Still the Best #1WC Watch, but I'm letting it down...
As I sit here to the squeaking and popping sounds that my house is making as the crew makes the final adjustments to the foundation, I am sad to say that I need to bow out of the #1wc.
I have been running with the candle lit at both ends, and the end (of my sanity) is near. I have wanted to keep going in the challenge, but something needs to give. unfortunately that is this comp.
Now I'm not complaining really, but here is the background for my decision.
During the start of the competition, we had 2 separate loads of horses to drive cross country.
Then we had our first crop of hay.
While simultaneously helping coach T-ball, and the normal day to day of the farm, kids, and job.
But the biggest problem, and time constraint though, goes back to my opening statement.
We live in an older farm house. There was an addition placed on the house in 1990, this addition sits on a foundation that was not built well enough. We have known this for years, but have been putting it off as we saved for a full scale remodel.
But this past winter with record breaking moisture in Utah has made our plans jump up a few years. The foundation of the addition started to accelerate the rate at which it was sinking, with the wet winter. Leading to other problems showing up in the house.
Out of time.
So we are having the foundation leveled, working on the remodel, and re-roofing.
To save money I have been doing as much as I possibly can, digging, removing the deck, and removing the landscaping around the house. This is the last half of the deck in a pile... (I still need to haul it away)
And it's taking a toll physically, mentally, and on my family. So I have to give a few things up now, and this comp is one of the first to go. I figured that now would be a good time to exit, before I was tagged in the 12 labors, and killed the game. (I don't want to kill something that is shaping up to be pretty hilarious)
It has been fun, crazy, but fun. I feel like I know some of you better now, and hopefully some of you know me better as well.
@Aurelian Thank you for running this circus. It's probably not been easy dealing with us. Thank you.
You are all a fierce group of competitors, and I applaud your resolve.
p.s. the watch would have won, its me that can't keep up. 😜
Father, Farmer, Watch nerd, amateur photographer.
Sorry to see you go, but very understandable! I’ve almost done the same thrice now. Can’t wait to see what the first watch you switch to is!
I hope your foundation gets fixed on time, within budget and to your satisfaction. 👍
Sorry to see you go #1wc hombre, you were a great competitor and the end is I feel in touching distance!
But your right one can only do what one can do and you are pushing it with that workload, I admire you and your decision keep in touch from Utah 👍🏻👊🏻🤝
Sorry to see you go, but very understandable! I’ve almost done the same thrice now. Can’t wait to see what the first watch you switch to is!
It has been a good competition, keep it up!
Ironically, I'm still wearing this watch, I didn't intend to quit today, but when I stepped outside this morning, I was a bit overwhelmed, and had a moment of clarity. So I'm still wearing the CWC right now, maybe I'll post a different watch later and have my asterisk removed... Lol
I hope your foundation gets fixed on time, within budget and to your satisfaction. 👍
Thank you!
Sorry to see you go #1wc hombre, you were a great competitor and the end is I feel in touching distance!
But your right one can only do what one can do and you are pushing it with that workload, I admire you and your decision keep in touch from Utah 👍🏻👊🏻🤝
It does seem like the end is near, keep up the good work!
Thanks for the kind words!
Sad to see you go.
Good luck on the upgrade!
Wow that's a serious bit of underpinning required! Looks to be going well now.
Sorry to see you bow out. I wore a G10 for last years, and they are essentially the GADA built for everything. You did the brand proud. Thank you for representing them this year.
🫡
Sad to see you go.
Good luck on the upgrade!
Thank you, I liked the girdle! Keep going strong.
Wow that's a serious bit of underpinning required! Looks to be going well now.
Yeah, it's a pretty amazing system they are using, 13 piers about 3.5inch diameter, driven down to about 26-28 feet deep, until they hit a stratum layer that holds the weight and they can't drive it down further. I literally watched the house raise back up, it's crazy!
It's getting better slowly!
Sorry to see you bow out. I wore a G10 for last years, and they are essentially the GADA built for everything. You did the brand proud. Thank you for representing them this year.
Thank you. Good luck on the rest of the comp. CWC's are pretty awesome, and as I predicted it outlasted me... I couldn't quite hack it anymore. Lol
Yeah, it's a pretty amazing system they are using, 13 piers about 3.5inch diameter, driven down to about 26-28 feet deep, until they hit a stratum layer that holds the weight and they can't drive it down further. I literally watched the house raise back up, it's crazy!
It's getting better slowly!
I design building foundations, so you’ve answered most of what I was actually going to ask regarding your building work. I was going to suggest Jack pile underpinning for restricted access and then I saw the pictures. I had a scheme many years ago for some tenements in Cardiff, and they worked a treat there.
I design building foundations, so you’ve answered most of what I was actually going to ask regarding your building work. I was going to suggest Jack pile underpinning for restricted access and then I saw the pictures. I had a scheme many years ago for some tenements in Cardiff, and they worked a treat there.
I'll bet that is an interesting career, sounds like you know exactly what I was talking about. We had decided that Jack pile or what was just called Driven Pile around here was deemed to be the best option. There were others available, but this was deemed most cost effective, longest lasting, and least amount of time involved. They should be done soon.
I was in Cardiff exactly one year ago today. We spent two weeks in June touring south Wales, and the other areas around the south/ west of London. Beautiful areas.
Yes, here is the beginning: https://www.watchcrunch.com/Aurelian/posts/the-second-annual-one-watch-challenge-34413
Not quitting WC, just the crazy competition that is the #1wc
OMG - You’re John Dutton!
Well, instead of withdrawing, you could’ve just sent Rip to visit each of us competitors, so cheers for not going that route. 👍
— 😉
Great run my friend - I’ve been lucky thus far and life hasn’t cut in yet on the dance party that is #1wc
I’m always just a bad week of on-call from joining ya’ll. Hope the real life challenges go well and are done soon.
Well played and maybe see you again at the next nutty crunch challenge 🍻
OMG - You’re John Dutton!
Well, instead of withdrawing, you could’ve just sent Rip to visit each of us competitors, so cheers for not going that route. 👍
— 😉
Great run my friend - I’ve been lucky thus far and life hasn’t cut in yet on the dance party that is #1wc
I’m always just a bad week of on-call from joining ya’ll. Hope the real life challenges go well and are done soon.
Well played and maybe see you again at the next nutty crunch challenge 🍻
Thank you!
You were also a great competitor! Good luck with the rest of the game!
As for the Dutton reference, I wish I was half that hardcore... I live a much more boring life. (I've actually not seen Yellowstone yet, but I get the reference. Just don't have much time for tv these days.)
Yeah, it's a pretty amazing system they are using, 13 piers about 3.5inch diameter, driven down to about 26-28 feet deep, until they hit a stratum layer that holds the weight and they can't drive it down further. I literally watched the house raise back up, it's crazy!
It's getting better slowly!
Brilliant news. I've seen quite a few jobs like this on old cottages in Ireland it's common, but usually we hit the 'firm' after about 6-8 feet!
I'll bet that is an interesting career, sounds like you know exactly what I was talking about. We had decided that Jack pile or what was just called Driven Pile around here was deemed to be the best option. There were others available, but this was deemed most cost effective, longest lasting, and least amount of time involved. They should be done soon.
I was in Cardiff exactly one year ago today. We spent two weeks in June touring south Wales, and the other areas around the south/ west of London. Beautiful areas.
The good thing about a driven pile is that you can verify its load as you install. It’s all about the set.
Good luck with the works - may your foundation settle within the predicted parameters
Ah! Was a bit confused.