May 27th Update

Wow, what a difference a day makes!

Our friends at ICE ("eee-say"), the Costa Rican power company, inspected the lines Monday the 26th and came away with MORE work to be done. Now they decided to reverse their earlier decision for us to keep the transformers and replace them with new ones. So more delays getting power.

Chatted with our Project Manager Rob Tuesday evening, and determined we would purchase another powerful generator so that two are available to supply power for welding. Rob and Kent's generator is in for warranty repairs, and will be down for at least another week. So purchasing another Miller 124 (a good Wisconsin name, along with a Kohler engine (check out
http://www.capris.co.cr/pls/capris/MegCapris101.ficha01?xcodigo=388054).

I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising that along with the significant increase in 'naders in the USA this year, the rainy season has hit earlier and harder than in recent years in Costa Rica. So we're wanting to get under roof in a hurry. We also are significantly attracted to having the option to bring up alternate power for our casita so that if/when power is out, we or an employee can start up the generator to restore power until line power is back online. We have also explored Wind Terra's wind generator, but so far it appears the output is fairly light, and we would need several to supply sufficient power. Nonetheless, have contacted them for more information.

The pictures... You can see that Gerardo and his crew are working on the first floor structure now, with the foundation posts now in place. What you don't see is that before too long they will go back down below, and put in X's between those columns so as to make for a more stable foundation. It is apparent that we will have a ZERO floor, or basement floor as it were at the forward portion of the structure so as to have a minimum 7.5 foot ceiling height down there. At a minimum this will be a utilities servicing platform. But since we desire it to span the entire width of the structure, it suggests other options. For example, we could choose to move the bodega (storage room) down there, and use the currently defined bodega as another bathroom - making each bathroom private to the two bedrooms. If we did that, the currently defined bathroom would still be accessible off the hallway.

Now, you'll see the layout included with this blog. This is the first floor only. You'll see the entry (uphill side) at the bottom; and the Ocean view off the two bedrooms. Bathroom to the far left, bodega to the far right, and the entry room is also the laundry room.

So, that's my post for now. News by this weekend of further progress!

Ricardo y Jeeeem!

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

May 24th Update

Progress continues. The road work still on hold since ICE (eee-say) is still working on the community power supply. Still not turned on. And rains are starting to pick up, so you'll note a lot more wet/mud.

The crew built a cascada to help control flow of water coming out of the tube. You can see that here. Nice job! Those rocks embedded into the cement will help disrupt water flow easing erosion problems.

I like this next image as it shows the height of the front posts supporting the first floor. The good news then is we'll be able to put in the lower floor on the downhill side below the first floor. Should be useful for a variety of potential uses! Minimally, will make a platform for servicing undermounted equipment.

We've decided to go ahead and get the second generator, and create a platform accessible from this "basement" floor to hold the generator permanently after construction. Since our power is a single line from the main road, and we're rather rural, ICE isn't going to give highest priority to restoring power. Having a backup to keep the refrigerator going, and modest lights will be a huge help.

This last picture of this posting shows Gerardo at the outer edge of the casitas first floor. This corner will be outside covered deck space off the two first floor bedrooms.

I'm not sure that I described our casita all that well. But the first floor has two generously sized bedrooms, a nice sized bathroom with a step down shower, laundry area, and a storage room divided into "owners" section (separate lock and key) and employee area for storing spare papergoods, sheets, towels, etc. The two bedrooms share a common outer space. In fact friends, PLEASE HELP US DECIDE. Should we put a divider wall between the two sides of that lower deck so that guests staying in one room, can't walk around and knock on the sliding glass door other the other? Or should we leave it open?

Upstairs is really just a big studio room. Bath, bedroom area only partially separated from the living room space. Then living room and kitchen sort of "great room". The kitchen area will cantelever for one meter over the driveway side; making a cover over the lower door.

I expect soon Gerardo will have much of the lower floor framing in place, and set the posts for the upper floor and begin building that. Dick and I arrive on June 12th (travel June 11th) and the intention is to begin framing the roof. We also need to schedule our July trip, where we will tackle electric details, and rough plumbing.

All for this week!

Ricarado y Jeeeeem

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

May 19th Update

I'll leave the photo's Rob took to speak for themselves. But a good sampling of the work at the end of last week.















A bit of a snag at the end of the week though. One of ICE (eeesay's) trucks rutted the road near the bottom of the mountain so badly the crew is having to redirect to that repair job. Was a spot known to be less stable though so this work is hardly a waste. Just a gentle diversion!

I'll post more later in the week.

Ricardo y Jeeeem

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

May 16th Update

Not a ton of stuff to report, but excellent progress this week. You'll see from the two pics Rob sent me, we have the mesh in place for the concrete parking area/patio-entry. We're looking forward to our June 11th trip to meet with Gerardo and Rob.

In this first picture, you'll see guys wheelbarrowing in what I presume is concrete. They mix it further uphill, then cart it by hand to the location to pour, work out air, smooth, etc.

In this second picture, you'll see mesh going in looking uphill towards Rob and Kent's casa. To the right is the uphill retaining wall. On the left is the downhill retaining wall.

I need to discuss a bit with Rob as I had expected the downhill retaining wall to wrap around the foreground tree to the left, and terminate right about where the barrel is by the background tree.


