>>13607183>The problem was accentuated when i tried to explain it to the owner...Really interesting story, Jack; just the type of mind-benders from the trenches I love reading about...and similar in scope to what happened today.
As for today's problem...I was 100 % correct in locating the breech, however, it was not at a joint. Just an inline breech.
The best part, though, was The Mud.
Lordy, lordy...I was encased in it. Much of the work was needing to use hands to dig out portions of the trench, then to excavate the area around the pipe.
Without warning, Bill decided to turn on the water...which filled up the still-partially dug portion of the trench, without allowing me to OBSERVE where the water was coming from.
>Bailed out the water and resulting mud, using a cup, and, hands.After getting the hole reasonably dry again, I asked him to turn the main on JUST ONE SECOND. Ha!! Wound up bailing once again
However...this this I was there to HEAR the water shooting out.
>Success!!Long story a bit shortened, the pipe is now freed, the pinpoint breech has been located...and, tomorrow we will affect a resectioning.
Other neighbor, George, came over to help at one point while I was flinging mud. Many laughs were had.
At the end -my b-in-law John telling me not to come into the house so muddy- I walked down to Bill's boat ramp to wash the tools, my boots, and my mud-soaked arms.
What a fun few hours.
>I'll add one thing.Judging from the rolling eyes I first got from Bill and John when I tried to point out exactly where I wanted to dig, and, why- Had a plumber been called, I've no doubt that a local plumber would have broken up a fair portion of the driveway concrete to start...considering that THAT'S EXACTLY where John & Bill thought the break was.
Instead, the hole is barely one cubic foot open.
Helping neighbors is a blast.
