A wider track

With some of the urgent big projects finished- the clearing around the cottage and the Trainbarn site preparation- I'm able to spend some time on other projects that I've been putting off for ages.  So the next priority is tidying up the bushland adjacent to our main track, which is currently more like driving through a tunnel than along a track.  I'm widening the cleared area so that we can provide some drainage either side and then surface the track with decomposed granite (deco).  Originally the main track was just bulldozed through the bush, which left it as the lowest point and therefore when it rained it became the drainage channel, and so is now fairly eroded.  Incidentally I recently met the bloke who actually did the work all those years ago.  I'm really glad there was a track established when we bought the property as I probably would've found it hard choosing where it should go.

I'm really enjoying this work as there's no time pressure, I can just plug away whenever I like, and it's nice and shady in this fairly hot and dry time.  The other thing I really like is that I can finish it off properly.  Previously I've just made it wide enough so that our cars don't get scratched and trucks can struggle through, but now it's becoming the way I always hoped for and envisaged.  We have some really nice bushy and rocky areas just off the track, which were previously difficult or impossible to see, and now they're being opened up nicely.

As I said in a previous post, the track is the main artery of our property.  Not only do we use it constantly ourselves, but I really want visitors to be able to enjoy using the track without risking scraping their cars on prominent rocks or getting scratched by overhanging bush.

It's too dry at the moment to form the track up ready for the deco- it's literally like dust at the moment- but by the time I've finished clearing this section we should've had some rain and then we can get our favourite bobcat man in!

Another positive thing that is happening is that the Preliminary Plans for the Trainbarn have been received.  I've tweeked them slightly, so now the final, detailed, plans can be drawn and eventually submitted for quoting and council approval.  I'm still hoping to at least get the footings and slab poured before Christmas, but it's going to be tight!!

A very enjoyable and satisfying time!