Sunday, 23 August 2020
I continued working on the path project, trying to dig down to four inches. At the east end where the plumbing probably comes in and out of the house, I hoped I would not replicate the geyser that happened once at a job many years ago when Robert shoveled into a pipe (maybe just irrigation; can’t recall the specifics except that our client was nice about it).
I was going to use the Slayer and counted how many notches made four inches, until I decided instead to use a gentler shovel that would give me a chance to not slice anything critical.
I managed to get down about three inches without any catastrophes.
Before:
I used the sandy soil to fill in behind the bricks.
After:
I was curious about which plant was putting big white roots across the path. I think it is azaras! At one end, I have big white roots and an Azara microphylla.
At the other end, I have big white roots and an Azara microphylla variegata.
I will throw some soil over the roots for now, since we won’t be getting gravel till next Thursday at the earliest. I hope the roots won’t mind being in gravel.
I had plenty of sandy soil to throw off to both sides of the path and even into the east garden bed.
It had been utterly exhausting, to the point where halfway through I thought about how much I do not like hardscaping work (but I like the results).
Triumph. I will rake it and level it and tamp it and take out the end pieces of grass (left so we don’t fall in) on the day the gravel is due to come. (Oh please don’t let our local source be out of gravel!) We have tomorrow off, but I don’t want to order gravel and then get stuck not done and with the garage blocked for the next two work days.
Meanwhile, Allan worked on his boat. The top of the cockpit ring was missing so he used an awl to help make a new one.
The plans were laid out straight but the part was drawn at an angle. The grain is now angled too but will probably be painted.

The deck is nailed down as I thought bending plywood over it could break it off. The next morning I heard a glue joint crack while undoing a clamp so I will add bronze screws and more epoxy tomorrow. It’s getting near paint and varnish time.


Digging that path was a lot of work! You did good.
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Thanks!
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You made a lot of progress on the path, Skyler. I hope your back is OK! Allan’s boat is coming along, It will be fun to see it with paint and varnish. He may have to start another project soon.
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He hopes for boating excursions in the local area as soon as tourist season is over. Maybe with his regular boat before this one is done.
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Great work on the path and a splendid array of clamps too.
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