I was outside working on my latest thing I'm not supposed
to do when I got a call that my daughter was sick and
needed to be picked up from day care, so there was a delay
in implementation that stretched into days (daughter wasn't
terribly ill, doctor just had asked for two days out as a
precaution, and then we hit the weekend, yadda yadda).
What was I making that I have now finally deployed? A
little platform/seat that is now placed at the end of a
muddy side-trail at a park. I am not the one who made the
trail, but I am sure it was not authorized by the
powers-that-be. The park is in my neighborhood, less than
1000 steps away - closer to 1,500 to get to the side trail.
The side-trail goes down, relatively sharply (relative the
non-mountainous Flatland that is the Great Plains). It
opens up to give a view of a pond, technically a reservoir
on a large complex owned by the state; there are state
facilities about a mile or so away on the complex. Where
city park meets state land, there are fences and barbed
wire. I'm not the one who cut the barbed wire for this
section, and I don't think I would have the guts to do it,
but I'm glad it's cut because the view is opened.
The day I discovered the trail, it was still wet from rain
and the clay was slick and nasty -- deeply red, and
staining. That day I found some rocks of cobble size
(bigger than a pebble, smaller than a stone) and pushed
them into clay where they sunk in easily enough. This has
really helped with the grip going up and down.
That first day there was also a flattish stone (urbanite,
with a good amount of lichen growing on it) that I rolled
into place where I could step on it and not have my feet
stuck in the mire. I hatched plans for the place.
On my second trip, I measure it out to be 14-by-12 inches
in its longest dimensions. Also, I took some sticks and
laid out where I could put my seat and measured that to
23-by-19.
..
I have come to use power tools more and more as I find
there are more things to do than I have time to do them
(childless was just a different life). I made all my cuts
with a jigsaw. I drilled every hole, including the later
counter sinks with my electric drill, and I used power
(hand) sander to on two of the boards that were a little
rough. I want to point out that because I only have one
power drill, I often use a hand screw driver rather than
change the bits out from drilling to driving.
The seat has no back, which is not only a product of
laziness but also leaving the set up as open as possible to
get in and use in multiple configurations. It is simply a
platform of three cuts of two-by-four as the ribs, and
salvaged pallet wood laid the other direction.
I had concerns about the wood being in direct contact with
the ground, as I don't want it delay the rate that it rots
away. I had thought about cutting out a plastic sheet and
laying it underneath, but I am glad I procrastinating that
because when I was walking my little piece to its location
I noticed enough flat (enough) rocks to place as feet at
the four corners.
..
On testing it out, I found the rock I had rolled in front
could be used as a way to prop my feet. The set up also was
nice for lotus-style sitting. However, if I tried to bring
another object, such as a cup and place it on the stone,
there was no way to make it work without getting my feet in
a bunch of clay. The solution for now has been to get some
leaves and lay them down as a mat, using sticks to weigh it
down better.
The location is now going to be in a state of gradual,
passive improvement. If I see any cobble on the way, I will
pick a handful up and place it where it is most helpful. As
I cut out plants that are in the way in the view, they will
get dropped on the mat.
Will the location be destroyed by vandals or government
barbarians? Time will tell, but for now it is a fun place
to sit and watch birds.
==
This piece is hereby in the public domain.
Do what you want with it.
