The ride out to the site was quieter than usual, with all of us feeling the strain and drain of Thursday's clean-up efforts. While Davis snoozed in the front seat, the Brothers Rempel perused copies of "Building on Common Ground," a commemorative book about the 1993 Jimmy Carter Habitat for Humanity build in Winnipeg, I'd managed to scrounge up for each of them. Given the construction connection, both Delaeno and Nathan were able to name many acquaintances and relatives pictured in the book. That project had been my first exposure to Habitat for Humanity and volunteerism. It had also provided my first opportunity to apply my photojournalism efforts to a specific, publishable project.
As we toted the day's supplies around the excavation to the trailer, I caught a glimpse of the remainder of Rebus' leash lashed to one of the batter boards. I've been bringing him on days when equipment isn't onsite or when things aren't too hectic. Wednesday being one of those days, Rebus had been along despite his decision, on Tuesday, to get into the excavation with the rest of his pack. Working on the upper course of ICFs, I had happened to glance down as Rebus waded by below me just outside the wall. Given that he is a Corgi and short of leg, this situation had him belly deep in the soupy clay. To prevent a repeat on Wednesday, I had tied him to the batter board, a strategem that had worked well as needed thus far.
Awhile later, as I worked to remove the scaffolding, Davis called over the wall saying that Rebus was wandering around and dragging part of his leash behind him. He had neatly chewed through the nylon braid, obviously determined not to have his herding skills thwarted.
Despite our fatigue and our dread of today's physical demands, we shared anticipation of finally being out of the hole and the muck. ABM's rock slinger was scheduled to arrive circa 8:30 to distribute 53 cubic yards of 3/4" clean limestone over the weeping tiles lining the exterior of the basement footings and the basement's interior. It's a bit mind-boggling to consider the amount of material used to construct a home for two humans and their menagerie. For example, the concrete for the basement walls and the piers was over 100,000 lbs. Combined with the footings previously poured and the garage pad and basement floor yet to come, we will have placed well over 250,000 lbs. of concrete on site.
We heard an approaching diesel engine and, thinking it to be the rock slinger, were surprised to see Matthew Taplin driving their backhoe onto the site. It was immediately evident we would be experiencing some considerable congestion today. Don Morrison of Manitoba Hydro had come by last Friday to inspect my meter socket and temporary service wiring. He understood the crew would be trenching the cable from the pole to the socket mid this week. The slippage of a couple of days now presented significant challenges. Nathan & I had to hump a lift of 2x6 studs out of the way, so that Matt could shove a lift of sub-floor decking further into the trees to make room for the trench.
Site management has been an increasing challenge. We had already experienced the difficulties and added cost with the excavation, due to the tight working space between the trees. Now, with three material drops, the rock slinger, the backhoe and Hydro personnel and equipment on site, the ongoing importance of maintaining flow and accessibility was underscored.
Matt was about 2/3 finished the trenching when Hydro rolled up around 9:30. A few minutes later, they pulled away again. Finally, around 2 p.m., Matt was able to connect with someone at Hydro. Apparently, the crew had decided that, with no walls up on the house, there was no meter socket to connect, so they made off for parts unknown. Despite the backhoe's trenching on their ticket, they didn't bother to get out of the vehicles and walk through the drizzle to confer with either Matt or myself.
That hiccup aside, they did show up mid-afternoon and, within an hour, the site was wired. Early Monday, we'll be running off the pole; no more $5-10/day for generator gas.
While Matt waited for Hydro and we waited for the next load of rock, Delaeno and Davis suggested moving the steel beams onto the wall with Matt's help. We were able to get the smaller beam moved before the rock slinger returned.
The last 13 cubic yards of rock arrived around 2:30 and, 15 minutes later, was deposited in the basement. By 3 p.m., with the skies crying again, two very exhausted Rempel brothers (who had most of the shovel dispersion), Davis & I called it a week. A very good week.
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