Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Getting Boulder by the Day

Some folks go up GA 400 to hit the outlet malls. Others of us are drawn by the siren song of Pyramid Stone. Just as the controlled access ends, if you have to stop at the light, you can’t help but notice the rock yard off to the right. The boulders beckon.

P1170360_2790

No?

P1170363_2793

Boulders don’t beckon you? Hmmm. To each his own.

image

This one used to be next to the gate at Pyramid Stone. Actually, it used to be the gate, as evidenced by the screw eye in the top.

It was just what I needed. It had the straight side and stackable shape that would fit perfectly at the end of the retaining wall.

P1170332_2796

I also envisioned some steps going up there to get from the back yard up on top of the retaining wall, so I rounded up a few nice, flat boulders,

P1170381_2758

had them weighed,

P1170382_2759

made sure they didn’t have the tractor on the scale,

P1170383_2760

and arranged to have them delivered.

When I arrived down at the house in the morning, Builder Gary was already hard at work, making a spot for the boulders.

P1170401

Soon the truck with the boulders arrived and the driver brought them around to the back.

P1170403

It was like Rock City – complete with Fat Man’s Squeeze.

P1170404

It’s a good thing I wasn’t driving!

P1170407

Builder Gary and his mighty bobcat struggled to pick up the boulder and place it. Luckily, the driver was the sort who can’t stand to see someone else struggle, so he gallantly, scooped it up on his forks

P1170409

and deposited it where we needed it.

P1170411

See? It’ s almost a perfect fit. All we need to do is prop it up a bit. So, Builder Gary climbs the hill and gets to work on it.

P1170414

With the weight of the rock pulling him down the hill, he lifted.

P1170416

At this point, I was sure he was saying, “Hold my beer and watch this!” but I think he was actually beckoning Nathan to put more rocks underneath.

P1170417

We got that one set, added another,

P1170420

a few more,

P1170421

and before long we had a staircase going up.

P1170423

It was looking pretty good, but we needed a few more steps.

P1170442

So, three rock yards later, we had what we needed and got back to work.

P1170468

With the last step placed, we put the last big rock to finish off the boulder wall.

P1170470

A little smoothing, and fluffing, and voila!

P1170473

Now if we can just get some suitable weather for planting.

P1170475

What do you think? Bold, boulder, bouldest?

5 comments:

  1. Now I'm getting it, my brain is so there now. Rock on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We'll make a rock junkie out of you, yet, Terry! It's a brutal addiction, though. I have the bruises to prove it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I did my own rock project, long story. But minor surgery was ultimately required but no stone was injured in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, what a great looking set...of rocks that is. You are totally rockin'! This is your bouldest move yet and I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Is the retaining wall sacked or slurried with same brick mortar? Just Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete