The Hazards Of Digging A Pond!

[Blairgowrie]

While you guys were flying coops on Sunday afternoon here's what I was doing for "fun", down in the swamp.

I quickly realized I was in big trouble when I could walk out of the cab at ground level and my dogs were nowhere to be seen. I made a slow walk back to the house to call for help. "Hello Dan! I seem to have done it again and need your help!!"

Enter Dan, the Professional! The asshole in the hat is my next door neighbour.

Get the f*** out of the way Bruce!

Dan saves the day and the excavator!

[Snacko]

Nice save Dan!

What were you doing in the first place Jim? Digging out more peat for sale?

[Pooka]

Kinda looks like your making an island with an excavator on it.

Glad it all worked out for the best. Don't do any digging on Tuesday, I want you to host.

Pooka

[JensenPark]

Once again Jim, you never cease to amaze me.

It looks like it was ready to topple into the water there with you in the cab.

Glad it ended ok.

[HH_RitterCuda]

your not a real digger until you get it stuck for the 50th time

[gec]

must be very interesting sitting in the cabin, doing your work and than the machine starts to sink. with you in it

glad u r ok Jim. the machine could tipped with u in it

[T_O_A_D]

Nice, He used the bucket to pull himself back out of trouble.

I'm glad he was there to save the day.

Those experience operators learn those tricks by screwing up too ya know.

I've seen pics of the guy and his backhoe, climbing into a coal car on a train, with only his machine and its attachments to do it?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v517/Archdean/Backhoe%20photos/?action=view&current=926b6ccd.pbw

How bout this.

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=18781

[GreyKnight]

Yeah, yeah! More like you were showing off to the wife, trying to pop a wheelie with your digger and then lost control.

Glad you're okay.

[Jabo]

Likewise Jim, that could have been nasty. On a safer subject, how's the grass?

[Tonar]

and my dogs were nowhere to be seen

Did you find the dogs?

It is nice that you are making progress on another pond.

[Blairgowrie]

It was really scary when it started sliding sideways and leaned over. Thought I was going in for sure. The dogs came back when the cursing stopped.

I have just completed another big, deep pond with an island and hope to do some more work on the main pond. I have to complete a couple of berms, install some culverts and start flooding it. I'll post more pics in the next couple of days.

I'll also post a pic of the new grass. It really has come on in just over a week.

[Blairgowrie]

Here is a picture of the new pond I have just completed. The main pond will empty into this one. By next spring, it will have flooded right to the top so the island is just visible.

And the new grass is doing well.

[FoolTrottel]

That grass looks photoshopped!! A Virtual lawn!

Brilliant!

[Bucky]

Glad eveything worked out ok,Jim.Good call getting a pro to get the machine un-stuck.Too many times I've seen guys get stuck and then make things worse by trying to fix it themselves.It seems you know your limitations concerning your experience level.

Anyways,the grass looks great and the pond looks cool.Thanks for sharing.

B.

[BadAim]

It's great to watch real pros operate heavy machinery. Don't worry Jim, you'll be an old hand in no time. I'm with Bucky in commending your wise decision to get help, what's that old saying? Oh yeah, "Pride goeth before rolling your excavator over in a swamp"

[Jabo]

Pond (lol - more like a lake) and new lawn looking good Jim. Does Helen have plans for getting you decorating indoors during the winter?

Jabo

[Blairgowrie]

Well, I decided to rebuild the road with more gravel and try again. This time, I think I got it right!

I am in the process of throwing up a berm and once that is done, I will dig in a steel 20" culvert. If I can get the berm high enough, it should be a nice deep pond.

Did someone mention peat moss?

Now that is the mother of all rocks!

[JensenPark]

Only BG would see a need to build tank traps in his yard.

[Blairgowrie]

Some of you have been asking how the grass is coming. We are very happy how well it has taken.

[DD_Arthur]

Good lord, you've got a lawn out of a hose in three weeks! Sure beats turfing it.

[BadAim]

Wow, that sure is sweet!

[Tribunus]

That looks great BG, very well done.

[Blairgowrie]

An update on my pond digging.

Now flooding up. I will be able to set the final height of the water, next spring, when I place the culvert. I'll set the height about a foot below the island.

The big pond will flow into another pond , also with an island.

This is the pond where I got stuck, now almost finished. Once again I will control the height of the water with the culvert.

[gec]

how deep it will be when finished?

[Blairgowrie]

The big pond should be around 18ft. The one where I got stuck maybe 15ft.