part 5
After a short time off he decides to work on a bridge at the runoff from the pond. Its a very dangerous spot and should be done before the rains bring the river up again. He must build it strong so it will stand up against high water. So using some of the biggest logs from the nature trail and other places, he sets pilings deep in the ground. After the pilings are set he starts on the bridge. Using very heavy logs he mounts them on the pilings. He wants the bridge all the way across the runoff because of the quicksand there in the middle. Once he is working in the rain and he slips on the wet logs. He falls into the quicksand! As he starts to sink he takes his stuff out of his jeans pockets and puts them in his jacket pockets. Now why did he do that, it would still get wet? Thank God he already had the pilings set. He uses them to pull himself out of the quicksand. Whew! that was close, and he still has his boots on! The quicksand is only about 8 feet deep and he is tall but not that tall! He better be more careful or he might not finish this bridge! At night he is so tired he goes to sleep as soon as his head touches the pillow. He works steadily on the bridge for the next few days. When he gets it completed its a hefty forty-by-five foot bridge, strong enough to withstand the mad rush of water when the river gets high again.
There is a hill between the river and the house. Its kind of steep so he puts up a lattice fence at the top with a gate for access to the river. He picks out a spot for a trail to the river and starts making steps for safer walking. Using sod and some of the saved logs he starts making wide steps down to the river.
He has accomplished a lot this summer and he is very satisfied with his work. Its been long and tiring hours getting it done. Its time to take a little time off to rest up and relax a little.
neon_sapphire