After many false starts, we finally got a couple of loads of gravel delivered for our driveway. The driveway has been very well rocked in the past, but time has taken its toll and we have kind of expanded the driveway’s remit with the new garage. In addition, we need a good rock base for the catchment water tank which should be ready for pick-up soon. We needed 20 cubic yards of rock: that’s two dump trucks full.
The first load did pretty well (the driver said he’s been driving semi’s for 55 years, but he’s new to the dumper) though we got some free tree-pruning when the lifted bed failed to clear the tree branches over the driveway.
At that point, the race was on. I had just over an hour to get the dumped piles raked down flat enough that the truck with the next load would be able to back over them into the right spot. After about half an hour of raking, the Hired Hand showed up and was able to help quite a lot. HA even joined in later. We got things cleared in time for the second load.
The driver did a great job of getting the second load closer to where it needs to be, but there’s a limit to how much one can maneuver a 10-yard dumptruck through our narrow gate and confined drive.
We also have a neighbor with a loader who has graciously volunteered to come by tomorrow morning and help distribute the rocks. That’s great, because they’re heavy and power equipment to push them uphill will be greatly appreciated.
Luna seems to like the gravel (she’s lying on it in the last photo) and it should reduce the amount of dirt and mud that she tracks into the house. That will make life easier for HA and our robovac.
addendum 20250227
The gravel drive is raked and ready to, uh, rock.
—2p