Moving the Small Boulder in the Side Garden
There was a small boulder, or actually half of a small boulder since one side is flat, beside the shed that I had always intended to move into the side garden. I thought it would make a great seat and could also function as a table when I moved my barbecue to the side garden. I had manage to move it only a short distance and there it sat for the last few years. This year I decided that I was going to finish the side garden once and for all. I had some trouble removing the remains of a tree that we cut down when we constructed the shed and my hands and arms have been sore and painful for the last couple of weeks.
It is hard to judge from the photograph the size of this small boulder. Measuring the flat side the dimensions are 99 cm (39 in) by 74 cm (29 in) at the largest measurement as it tappers along the length. With the boulder sitting on the ground I could not manage to bulge it at all. I knew I would need some help moving this small boulder so I contacted a friend and asked him if he could assist me; this was on May 26. My friend told me that he would be able to help me on June 4 and we set the date. However, I ended up working on that date and had to cancel; my friend said he would check his schedule and let me know when he would be available to help. I have yet to hear from my friend and decided today that I would not wait any longer and would just do the best I could on my own.
I knew that to move the small boulder I would have to rely on the knowledge of physics and statics and dynamics I gained when I attended engineering school. For example, if you support a large mass on a pin, you can easily rotate that mass even if you are unable to move the same mass when it is not on the pin. The difficulty in the job was the problem of being in two places at the same time. I could easily lift the small boulder with a lever, but I was unable to then place anything under the small boulder to use as the pin. This is where my friend was going to assist me, and when I first asked him, I told him I would do the work; I just needed some help. Those of you that have a companion that you can count on to help you don't know how lucky you are.
I struggle with moving the small boulder for several hours, I would guess at least five and maybe longer. It was hot and humid today and I became soaking wet from my own sweat from the exertion. Mum use to scold me for doing such things; she was afraid that I was going to hurt myself. I think it may be time that I started to listen to what Mum told me. Part of the problem was that when I got it close to where I wanted it, a tree root at the surface was in the way. I could not find the proper leverage to make the boulder slide instead of rocking. Again, I had to analyse the motion of the small boulder and decide on how to redirect the force; and you thought you would never need to know the things you were being taught in physic class. I wanted to place the small boulder against the trunk of a tree so the tree could act as a back rest and it was a difficult task to get it in the correct position.
As you can see in the photographs, I did manage to finally get the small boulder in place and stable. I may work on the underpinnings more later; however, it is stable enough for use. Near the tree the small boulder has a rounded depression that is perfect for one's buttocks, although the length is not long enough to use to stretch one legs out completely; at least not when you are tall and have long legs like I do. At the end away from the tree, it is flat and can be used as a seat or a table. When I complete the side garden, I am going to use some terra-cotta tiles that were a freebie to make a slightly raised area for the barbecue.