08/02: A Way to Come In

â€œWhen the shy star goes forth in heaven,
All maidenly, disconsolate,
Hear you amid the drowsy even
One who is singing by your gate.
His song is softer than the dew
And he is come to visit you.”

From Chamber Music by James Joyce

Now when he comes to visit the property just off the Daystar Road he will find a proper gate at which he can sing away. And so will you when you come.

It went along like this.

DWS making some initial measurements for the gate placement.

Gilbert getting them right.

Making the forms for the big concrete bases for the gate posts.

$This is the Pastor Edward\'s welding shop in Athi River, where I contracted to have the heavy metal gate I had designed, fabricated.$ This is the Pastor Edward\'s welding shop in Athi River, where I contracted to have the heavy metal gate I had designed, fabricated.

The office and work area.

The great design for homemade ladders here, and the steel work table.

$The first of the gate\'s two seven foot sections taking shape.$ The first of the gate\'s two seven foot sections taking shape.

$Edward\'s young grinder and aspiring welder. He wasn\'t posing for this shot, but happened to look up just as I took it.$ Edward\'s young grinder and aspiring welder. He wasn\'t posing for this shot, but happened to look up just as I took it.

Moses working on the one meter square, four foot deep holes we dug for each post.

$This toad found his way to the bottom of the hole somehow, and I had to take him out because Kenyans won\'t touch them.$ This toad found his way to the bottom of the hole somehow, and I had to take him out because Kenyans won\'t touch them.

The neighbor crew were regulars at the scene. Kamam, Cassisi, Wanje and Babu...left to right.

Babu adopting a supervisory posture. Kamam making sure of things,

before she got ready to part the Red Sea.

Two of the seven dwarfs who occasionally whistle while they work.

$Gilbert putting together the rebar reinforcements for the gate post\'s foundations.$ Gilbert putting together the rebar reinforcements for the gate post\'s foundations.

Benson and Moses doing the same.

$Either Doc or Grumpy pitchin\' in.$ Either Doc or Grumpy pitchin\' in.

The almost completed gate.

$The broken sunglasses that the young worker used instead of a welder\'s mask.$ The broken sunglasses that the young worker used instead of a welder\'s mask.

Julius, the welder, grinding off the rough spots.

And putting the finishing touches on the gate stop welds.

Edward and the unseen I, working out the finances in the office.

$Over the next week the gate grew and ripened to a deep russet color and finally it was time to collect it from Edward\'s.$ Over the next week the gate grew and ripened to a deep russet color and finally it was time to collect it from Edward\'s.

Even the pointy little hat for each post was ready.

The proud gate people.

We packed it up onto the pick up and tucked it tight with strong rope.

In the mean time, we had finished the rebar infrastructure...

$and placed it in the 30\" square wooden form.$ and placed it in the 30\" square wooden form.

We had plenty of supervision and advice.

We mixed up some concrete and shoveled it...

into the home prepared for it.

And tamped and agitated and bothered it until it filled all the small spaces, forever.

$We brought the gate to its new and permanent home. Then we muscled up and lifted the two sides into place, over the long rebar which we had extended to go deep into the hollow 4x4\" post,$ We brought the gate to its new and permanent home. Then we muscled up and lifted the two sides into place, over the long rebar which we had extended to go deep into the hollow 4x4\" post,

and leveled and braced until we were happy,

and the gate was happy and beginning to feel its purpose for the first time.

The rectangular inset on the left side is a door which can open independently of the whole gate, for foot traffic.

$Then the rebar bending began again. We needed to reduce its area to about 16\" so it would fit nicely into the 20\" wide, 48\" high form which would hold the post. You can see the pieces of 2x2\" angled steel Edward had welded onto the bottom section of the posts to help secure it in the concrete.$ Then the rebar bending began again. We needed to reduce its area to about 16\" so it would fit nicely into the 20\" wide, 48\" high form which would hold the post. You can see the pieces of 2x2\" angled steel Edward had welded onto the bottom section of the posts to help secure it in the concrete.

$We used the two pipe bending method. The shorter bottom pipe holds the rebar steady and provides the point at which the top pipe\'s force can make the bend.$ We used the two pipe bending method. The shorter bottom pipe holds the rebar steady and provides the point at which the top pipe\'s force can make the bend.

We had to shorten a couple of the radiating angled pieces...

$so it would fit into the assembled 20x48\" form.$ so it would fit into the assembled 20x48\" form.

