The Land - the middle years...

It was 2006 when we took the next big steps to build Rancho Status Quo.  We'd been camping for years and were wishing for a place to store things so that we didn't have to haul everything for every trip.  Additionally we were dreaming of a flushing toilet and a sink....We considered our budget and our abilities and decided to build a steel building.

As a part of the improvements of 2006 we also improved our "driveway" which is actually the easement between our parcel and the next.  On a very memorable and soggy camping trip with friends we both got our trucks stuck in the mud and had to push each other out....it wasn't the first time we had problems with the "road" or lack of roads - so we decided to hire a backhoe guy to spread some gravel and install a culvert.  In the end the road was much improved!

As a side note, over 10 years later the road needs a bit of work.  The water has found a way to flow across the road instead of through the culvert and we need a ditch to funnel the water away from the road and to the culvert.  This is on the list of things that need to be done.

Our original plan was to build a garage with running water and bathroom.  We got a permit from the county and then installed a proper septic tank/field.

Septic tank in the ground and trench to septic field

Septic field installation

We also had a foundation poured for the building and we hired a plumber to install the rough plumbing for the building.  We got a permit for the construction and had the necessary inspections.

Set up for foundation

It was really cool to have a cement truck on the land!  We are really happy with the foundation.  To this day it has served us well with only minor cracks.  

While all of this contract work was being done we had the steel building delivered.  We actually got a full-blown 18-wheeler back to the land!  Although the driver took one turn a little sharp and broke one of the lights on the back of the truck on one of the juniper trees.

The driver was pissed when he parked, not only because of the broken light, he expected more people to help with the unloading of the building parts.  But Husband and I worked hard and fast to unload the pieces and he seemed pleasantly surprised when we had the job done quite quickly.  It doesn't look like much when it is laying on the ground - but it is a hell of a solid structure when put together.  From this point forward we did all the work between the two of us.

Next step was drilling holes into the cured foundation so we could anchor bolt the base plates to the foundation.  

We rented a hammer drill from the big box home improvement store and went to work...that is me drilling concrete like a total bad a$$.

Once the holes were all drilled the base plates were bolted to the foundation.  Next comes the fun part - raising arches!  The whole things goes together with a LOT of nuts and bolts.  These buckets were full at the beginning...I didn't think of taking a picture until near the end!

The first couple of arches are a bit tricky because they stabilize as they are connected to each other.  In this picture we have raised three arches and they are bolted to each other.  The first one is the most flimsy, but as you add the second and then the third they gain strength from each other.  If it is windy you can't let the first arch hang out by itself for long or it could twist and bend and get damaged.  It is windy at our land and so we had to work quickly to get these three together before I could stop and take a picture.  We had to rent scaffolding as well because we had to be able to reach to tighten the nuts at the highest point which is 12'.  Also when raising the arch you need to be on a firm surface so you can pull, it would not work with a ladder.

Eventually we got all of the arches together.  The dimensions of the building are 26' x 20'.  We opted for one standard door on the "back" and a single car garage door on the "front."  The end walls are a little different from the arches.  We had to cut some of the steel panels to accommodate the frames for the doors. 

Once the frames were in place we purchased a garage door and standard door from the big box and had them installed by a professional.

Having a secure building has been excellent.  We actually have our tent with a futon mattress set up inside, which keeps the bedding free of dust so we don't have to set up and take down the tent every time we visit.  

The land is a beautiful place and one that we have been connected to for the past 20 years.  We are really getting excited about spending more time there.  In the next post I will bring you up to speed with where we are at with the plumbing - which is a bit of a story.