There were several things that I planned on building around our cabin and one of the projects on my original list was a way to drive across the sixteen to twenty foot creek that is at the edge of our front yard. I had several options in mind but my original idea was a bridge. So, after twelve years or so, and into our second year of living here full time, I decided to take up the challenge. In the beginning, I wanted a bridge wide enough to drive a car on but now, years later, I just don’t have the need for that anymore. What I do need however, is a way to get my motorcycles back and forth across the creek that is sometimes two feet deep, and almost always has water in it. If you have a Harley that you have spent four hours cleaning on, you understand my struggle.

 

So I, along with my wife Sheils, went to work. I have never built a bridge before but having built many other things, how hard can it be I thought to myself. Well at sixty years old, pretty damn hard. I work a day and recover a day. That wasn’t a joke…. I literally work a day and spend a day recovering! When I started, the water was maybe eighteen inches deep and I needed a way to move around. Water shoes are awesome for this type of project and having them helped me quite a bit.

 

 

 

After  I finished the bridge, I started on the ramps, hoping that they would be a little less strenuous. Well, one thing that I left out of all this is that it is the middle of July and holy poop it’s hot outside. To level the ramp on the cabin side of the creek, I had to practically dig a root cellar, which is sort of funny because of the hundreds of roots I had to chop out. Now I kind of wonder if that’s how those cellars got their name. Hmm, if only I had a way to research that. 

Anyway, this project is kicking my behind, but I should be ready for the decking boards tomorrow and that will only leave me the ramp on the road side.

 

Well, at this point I am one ramp away from being finished and it is hot. How hot? Is there any way to type hot, that will properly illustrate the effect of the of what living under two hills feels like when the temperature is over ninety? The wind does blow here but it is about twenty feet over my head and I haven’t figured out how to turn that into good thing yet.

So, I’m trying to figure out a way to put this thing off until later, and I look down at my phone and I have a text from one of my brother-in-laws, and he is coming to help!

Thank you Jesus!

Thank you Jimmy!

It is a hard thing to admit, but he out worked me for two days and it is finished!

One explanation mark really doesn’t seem adequate. At this point, I’m not sure ten explanation marks would work!

 

 

 

I still have a few cosmetic things to do, and I am now looking for one inch rope for my rails, but the main thing is that right now, or any time in the future, I can move my motorcycle from one side of this creek to the other, and I call that a success.

P.S.

There will be no more projects until the weather changes… and then you will hear about how unbearable the cold is!

ws

 

Update…