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[Midnight Rider]

Not really a ride report, nor motorcycle related, but I rode down to Selma, Alabama, my soon to be new home, and met the guy who was delivering the storage building we bought for the backyard.  They use a motorized device known as a "Mule" to place it in your yard, and I thought it was interesting to see this thing in action.  Also, to show the building, which is similar to one of those "Amish" buildings you can buy.  This one is made local to Selma, but is built well, IMO.

Judi was already down in the cage doing some cleaning with a housekeeper she hired to help get the house in order so that we could move in.  She had renters in it the past year, so it needed a little cleaning and some yard work done, so she got the maid to help, and a yard service she uses to do the yard while she did the inside of the house.

I had to meet the delivery guy at 4:30/5:00 so decided I'd take the longer way down which is predominately backroads, so snapped some shots of the ride down, but mostly of the installation of the building.  If you've got an opening large enough, this "Mule" thing will manuver it into position.

On the way down...On I-65 South out of Birmingham, or as some of the left coast people say "the" 65...


IMG_1977 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_1978 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Off the interstate after 25 miles or so...


IMG_1981 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Tara's for sale...


IMG_1982 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_1983 by TCnBham, on Flickr

That part of Alabama is mostly rolling farm land...


IMG_1984 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Horsies...


IMG_1988 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Pretty boring photos after seeing JC's from out West, huh?


IMG_1989 by TCnBham, on Flickr

This homeowner really likes the whole white picket fence thing...


IMG_1991 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_1992 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_1993 by TCnBham, on Flickr

[Midnight Rider]

There's a good sized lumber mill on the way down...fresh smell of just cut pine 2 X 4's


IMG_1995 by TCnBham, on Flickr

They have Barking Frogs here, apparently...ethanol free gas too...


IMG_1996 by TCnBham, on Flickr

The land gets a little flatter the further South you go in Alabama...


IMG_1997 by TCnBham, on Flickr

A horse's ass...


IMG_1998 by TCnBham, on Flickr

[Midnight Rider]

Judi's home in Selma, AL, and my soon to be home.  The main A frame looking part is the greatroom with cathedral ceiling and T&G light pine walls.  Left side (looking at the house) is the kitchen/Garage and the right side is bedrooms/baths.  Some nice trees in the back.  The house was originally built in the late 70's, as you can tell by the design.


IMG_1999 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Now to the main purpose...the 10 X 20 Barn style storage building we bought to keep all my chit in that I can't bring myself to get rid of...yard equipment, shelving, workbench, camping gear, power tools, etc.  This thing is big enough to even keep the bike in, if necessary.  They bring the building loaded up on a trailer that tilts...


IMG_2002 by TCnBham, on Flickr

I opted for 3/4" pressure treated plywood T&G flooring on 12" 2 X 6" joists, and had the walls made 79" tall rather than the standard 67" to accomodate some stand alone shelving I am moving down.  There are two 4 X 6 "skids" that run lengthwise, so it's built like a brick chithouse, only wood...

He then tilts the trailer and basically drives out from under the building...


IMG_2003 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2004 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Then he unloads two sets of double tired "dollies" to put under one end...that's the "Mule" that he uses to lift it.  It's like a small forklift, but more versitile, as you'll see.


IMG_2005 by TCnBham, on Flickr

[Midnight Rider]

Dollies are in place under one end now...


IMG_2007 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2008 by TCnBham, on Flickr

He then drives the Mule to the other end and lifts it up...


IMG_2009 by TCnBham, on Flickr

The thing will turn on a dime, so it's easy to guide the building wherever you want it to go...


IMG_2010 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2011 by TCnBham, on Flickr

He doesn't have to be on the Mule to run it...it turns real easy and moves real slow...


IMG_2013 by TCnBham, on Flickr

A Ten foot building has to fit through an 11 foot opening, with the driveway tilted a bit, so it's going to be a tight fit...


IMG_2014 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2015 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2018 by TCnBham, on Flickr


IMG_2019 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Almost through the gate...I don't see how you'd do this without that piece of equipment...it would be a lot harder and take more than one man, that's for sure...


IMG_2020 by TCnBham, on Flickr

[Midnight Rider]

Got in in the yard now, so it's clear sailing...


IMG_2021 by TCnBham, on Flickr

The Mule allows you to keep tweaking it until you get it exactly where you need it to be.  I put it on the back fence for two reasons: to create some privacy, and to leave room to back a trailer/RV into the backyard (perhaps) at some point in the future.


IMG_2023 by TCnBham, on Flickr

In place, supported by solid concrete blocks with required pressure treated boards to level everything up.  I'll have to tie it down so a wind won't take it away or blow it off the blocks...it would take a hell of a wind, but we get some hellawinds down here...


IMG_2026 by TCnBham, on Flickr

There's a loft on each end for additional storage...


IMG_2027 by TCnBham, on Flickr

I had them wire it with a breaker box containing 2 20 amp circuits...one feeds a switched light in the center peak of the roof, and the other feeds two wall receptacles.  Plenty of power for what I'll ever do with it.  I'll run underground 10/2 wire to the panel from the outside house box later, when it cools off enough to make a trench for the wiring.  Should be a piece of cake to put one additional outside weatherproof receptacle as well, and some kind of solar powered light over the doorway...


IMG_2029 by TCnBham, on Flickr

A better sense of scale...


IMG_2030 by TCnBham, on Flickr

View from just underneath the covered patio.  It should serve the purpose.  Exciting stuff, huh?     I'll put something around the bottom to make it look like it grew there, a couple of flower boxes under the windows, and build a ramp for the door.


IMG_2031 by TCnBham, on Flickr

Now, all I have to do is fill it up...

[Trimster]

  Now that is slick, I like it Terry.

[1sharprdkg]

That was cool! Nice to have the right tools for the job that needs to be done.

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Terry, I am no longer worried about you!  The house is beautiful and the shed is A+ in quality.  You both have a really nice spread there and in no time you're gonna feel like you are right at home.  Thanks for the picture's 

[D-N-D]

That was cool thanks for the pictures.

[BUCKNUT GREG]

WoW, Terry ... Beautiful Home, Great Shed, and pics and write up.

Congrats, 

[sadunbar]

WoW, Terry ... Beautiful Home, Great Shed, and pics and write up.

Congrats, 

Agree!   

[miker]

 

[Mrs Rooster]

 We went through Selma during the marches in 1965. Dad just finished flight school at Fort Rucker and was on his way to Vietnam. Dad was bringing the family back to California so Mom could be close to her family. Traveling was interesting...Selma- Mom saying to us girls don't stare out the window look straight ahead until we get out of town.
All across the USA- Gas stations refusing to fill the car, Dad having to show his military ID telling them he was trying to get us home and he was on his way to Vietnam, just so we could get gas...we had Alabama license plates on the car.
LA California area...had to hide our car in Aunt and Uncles garage (Alabama plates again). Got up to Santa Cruz CA and everything was OK because it was all about "Peace" & "Love"
Memories of living in the 60's
 
 Your new building looks nice Terry. Are you sure it is going to be big enough?   

[MIKEYTEE]

Very nice Terry. Soo where you gonna put the still?
Mike
 

[Midnight Rider]

Very nice Terry. Soo where you gonna put the still?
Mike
 

There's room for one in it, on one end...or a grow house seed starter area for flowers.