Playing in the mud

We call our 'secret' fiberglass reinforced concrete mud because it sure looks like mud when it's wet. The mud is troweled onto our steel armatures anywhere from 1/2 inch to one inch thick. Then it is allowed to set up until it is ready to carve. We then use a variety of tools to carve in the texture we desire. While it sounds easy, the truth is it takes a long while to master. Our relatively new crew is getting good at the job but are still working at their skills. The best way to get good is by doing and so the crew members are all taking their turn at mudding and carving. Today the ladies got in a good deal of practice. Matt and Adison did the mixing chores.

The balloon top was the first order of business.

The end result was a mudded and carved hot air balloon.

The basket was the next piece to get the mud treatment. Only the sandbag weights on the corners remain to be done on this piece.

Today we decided to push a little harder and also do the little mine car, so it too recived the mud treatment. Kendra, Hailey and Jenessa pitched in to finish off the sculpting as quitting time approached. It was a little top heavy so the two cement bags evened things out until we can secure it to the tracks.

Up at the lake TJ and Marty were welding the base of the Wave Swinger island. It's going to be a superbely detailed and fun section of the park when it is done. The boys made a great first days' progress.

The building is also taking shape quickly. The carpenters are learning to build 'our way' and having fun at it too. The roof is now gently swayed, and the front gables on the western front startng to come together. The blocking is now in place to the mountain peak that will soon reside up on top. Next week we are doing some pretty fun things to the front section of the building. This section of the park is going to be pretty spectacular when we are done. 

It's been a very productive week all around thanks to the efforts of my crew and everyone else at the site. THANKS!

-grampa dan

Almost ready to fly!

Each morning I take the tool trailer (and my crew) up to the worksite, meet with the owner to review yesterday's work, talk about new projects and areas and then start my crew on their jobs for the day. Then I head back home to work with the crew in the shop on our onging projects. It's a busy time for me (and the crew) and the days go by in a flash. The good news is that the project is shaping up quickly. Tomorrow I'll do a report on the building as the carpenters are making rapid progress and the structure is shaping up very fast. It is unlike anything the carpenters have ever built previously and they are enjoying the unusual and challenging project.

In the shop we applied the fiberglass reinforced concrete to the bottom half of the hot air balloon and it looks fabulous. Working upside down with concrete is never easy and Hailey, Sarah and Jenessa did a fabulous job. Tomorrow they should be able to finish the top half without any problem.

The balloon basket is also nearing completion and looking pretty cool as well. The balloon will be bolted to the top of the pole above the basket. This thing is going to be HIGH!

The tree is now cured sufficiently to allow us to begin the painting process tomorrow. I can hardly wait to see color!

Other projects are also on the go but I'll save those pics for another day. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan

Pics of site progress

Today was a very eventful day at the park site. Our guys were busy welding the bottom framework for the fence. We'll be sculpting a rock wall over this frame. They are welding up many hundreds of feet of pencil rod each day and it is coming together quickly.

The carpenters are busy on the building and making good progress. The trusses arrived today and we now have a good idea just how tall the building is going to be. The thing to remember is that the mountain top gets plunked up on top of the peak and the giant tree gets fastened to the top of that! It is going to be fabulous!

Once the trusses were in place the carpenters had some questions about how I wanted the structure built to accomodate our theme work.and I had to go up to the second floor to answer them. While I was up there I took a few minutes to enjoy the view from above. Here's a look to the east, the first shot being over the bumper boat pool. The elevated round pad will house the giant swing ride.

Swinging around slightly to the north we get a good look at the Wilderness Adventure area. Part of the original Giggle Ridge Adventure Golf is visible to the upper left. Our crew is in the background working on the fence. The kid's cave laberinth which will be under the walkway is still visible. Behind it the pool that will have the barrel bridge crossing is taking shape. A waterfall will tumble from the building that will be constructed on the footing to the left. The two workers in the foreground are working on the footing for the bridge to the swing ride island. The slab in the foreground will be a storage building under the elevated walkway. 

Back in the shop the crew polished off the wiring on the balloon today. We will begin the concrete sculpting on that giant piece tomorrow morning. Here's a pic of Jenessa tying the very last wire. Well done to all who worked on this very large piece!

Each day the park looks more and more complete. I can't walk on site without a HUGE grin!

-grampa dan