Gopher Tortoise and Concrete

I've been laying a new concrete pathway to finish where the old one ended. . . and to make way for the new pond that we intend to begin constructing this weekend.  It is difficult, back-breaking work. . .and its messy.  I wear two pair of gloves, long sleeves, etc. not because its cold  -- it is not cold -- but because  I don't want the concrete on my skin nor do I want to be constantly swatting at the millions of bugs flying around.  The air temperature was about 82° F (28° C).

The first day of the new project we used the big electric concrete mixer.  Its kind of a bother trying to get the bags of concrete up into the mixer. . . but it does make the process go a bit faster.  It is more difficult, however, if the mix isn't exactly correct.  In general its about a gallon of water per 100 pounds of mix. . . and of course we never get it just right.  The concrete either sticks in the mixer or is too sloppy to work with. . . 

I use a hard plastic frame to make the general shape of the stones.  If we had any stones in Florida I would prefer to use natural. . . we do not. . . so this is the next best thing.

I smooth all the edges of each new stone with a concrete trowel, and make them as 'perfect' as possible.  With concrete you have about an hour to do whatever you're going to do to it before it loses its elasticity and begins to harden.

After 1 day I had almost finished the pathway up to the big airplane-hanger garage.  On the right are the graves of our recently departed pets (marked by concrete blocks) that I want to spruce up with some statuary.  On the left is where the new pond will be going very shortly.

There are many animals that visit while we're working.  This is not Dell-Roy.  Dell stays inside.  This is one of his many relatives that live in the yard and refuse to be tamed.  We've named this one "Will."  Short for Wilhelmenia.  They all eat here. . .but don't come inside to stay.

After a day the concrete starts to set nicely.  In this section a mole went under several of the stones and cracked them before they were hard. . . so they will have to be repaired or replaced.

A shot of day 3. . . working alone I decided to mix concrete in this hard plastic wheel barrow.  The new pond will be to the left of this image.

I was digging out a drainage pipe near the garage before I began laying concrete on Day 3 of the project and I hit this little guy.  He was in a semi-hibernation in his burrow.  He is a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).  We're going to call this little guy Tiny Todd.  He really didn't want me to see his face.  He tucked his head way back into his shell.  Click on this or any image to enlarge.

Tiny Todd was barely a handful.  Most of the other tortoises on the property are quite large.  I moved him into some thick bamboo that I thought would be a more suitable home for him. . . and went back to work.

Here the frame is top left of the image, full of concrete.  I remove the frame. . .then spend 30 minutes or so smoothing each stone to 'perfection.'

I heard rustling in the leaves as I was smoothing some of the stones.  Tiny Todd had made his way all the way back from where I placed him.  He's almost invisible in this shot.  He, like his father (Todd who burrowed under the driveway) is obstinate.  Note too that it is a giant pain to get these shots because I have to peel off my wet gloves. . .clean and dry my hands. . . to get the camera and snap a picture.

I was amazed that the little guy knew how to find his way back to where his burrow was. . . I moved him at least an acre from where I first encountered him.

Looking out from the garage. . .the first pond is behind all the bamboo in the background.  I've finally made it all the way to the garage. . . .just another hour of work to smooth out those last 4 square feet of stone (1 meter square).  The new pond will be to the right of this shot.  The frame I was using to make the stones is laying to the right of the finished pathway.

This section required about 1 ton of concrete (907 kg).  That's 40 bags of concrete mix. . .mostly mixed by hand.  Its not a job for the weak willed or infirm.  

Here I'm touching up the stones that the mole cracked on Day 1 of the project.

The finished and drying concrete looks something like real stone.

The new pond will go where the blue plastic is thrown in this image.  I thought I'd get around to digging the pond this week. . .but I'm going to need a rest from all the concrete work.  I plan to start digging by Saturday.

I kept hearing Tiny Todd rustling in the leaves and then saw him disappear under the back wall of the garage.  He has a burrow entrance back there.  Gopher Tortoises are herbivores so they are most likely hibernating this time of year as there is little natural greenery growing for them to eat.  I saw him munching on these mint plants before he went into the burrow. . .  I'm glad he's chosen this spot. . . it is a lot better than under the driveway where our many thousand pound vehicles might crush him.

Cleaning the concrete from all the tools takes some more time.  Its almost dark when I'm done.  In the foreground are some of the tools. . .along with the bigger toys (truck, lawn tractor, car).  This shot is inside the airplane-hanger-style garage looking out.  The garage has an earthen floor that I'd like to concrete in at some point. . . that will be another project for another winter.

This is another shot inside the garage.  Some of the many power tools and recreational stuff. . .and I've indicated on the image where little Tiny Todd has built his home.  Underneath a bunch of tools.  He was probably very annoyed that I dislodged him from his sleep today. . . but I feel better knowing he's in there where he's safe.