Run, run, run.

My day, from beginning to end, was spent jumping from one project to the other, keeping things organized for the crew both in the shop and up at the work site. Even so I did manage to complete most of the things I set out to in the morning. The crew in the shop did well, finishing the sculpting of another major piece for the park.

On one of my many trips up to the worksite we delivered the Wilderness Trail sign. Itfits in perfectly into it's planned spot.

Working a few minutes at each go, by the end of the day I managed to complete the carving of the wagon wheel details. The sign is now ready for final painting.

With each passing day the progress is very visible. This park is undoubtably going to be a world class facility from one end to the other. We are having a great deal of fun making it just that!

-grampa dan

Big ol' tree sculpt done!

With the inside of the log polished off yesterday it was time to do the even larger outside surface today. The weather outside was rainy and cool, so the whole crew was in the shop to give a hand. Three people mixed concrete while the rest troweled it on. With the application of the cement mud the log grew visually yet again. It measures about six feet tall and a little over fourteen feet long. The forked branch is detached until it is set in place and even without that piece in place it measures nine feet wide. It took almost until lunch to mix and trowel on the concrete. As soon as lunch was over the carving began. As it set up we called more and more crew to help with the carving and before long everyone was busy at the task.

By three-thirty the log was done!

Now we'll let it cure until next week and then we'll begin the painting process. 

Thanks to the crew for another massive effort today! The result is outstanding!

-grampa dan

Going whole hog in the log

The bulk of our day was spent inside a hollow log. First we applied a quick scratch coat of fiberglass reinforced concrete and then we went back and applied a second heavier coat. The afternoon was spent sculpting in the woodgrained texture to make it look like a real log. There's a whole bunch of board feet in this massive timber! Six of us were working inside the timber for much of the day, When I took this shot we were down to four inside.

Tomorrow the outside of the log gets it's skin, making the log look a whole lot more massive in the process. Stay tuned...

-grampa dan