Great wall of Cultus lake

Today was a landmark day - the first day of 'MUD' onsite. Like every first day we had to get things sorted out and set up. First batches of new mud had to be tested. We had to work out a plan to get the freshly mixed 'MUD' (fiberglass reinforced concrete) from the mixer to where we would apply it. It was decided I would do inside the fence and Peter would handle the outside. TJ and Marty took turns mixing and delivering the heavy mud. As they passed me they made a quick stop and four buckets were heaved over the low fence. Then they continued to deliver the balance to Peter. It took us six hours to apply the mix to about 150 feet of two sided fenceline. After last coffee break everyone dropped what they were doing and started carving. The task was to carve the applied concrete a little faster than it went on, starting at the beginning and going to where we ended. With the mud applied there was no stopping unti we were done.

Most of the crew stayed past normal quitting time for about half an hour to finish the task. Thirty-eight batches of concrete were mixed and applied on our first day of mud. We managed a bit more than one hundred and fifty feet of double sided fence plus four small posits and two large ones.

The transparent mesh wall is now solid and and permanent.

After 37 large batches of mud I'll bet the crew will sleep good tonight. I know I sure will!

-grampa dan 

Fun with a twist

Designing projects is always challenging and fun. Being allowed to be as creative as we can possibly be takes it over the top. With each project we do our best to raise the bar ever higher.

The signs for the project in Trinidad are currently on my drawing board. With each sign for the attractions we seek to inform, tell the story and also build excitement and anticipation. This is entertainment at it's best.

The climbing wall will have a staircase up to the top. Here we will invite guests to JUMP about fifty feet to the bottom. They will of course don a harness, and hook into a mechanism that gives them a rapid but controlled descent. The climbing surface (SKULL ROCK) will have a giant skull on top. Guest (with enough courage) will jump out of the mouth.

In keeping with the pirate theme we called the attraction WALK THE PLANK. Here's the proposed design.

The next dimensional sign I was working on tonight was for the swing ride. Guests sit in chairs attached to the top structure with long chains. They are then whipped around in circles.( The attraction is much too roundy-round for my liking) We first researched nautical terms and phrases and loved the term Yard Arm. On old windjammer ships they used a boat swain's chair (BOSUN's CHAIR) to get up into the rigging which was remarkably like our chairs on the swing ride. Putting it all togeher we named the ride YARDARM TWIST. Our gruffle character will be riding the bosun's chair.

It all makes me wonder how it could possibly be more fun?

-grampa dan

Putting the cart before the horse

Today the PURPLE PEOPLE EATER made the journey up to the worksite. The purple people eater is our paddle mixer used to make our special blend of concrete mud. When it needed a paint job a number of years ago we painted it a light purple color (now faded some) and gave it it's name. The reason was to remind all the crew that use it that this machine can indeed be dangerous. The whirling blades are DANGEROUS if used improperly. No one is allowed to put their hands (or any other body part) anywhere near the machine when it is running.

The arrival of the machine on site means that the fiberglass reinforced concrete sculpting begins TOMORROW! Or if it is raining (which is what is forecast) the concrete work will begin the day after.

With a family event planned for our property this coming weekend it was time for a little spring cleaning out in front of the shop. This meant it was time to load the last feature for the project up at the lake. These were among the first pieces completed for the project back in the early fall of last year. The wagon was the first to load onto the trailer. The horse was last and as I used the forklift to set it down on the trailer it made me smile for I was indeed putting the cart before the horse. But not to worry, for we'll get it right up at the site when they are set into their permanent position.

Hailey tweaked her wrist late last week and so has spent the last days painting the last of the signs in the shop. Here she is applying the color to the Summit Trading Post sign.

With 59 working days to go before opening the push is ON!

-grampa dan