Alligatorob's Diary
- Thread starter alligatorob
- Start date
overlandflyer
Well-known member
here you go...
omg... i've got to get out of this house....!!
i think i'm starting to lose IQ points.
Cate
Long term member
We had a really old guy come up to our property when we were about to start building our house & he walked all over & told us where he found water. I was amazed. He used a forked stick & it just flipped over & flipped back when he walked back. He said there was water a long way down up near where we were going to build & he followed it down to where it was closer to the surface, but it was way too far to pump to our house site & it was very much uphill. When we came back up to the top of the hill again he asked me if I wanted to try it for myself & I did. Yep. It was incredible & turned me from a sceptic to a water diviner, just like that. Needless to say, we put in 2 large water tanks to catch rainfall instead.
Yep. I think it's time I got outside too!
HI ROB!
Yep. I think it's time I got outside too!
HI ROB!
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good. I did a 3 km walk, up and down hill, same as yesterday, but 3 min faster. The downhill is where I am improving, getting easier on my knees so my strides are getting longer and more confident. In the evening I did the improvised gym workout, it was good, my arms are tired now. Just 30 min, but enough to get tired and feel good. Also enough to run out of exercise ideas with the limited equipment I have.
Waterline still a problem, at least we were able to isolate it to about 10 m of line, problem is the line is 2 meters deep and that part of the line runs under a number of utilities (power line, fiber optic cable, and sprinkler lines) then under the awning roof and concrete slab. Digging tomorrow will be difficult and destructive, up to the point we find the leak. Our yard and driveway look a bit like it has been bombed, repairs will take a while. It turns out we are not alone, others nearby also have waterline leaks, and the leaks seem to date back to the earthquake. That seems odd to me, below ground things are not usually damaged in an earthquake. A photo of a part of the mess.
Waterline still a problem, at least we were able to isolate it to about 10 m of line, problem is the line is 2 meters deep and that part of the line runs under a number of utilities (power line, fiber optic cable, and sprinkler lines) then under the awning roof and concrete slab. Digging tomorrow will be difficult and destructive, up to the point we find the leak. Our yard and driveway look a bit like it has been bombed, repairs will take a while. It turns out we are not alone, others nearby also have waterline leaks, and the leaks seem to date back to the earthquake. That seems odd to me, below ground things are not usually damaged in an earthquake. A photo of a part of the mess.
That could be the case for me also. I would have thought I needed the gym for motivation, and for a while I did. I also kind of had to learn what this workout stuff was all about, I have not done a real workout since high school. But so far, just 2 days, the at home stuff seems good.
Some, not a whole lot, but some. I probably make it sound like a bigger deal than it is. I have not tried to do any youtube or other video things, right now I have my workout station in the closet. Our closet is big for a closet, but not for a workout room, and there is no TV or anything. I will probably find a better place, hopefully one with a view of a TV. Then I will look to youtube to see what I can find. Suggestions are welcome.
I think so Flyer, dowsing, really? I am amazed at how many people believe in it, I actually do own some dowsing rods, the copper L shaped ones. The grandkids use them to find ghosts, I think they work equally well for water, gold, and ghosts.
Lol, that is funny, Wikipedia has a good write up on dowsing, including pointing out that it does not hold up to any kind of scientifically based testing. Dowsing - Wikipedia I do however like playing with, and watching the grandkids play with our dowsing rods.
Wow! great story, Cate! I'd love to have that experience.
Rob, I'm really sorry about the no fun, and the big holes all around. I hope that gets sorted soon!
Editing: while I was writing, you were posting, Rob! Fantastic about the walking getting better - quicker, stronger, more confident - especially the downhill parts. Great going!
Rob, I'm really sorry about the no fun, and the big holes all around. I hope that gets sorted soon!
Editing: while I was writing, you were posting, Rob! Fantastic about the walking getting better - quicker, stronger, more confident - especially the downhill parts. Great going!
Petal001
New member
We found our water with a one of those guys too ! Amazing .
At least you know where the leak is now but I hope it’s either side of the utilities so not too much damage is done .
lovely to hear about your walking regularly now. It’s amazing how easy it gets the more you do it .
At least you know where the leak is now but I hope it’s either side of the utilities so not too much damage is done .
lovely to hear about your walking regularly now. It’s amazing how easy it gets the more you do it .
Yes please, staying in the closet should only ever be an emergency solution!
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, ending well anyway. I ate well, exercised, and feel pretty good.
However my damned waterline problems are not getting better. Thought I had it narrowed down but since we have started digging in the target area I am learning a lot of disconcerting things about the waterline. Parts of it are quite old, galvanized metal pipe that passes under my office, which was built right after WWII, so the pipe is at least that old and travels in a very circuitous route. I suspect it's that old pipe that's the problem, but replacing it will be hard, electrical lines, sewer lines, and sprinkler lines to cross, as well as building and concrete to go under. And of course it is quite deep, 1.5 to 2.5 meters, and our "soil" is very rocky and hard to dig. I am getting kind of discouraged. After spending the day on it and not feeling any closer to a solution I was down, but then did my kind of makeshift workout and now I feel better. Feeling bad won't make things any better, so I am happy to be feeling better. I will probably make better digging decisions happy.
However my damned waterline problems are not getting better. Thought I had it narrowed down but since we have started digging in the target area I am learning a lot of disconcerting things about the waterline. Parts of it are quite old, galvanized metal pipe that passes under my office, which was built right after WWII, so the pipe is at least that old and travels in a very circuitous route. I suspect it's that old pipe that's the problem, but replacing it will be hard, electrical lines, sewer lines, and sprinkler lines to cross, as well as building and concrete to go under. And of course it is quite deep, 1.5 to 2.5 meters, and our "soil" is very rocky and hard to dig. I am getting kind of discouraged. After spending the day on it and not feeling any closer to a solution I was down, but then did my kind of makeshift workout and now I feel better. Feeling bad won't make things any better, so I am happy to be feeling better. I will probably make better digging decisions happy.