This third picture is Mario working on the finish cement of what will be the lower back entry to the casita. That back wall came out a bit taller than I assumed, but of course one's sense of level can be challenging, and looking with true level reveals the slope much better. Thanks Rob for taking this photo!

I should note here that in Costa Rica, power is supplied differently than in the states. Land owners are responsible to hire a contractor to put in power poles, and wire them, place transformers, etc; after ICE (eee-say), the public electric supplier, maps out locations and requirements.

Our experience has been that given this, ICE is still very capable of waxing and waning on the details. So Rob and Kent have had to replace poles to a different spec from ICE (even though ICE did the original spec).

Rob's report this week:
We had an inspection of our electrical system from the engineers of ICE on Thursday. The inspection went well; however, they found that we need to remove two large branches from a balsa tree on lot #4 and remove two teak trees from Lot #1. We will be using the services of the Monkey Man - hombre mono - to remove the limbs. We expect to have the last issues cleared up by early next week. What an UNBELIEVABLE process!

Thanks Rob, please know that your work and struggle is appreciated.

So that's all we have this week. Buenos dias!

Ricardo y Jeeeem

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

Progress to May 9th

If you zoom in on this, you'll see one of the monkey's traveling through. This particular tree is located on the ocean side of the casa, to ones left if they're looking towards the Pacific Ocean (which is South).






Alvaro leveling some block for the retainin wall. This particular section is coming off the back wall of the casa, wrapping around the lower parking/patio area (and headed behind Alvaro to the main driveway).







This is the retaining wall for the upper side of the parking/patio area. That water bucket is located where our outdoor shower and foot/boot wash area will be (upper/lower spigot). Rob and I need to discuss that detail soon.







This is the back wall of the casa. Back or upper side of the moutain. Everything else will be tall steel posts holding up the first floor.

Meet Marlon furthest away, and Mario, closest, two of the others men building our casa. Note that all of this is hand work. Impractical to bring in backhoes, etc to do all this work. These guys are GREAT! They are also as personable a group of people one might want.

When Dick and I have the casa opening party, for those of you who venture down to CR for that event, you'll get to meet them. Bone up on your Spanish though!



Wow, Gerardo, Rob and their crew have done a fantastic job this week. You'll see from the photos that much of the foundation work for the back wall of the casita (which is the only point at "ground level") is in, along with the retaining walls which form the edges of the parking space, and back deck/patio.





Deck/patio. Actually I need help on what we'll call this portion of CasitaTDA. Is it patio? Is it deck? Is it something else? If you've thoughts on this, please let me know! Dick and I have already told the guys we plan to introduce them to Johnsonville Brats. So a grill is a foregone conclusion!

So Jim's thoughts at the moment? Excited. But also scrambling to make sure I've identified details of equipment we need to get (compressors, etc) so that we have it all available when needed.

Gerardo is planning on building a temporary structure next to the drive to shelter materials. Hopefully Rob will forward a picture of that once he has it. The laying in of places to keep materials is what they did early on, and I'm sure it makes their work easier.

Well, that's it for this blog. Thanks for visiting!


Ricardo y Jeeem

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

Hola friends!

This first photo is looking from a shady spot on our driveway. If you were there, the construction site would be immediately to your right.

I really don't have a lot of news to contribute. But I do have a few pictures to share. Most notably I'll post a couple that show the roadway up our mountain clearly. I'll have to play with Photoshop Elements to enhance the path so that you can see it much more clearly. You'll see near the wheel of the plane, the road below makes about a 45 degree bend right. There is a meadow on the mountain side of the road, just a bit after that bend. The entry to Alazan is there. Then you'll see it occasionally peak out from the canopy. What you can't see is the angle of ascent. I'll try to capture that in a future post.

If you click on the photo and zoom into the center, you should be able to see the BLUE ROOF of Kent and Rob's casita, which is just up the roadway from our new casita.

I also want to direct your attention to http://www.alazancostarica.com/. This is the site of our community. Torrente de Agua is lot #14. You'll note that there are some unsold lots. If you're interested, we encourage you to follow directions on the website.

I should have more info in a few days from our friend Rob. I'll make updates then.

Peace!

Ricardo y Jim

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/

Pictures from the work to date

Showing digging for retaining wall footings.

Hey Friends, Welcome!

Welcome to Dick and Jim's new blog site.

We have started construction of our casita on Torrente De Agua in Playon Sur, Costa Rica. This post is just the beginning. Over the next several months we will add to this as our story unfolds.

The most exciting part, construction began on May 1, 2008.

Of course, writing this you might think walls are going up. Not so, the beginning is setting up the entry drive/patio. That required some digging and footing placement so that we have a stable entry point.

On Sunday May 1, Gerardo, Rob and Jim met to refine details, and set a different back wall line. This will allow us to add .75 meters to the footprint, making the upper "outside" deck a total of 2.75 meters wide, greatly adding to our outside upper sitting/dining deck. The lower becomes an uncluttered 1.75 meter lower deck off the two guest bedrooms.

Pictures, and more to post soon!

Muy Bien!

Ricardo y Jim ("Jeeeem")

ps - since starting this blog, Jim started a new companion blog giving history behind the building of Casita Torrente de Agua. If you want to know the back story, go here: http://jimdicktdacasainthebeginning.blogspot.com/