Catalog Moat Creek Web Images

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p5220013 p5220017 p2120030-robbinjohntrailer pc31-twotrailershomesite
P5220013.JPG
Eric, the Elk Garage tow truck driver, slowly winches tractor upright
2005:05:22 18:39:10
P5220017.JPG
Rick and John examine the tractor once it's upright; Molly's AAA membership covered the whole thing!
2005:05:22 18:42:05
P2120030-RobbinJohnTrailer.JPG
This painted trailer is home to Robbin and John, our new land partners after the boundary line adjustment. It is located only 42 feet from our trailer and shares the same ocean view. (The artwork was an attempt by the prior owners to camouflage the bright white trailer when it was atop a ridge! Then it blew over and sold for salvage.)
2006:02:12 17:26:59
PC31-TwoTrailersHomesite.jpg
Panorama of the home site with both of our trailers, which face the ocean view. You can see the black flatbed trailer on the right, which we can use to move the tractor (under the blue tarp in this picture) for work on other properties without driving it tediously along the roads.
p2110020-shedframing p2120028-ricktoiletdemo p3040017-toiletsiding p2140004-drillingrigarrives
P2110020-ShedFraming.JPG
The start of construction for our composting toilet. Users will have an ocean view yet be secluded from the trailers off to the right. The window frame is up with the window leaning against a tree (bad move; it later broke in a wind storm). The interior is 6x10 feet and the rear deck will be a work platform to use when moving the compost buckets into and out of use.
2006:02:11 13:30:10
P2120028-RickToiletDemo.JPG
Sometimes a demonstration is required to understand the concept! Rick sits on a bucket in position to demonstrate the correct height of the toilet seat.
2006:02:12 17:24:52
P3040017-ToiletSiding.JPG
John and Joe attach metal siding, reclaimed from a demolished building in Point Arena, to enclose the composting toilet. Note the bucket on the rear deck near Joe's right leg will slide into the area near his left leg to collect deposits.
2006:03:04 11:09:39
P2140004-DrillingRigArrives.JPG
Ray's rig being moved into position for drilling our water well. We used the tractor to build up the earthen platform by levelling 20 cubic yards of base rock material to provide a stable area on the steep slope.
2006:02:14 09:51:20
p2140008-dustystart p2140011-addingmorepipe p2200001-drillingcrew pc030027-solarobscured
P2140008-DustyStart.JPG
The first few feet of drilling are pretty dusty as the drill goes down through our sandstone.
2006:02:14 10:44:22
P2140011-AddingMorePipe.JPG
Every 20 feet down, the drilling stops and another length of pipe, stored on the rig, is moved into position so drilling can continue down, down, ... down. Note that the rear truck tires are suspended once drilling starts.
2006:02:14 11:36:43
P2200001-DrillingCrew.JPG
Ray Theiss, on the right, and his drilling crew, Aaron and Kyle. There is a whole 'nuther story about the transmission part lying on the truck bed.
2006:02:20 16:11:40
PC030027-SolarObscured.JPG
Near winter solstice, the solar arc passed behind the tall Bishop Pines and created shadows on the solar panels during the sunniest part of the day. Amazing how much drop in power production happens because of bit of shadow!
2005:12:03 12:05:06
pc170033-fellingpines pc170039-bigpinefalling solararcghosttrees p3100027-snowonsolar
PC170033-FellingPines.JPG
So, during a late afternoon party, Robbin and John's friend Jeff, a professional tree feller among other things, brought his chainsaws and offered to cut down several of the offending trees to clear our winter solar arc. Here one dead tree is felled to make room for dropping another.
2005:12:17 16:26:25
PC170039-BigPineFalling.jpeg
As folks drank martinis, Rick and Jeff fell several tall Bishop Pine trees to clear the solar arc. Note that most of these trees are dead or not very healthy. Bishop Pines live only 30 to 50 years before self-destructing and falling in pieces, especially in our windy environment.
2005:12:17 16:35:44
SolarArcGhostTrees.jpg
The ghost of Bishop Pines past! Here, the before and after pictures are superimposed to show the clearning of the solar arc for better winter solar electricity generation.
2005:12:18 11:27:11
P3100027-SnowOnSolar.JPG
One way to boost solar electricity production is to add more panels. Six additional 185-watt panels are temporarily attached to the system and positioned on the ground. In the spring, we'll mount them on the side of the shed. (The snow story will have to wait for another newsletter.) The panels on the roof are in the winter position, while the panels on the ground are perfect for the summer solar arc.
2006:03:10 15:21:37


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