| Think huge Tinker-Toy or Erector Set construction equipment, except everything is oversized and heavy and made out of steel. Think concrete like an ultra thick chocolate shake being pushed through a 6 inch flexible pipe, pouring into forms, that will become this massive wall. Think Tonka Truck Crane the size of a Mack Truck hoisting boulders the weight of a VW Bug, and delicately placing them to reinforce the hillside below the wall. Think building of the pyramids of Teotihuacan, but without slaves, and with as much ingenuity and determination. All this, and men working these man-sized boy-toys with balletic precision and grace. There is something to be said for mastery of the physical, and this was it in spades. To be sure, the fun-quotient on days that huge equipment was scheduled to operate was very high - oh, as were the levels of amazement, fascination, and interest. |
The setting of the forms, the pouring of the concrete, and waiting for the concrete to cure - ahh, always the waiting. When the forms are pulled off the wall exposing raw concrete, then the finishing touches begin. The banks have to be re-vegetated with ground-grabbing plants, with intense root systems to hold the hillside in place to withstand heavy flood waters of the creek. The path to the back area is carved out of the landscape, and laid out with pea-sized gravel, and mulch spread over exposed surfaces of the yard. Large tree trunk segments from an old dead bay tree from the back of the property are laid out in an inviting seating area under the trees, fencing is added around the creek, and screening added to cover the underside of the garage. At long last, a sanctuary is reborn and home restored to the critters of Codornices Creek - and we have our back yard back, too... |
