Well, not really, but this blog entry is mainly about recent adventures with our well.
Bruce McG., the local well expert, had a good time checking out our remote acreage, but came to the conclusion that the well has been blocked at 28 feet. He suggested taking a long pipe and trying to punch the blockage down into the well. I stopped by the local hardware to get some galvanized pipe, but I was worried about the weight.
The saleslady suggested using PVC pipe with an epoxy on the end to glob onto the rocks to pull them out. Hmmm. We spent some time figuring out how this could work, problems including: getting stuck on the side of the well casing, having the epoxy drying too quickly or too slowly, and getting enough goop on the end of a pipe. The nice lady ventured her friend who had snaked a camera into a sewage line to search for damage. I talked with Bill for a few minutes, and he graciously offered to meet me tomorrow afternoon to take the plumber's camera snake down the 28 feet to see what's down there.
More good adventures to come! Or is that well adventures? Teehee.
Steve
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday Monday
OK, so now it's Tuesday Tuesday, but sometimes it's hard to come up with titles to these updates. Also, Monday just ended and I wanted to give a little update on yesterday's events.
The well expert came out yesterday and found that rocks had been thrown in the well to a depth of 28 feet. He used some colorful, unkind words for people that engage in this kind of vandalism. He suggested that we get some pipe to try to break the rock down into the well. I'll buy and join together some lengths of galvanized pipe, and let the boys take turns lifting and pounding that heavy pipe onto the rocks below. Hopefully, not too many rocks were thrown down, but we will just have to see. Otherwise, I'll have to buy a tank and have water trucked in and/or have a drill company drill though the old and/or completely drill a new well. Oh joy. BTW, apparently the previous owners had built the tank seen in the photo just for storage and pressure as we could not find how a truck could get to the spot to drill.
We also finished loading the POD and had it picked up and delivered yesterday afternoon. It's fascinating to watch the "podzilla" at work! I rode out with the driver (he would never have found my place!) and showed him where to place the storage unit. We'll start unloading it this week into the garage/workshop.
The trash company is supposed to deliver the roll-off dumpster today, but the boys will be in charge of showing them where to put it. The company will probably just put it where it's most convenient for them to pick it back up.
More to come! Steve.
The well expert came out yesterday and found that rocks had been thrown in the well to a depth of 28 feet. He used some colorful, unkind words for people that engage in this kind of vandalism. He suggested that we get some pipe to try to break the rock down into the well. I'll buy and join together some lengths of galvanized pipe, and let the boys take turns lifting and pounding that heavy pipe onto the rocks below. Hopefully, not too many rocks were thrown down, but we will just have to see. Otherwise, I'll have to buy a tank and have water trucked in and/or have a drill company drill though the old and/or completely drill a new well. Oh joy. BTW, apparently the previous owners had built the tank seen in the photo just for storage and pressure as we could not find how a truck could get to the spot to drill.
We also finished loading the POD and had it picked up and delivered yesterday afternoon. It's fascinating to watch the "podzilla" at work! I rode out with the driver (he would never have found my place!) and showed him where to place the storage unit. We'll start unloading it this week into the garage/workshop.
The trash company is supposed to deliver the roll-off dumpster today, but the boys will be in charge of showing them where to put it. The company will probably just put it where it's most convenient for them to pick it back up.
More to come! Steve.
Friday, October 8, 2010
More Adventures
Yeah! The trash company found us and will provide service.
Boo! It's $538 to put a 40 foot roll-off for our reconstruction mess (as long as weight is under 5 tons.) I called a couple of other guys, but they said that this is a good price. Whew! Whodathunkit? Anyway, they'll take it out there on Tuesday, and we can fill it up with the old carpet and drywall, and other tear-down materials later.
The expert water well guy is supposed to meet me Monday to test from scratch since Riverside County couldn't find earlier reports. I'm hoping all goes well here; it could take a big chunk of change to get decent water. I still need to wander around and see if I can find the other well seen in the photos.
Monday is also POD pickup and delivery day. What a great way to spend my furlough day (read as unpaid teacher vacation.)
BTW, I checked with Edison about costs to bring power out. They don't just quote, but I was able to have their project guy look on the map, and have him say it would likely be over 100k. Wow. (pause....) Wow. Pretty much makes that decision easy now, doesn't it? LP generator, solar, and wind it is.
Steve
Boo! It's $538 to put a 40 foot roll-off for our reconstruction mess (as long as weight is under 5 tons.) I called a couple of other guys, but they said that this is a good price. Whew! Whodathunkit? Anyway, they'll take it out there on Tuesday, and we can fill it up with the old carpet and drywall, and other tear-down materials later.
The expert water well guy is supposed to meet me Monday to test from scratch since Riverside County couldn't find earlier reports. I'm hoping all goes well here; it could take a big chunk of change to get decent water. I still need to wander around and see if I can find the other well seen in the photos.
Monday is also POD pickup and delivery day. What a great way to spend my furlough day (read as unpaid teacher vacation.)
BTW, I checked with Edison about costs to bring power out. They don't just quote, but I was able to have their project guy look on the map, and have him say it would likely be over 100k. Wow. (pause....) Wow. Pretty much makes that decision easy now, doesn't it? LP generator, solar, and wind it is.
