Except it was a day of finishing the project of the burial of the new electric line that started almost 4 months ago. Likely the last decent day we have before spring for such escapades.
8 hours on a backhoe. (a small one).... dig 7 feet, move the tractor, dig 7 feet move the tractor, etc, etc, etc.
Plus since the range was built on filled ground, there are all sorts of treasures that one finds. Metal, stones, bigger stones, oddly shaped bigger stones, more twisted metal pieces, something unidentifiable, then some other shit I don't even want to know (I reburied it)....
The line is installed, and the outdoor range now has power for lights, and (eventually) the air compressor for the target turners that haven't worked in 3+ years....(since last time I fixed 'em....before the power went wonky about 2 + years ago).
I have spent more time at the range not shooting these past 6 months than I have spent shooting.
I also had to give lessons to the others helping:
1.. Only one person can give directions to the guy on the tractor/backhoe. One. Otherwise the operator does nothing.
II..Don't fuck around when giving directions. People get hurt that way.
C...MAKE SURE THE GUY OPERATING THE BACKHOE SEES YOU BEFORE ENTERING THE ARC OF THE BACKHOE SWING. Trust me, it is only 35 HP, but you will lose that battle.
Your point C . . . oh, hell, yeah! I saw a guy try to argue with a small backhoe once. It only took a small chunk out of his leg. Sucked to be him, I guess.
ReplyDeleteA good safety brief with large/dangerous machinery will mention that anybody can yell stop. But only one person can say start.
ReplyDeleteGood rules for the shooting range as well.
Thanks for stepping up. It's things like this that keep small ranges alive!
ReplyDelete