In late November 2006, the company Sam worked for closed its doors. After much discussion and prayer, we decided that instead of looking for a full-time job, Sam would use his time and skills to put in the utilities on the ranch. He phoned and emailed, networked and web-surfed, and quickly learned what would be involved. In early December he spent a day calculating where to put the electric lines and meter pedestal. Our good neighbors, Brian & Gina, offered to share the costs. At 6 a.m. on December 28, Sam and our good friend, Al, met the backhoe delivery truck at the PPR.
Al volunteered months before to do the digging, and had no idea what he was in for! It began to snow at 6 a.m. and didn't stop till 4 p.m. Even with freezing temperatures and poor visibility, Al and Sam dug 600 feet that first day, 52" deep by 24" wide.
"Cowboy" Al became one with that backhoe, and admitted he even dozed off a couple of times while operating it! He was a real trooper. Sam and I were in charge of the measuring stick, caution tape, rebar & rebar caps, and marking the route with a transit and white paint.
Wayne & Lorrie came out to help on the weekends. A tire repair and changing the teeth on the backhoe bucket took a day or two, but 9 days later we had 1,800 feet of trenches ready for electric and phone lines.
Sam and I camped out in Don & Linda's motorhome for most of January to keep an eye on the open trenches. I learned that my commute to work is just under an hour, mostly on the freeway, and it's beautiful at sunrise!