Jan 17 - not quite finished

I figured that I'd post today's blog before today is finished because I'll be leaving early tomorrow a.m. for the Jupiter FL 200k brevet.  John's got 88 registered riders, which is huge !

I did that section of deck today.  First off, I went to Home Depot and picked up two bags of Sacrete, 10 2x6x8', 4 5/4x6x8', screws and a mixing paddle for the drill to mix that concrete.  I also bought one of their orange buckets for the concrete.

It didn't take all that long, perhaps three hours total.  I'd already removed the old decking so it was a matter of removing the three existing 2x6 stringers that were buried in the sand, cutting and placing new ones that also were sitting on the sand but had excavated areas at each end for their footings.   The near end of this little deck runner is actually on a large concrete pad with 5/4x6 pieces flat on the concrete and 5/4 decking on top.  I had to replace one rotten piece, match up the heights of the 2x6 stringers in the sand and then mix and pour the concrete.  While I was doing that, Jerry Christensen called and we got caught up.

With the concrete still wet, I went ahead and cut the deck boards and fastened them down.  I didn't have to walk on the deck to do this, or at least not much, and it was supported by the sand in the middle anyway.  By now those little footings will have set and the deed is done.  Of course that area of deck is very light compared to the rest of the deck with some green tint from the pressure treating.  I'll let it age and dry a little bit and then apply some stain.

On Monday I'll put the pile of old boards out for the trash.  

I guess that's about it for the day ... oh yes, Sandy had lunch with Patti Himes.  She seems to be doing ok.  Sandy volunteered my services if she needs any techie support because of course Norm did all that.

Onward, ever onward, with or without us ...