OLD SIGN

Attention to details? The event has been over almost two months. WHY is the sign still up? This is a development that shuns signs, as Discovery almost immediately took out the Spanish Oaks signs when they took over.

TURKEYS!!!

I just happened to turn around and look out the window - something I do many many times daily, but this time the whole slope was covered!!! By a flock of wild turkeys! Grabbing for my camera I didn't have time to count as I had to defeat the focus which was trying to focus on our window screens, not the birds... there had to be two DOZEN and they weren't little ones, either. They milled about then slowly headed down to the area of Overlook Pass.

The hills ARE alive, and not with the sound of music!

IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD

It's hype but that's the biz.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Even in light of the luxury real estate market’s slow-paced recovery, Scottsdale, Arizona-based developer Discovery Land Company will close approximately $330 million in real estate sales during 2009 and close to $1 billion over the last two years across its nine actively selling private club communities in North America.

For more, click here

WHAT WERE THOSE CONES FOR?

What is Esmeralda’s Run?

The first Esmeralda’s Run was held in November of 2005 days after Esmeralda Werbeck passed away from a long battle with cancer. With tremendous support from family members and friends, Esmeralda’s son Brent Werbeck created the race as a memorial for his Mother. Esmeralda’s greatest fear was that she would be forgotten after she passed away. This race ensures that this fear never comes true.

Starting and finishing at the Austin Tennis Academy, the race is located in the beautiful Spanish Oaks exclusive golfing community. The 5K and 10K courses wind their way through the scenic residential neighborhoods, while the Family Fun Mile guides entrants along a gorgeous trail inside the Spanish Oaks property.

Race Details
When:
Sunday, December 13th 9:30 AM
Where:
Austin Tennis Academy
6800 Spanish Oaks Club Blvd. Austin, Texas 78738

THE OLD GOOD OLD DAYS?

We arrived by buckboard wagon all those years ago (January, 2005.) We were among the earliest settlers here in Spanish Oaks. I thought it might be interesting to list some of the early day memories for those who look back. While at it, let's give Daniel Porter thanks as we sit down to TurDuckEn, for his initial vision of what this special place could be.

You might remember:

Ray Ware - the salesman who enthused so believably (and who semi-promised a traffic light in a year.)

The East Entrance Sales Trailer - work-home of Ray; and his touted Tanya Streeter Autographed poster.

The Bohls cabins history outing. Back in the day there was no split between 'club' activities and Spanish Oaks activities.

The festivus/Christmas pole/tree on top of Musket Rim. (Until Valentine's Day?)

Naturalist tours.

The 'legend' of the loose monkey.

SO Blvd ending at the top of Musket Rim.

The sunken boat in the dry fishing camp lake.

Earth tones, discouragement of turf.

The Discovery Land Co. blowout party to announce their participation. (With Lance Armstrong, Darrell K. Royal, others... was that Sheryl Crow? Don't think so. UT cheerleaders greeted all at the valet parking dropoff.)

Maybe you have some you'd like to add? Email me and I will include.

GET TOGETHER

Last night at the Lodge, newbies mixed with old settlers as Spanish Oaks Fall Happy Hour brought a couple dozen residents together at the Lodge for several hours of meet'n'greets. In great contrast to the contentious 'annual' meeting, this low key affair really was a pleasant evening.

GETTING AGGRESSIVE?

Spanish Oaks, for years said to be somewhat 'reserved' in its approach to sales, has apparently turned up the heat.

First there was the LIVESTRONG two-home tour, bringing what looked to be thousands of viewers into the development.

Now there's an auction this weekend, open to the public 'worth the drive'. Not of a house, but of items brought in for the auction - it's not all that uncommon, but it might be a first here.

Also in the Sunday paper what appears to be a group-broker promotion - 5 homes linked in a "Progressive Open House Party."

Is Discovery turning the heat up?

WORK ON 71

Enjoy it now before they squeeze the lanes while widening the road to accommodate the turn lane (westbound). In the picture above, crews continue to reposition some utilities.

2009 SPANISH OAKS TOUR OF HOMES

Some snapshots of some beautiful builds:

JAUREGUI

Brick driveway

Two story Library

Great Room looking toward Kitchen

Sitting area

Bathroom

Outside

EMERALD CREST

Entrance

Just inside entrance

Great Room

Game Room

Office

Hallway

LOOK! UP IN THE SKY!!

PARAGLIDER
If you heard the noises but neglected to look UP this fantastic morning, you might have missed the twin paragliders scooping through the Spanish Oaks skies. Boy would I love to give one of these folks a camera to shoot away from up there.

SMILING FACES

Finally another new neighbor greeting party!

Thursday, November 19th at The Lodge

5:30 - 7:00 PM - Drinks & snacks will be served.

Please bring a gift of canned or dry food to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.

also....

The Lodge Grille will be open 11 AM - 5:30 PM Wednesday-Sunday, 10/31-11/8 durng the Tour of Homes!

