Open the Gate

On Sunday, I took a couple of hours and worked on the entrance to Maple Creek Drive. I removed the gate and the interior posts and then cut back shrubs and barbed wire. I then took the wire fencing and folded it back on the remaining posts with good results.

Maple Creek After Rain

More Clearing

I cleared some more pathways this afternoon after work.

My goal is to get some visibility in the area to be cleared with the bulldozer. I need access so I can visibly mark the boundaries for the bulldozer. The present path is VERY think with underbrush -- se the before and after photos.

Map of Area to be cleared -- outlined in Pink
The photos below were taken from the spot of the push pin

BEFORE

AFTER

We're Somebody Now!!!

We got a call from the Western Arkansas Development Authority after surveying the road and the location of our driveway (sometime in the future) and we have our new address. We're now officially somebody!!

I met with TG, the earth moving/excavator guy, on Saturday and got his bid for the placement of the concrete pipes and building the road base over the creek -- now known as Maple Creek -- and his bid was great. He came in about $1,000 UNDER what I thought he would bid, which is nice. He is also going to do some clearing of the upper land where the houses and barn will be placed.

It's so damn thick I just can't get any visibility from where we have cleared.

View from the end of what will be the turn onto the mid-section of the property just across the main creek. The small tributary visible in this picture is flowing south into Maple Creek.

Looking forward in this picture should be the view as you drive into the mid-section of the property where we hope to build the houses and barn and main living areas. The small trees are thick here and basically impassable. I hope to do some rough clearing here so that TG can do good work with the dozer following roughly the outline in the picture below (outlined in pink). The picture above was taken roughly from the spot of the pushpin below looking roughly in line with the drive direction.

Clearing a Path

Yesterday was an outstanding weather day. Temps were in the 50s in the morning and the 60s in the afternoon and no clouds and little wind.

I met with TG who works for himself doing earthwork and excavation about placing the concrete pipes to bridge the creek and help to clear woods and create the basic road bed to get to the building area in the center of the land. He seemed clear on a plan and I await his ideas on costs.

I spent the remainder of time clearing brush and small woods with the Husqvarna trimmer fitted with the Grass Gator blade attachment. Thank goodness I bought a set of replacement blades, because they got abused. But -- o howdy -- does it work well. Combined with the Husqvarna chainsaw, I was able to do some amazing clearing by myself in just a few hours.

Cleared the area circled in pink along the western border from creek to mature woods (at the North)

My body is sore this morning, but I got a LOT accomplished.

I cleared the entire western border of the property of all thickets, bushes, and small trees. I can now mow the area with a push mower without difficulty along this path. Thank goodness for my Carhardt double duck pants...the stickers were plentiful.

BEFORE clearing -- looking North

AFTER clearing -- similar view

Finished path -- looking North

Finished path -- looking South