Day 24 Saturday, August 25, 2001

Saturday is well day! I wake early as I'm expecting Mr. Geotz to arrive at 6 AM or so. I lay in bed trying to sleep but every noise sounds like a big truck coming up the driveway. I got up around 8 and let Laurie sleep. I head to town for diesel and a tap and bolt for the machine. The service manuals I had ordered as part of the purchase of the backhoe had finally arrived. I had been reading them at night just to get to know my machine. I found out that one of the main pins that the backhoe swings on was in upside down. When I went out to my machine to see why; it was perfectly clear. The bolt that is supposed to hold the pin in is broken off flush with the swing post. The previous owner had put the pin in upside down to "compensate". I wanted to drill out and re-tap the hole so the pin can be reinstalled correctly. My tap and die set is at work so I'll have to buy some. Post hardware has what I need. I get back to camp and Laurie is still asleep. Good for her, she deserves it. I make pancakes and OJ for us. We await the well guy, not really expecting him to show. Meanwhile, I refuel and repair the machine and begin to dig the final footing trench.

Laurie cuts lumber for forms. Forms are 2x10's in 8 and 10 foot lengths that we will make a 34 foot 10 inch foot by 24 foot 10 inch moat of concrete in. That will be the footing on which the block foundation sits. It must be square, plumb and level within a quarter inch. Laurie figures out the best combination of lengths (10 footers are a lot more expensive than 8 footers). She cut plywood gussets to join the 2x10's, using my cordless Makita circular saw, which she says is "cute". Ugh. Suddenly, the well guy shows up!!! He is not, however, in his well drilling rig. We talk and he explains he really wants to wait to drill my well with his new rig because he is sending his present rig back to the dealer he bought it from. He says he has made $30,000 worth of repairs to it since he got it, and he is not happy. He doesn't want it to break again as he is returning it. I tell him a delay would be a big inconvenience to me because I need water to mix mortar for my cement blocks next week. He says he could loan me a 1000 gallon water tank to use. Perfect solution for both of us. I can keep working and he can get his new rig. We are all happy. He intends to drop off the full tank Monday. We break for lunch, thrilled.

After lunch Laurie is going running and I dig. An hour later, after I thought she should be back, I go to the camper and there she is still in her boots and long pants. She is sick. Bummer. She lays down and I dig. And then I was done digging the trenches!

Done the trenches! Yeah. Laurie gave me a weak smile. I work on the forms and check on the patient hourly. Still nauseous. Hope she is better tomorrow.

13 Hours, sunny and nice about 85.

 

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