Foot Bridge Helper

PondKeeper · Sep 20, 2003

After sistering two PT 20 foot 2x10's up at the workshop I couldn't carry them the 100 yards to my pond. I am making a foot bridge with a built in bench over the tail water stream of my pond. It was poor planning on my part but it as too late to start over.

The backhoe and FEL made easy work of carrying the Isabel water soaked beam.

It's amazing how you can work the problems out when your alone and the job still must get done.

Mike.

GregJ · Sep 20, 2003

Great idea Mike. Another good use for a backhoe. Thanks for posting.

Greg

EddieWalker · Sep 21, 2003

Very clever. How about some more pictures!

PondKeeper · Sep 21, 2003

Next week I'll finish the bridge and post more scans. I had to quit early after setting the middle beam. I knocked into the electric dog house in the picture and my pond aerator shut down. The trout would be /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif if I didn't fix it ASAP. I had to replace the entire box. It was beyond repairing AGAIN.

Interesting story here; this spring I watched a doe jump the 8 foot stream and she hit head on into the electric box. Knocked her to the ground, also sheared the screws in the electric box. I forgot I had only duct taped it back.

Mike

PondKeeper · Oct 13, 2003

I finished the wood working on the bridge and then instead of making wood steps I decided to use natural stone from on the farm.

I was astonished that I was able to lift and carry some of the stones out of the woods. I had to lift every stone with chain because none of them would fit in the FEL. By using the backhoe or FEL tooth bar to either lift a corner or to push a corner down I was able to hammer smaller flat stones beneath the large stone to level each step.

Without the tractor this would have been impossible for me to do alone. When the boss came home she couldn't believe the weight of the stones and that no one helped. The at-a-boy was great, the next morning she went with me and we picked up a few new implemnets; a Woods rear blade and a landscape rake /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Mike

PondKeeper · Oct 13, 2003

another view, to give some scale as to the size of those stones; the bridge is 48' wide.

PondKeeper · Oct 13, 2003

last view, these round stones are my attemp to keep the ATV and snow mobiles from jumping. They use my pond to race on the in the winter.

Mark_in_NH · Oct 14, 2003

All right, I tried to let it slide by, I really did. But it was right there, staring me in the face.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the bridge is 48' wide. )</font>
My God, thats Huge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, it was just an honest mis-type. But like I said, I just couldn't resist.

Mike,
Nice work !!! What a great place to sit and have a beer after enjoying some seat time. I'm jealous !!!

Deerlope · Oct 15, 2003

Nice looking bridge & pond, but I am courious as to what is making those ripples in the water?

PondKeeper · Oct 15, 2003

The rings in the water are trout. I had fed them a little earlier. I use a floating trout feed. It gives me a good indication on how they are dispersed around the pond. I don't need to suppliment, the pond is rich in natural food. I just like to watch them /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

You want to see when I toss a field mouse in (I kick them up sometimes when walking around the pond). Sounds like a toilet flushing when they hit it.

Mike