Where have I been?

Working, that's where! It's been quite some time since you've heard from us, but let me assure you that we have been busy busy busy! While I've got a lot to bring you up to speed on, I'm going to do it a little at a time so as not to overload you. And rest assured, I have been properly punished for not updating the blog as I work.

Let's see, where did we last leave off? Ah, the dirt.

With the completion of dirt moving operations, the next step was to bridge the gap known as Wolf River, which for those of you in the know, is the bigger, meaner, wolfier version of Wolf Creek. While our prefabricated bridge is on back order, we set to work pouring concrete footings, abutments, backfill, and other things that sound much dirtier than they actually are. We only ran into one teensy, tiny little problem...

No one here knows anything about concrete.

Enter Larry, Daryl, and Darrel of Larry, Daryl, and Darrel Concrete Construction!

Larry, Daryl, and Darrel to the rescue!

With minimal persuasion, they set to work hauling and pouring and forming and smashing and cursing and hammering and hauling some more and pouring again and generally making a lot of noise. We managed to catch Larry during a "union break" for an interview.

"This is a big job. Big jobs take time, and money. And we all know time IS money. So really, a job like this just takes money. Lots and lots of money. And if you've got the money, well, we've got the time."

And money we had! It wasn't long at all until the team moved into the backfill stage of operations.

Daryl and Darrel put the finishing touches on the backfill while Larry looks important.

With minimal persuasion, Larry, Daryl, and Darrel finished the job at hand in a reasonable timeframe.

The sun rises on the 37th day of concrete work.

While some might balk at our somewhat extended period of operations, I would like to state that they have an excellent point. Unfortunately, as per previous statements, we don't know anything about concrete or the pouring thereof, so we are really at the mercy of Larry, Daryl, and Darrel of Larry, Daryl, and Darrel Concrete Construction.

It may have taken 36 days longer than initially projected, and it may have cost 487% more than originally estimated, but in the long run, we are pleased with the overall results.

More as it develops.

(PS. Special thanks to Russ and the Passumpsic Mountain Railroad for loan of the concrete trucks!)