EDEN LAKE ROAD BREAK 2006

PART 3

FEBRUARY 2006

WE GOT UP THIS MORNING TO SOME NICE -27C TEMPERATURE WHICH IS GOOD FOR BUILDING ICE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY. SOUTHERN BELLE LIKES THE ROAD WE BUILT BUT IT IS NOT FINISHED UP YET. IT NEEDS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE SMOOTH ENOUGH TO DRIVE ON WITH NO LID ON THE COFFEE CUP.

EVERYBODY IS ASKING WHAT IS THE PROPANE HEATER I USE TO HEAT THE CAT OVERNIGHT. WELL IT IS A "HOCKEY STICK" HEATER AND IT SLIDES INTO A BOX THAT HEATS THE ANTIFREEZE. A 20 LBS BOTTLE OF PROPANE WILL LAST 4 NIGHTS WITH THIS HEATER. WHICH IS VERY GOOD I WOULD SAY.

THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE 5KM CREEK IS CHECK TO SEE HOW MUCH ICE OR FREEZING HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

THERE WAS ENOUGH TO DRIVE "CHROMELESS" OVER THE CREEK AS A TEST OF THE STRENGTH.

TO PUNCH A HOLE IN THE SO CALLED ICED OVER CREEK, I USE A BAR WITH A 5 INCH FLAT END AND A LOOP ON THE OTHER END THAT HAS A ROPE TO GO AROUND MY WRIST. THIS IS SO I DON'T LOSE THE BAR THROUGH THE ICE WHEN IT SLIPS OUT OF MY HAND.

THE FUN PART OF BREAKING ICE IS NOT TO FALL IN BECAUSE THE ICE MIGHT BE WEAK UNDERNEATH.

WITH A CHEAP $74.00 CDN MONEY SUMP PUMP THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN THE BASEMENT OF YOUR HOUSE IS WHAT WE USE FOR FLOODING A SMALL AREA LIKE THIS. IT IS CHEAP, DISPOSABLE AND HAS LOW WATER PRESSURE SO IT WON'T ERODE THE SNOW AWAY.

THE LITTLE PUMP GETS A VERY NICE STREAM OF WATER THAT WILL SOAK IN TO THE SNOW.

AS THE WATER FLOODS, WE PUSH SNOW OVER TOP OF THE FLOODING TO ADD MORE BASE TO THE AREA.

PLUS WE JUST KEEP PACKING THE SNOW WITH "KOMMUNIST KAT"

AFTER FLOODING FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS WE GOT "CHROMELESS" OUT TO FIND THE SOFT SPOTS AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. THAT IS WHY THE SUBURBAN HAS NO CHROME BECAUSE IT IS A WORK TRUCK THAT GETS LOTS OF PULLING AND SHOVING WITH THE CAT.

WE MARKED THE EDGES OF THE ROAD WITH BIG STICKS NOT LITTLE STICKS. SO IF YOU DRIVE TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD THE BIG STICKS WILL SMASH OFF THE MIRRORS ON YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU WILL REMEMBER NOT TO DRIVE SO CLOSE TO THE EDGE.

AFTER 6 HOURS OF FLOODING AND ABOUT 18 000 GALLONS OF WATER LATER WE HAVE A VERY NICE CREEK CROSSING.

OF COURSE ON THE WAY HOME SOUTHERN BELLE HAS TO TAKE A NATURE SHOT. SHE TELLS ME THE COLOURS OF THE SUNSET ARE VERY NICE. I'LL TRUST HER ON THAT SINCE I'M COLOUR BLIND.

THANSK