Shed progress and visit to the quarry

Before we can start actually laying the base for the shed we need to get the sand, gravel and cement up to the site in the potager.

The sand and gravel we are getting from the quarry quite close to us. The cement, along with the rebar we will get from Point P, also quite close by.

We calculated it will take approx 3500 kg of sand and gravel (2 parts sand to 4 parts gravel) and about 550 kg of cement. That is a whole lot of stuff to wheelbarrow from the closest point we can get the car! But as there is no alternative we have been getting on with it.

We are going to lay the base in 2 parts so we have collected 3 loads of 700 kg from the quarry.

They mainly deal with huge lorries, but also do a fair trade in people with trailers. The guy filling the trailer does an amazing job, you can see the size of his bucket, for our three loads he did 690kg, 700kg and 700kg - unbelievable considering he can't see what he has scooped in to the hopper and can't see in to the trailer either.

We have heard stories where they accidentally dump loads more than intended on the trailer and they are squished flat! It must have been another driver though as this guy is awesome!

11.50 EUR each load cost. Not sure what 700 kg of sand and gravel costs in the UK, but that is a fraction of the price in the DIY shop anyway.

Once we got the load home I had fun trying to a.) turn the car and trailer in the reasonably tight space of our parking spot and b.) reverse the car with the trailer up the last bit of track to get as close to final destination as possible. It looks really straight here, but there is a bit of an angle to get on to it and it turns at the top as well. I was getting better by attempt three. Bit concerned about the burning smell that occurs when reversing in 4WD.

It then took approx 25 load in a wheelbarrow to get each of the three loads carted up to the shed site. That was up a steep slope, not very far but really really tiring. Each load is only 6 or 7 spade fulls  (28kg approx) but it is too steep to get more than that up the steepest part. Doug has done a lot more of them I must confess. But I have done other useful things instead. All works out fair in the end!