Keeping character, or restoring a pond

[wroughtn_harv]

Those blocks are eights that are going to be installed starting tomorrow.

We mixed up five yards this evening to grout in the cavities in the twelves. We didn't make a dent in what needs to be done. I've got two pallets (70 bags) waiting at HD for me to pick up in the morning. We'll probably go through forty of them finishing the grouting.

But we do have enough of a head start that the masons can start the eights behind us. There'll be four courses (32 inches) of eights to add to the height.

Here's a shot from the north side looking south at the new spillway.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I put an update online. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Almost all the blocks are in place. I was on site this morning but I didn't take any pictures. This weekend I was working on the posts and slab for our north Texas get together this weekend, the twenty fourth. And today and tomorrow I'm working at the factory who makes our connectors for the building getting out enough inventory to do the barn raising that's part of our get together.

Saturday a crew finished putting up all the block we had on hand. Today a crew started prepping the flat stones for mounting along the wall. Hopefully when I get back on site Wednesday we'll have a ton of great pictures to share.

 

[oliver28472]

I hope Rita doesn't bother the get together or anything else for that matter. Send us some rain.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

They're saying Rita might give us six inches of rain Sunday. That could cause the pond to fill. We're operating on that premise. Longer days, more laborers, concentrating on doing what has to be done from the floor of the pond.

Of course working under that pressure will cause some problems.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It was getting dark. I was doing this.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

One of our concerns is the strength of the wall when full of water. I don't believe the concrete, steel, and Halite blocks are enough by themselves to hold back six feet of water.

So we're backfilling behind the wall with stabil fill (washout).

The path was narrow. And as I spun back around after dumping the bank gave away. I was able to keep spinning causing us to face the pond bottom instead of rolling.

This is what it looks like behind the wall before backfilling.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

This might give you some perspective of what we're doing. The man walking along the pathway is over six feet tall (it's the homeowner).

 

[wroughtn_harv]

This is a shot of what the wall of the pond just below and above the water line will look like. The static water level will be about the middle of the rock pattern.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The first thing this morning will of course to get Iris unstuck. I just left her in the dark last night. I was tired and I still had to take the men home before I headed that way myself.

Some tasks are better done with a clear head and a fresh attitude.

 

[RonR]

Don't want to leave her there--she might have to learn to SWIM!

ron