Saturday, June 10, 2006

Day Three:

Dave talks with Tom about the day's plans.

The guys continue to rock in the ponds.

Fish hides and plant pockets are made in the lower pond.

Starting to place the large rocks in the upper fall area.

Lauren Lowrey News Channel 15 WPDE Myrtle Beach shows up to film the crew building the pond.

The "BOSSES" discuss plans for the pond.

More big rocks are being set in the upper falls.

Lauren captures the guys at work.

How many guys does it take to set that rock?

OK Nancy you finally got me.

But then again I got you.

Freddie gets in and helps his boys set the lower waterfall rock.

The Florida tamper, the foot.

Tom is interviewed by Channel 15

More large rocks set in the upper falls area.

Gotcha Lauren!

Pull that wire out.

Rinsing the rocks, I think I can handle that.

Dave hooks up the two pumps that will be turning Tom's pond over almost 3 times an hour.  Now that is good flow rate.

Dave explains the pump system to Tom.

Dave, Peter and Ryan load up the transporter with rocks from the front yard.

Breakfast time.

Before we get dirty, let's get a group photo.

Oops, Nancy doesn't have a shirt on and she is still watering the plants that were moved in order to redo the pond.

Oops, water under the liner.

John get photos from high above.

Seven guys to set this rock.

John and Pam Russell stop for a pose.

More large boulders ordered specially by Freddie to finish his waterfall.

Rocke' checks out the pond from on top of the track hoe.

Tom wipes away the tears after his interview with Lauren.

Lauren sits down in the pond for a chat with the guys/gal.

Lauren has had enough of us and leaves with her IPPCA hat and shirt.

The lower pond is almost rocked in.

More chats as the work progresses.

Upper pond is getting close.  The lights are waiting to be installed.

Wow Dave you have all the holes filled up with all the right plumbing.  Good job Dave, nice and neat too.  Pumps are installed thru the sides and the overflow is coming out the back.  On the RWG Pelican skimmer all opening are at the same height.  Therefore allowing you to run you pump or pumps in from either side.

Finally got all the water out from under the liner.

Gil B. starts planting the plants before he sits down for a short break.

Gee, which one of the guys drew the short stray and had to rock up under the bridge?

Gil from Florida Water Gardens foams in around the upper water fall.

Donna and Britney Belcher stop in to see what Gil B. has been up to the last few days.

Yes, dear, I have been here working the last two days.

Truly dear, I have been hear since Thursday morning working.

Alexis gets the transporter stuck in the soft fill dirt.  Melvin gets the track hoe out to pull him out with a chain.  Freddie jumps in to show Alexis what needs to be done.

Alexis takes time out for a swing on the chain

Would you believe they almost got it stuck again.

It was extremely hot and humid out Saturday, so Rocke' takes a nap in the sunroom.

The lower pond is almost planted out.

Brandon starts putting the rails on the bridge and gets a little help from Gil and Ryan.

Two more guys decide to take naps during the hot humid afternoon.  Yes that's Larry on the left and Alexis on the right.

We metered one of the hoses that was filling up the lower pond.

The guys are playing catch with rocks.

Michael removes his shoes and test out Tom's new pond.

Oops Mom, did you see that?

Finally breaking for supper.

The pond is finished.  Well let us know what you think!

Everyone that had hands on this project.

The people responsible making this "Ponditat for Humanity" a huge success.

Dave Jones, Rocke' Huntington
Freddie Combas, Gloria Jones, Pam and John Russell.

I hope you all enjoyed this half as much as we enjoyed getting together and rebuilding the pond of Tom's dream.  We wish Tom and Bruce many happy hours of sitting by the pond and enjoying the relaxation atmosphere we have enjoyed creating for them.  From all of us at the IPPCA.  Thank you for giving us this opportunity to fulfill your dream pond.

The final pictures were taken on Sunday as it was 10:30 p.m. before we all left Tom, Bruce and Nancy in peace.