So we actually accomplished everything we set out to do this weekend. :)
We rolled into town about 11:30 Friday night, we didn't even get around to unloading the truck before going to bed. Saturday morning Clarissa went for a little walk and picked the spot where she wanted us to build and we went to mark the corners. I had forgotten my trig.... and couldn't remember how to measure for a right angle using the length of the sides of the triangle. Therefore we "eyeballed it". Turns out I had a pretty dang good eyeball that day. We were within 1/2" on getting it square. Thats better tolerances than the straw appears to be bailed to, so I think we are good.
By about 11 we were level and formed up (all but two pieces which we decided to pick up in Wendover so we could use one piece for a straight form instead of scabbing a bunch of pieces together). So we jumped in the truck and went to A & I Hardware in Wendover to get the rest of the quickcrete to pour.
On our way back just outside of Oasis was a golden eagle chowing down on some lunch; what a neat sight! We drove past and turned around for pictures, as soon as we pulled up it took off. Unfortunately it didn't give us the chance to get a good picture but what a magnificent bird!
When we got back in town we spent an hour or so trying to chase down the owner of a travel trailer on the side of the highway that had a for sale sign w/o a number, price, or name. After that flopped we headed back down the 7 miles of dirt road and got to work pouring.
Man alive did the sun go down way too early.
After calling it a hard day's work we warmed up a little with the sagebrush we cleared.
And the next morning we removed the inside forms and filled it with gravel.
Two weeks to cure and we will be out stacking the straw!
I cant think of a better place to spend Thanksgiving!
A shout out to my brother Brad. Thanks again for helping us out, and for lunch in Wendover. We definitely couldn't have got everything done with just Clarissa and Me.