PS: I am healing and will try to fill the blog with more good info but I sure could use YOUR input, pictures, observations. email to rwood24@Austin.rr.com

HALLOWEENY FUN

Spanish Oaks Neighborhood

Trick or Treat Hay Ride
6:30pm Departure from Lodge - Halloween!
Kids and Adults wear your best costumes- awards given!
Please call Liza @ 533-2363 for reservations - we'll have 4 trailers, so please RSVP

Pictures welcome... send to email at right.

WHY HAS THIS BLOG SLOWED DOWN?

An accident has kept me from blogging lately, and likely will slow down what I have been doing, at least for the next month or so, although today is the second day back at the computer in over two weeks.

I was cutting the grass when I tripped over a rock while walking backwards - you know - you go forwards then backwards over some areas. As I went down on my back, the only thing I was holding was the handle of the lawn mower and I must have pulled it toward me. Over my foot.

I came very close to cutting off my toes.

So, long story short: 3 hour surgery, hospital, now home and long recovery. Maybe not long in the scheme of things, but at least another month to go. I am lucky that the surgeon saved my toes. They are still attached.

It's a day by day thing - believe me, getting back to the computer is a VERY big deal. I am going to blog the whole recovery period at once, when it's over, and am keeping myself busy with writing daily thoughts. Until yesterday, all via Blackberry. The notes give me the ability to get my mind off the long road ahead. As I heal I will gain energy and return to writing other things as they come into my life and thoughts. If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in!

HOW MUCH RAIN?

How much rain did we get the past two storms?

This is unscientific but absolutely real. I put an empty bucket out where our pool equipment lives. It was empty. We had two storms. I haven't touched it and the roof empties onto a gutter so that's not it. Hope you can see it's almost full!

DISCOVERY BUYS INTO YELLOWSTONE CLUB

It'd be nice if they'd spread some money this way.

Read all about it here.

OIL, STRIPES, ROADWORK

In reply to the road cleanup issues several posts below, Pam Chandler writes, "I've received several calls concerning an oil spill on the Boulevard, running from the east entrance all the way back to Krause Lane. We do know the guilty party, and they will be cleaning up the spill, as well as moving the large boulder at the roundabout that the same truck moved."

Also, re the striping: "On Monday, 9/21, our paving contractor will be on-site to do striping work. They will be re-striping at the east entrance near Hwy. 71, will be painting a double yellow stripe on the bridge at the east entry, and will be re-striping the double yellow stripe on the west side bridge. Please watch out for workers and traffic control cones when coming and going on Monday. In the event we are "rained out", the work will be done on Tuesday, 9/22"

This will, we hope, keep people more alert about where on the bridge and entry they actually ARE, as in, in your lane coming toward you!

And about Highway 71: "The project is now slated to start sometime in January. The work will begin with the widening of the road and bridge, and we should anticipate that only one lane in each direction on Hwy. 71 will be open during this project."

AN INCH OF RAIN...

is 27,000+ gallons per acre, according to a source I just Googled.

At our house I believe we've had over 4 inches of rain in this storm.

WATER!!! RAIN!!!

It seems we got a lot more than the Bee Cave totals on TV last night. All of a sudden you are thinking drainage thoughts if your home is brand new to rain.

COUGAR/ MOUNTAIN LION

One and the same and more sightings have been reported in the Preserve, to S.O.'s immediate east end.

MEETING WITH OWNER HOA REP

"What we have here, is a lack of communication..."

Tonight was a step in the right direction, though it seems clear all our concerns will not be addressed or addressed in a manner we find satisfactory. But that's okay.

We can assume we all chose S.O. over competing developments because we like it here and want to be a part of it.

Here's the deal - the bottom line - if the rep, Pam, the board, whomever, would apprise us on a regular and ongoing basis of the items and issues being addressed, we'd all feel more pride in the ownership and a greater sense of belonging.

Maybe they don't do that because they fear inundation by other points of view or agendas. I understand that fear, but also feel it comes with the territory. We all are united in wanting this development to live up to its potential.

REMEDIATION... EFFORT?

There are some locals who believe the development is going downhill. Here's recent evidence. To be blunt, this would have to be put to the issues of:

Communication
It flat out stinks, and our HOA "rep" had to be goaded into holding a meeting (next week) with anyone who still cares, as he's the opposite of communicative or proactive. His term is without limits?

The board communicates as if in their ivory tower. You have to ask yourself if they even visit? Our HOA manager, Pam Chandler, is likely hamstrung by their inaction or by gag order. TIMELY responses and fixes are woefully lacking. Priorities can't be those of everyone with an 'issue' but better - much better - communication would pull us all together and feel that there are wise and concerned hands on the helm.

Striping the east entrance road as a safety measure was promised asap back at the annual meeting... just an example.

Resources
What resources exist are a mystery. We apparently have no maintenance. Drought and water conservation have seemingly infused our buffalo grass common areas with many weeds.

CC&Rs
We have at lease several WHITE houses (an EARTH TONE?) - more sweeps of non-natural turfgrass, and now - we hope! temporary - an asphalt driveway.