It was even better today, a little faster and the downhill even better. Thanks Amy.
It has been, I have to try and put the frustrations aside, and keep on going. So far have been mostly able to. This is the biggest house problem I've had in a long time...
Absolutely Petal, it is getting a lot easier, and easier to get myself out and do.
Moved the equipment to my office today, much better than the closet. See you there tomorrow!
Funny how that goes, isn´t it?
Petal001
New member
Rob if that’s the case would it be cheaper and easier to route a new waterline to your house and your office without having to somehow replace what’s under your office . ( I have no clue about water or pipes by the way )
It sounds stressful though . But I’m pleased you are working out still and eating well and not sticking in your head in chocolate which I would do with all that stress !!
Have a great day and hope you sort the leak
It sounds stressful though . But I’m pleased you are working out still and eating well and not sticking in your head in chocolate which I would do with all that stress !!
Have a great day and hope you sort the leak
jackbenimble
New member
Rob, I'm so impressed with your workouts and hiking exploits. Isn't it great how a workout puts you in a better mood?
Condolences on the water situations. That's a nasty one.
Condolences on the water situations. That's a nasty one.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Yesterday was a good day, except for the leak thing. I ate pretty well and got a lot of exercise.
I did a short workout and then spent most of the day digging and working on the waterline. Still have not found the leak, but keep getting closer. It is a real mystery. Our waterline comes down about 100 meters from the upper property line to the house, then runs about 30 meters along the house entering the house in 2 places, and then runs another 30 meters to my office with a third supply to the office. The leak is after the house, but before the office. Big problem is we have power supply lines, communications lines, sewer, gas, and lawn irrigation lines that run in the same area. And the waterline runs under my office, some concrete, and a roof before getting into the office. The office is an old cement block building constructed with surplus blocks right after WWII. The foundation goes down over a meter and part of the waterline is a very old metal pipe below the foundation. The pipeline path is very maze like, probably from years of rework. And the damned thing is 1 to 2.5 meters down. We now know the leak is not in the metal pipe or under the office, good news I guess. It appears to be somewhere under the driveway or yard between the house and the office. If a retest on Monday proves that out we have a 10 meter or so part of the pipe that we can replace to fix. However there are utilities of unknown location there, and the line is 2 meters down at that point. It will get done, but not easily. One of many holes we have in the yard, waterline at bottom, lawn irrigation line visible just above my helper's shoulder (not me digging):
I had a beer last night, a dark one strong one, 10.4% barley wine, just one 12 ounce beer. Its been a while since I have had that much to drink, and I really have become a cheap drunk. I was amazed by the effect of just that one beer. It was also 312 calories which put me above 1,300 calories for the first time in a long time. So long as its only a rare occasion thing I suppose it was ok.
I did a short workout and then spent most of the day digging and working on the waterline. Still have not found the leak, but keep getting closer. It is a real mystery. Our waterline comes down about 100 meters from the upper property line to the house, then runs about 30 meters along the house entering the house in 2 places, and then runs another 30 meters to my office with a third supply to the office. The leak is after the house, but before the office. Big problem is we have power supply lines, communications lines, sewer, gas, and lawn irrigation lines that run in the same area. And the waterline runs under my office, some concrete, and a roof before getting into the office. The office is an old cement block building constructed with surplus blocks right after WWII. The foundation goes down over a meter and part of the waterline is a very old metal pipe below the foundation. The pipeline path is very maze like, probably from years of rework. And the damned thing is 1 to 2.5 meters down. We now know the leak is not in the metal pipe or under the office, good news I guess. It appears to be somewhere under the driveway or yard between the house and the office. If a retest on Monday proves that out we have a 10 meter or so part of the pipe that we can replace to fix. However there are utilities of unknown location there, and the line is 2 meters down at that point. It will get done, but not easily. One of many holes we have in the yard, waterline at bottom, lawn irrigation line visible just above my helper's shoulder (not me digging):
I had a beer last night, a dark one strong one, 10.4% barley wine, just one 12 ounce beer. Its been a while since I have had that much to drink, and I really have become a cheap drunk. I was amazed by the effect of just that one beer. It was also 312 calories which put me above 1,300 calories for the first time in a long time. So long as its only a rare occasion thing I suppose it was ok.
Thanks, but I think my attitude deteriorated a bit yesterday, taking a break from it today.
Yes it is, sometimes its hard to fight off the urge just to keep going, but on a project like this a lot of thought is needed. Being happier does help.
That does make sense, at least for a part of it. At this point there is no need to run a new line to the house, just the office from the house. But doing so will mean crossing a lot of utilities, lots of hand digging, and cutting through concrete. One good thing is the current waterline is deeper than it needs to be, to avoid frost we only have to be down about 1 meter, for some reason most of the line is down 2+ meters.
Yes, that is a real benefit. And not a obvious one.
Thanks Amy, I appreciate it. This seems to be a good place to complain.
Thanks Cate, sometimes I am, it got hard yesterday. Between that, exhaustion, and the beer I didn't get this posted until morning.
overlandflyer
Well-known member
re: your water line.... with the twists and turns it takes, if you are the only one it serves, could you just abandon the old pipe completely and install something more modern, more rugged, more direct and less likely to fail again somewhere else?