End of Day Shots: Day Forty-Five

As the sunny days keep coming, so do the busy days. We're really starting to move on the tower now. Also, some of the other guys are fixing up the landscape around the water wheel as this project is starting to come together.

It's kinda hard to put the size of the tower into scale, but you can kinda tell size compared to the Dean Mine and the 12 foot wide water wheel.

The sides were put up first and held up with some cross members and removable supports while we started putting in the permanent supports on the front and back.

Being as big as it is, we needed a number of straps to hold it together while we sized and bolted it.

Had some downtime between bolting together timbers so I got to put up the sun for the shower.

I've been speaking with the folks back in Denver and it looks like my time here might be ending in about three weeks. But if this sun keeps up, I might see a finished tower yet.

Later

End of Day Shots: Day Forty-Three

How to describe the results of the last two days; joy, relief, catharsis.

Just seeing this guy being lifted from it's parking spot was enough for me. We picked it up and leaned it against the gravel pile to get a better grip with the forks.

Then we marched it up the hill, much like one would an elephant.

It may not look it, but I'm actually overjoyed right here to be putting this wheel into place.

The original axle actually ended up being to thin for the bulk of the wheel.

Eventually we got this 2" steel rod in and seated on the bearings.

Jon got the wheel running with the garden hose, but really, you could run it with your pinky finger.

So there it is, it may have seemed larger then life during the construction, but up on the hill it looks just the right size. Jon's definitely got a keen eye for scaling water wheels.

Still have plenty of work to do on the wheel. It runs great, but it needs a braking system and more decorative features around it. You know, like a thirty-some foot water tower next to it, but that's for tomorrow.

Later.

End of Day Shots: Day Thirty-Nine

So I've been talking about how we've been prepping and finishing up the water wheel and the water tower now for a bit. I thought I'd show you just where we are at.

Couple of the guys are starting to put together the timbers for the sides of the water tower. This is one side of the big guy. Once we get the other three done we'll be ready to stand it up...

... here. This spot was poured before I got here. The posts will sit on top of the columns. The scaffolding is poised and ready for the big day.

The water wheel itself is to the point of being ready to hang, so Jon, Pete, and Joe, the landscaper, have been placing rocks to create a creek for the water to follow.

In the meantime, I've been working with Jon and Carol on designing a mobile for the outdoor shower. This sun is what we've come up with so far. Still kind of a work in progress.

We've had two days of sun in a row, which I'm pretty sure is a record. Definitely lifts the spirits to spend a day in the sun.

Later.

Human Impact

A sign we saw on one of our hikes spoke of human impact and how it gravely effects nature. True, but I saw a couple examples of human impact that made me smile. I'm not saying that I want to see the mountainsides painted, but a few cleverly placed art pieces can't hurt, right? (I'm sure my sister will tell me otherwise.)

This is at the base of Fletcher Falls.

Alot of the trees were marked by the forest service. This guy was by Green Bay.

The Road To Kaslo

I guess I haven't updated this in a while. Work has been going steady, but the wheel and the shower are getting some final detail work on them and it's kinda hard to take pictures of that kind of work. Plus, it's been raining every other day. The water tower is also moving towards completion. Looks like Friday might find us setting a wheel and raising a tower.

In other news, my folks came up for a visit to see what's changed around here.

These are my folks. We took a little trip up to British Colombia to see what we could see.

We took the Selkirk Loop up to Kaslo, which meant we had to ferry across Lake Kootenay. Beautiful country up there. Very Canadian.

We took a couple hikes just outside of town. This is an old growth cedar forest with massive trees that would take at least 5 or 6 hippies to hug. As I had only the two with me, we let them be.

Fletcher Falls was another nice walk. I say walk because the falls are pretty much right next to the highway. You just have to climb down the hill side to see it properly.

We did a bunch of other stuff, too, but I figured this is enough family trip photos for most people. Maybe I'll put more up later, but I'll definitely get some more work pics soon(ish).

Later