With any machinery, it’s always fun putting it to work. This Kubota KX033 is twice the size of the little one I rented for running the plumbing into the shop. I needed it for running plumbing and power into our future dog kennel, but with Idaho Power install looming, I thought it might work for the 750′ of trench I need to cut to the new house site. I started where the power pole will be set and quickly abandoned the idea after making surprisingly little progress. There is no way I will be able to make this thing work, it is too small and has too wide of a bucket. Now I am going to have to reschedule our power install unless I can find someone willing to dig Tuesday, after Memorial Day. It’s a long shot and unlikely.
With that failure logged, the pond seemed like the next best place to play with an excavator. I wanted to create a shallow area where young kids can play and where it would be easier to launch and mount kayaks or paddle boards. The little ’33 did much better here but didn’t have much reach. It didn’t take much time to create another large mound of dirt I’ll have to deal with later. It is a challenge to do underwater work because it is largely done by feel, which I don’t have. I do, however, now have a little shallow area. When the clay settles, I’ll have a better idea of any additional work it may need. Over time, the kid’s playing around will help to smooth out the presumably rough bottom.
I dug a couple septic test holes in a different and was surprised and hopeful that the soil seemed much better than what the inspector had described. I took pictures and sent them to our septic contractor who also now has his fingers crossed that the inspector will agree on a small, simpler septic system.
After finishing the first septic test hole I did not feel well and decided to take a break. I wondered if it was the lingering effect of the tetanus shot as I ate lunch and got hydrated. Feeling better later in the afternoon I ventured back out for more test holes. With the excavator rocking and spinning again, I quickly discovered my ill feelings had nothing to do with my tetanus shot and, to my embarrassment, was motion sickness! I’ve spent a lot more time in a large excavator without any trouble but it never swayed or wobbled like this little guy with a loaded bucket. Sure took the fun out of throwing dirt around. For you excavator operators that assume I don’t know what I am doing, you’re probably right, but I did have the blade anchored down. Reminded me of getting seasick while spearfishing, couldn’t have imagined it would ever be an issue in either situation.