$We needed a lot of concrete to fill the forms. So we mixed it in several batches. It\'s a process I have come to love, and like any new convert, I\'m eager to share.$ We needed a lot of concrete to fill the forms. So we mixed it in several batches. It\'s a process I have come to love, and like any new convert, I\'m eager to share.

First you measure out the three elements in their proportions.

In this case, one part cement, three parts sand, and 4 parts ballast (the small rocks).

Then you turn the mixture over...

and over, all three of you circling in unison as you shovel, always working the stuff up to a point.

Since we are just below the equator, sometimes, like the flushing water, we rotate counterclockwise.

Then, together, you move the entire pile to the left, about two feet, flattening the volcano.

And then back to the right, the same two feet. And create another volcano.

Then you hollow a crater in the top and begin to pour water in, slowly.

All three of you then expand the crater toward the edges as more water is added, flattening the mound,

but never letting the water escape the confines of the structure, until the whole has been equally hydrated.

Then you toss the now very heavy mixture in earnest.

Until you like what you see.

And add water again until the soup has the right consistency.

Then into the wheelbarrow where the last water is added.

And down the hatch.

Where Gilbert with a crowbar packs and pokes and makes sure there are no air pockets.

Until the form is full of lovely, wet concrete.

$Then you and Benson, if you\'re lucky enough to have a Benson, climb up on the barrels and fill the 4x4\" posts with concrete one bucket at a time.$ Then you and Benson, if you\'re lucky enough to have a Benson, climb up on the barrels and fill the 4x4\" posts with concrete one bucket at a time.

And you probe and prod and pull and push with a nine foot length of #10 rebar,

$until even in your most neurotic self you\'re sure you\'ve eliminated any air pockets.$ until even in your most neurotic self you\'re sure you\'ve eliminated any air pockets.

A little pointy hat placement...

$and as they say, Bob\'s your uncle.$ and as they say, Bob\'s your uncle.

$Six days later you take off the forms and there\'s your modest Empire State building, rising all the way to ground level, and somehow you\'re happy in a way that\'s difficult to explain.$ Six days later you take off the forms and there\'s your modest Empire State building, rising all the way to ground level, and somehow you\'re happy in a way that\'s difficult to explain.

$And you pack the space with moistened murram to the level of the 30\" form and then hard core stood up straight and pounded flat with a twelve pound sledge hammer and covered with more moistened murram. This in layers until hole is a mound. In this case it was four layers.$ And you pack the space with moistened murram to the level of the 30\" form and then hard core stood up straight and pounded flat with a twelve pound sledge hammer and covered with more moistened murram. This in layers until hole is a mound. In this case it was four layers.

Now Gilbert and Benson, and maybe St. Peter, are ready to fling it open upon your arrival.

With deep love for free swinging hinges,

David and the gate builders

Comments(6)

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martin says
August 2, 2008 at 2:06 am

the golden gate, east-african style. and nary a casualty. beautiful.

i especially liked the three-man concrete shuffle, though it left me a little dizzy.

–m

p.s. no one says bob’s your uncle. except if he really is.
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Bob Saunders says
August 2, 2008 at 10:37 am

Monkey’s uncle, perhaps.
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Peggy Traverso says
August 3, 2008 at 10:04 am

David and Gate Crew —
Another lesson in the use of math and science in the real world! Yes, this need for inovation and “do-it-yourself” brings us into the real world we don’t usually see. Thanks for sharing

And thanks for all the hard work put into the gate. I plan to walk through the pedestrian door one of these days.

Lucky for the toad that the mzungu was there!
Peggy
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david says
August 4, 2008 at 6:30 am

My dear Martin,

In all likelihood it’s the counterclockwise rotation that did it, although that’s not unlike a slow motion version of your unguardable spin move in the paint.

Your counterpart here, the incomparable one, sends his greetings.

David

PS I’ll tell the Brits here to knock off the relational elasticity. They’re all still still claiming Bob here.
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david says
August 4, 2008 at 6:33 am

Hello Brother Bob!

Well, at least Amy and Allison can still loudly and proudly proclaim that Bob’s their uncle. As for the rest of us, monkey may be the better option. Let’s leave it an exclusive club.

Very big love to you and Patti,

David
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david says
August 4, 2008 at 6:37 am

Dear Peggy,

I’ll leave a token hanging for you on the gate post that will assure you immediate entry as an honored and distinguished visitor, a member of the family returned to us.

Until then, as Kenyans say, we are just around.

Love,

David

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Comments(6)

martin says

Bob Saunders says

Peggy Traverso says

david says

david says

david says