#Thegreatpoolpondconversion - 190811
Yesterday we began some backfilling. Dumping sand between the sandbags we laid last week and the pool wall. Then raking flat, and tamping down. After that we build more sandbag wall, then more sand, etc., till we get to the proper height for this first ‘shelf’.
So we moved sand from the driveway to that big hole in the deck. First with a wheelbarrow. That’s about a 60 foot haul and necessary because it fit between the rafters we didnt feel like moving. Then we used the yard cart where we could back it up to the pool edge. The cart holds about 2.5 wheelbarrow’s full and of course we dont have to muscle it around, so a big plus.
We filled, moved and dumped 6 wheelbarrows and 4 carts in about an hour in the brisk 96 degree heat. Partially because this was our first day at this and we had to get the technique down right, plus we had to make some ramps, etc.
We estimate we moved 2 cubic yards. At about 2,750 pounds per yard that’s 2 ¾ tons. (Yes there will be a test on all this. There will be A, B,C, and D but E this time too.)
Remember our original plan was to move ALL the sand ourselves. Looking back, thank goodness anthony and vinnie moved the first 27 *tons* for us! Cleaning up the ruts they left in the grass is nothing compared to probably 6 weeks it would have taken us. (it took them 4 hrs over 2 days, including power pounding it flat).
No, I didn’t run 12 miles early sunday morning. the weekly long run has been moved to saturdays for a while.
Next week we’ll do the raking and pounding. And move the rafters so we can get more sand in on the far end.
An aside - we’re both over 60 and in fairly good shape. We have a gazebo for some shade. We take water breaks, have a bathroom etc. And still we can just manage two hours (and two shirt changes).
Imagine doing this kind of work all day, every day, in the heat. Roofers, landscapers, farm workers. Wow.