| 203 | The Wall | 2010-03-17 |
My wife, Amy is off on spring break from teaching. So, to begin our fun filled week together, we decided to rebuild a retaining wall. The old wall was built twenty plus years ago out of railroad ties.
We were first concerned about the demolition. It was constructed using 12 inch nails. With pry bars, wedges, and sledge hammers we separated the beams. Too bad that wasn’t the end of our dealings with the ties. Unfortunately, we had to lift the ties and carry them a few feet. With gut wrenching effort we labored.
Then, just for fun, we got to move the ties again, because we really did not plan where we placed them the first time. Oh, joy. At least it was the end of day one.
Lowes was delivering the block the next day. We arrived early and began preparing the base for the blocks. At 10:30 Lowes called and said that would not be there until 2:30. Rats.
At lunch time we went home and took a nap, waiting on 2:30. When we returned to the site, the blocks had been delivered. No call. No notice. Just a bunch of blocks on a couple of pallets.
We started to work immediately.
We laid the first row and had to re-lay them after a bit more leveling. Then we started on the steps. Building steps were new to us, but we had a design that we thought would work. The only problem was we had to remove a lot of Tennessee clay. The pick axe soon became dull to the repeated strikes of the effort. Removing 32 cubic feet took hours.
Finally we began placing the stones. What fun work. The design worked and it looked good. We didn’t get but two steps finished before dark, 7:15, but the plan was working.
We went to bed singing," it’s just another brick in the wall." We should finish today. Then leave for Fall Creek Falls tonight or tomorrow.
So for all those who need a good vacation and want to avoid the lines at the gym, try building a retaining wall.
Wish you were here!
Happy cement trails.