Steve
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Verrrry Eeenterestink (Sgt. Schultz)
Well, this is an interesting observation. Lee B. looked on the bing.com map satellite photos and found another previous water tank on top of the hill with pipes coming down. He thinks the rusted out tank and metal well casing closer to the house were not used by the previous owners, perhaps deserted in previous drought when the water table dropped. I need to wander around up on the hill some more and see if I can find this other well.
Riverside County can't find the Well Completion or Septic reports, so I have to pay people to start from scratch! Yes, it's frustrating. The trash company that serves Lake Elsinore sent a supervisor out today to see if they can "find" the property. Really, find the property. I gave them the address and street directions, but they were unable to find it. This time, I gave them APN, satellite maps, and country-fied landmark directions. I'll call them tomorrow to see when I can get a dumpster out there.
I bought a very old motorhome from somebody on Craigslist for $300 (another $500 to get it out there) because it has a 6.5 kilowatt generator and a propane fridge. Son Michael thinks it will serve really well for site living quarters; we'll see. Monday, the POD will be taken out to the property. We'll put the stuff in the garage workshop and padlock it. Hopefully, people will see that folks are working here, and will stop vandalizing the area; again, we'll see.
Steve
Riverside County can't find the Well Completion or Septic reports, so I have to pay people to start from scratch! Yes, it's frustrating. The trash company that serves Lake Elsinore sent a supervisor out today to see if they can "find" the property. Really, find the property. I gave them the address and street directions, but they were unable to find it. This time, I gave them APN, satellite maps, and country-fied landmark directions. I'll call them tomorrow to see when I can get a dumpster out there.
I bought a very old motorhome from somebody on Craigslist for $300 (another $500 to get it out there) because it has a 6.5 kilowatt generator and a propane fridge. Son Michael thinks it will serve really well for site living quarters; we'll see. Monday, the POD will be taken out to the property. We'll put the stuff in the garage workshop and padlock it. Hopefully, people will see that folks are working here, and will stop vandalizing the area; again, we'll see.
Steve
Monday, October 4, 2010
My Kitchen
Today we started demolishing the kitchen of our homestead, in the process we took off the security covers on the windows and I could see the view. One is up the mountain and the other is across the future orchard to the road. I like both. I will be able to see the horses and watch for kids and grandkids driving in.
Todays purchases included a shotgun and a sledge hammer. The shotgun is for chasing off coyotes and other invaders. The sledge hammer for the rest of the demolition in the kitchen and bathroom.
Todays purchases included a shotgun and a sledge hammer. The shotgun is for chasing off coyotes and other invaders. The sledge hammer for the rest of the demolition in the kitchen and bathroom.
AAAARRRRGGGG!!!
This is really frustrating! Everybody else on my dirt road has one trash company, but I'm lucky enough to have my property in the annexed city of Lake Elsinore! The trouble is, you can't get to Lake Elsinore without going through Perris (obviously not France!) Trash company #2 can't find me either, and I'm waiting for them to get back to me so I can get some service. Right now, we need a dumpster to haul off deconstruction materials (old drywall, carpet, & other trash.) I'm sitting in Lake Elsinore city hall getting a printout to take to the city trash company. The annexation map shows that I'm the only one in my area in the city. (Take a deep breath.)
I'm also in trouble with my son for publicly posting that the drywall nails and screws also have to come out. Samuel, if you are reading this, "Thank you for all your good, hard work in taking out the drywall. I truly appreciate your efforts and family contributions. I'm sorry for posting negative feelings on your work."
More adventures to come!
Steve
I'm also in trouble with my son for publicly posting that the drywall nails and screws also have to come out. Samuel, if you are reading this, "Thank you for all your good, hard work in taking out the drywall. I truly appreciate your efforts and family contributions. I'm sorry for posting negative feelings on your work."
More adventures to come!
Steve
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Concerns
Out at our property today, I noticed quite a few dog-sized scat. Breaking one open with a stick, I found a lot of gray fur. Hmm, rabbit? mice? Kangaroo Rat? Yikes! We will definitely have to plan coyote-safe enclosures for any animals we bring with us.
Also, our area seems to be very popular for shooting guns. There is a gun club close by, but it sounds like shots are coming from everywhere. Several friends have told us that we need to get a gun, but I waffle between wanting to protect my loved ones by showing aggression, and fear of escalating violence by demonstrating aggression. Any thoughts either way appreciated.
We're still having problems finding the Well Completion Report from the County of Riverside; have to check tomorrow again with County guy, and check City of Lake Elsinore. We also need to get a trash dumpster on the property to get rid of old carpet, drywall, and other deconstruction to come.
The boys will go back out tomorrow with drill to take out screws and nailbars to finish cleaning out the old drywall. Seems funny that you have to tear down before you can build up.
Here's a couple of pics I took today.
Also, our area seems to be very popular for shooting guns. There is a gun club close by, but it sounds like shots are coming from everywhere. Several friends have told us that we need to get a gun, but I waffle between wanting to protect my loved ones by showing aggression, and fear of escalating violence by demonstrating aggression. Any thoughts either way appreciated.
We're still having problems finding the Well Completion Report from the County of Riverside; have to check tomorrow again with County guy, and check City of Lake Elsinore. We also need to get a trash dumpster on the property to get rid of old carpet, drywall, and other deconstruction to come.
The boys will go back out tomorrow with drill to take out screws and nailbars to finish cleaning out the old drywall. Seems funny that you have to tear down before you can build up.
Here's a couple of pics I took today.
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