08.28.07
The Bunker
The Bunker is part secure storage unit, part childish dream of creating an underground structure, part nostalgia for Taiwanese concrete buildings, part bomb shelter (not really) and (at this stage in the game) part done. At the beginning of the summer, the statement “Since we’re going to move overseas, we should build a storage unit at Selah to keep our gear in” seemed innocent enough. It wasn’t until later, after the storage unit began to take shape, that it started getting referred to as “The Bunker.”
The plan seemed straight forward - find a hill of the right size and with the right access, dig part of it out, create drainage, build a concrete structure in the hole and then back-fill some of dirt around and on top of the structure - leaving a roll-up door exposed for access.
After prepping the site by removing trees, installing necessary site support like power and water, being accosted by an angry timber rattler and…
after digging into the night with a kubota (and blowing a truck tire out while returning the kubota) and…
after moving a part of the hillside with a ‘67 pickup truck and a ‘49 tractor and…
after getting 20 tons of 3″+ rock hauled in (and moving about 1/2 of it by hand) and…
after hauling 2 yards of base (and getting cited for being over weight), learning how to fix a jammed starter, forming/packing the floor/footing base and …
after pouring 9 yards of concrete (4 in the bunker floor, 4 in the chapel floor and another yard for entryway project), buying a concrete mixer and…
after creating a slip form, laying rebar, and having my brothers look at me in derision for my ill-thought out plan and…
after installing ventilation and hand-pouring over 2 yards of concrete (note to self: get the 60lb bags vs. the 80 lb bags next time) in the walls and…
after finding that the rear end of the building site had a good source of fresh water running through it, digging a >100′ curtain drain by hand (3′ deep) and…
after realizing one day that Hans could no longer touch his thumbs with his index fingers due to his forearms giving out - we would finally rue the day that we underestimated The Bunker.
At this point in time, somewhere in the hills of south-western Oregon, The Bunker walls are about 1/2 height (4′), and the site is totally covered with the largest blue tarp you can get - but at least all the “hard work” is done. The biggest baddest roll up door is a-waiting installation and the new underestimation is that it will take about two weeks to finish off.
Lana never directly said “I told you so,” although she probably should, and we would have never even gotten this far without help from the likes of Michael, Lenny, Rosemary, Chris, Erich, Dwight, Stephen, Anya, MikeA, Malachi, Maliah, Vicki, Larry and more - thanks all! As for the rest of you - don’t you wish you had been there :-)?
Anyways, that’s the story of The Bunker - stay tuned for a happy ending “some time in the future.”
chi said,
March 10, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Man, I remember that was hard work dad. The dog at the top is really nice - his name is kelpo.
Vicki (momomo and gma) said,
April 6, 2008 at 1:30 am
Man, I remember the hard work, too. At least much of it was done, while I had the awesome job of reading a novel from my little chair in the shade if it was there, and waiting on-call to hop up and eye-ball the measuring stick/surveyor-site gizmo to make sure things were level while Hans was up in the machine. What a great memory watching Hans manipulate the machine with it doing its dance, missing the trees (just by a few inches). And then I was there when Malachi hopped up with his dad on the machine and “tamed” the “dragon” as he learned the where-fores of the throttles and sticks. In fact, even Maliah got to help dad make that machine do a little dance, too. Congratulations, Hans and Malachi and Maliah for such an awesome show!! and the wonderful team work was wonderful l!!!!! Of course, the wonderful Lana meals back at the cabin out on the porch, seeing the Chapel roof in place, talking walks over to Mike and Lisa’s….those are other wonderful highlights! Then how did it work out so great to share a couple of days with Frank and Linda=Kay at the ranch sharing the ranch and bunker adventure and those two wonderful grandkids Maliah and Malachi!!!! Thanks everyone!!!! Love, Vicki, momomo and gma forever!!!
Mitch said,
April 24, 2008 at 12:37 am
That is quite the story! I am glad I got to witness some of it first hand. I smiled as I read the word “underestimation” and all that it could mean.
Wouldn’t it be nice if just something would come in under budget and on schedule?
I pray I can be a part of the finishing touches….I miss you guys!!
Love and prayers to all…….
Mitch