Driveway Permit Extension

Received email attachment, driveway permit now extended to 9/30/11.  When Harold called the Borough yesterday to request the extension, he also asked if they could re-set the “No Camping” sign in the cul-de-sac.  Cari at Jim Connor’s office was real good about it, said they will take a look and put it back.  If it was not a No Camping sign (as we’ve been told; never saw the sign), Cari said the request will initiate a “Sign Request”, for consideration.

Received Quit Claim Deed

Received the original Quit Claim Deed; it has been officially recorded in the Seward District: 314-Seward, on 5/17/11.  Harold locked it in the safe.

Firewood Trip

Nick and Harold drove up to get a load of firewood off the utility easement.  Made two trips up the hill, so as to not overload the Ranger on the climb.  Got some of that cluster cleared out in the back corner, there still remains a load or two there.  The trees and leaves look beautiful.  When we were loaded for the return, we went out to the bench for a bit.  The wind was from the north, first time for that.  It was real nice.  We cleaned up the firepit in the cul-de-sac again.  This time it was from the Rothenbergers; they camped there last weekend.

There was a small excavator (Mel’s) parked on lot 9 (Brendan’s), but no one was around.  It looks like they have hauled in gravel to cover nearly the entire loop drive he had cleared.  We noticed that there is no culvert in the road ditch; probably waiting until they are done hauling gravel, so as to not crush the pipe. (He still has not closed on the lot..)

We met Michael Holstein at lot 4; they are the folks with the small shed back in the trees.  Still no driveway.  He is a nice guy, grew up in Kodiak, is a massage therapist, his wife sells skin products.  He said they are usually down from Anchorage every Saturday, stay until Tuesday.  Michael said he really likes our driveway cut design, loves our lot, and thinks we got it for a great price.  He has a tent platform and wall tent, hopes to have a driveway and outhouse in this year (sound familiar?).  I think they will be fine neighbors.

There is a fine driveway in on lot 3; Michael said Mel put it in, and that the culvert came last, after the hauling.

"No Expert" on Estimating Fill Volume

Jay with Denali Dirt Works called, said he was down looking at the cut, and talking to neighbor Brendan.  His impression is that we have a very big hole to fill.  He said that he is “no expert” on estimating fill volume, but thinks that 50 truck loads would be a minimum!  He thinks we should try to contact everyone who is pulling stumps, and figure a way to dump them on our slope.  When there is enough fill, it can be covered with a “geotextile” fabric, and then several feet of topping gravel spread on top of that.  He has done this several times, and although you have to expect some settling, it generally works pretty well.  Jay said he just completed a road down to the ocean out at the last place before Porcupine campground, where he covered muck fill from the beach with fabric, then gravel, and he was able to drive dumptrucks on it.  I am skeptical, told him that, and he recommended that I talk it over with Tommy again, see what he thinks.  Jay also said that Brendan was shocked when he got the estimate for the work on the 700’ of driveway he has planned; and that his competitor Mel has just put a simple driveway into lot 3 today.

Denali Dirt Works

Harold called Denali Dirt Works in Sunrise, talked to Jay.  Jay said congratulations, he thinks lots 10 and 11 were the best of all.  He has a crawler excavator, a medium size dozer, and a dump truck.  He also runs a rafting outfit, so he’s a busy guy.  He was glad to be invited to go down and check out our cut in the next day or so, and see what he thinks it will take to make it passable.  I told him that we were working out of pocket, had no hard schedule (the driveway permit may have to be extended), and also told him that if Metco can get a hoe to Hope we will be using them.  He said we should call and let him know when we will next be up there, and he will try to meet us to talk over a plan.  Cell:  441-7333.  Home:  277-7238.  This is the guy that Brendan said was highly recommended.

We bought a huge bear-proof garbage can from some folks for $50, and put a padlock hasp on it; it should be a pretty secure and portable storage box on site, maybe even fairly dry.