A Transfiguration

Friday, April 05, 2019

Diana Lane is not a person, but a pathway through a natural rocky area. Creating it required several years of diligent labor. The photo above shows the part covered in wood chips that begins on my property. Up ahead and around a slight curve, it connects with Starkey Lane, on my neighbor’s property.

The entire Diana Lane soon will receive a cover of identifying red cinder rock to match Starkey Lane. The red cinder rock will unify lane sections and make everything pretty.

Creating Diana Lane has required digging and moving numerous lava rocks, those that could be dug from the ground. The remaining rocks are solid bedrock, unalterable without dynamite but level-enough to ground, and not particularly bothersome.

In previous springs when wet weather made this hard high desert ground more easily dig-able, I worked with shovels, crowbars, and used a tow strap attached to my Gater to budge huge rocks. By rolling massive rocks onto a sled, I found the Gater could tow away the biggest.

I didn’t undertake this project because I’m crazy, oh no, unless owning horses is crazy (well, maybe so). A need arose from wanting to lead my three equines by foot from my property to a neighbor’s pasture. Avoiding a possibility of meeting vehicles in the neighborhood meant having an off-road path to Starkey Lane. The rest is history.

This spring, with the lanes finally covered in red cinder rock, this project will be a wrap. I won’t again need to hand-lead horses until next winter, as this spring’s new grass is too sugary for pasture hours. But this safe pathway is handy for a horse-pulled cart, leaving the property and then returning, once we’re again driving.

Friends, have a wonderful day, Diana.