Last bridge

Our second day onsite was a lucky one. The weatherman forecast showers all day which it did but never hard enough to even warrant breaking out the tarps. We mudded and carved the second side of the big bridge. Then big Matt got to climb the mountan to lay on the concrete while little Matt mixed up bucket after bucket of mud.

I spent the bulk of the day under my welding helmet fabricating the last bridge which had to be built onsite. By the end of the day the welding was done and the bridge was ready for the galvanized mesh which will happen tomorrow. The back of the big rock is largely done and by tomorrow night (weather permitting).

The last of the walkways were also poured and stamped. Fence panels were installed and the gate posts were readied for installation tomorrow. It was a very long and productive day.

-grampa dan

First day onsite

Yesterday was our first day to work onsite at WhistlePunk Hollow. It started with loading the trailer with all the necessary tools and materials. Then there was the two hour drive to the worksite. Shortly after lunch time we had the tools unloaded. More supplies were purchased locally and stacked at the ready.  Then the real work began and we made quick progress. The small bridge was mudded and carved while the wiring of the big rock was completed.

Next we tackled the concrete work on the big waterfall and then the big log bridge. We managed one side before darkness started setting in.

Today the weatherman has an iffy forcast but we are pressing on as long as we can. The golf is looking fabulous and is almost ready to play. Everyone passing by awaits eagerly and encourages us onward.

-grampa dan

Fish story

When I was in Bridgeton, Indiana last week I was visiting with my good friends Doug Haffner and Jamie Oxenham. Jamie had done a nice sign featuring a mechanical fish a while back that Doug and I commented on favorably. We tried not to give too many complements as we didn't want to give Jamie a fat head. In the course of our discussion a challenge was thrown out for each of us to design and build a new version of the sign that would push the bar upwards from this fine example. I love a challenge (probably more than almost anyone) and couldn't resist.

Jamie insisted that the first piece was merely for practice and tht he could do much better. Doug boasted he had a better design already in mind. I of course knew I could beat both of these guys by a Yarrow mile without hardly trying. The contest was instantly on with a vengeance. The rules were simple... anything goes with a deadline of the end of summer. Then began the bravado and the trash talk of course.

Doug is claiming that he always operates in stealth mode and won't reveal his plans until he is done. I doubt he will reveal much on his blog until the project is well underway.  Jamie will undoubtably build his design in his favorite 3D software. He may post a few pictures on his blog.... time will tell. I of course fear nothing (especially from my esteemed competition) and will be documenting the design and build process here in great detail. My 'competition' can look all they want. :)

After the 3D Sign Camp I had a long plane ride home. The first leg was a short one hour flight from Indianapolis to Chicago. By the time we landed I had filled fifteen pages in my sketchbook with ideas and sketches of the many details I would build into my design. Before summer is done I'll be building the 3D files in EnRoute before routing the pieces and then sculpting, assembling and painting the final version. Here's a copy of the design done on the plane ride.

Today in my spare minutes I whipped up the concept art for the sign...

Just in case my fellow sign makers don't yet have their designs nailed I've saved lots of planned details to be revealed as I build. 

Bring it on Doug and Jamie. The challenge has begun!

-dan