Cradle Construction with DNL

Since riding at the Knob last Saturday, Ryan and I met up for a Wednesday night Knob ride as well.  What a difference four days made, the mud was gone and it was nearly dusty.  I went out and rode some laps of the new opening section before Ryan arrived and I bumped into Dustin of 331.  He said a work day was scheduled for Sunday to work on the Cradle.

I decided a little construction project in the woods would be great fun for Daniel.  He was also eager for an adventure.  We hiked out to the Cradle with gloves and shovel in hand.

A stripped off cradle.

We jumped in on the work and began stripping off the old planks.  It didn't take long with several guys working together.  The next task was to reinforce the beams or stretchers that run the length of the bridge.

Re-decking underway.  Jason, Dennis, John, and Ray

sizing up the new stretchers.

Daniel and I got to business setting and nailing new deck planks.  Daniel helped hand the planks over after Jason cut them, and I nailed them down.  Daniel was also my nail supply man.

Six nails per plank, about 52 planks...

we did a lot of nailing!

Unfortunately we ran out of decking before making it to the other side.  The hard work is done with the stretchers, now it's just smacking some more nails to finish it off once more decking is available.  Of course hiking the deck boards out to the Cradle is the other effort required.

Part way across.

Daniel and I hit Subway on the way home as we had worked up a hunger.  It was a fun time out in the woods.  Daniel brought quite a bit of Knob dirt home with him from exploring the creek and hill sides.  It will be easier to throw him in the bath tub than a mountain bike!

Agent P joined us for lunch.