As we continue to stumble around trying to trim the vegetation, it becomes apparent that we need somewhere flat and level to simply sit. Also someplace to work from. The topography of the property is rough and tumble. It seems that the trees and shrubs are rooted in and among a jumble of rocks and boulders of varying size from 2 to 3 feet in diameter to pebbles, with the majority between the size of a large grapefruit and a basketball. Over the years, the leaves have fallen onto these rocks and created a layer of mulch where the roots of the vines and smaller plants and grasses have taken root. But still, the ground is very unlevel and difficult to walk around on. We are constantly tripping and stumbling over these different sized rocks. Having someplace flat and level would give us a place to sit or even lay down to take a break. Also, having a wooden deck would give us an area under the deck to store things we are collecting – various hand tools, a couple of ice chests, a few folding lawn/beach chairs, etc.
About 40 feet in from the road, there is a slight rise – a small knoll – just before the ground begins a slope down to the bottom end of the property about ten to fifteen feet below the road elevation. On this knoll, I have decided to build our deck. It will be simple – 12 x 12 in size – mainly because 12 foot material will be easiest to transport.
After hacking and trimming on the jungle, it was time for a little recreation, so we headed off to Kona to go whale watching. We had booked a tour with a boat called the Manta and were looking forward to a day on the water.
We were not disappointed and saw numerous whales along the Kokala coast north of Kona.
While we were in Kona, we stopped in at the home inprovement warehouse and picked up some concrete for the foundation of the deck. The next day saw us forming and pouring.
We have been staying in a neighboring town about 15 miles towards Hilo called Pahala. We found this place through a well known on-line vacation rental group. Since we were 15 miles closer, the next afternoon we took a drive into Hilo. We did a bit of sightseeing – a trip to Rainbow Falls and other rivers in the Hilo area, and picked up some lumber for the deck along with some mulch and a few coconuts from a guy over in Pahoa.
We had rented a mini van-SUV as our transportation for this trip knowing that we would be doing some hauling. A truck would have been better. Even with both rows of seats folded down, the 12 foot 2 x 6’s stuck out the back a little more than a foot. The lower section of the rear door folded down to support the lumber, and the upper section opened up as a hatch. After loading a dozen of these 2 x 6’s into the back of the mini van, we tied down the hatch. We also picked up a dozen sprouted coconuts that I wanted to plant.
It will take 7 to 10 years before a coconut tree produces any nuts, so I want to get these in and started as soon as possible. We also picked up a couple of bags of mulch. Needless to say, we were loaded. Somehow, as we headed out of Hilo towards Naalehu, we got turned around and ended up on a the wrong road.
After driving on what appeared to be a deserted country road for about ten minutes I said, “I don’t think this is the right road.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, first of all, I don’t recognize anything,” I answered. “Second, the road seems much smaller than the road we drove to get into Hilo. And third, I haven’t seen another car in the last ten minutes.”
“Let’s just go a little further and see if it changes.”
“With the back hatch open, this stupid idiot beeper telling me that we have an open door is driving me crazy. It also seems we are going up in elevation. The wind is coming in the back and it is colder. Not just because the sun has gone down, but it seems to be a change in the temperature.”
“Well, whatever you think,” is the answer I got.
“Let’s go back to that intersection we just passed. I think it will take us bact to the highway where we should be.”
“What intersection? I didn’t see any intersection.” She replied.
“There was an intersection just back there a little ways.”
So, we made a u-turn and headed back the way we had come. I thought it was much closer, but when we did find another road, the sun had gone down and it was dark. Really dark! But following this other road took us to highway 11 – the main road between Hilo, Volcano, and Naalehu. We pulled into the rental property and were glad to have had yet another adventure!
The next day, the framing of the deck started in earnest, and it didn’t take long to have some beams up and begin on the floor joist.
As I was building, I was designing. Working out the details. I contemplated the spacing of the floor joist. 16″ apart was standard, but if they were 12″ apart, the deck would feel much more solid. The few additional joist would be worth it in the end, but I did not have enough lumber for that. Also, with the 2 x 6 decking, I would get the strength I wanted. They went in at 16″ apart..
With the floor joist in place, we made another trip into Hilo for more lumber for the decking. This time, we made sure to get on the right road heading back.
After the floor joist were in place, the decking began.
Again, the intent is to have a flat, stable, strong working surface and provide some storage underneath, so I used 2 x 6 boards as the decking and installed them butting together rather than the typical 1/2″ space between them.
This will not shed all the water, but a majority of it.
We now have a deck.
TTFN
TropicalCastaway 