The Big Fill

Hope you’re all fine,

We had laid two layers of hardcore and murram down in the main excavated section of the future kitchen, and needed to getÂ better compaction than our water-filled drum was giving us, so I rented a compacting machine thinking we would compact this half of the work, and then finish the backfill and rent the machine again. Anyway, here’s basically how it went along.

We started filling our newly excavated foundation sections with hand placed rocks, hardcore.

And brought wheelbarrow,

after wheelbarrow, after wheelbarrow.

And then we went and got some more wheelbarrows full.

I had to go pick up some lumber, and saw this solitary soul walking along the road on the way.

$I came back with 40 gum tree poles, 150\' of 1\"x8\" boards, 75\' of 1\"x3\" boards, 76\' of 2\"x2\" s, and 25\' of 2\"x4\"s.$ I came back with 40 gum tree poles, 150\' of 1\"x8\" boards, 75\' of 1\"x3\" boards, 76\' of 2\"x2\" s, and 25\' of 2\"x4\"s.

$The masons picked \'em up one by one,$ The masons picked \'em up one by one,

$and laid \'em down one by one$ and laid \'em down one by one

$And then the sledgehammerers smacked \'em one by one.$ And then the sledgehammerers smacked \'em one by one.

$Until they were evenly smashed and it was time to put about 3\" of murram on top,$ Until they were evenly smashed and it was time to put about 3\" of murram on top,

and then compressed it by rolling a 220 liter drum filled with water over and over it.

And then up the ramp and to the next section.

So that Gilbert could look it over with some satisfaction.

Then I got the idea to rent this one ton beauty from a guy on Ngong Road.

$It\'s a self-propelled vibrating compactor, and it came with Ben, the operator.$ It\'s a self-propelled vibrating compactor, and it came with Ben, the operator.

It motored itself up the ramp and into the back of the pick up and sat there.

$We had to build ramps to get it in and out of the various sections we wanted to compact. And make sure it didn\'t touch the walls in the process.$ We had to build ramps to get it in and out of the various sections we wanted to compact. And make sure it didn\'t touch the walls in the process.

It was always touch and go getting it in and out, and we dumped it off the side of one of the ramps once, but it kept on ticking.

$Our sledge hammer handles kept breaking so we\'d get out a panga and make a new one.$ Our sledge hammer handles kept breaking so we\'d get out a panga and make a new one.

Opyo, the carpenter, was making the shuttering for the slab.

A ramp escape in three parts.

About half way through the day, we saw that it just might be possible to get it all filled and compacted today if we worked like crazy. So I promised the guys more money and they went hard at it. It was the best day of work we have had. We worked ’til just before dark, finished and were finished.

We’ll talk again soon,

David

Comments(3)

Log in to Reply
martin says
October 4, 2008 at 3:19 pm

to look at that nicely leveled space, you’d hardly know it contains the secrets of the black cotton catacombs.

i hope there was a tusker baridi waiting for you at the end of that arduous day. if not, there will be one here.

martin
Log in to Reply
david says
October 5, 2008 at 8:43 am

Dear Martin,

The secrets are now entombed in the hundreds of tons of hardcore it took to seal the deal.

I’ll be in SD and take you up on that Tusker baridi.

David
Log in to Reply
John and Gayle DeGregori says
October 5, 2008 at 12:08 pm

We are amazed at all the hard work!! Blessings to all. Gayle & John

Blog

Comments(3)

martin says

david says

John and Gayle DeGregori says