I don’t know how you feel about it, but to me ever since The Hole to Nowhere BIF is forever digging holes and shoveling trenches. Planner dug holes, Kid dug holes, and Doggo dug holes. Holes for fun, holes for poles, holes for water. Tractor dug trenches, hand dug trenches, Kid dug trenches. Trenches for electrical, trenches for water/sewer, and trenches for internet. There are so many trenches crisscrossing the property that last year I created a cheat sheet showing approximate locations. Approximate being the key word. When digging a hole for small things as potted plants I consider the hole safe. Anything else it would best to call 411 for reference. Maybe not today or tomorrow as this information is still fresh. In five years when so many things have been lost to time, a call should be given top priority. We often joke that in time we are going to ask the Catter to come with one if his numerous metal detectors to mark the lines with spray paint, then have my cousin come with his drone for overhead pictures, and then finally super impose the images on a CAD drawing for accuracy.

Last week yet another trench, several trenches to be exact, along with adding to the Maze of PVC with electrical and internet lines to the dwelling. Fortunately, the Dwelling Box does not need its own brand new dedicated PVC trenches. This does means two shorter trenches are needed. The first trench is for locating the electrical PVC used in the Well Wired for a Shower. This electrical line has been sitting unused since October 2016! Why you ask? Because the shower never did get an electric water heater instead we opted for a propane version. All that work way back at the very start for no reason at all. What a waste! Originally the shower electrical line ran 150 feet from the main pole. Intersecting will occur at about 50 foot from the main pole running directly in front of the Work Box before turning east and heading towards the dwelling. The second trench is for intersecting the internet cable running under the Work Box stairs and turning to run under the Work Box just past the middle pillar. Even with the intercepted PVC junctures, the newest trenches will still run a distance of 100 feet.

Then there is the eight to ten feet trench that cannot be dug with a tractor or regular shovel and must be dug by hand with a garden shovel. Eight to ten feet at eighteen inches in depth running from the edge of the dwelling box the the PVC pipes coming out of the utility space. Luckily the sand under the box is not filled with rocks and there are very little residual roots to break through.

Intersecting the electrical PVC will require the trench to run at a radius that must be dug by hand. Also not knowing the exact depth or location of the original PVC lines, it is always better to dig with a shovel to feel for resistance. PVC, even three inches in radius is no match for a tractor bucket claw. Needing a specific radius not found at the local hardware store, the Planner used the newly acquired skill of PVC bending to create desired radius. What the picture does not show are the hand drawn lines on the table showing where the desired radius should be on the tube. The Planner held one end and I pushed against him keeping to the radius lines until the PVC was cooled.

After some test placements and few more tweaks with the heat gun, the radius was perfect. Now to dig the remaining portion of the trench. Enough of the original PVC must be exposed allowing the Planner to lift it, cut it ever so carefully so as to not cut into the electrical wire running inside. Cutting the wire would be wasteful and require additional work of running new line from the main panel. While hand digging the intersecting trench, the smaller PVC for the well was located and finally six inches further east than remembered the main three inch PVC line was located.

With main line located, the PVC was cut and the new bendy radius PVC was laid. As with all PVC projects, the PVC is laid out for fitting, glued outwards working towards the final destination. This required the new PVC to be fitted under the other lines already laid. Luckily the new piece ends were not directly under the old lines giving plenty of room to work.

The internet PVC turned out to be the most challenging as it was located behind bucket bushes that had to be removed with a tractor, ground bushes that had to be dug up and relocated, and of course wedged between all the other PVC running out of the Work Box. Again all dug by hand with both a regular shovel and a garden shovel. Who knew how much work my little cheapy set of garden tools were going to get in the crazy project we call BIF? Distance is deceptive. Humans are terrible at judging time and distance, too. When standing at the power pole looking towards the septic box, the PVC looks to be 15′ or so from the edge of the Work Box. As it turns out, it is just short of 10′. Rationally I know this to be true as there is not that much distance from the edge of the Work Box to the Dwelling but I would have bet my next days breakfast it was over 15. And, yes, before you ask the Planner was way closer to the actual distance at a guess of 12.

Having now dug up trenches where the PVC lines were not anchored into place and seeing how difficult digging for replacements or new lines is, these PVC lines were wedged against the outer walls. Don’t really know how much this will help, and only time will tell, but I would like to think the next time this trench needs to be dug having all these better taken pictures with distances for references will help.

The great thing about laying PVC is that we are old hats at the job. So while the Planner is working on portion I am working on another. In between the Kid is helping both of us, begrudgingly, but helping all the same. Another few specialized bends and the lines under the house are complete. Well, almost. But the ground work portion is done.

Another trench, another day, another set of PVC laid. Once again I would like to send out a thank you very much to the Doubter for his tractor loan. Bet he didn’t think the loan would run so long. Sure, sure, we can hand fill in the trenches but they would never look as good as it does with a tractor. Even, smooth, lump free. fast. One final note, if you are looking at the trench map and thinking good “god ya’ll” then you are absolutely right. Don’t even think about digging anywhere between the Work Box and the Dwelling Box nor between the Shop Box and the Kid Box. Just don’t. And crap, I just remembered the water line running north from the outside shower to the chicken coop. Oh well, there is no time to update the picture. Now is time for sailing, our weekly Tuesday event from April-October. No matter the wind, the rain, nor the temperature, there is sailing.