The main road is washed out where it
crosses the brook. We must cross it to get to the campsite, still a trek away from the
truck.
We'd been taking ATV right through the brook but it was now cutting its own path
and tearing up the water banks. This project was a necessity.
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Here's
Rayna playing in the brook where the road is washed out |
The old culvert had used two one-foot pipes, but it wasn't enough to hold
back seasonal torrents (especially when the pipes get blocked with clear-cut debris).
On the first day, we hauled 36 logs a half mile up the dirt road with the ATV.
They came from a pile the loggers had left at the first landing. We chose logs which were
about 8 feet long and about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Actually, they weren't as heavy as
I expected, having been seasoned a couple of years (unlike pressure treated lumber which
weighs a lot). To prepare the logs, we scraped off the loose bark and branches.
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Dad, Sammy, and the boys.
Notice the rope used to haul the beams. |
The next day, we selected two logs the size of telephone poles for the
main beams, about one foot in diameter and almost 25' long. These babies were hauled quite
easily, dragged actually, from their burial ground using the power of the ATV in low gear.
The beams were stretched across the brook's chasm, arranged and aligned about
six feet apart. Then we securely lashed the 8 foot logs across, four at a time, working
our way from the center out. This was tedious, especially on a hot day.
Finally we stitched together a set of short ramps for each side of the bridge,
and erected flag gate poles.
Ready! GO!
The debut test drive across the bridge on the ATV was a triumphant moment!
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Bridge Complete! Can you see the ATV tracks? |
