The Question and Answer Board

[Bob Zumbrunnen]

The backhoe has landed!

Should have pictures and details in a couple days. I really wish I'd had a camera down there with me because at one point it was leaning over at what looked like an impossible angle yet didn't fall over. I'd guess it at about 60 degrees and I think the surrounding mud was the only reason it didn't go ahead and tip the rest of the way.

Took about 3 hours. Grueling, muddy hours. Must've gotten in and out of the excavator 50 times in the process to disconnect the chain so I could do ramp work for the benefit of both machines, then back out to connect the chain again and slowly pull.

I'm off for a nice, long soak while my daughter fetches us dinner.

Although I think before I do, I'll go close the backhoe windows (oops -- shattered one of them when it did the big lean) and fire up the sprinkler in there for an hour with the doors cracked enough for the muck to wash out. It can only improve things.