and creates the problem of getting it back. Unbolting it wont work because it doesn't always go down to the end of the line on it's own, and then you have to unbolt it, carry it back to the platform and bolt it back together again. Not impossible, but very likely to loose something and it takes a lot of time.

Eddie

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Eddie, all it can say is wow!

 

[tkappeler]

Going back to read some of this awesome thread that I have missed over the past few months. Now the thread on the 750' electrical run makes sense.

You lead an interesting and obviously blessed life, Eddie Walker. :thumbsup: Belated congrats on your wedding.