Management
Write any definition of management you wish - perhaps behind the scenes it's a well-oiled machine, but to the owners who have invested, it's not at all obvious that proper attention is being paid.

And here's a sobering thought/question: how many of Discovery properties around the US have had their HOAs turned to the owners? As it stands now, I can't imagine how far off in the future THAT will happen here, if ever. Which means the status quo is one we seem to face for a long, long time.

One example (this is a followup to the post one post below):


Some truck leaked what looks like oil or tar over our roadway (SO BLVD) and drove over the sidewalk pavers. The stream goes as far at Highway 71. Workers were attempting to clean it Friday. Has someone tried to trace this back to the source to make them clean it up? Or was this their effort?


Here's a picture of the missing rock referenced in the post below. It was dragged away by a truck, and never replaced. This is a very visible spot in a multi-multi million dollar development.


Now, as recently as Friday, another rock has been dragged. If the first rock (apparently ineffectual, by the way, as it was there to prevent trucks from riding up over the circle) wasn't ever replaced with another rock to hide the gouge, then what can we expect here? It's now proven they don't work. Can we expect a cleanup/solution? When?


Here's the 'cleaned' area on the 'sidewalk' of the circle - the street doesn't appear to be touched. Is that IT? (Ref: bad communication; resources; management.)

OIL? TAR?

Don't know what it is - some truck managed to leave a pretty good stream of black liquid onto the east side traffic circle and then down the road to Highway 71. They even drove over the pavers at the circle.

In an unusually quick response (days, instead of weeks or months or longer - as in the promised east entrance striping) Discovery apparently has a crew trying to get it up - at least on the pavers. I stopped and chatted with the guy who seemed to be in charge. "We're trying acetone," he said... "do you have any idea what would work?" I suggested a pressure washer.

You can see that the offending truck tried to beat the radius of the turn and that's when it drove over the pavers. Once upon a time we were told that circle would be redone to accommodate larger trucks which find the radius too tight. And that was... years ago?

Looking at the circle, they have never replaced the boulder that was dragged away under another truck (leaving a gouge) what seems like a long time ago. It was one of three, in place to try to stop trucks from going up on the pavers. A grass patch would at least spiff that up.

You have to wonder if, for the LIVESTRONG open houses this fall, perhaps some work will finally be attended to? Yes, the economy has faltered, and that must surely have affected projections for sales at S.O. - but at some point the weeds and other things which need attention accelerate the spiral down, and cost more in the long run.

MEETING

Where: the Lodge
When: Wednesday, Sept. 9th, 6 to 8 pm
What: an evening with your homeowner Board representative, Donald Abrams.

If you are new to the community, this will be a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and your HOA Board rep. If you're a long-time resident, this is an opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions, and to meet new neighbors.

71 WRECK

A lot owner reports flaming car, lifeflight, etc. at east entrance? No other details at 12:45PM Saturday. From our location, can see traffic backed up westbound.

If you have details or pictures please send to rwood24@Austin.rr.com

We saw the highway - the accident appears to have been not exactly at the east entrance, but farther down toward the bridge over Barton Creek - the bridge on 71, not within our entrance. Update: 9 PEOPLE INJURED. Apparently someone was turning, was rear-ended, and that vehicle was then rear-ended.

KEYE video, click here

ARMADILLO MADNESS

Another 'dillo trapped!

That's now 1 raccoon, 1 cat, 3 armadillos!

There must be some armadillo graffiti at the armadillo bar - "For a Good Time, dine at Wood's! Dine under the shrubs!" It's a %$#@ PARADE of 'dillos, it seems.

Another ride up Highway 71 with a stinker in the trap in the trunk - about 10 miles... and release. This one was slow to escape the cage and immediately went under the car and a tire. HEY!

I am NOT going to accept suicide after schlepping this varmint this far.

And so, I edged away, and the beast was seen waddling away up a hill.

WET STUDENTS

Friday, August 21, from 10 am to 4 pm!

Back to School Splash - Cool off by the pool and enjoy a day filled with fun and games before the kids head back to school!

We'll have a "Make-Your-Own-Pizza" table, smoothie specials and cupcakes, as well as back to school goodie bags for all who attend.

Please call Liza Bachelder at 533-2363 to sign up!

TRAPPING VARMINTS

After two Armadillos and one Racoon, we'd hope for no more shrub-digging-lawn-ripping. But it isn't to be. I reset the trap and put it in the usual place.

This morning Terri came back from walking the dog with a smile and a "Guess what the Catch Du Jour is?"

Feral or not, my intention is not to catch cats. I am allergic to cats and would be happy to see them all only at a distance.

Kitty was plenty ticked. Can't say I blame it. Released now (like a shot out of a cannon - swear I heard "Thufferin' Thuccotash!" as it ran) with no scratches of vengeance for Trapper Bob.

Here's this cat, apparently successfully avoiding all sorts of predators, only to sniff a can of CATFOOD in that cage thing... (Well, heck, somebody told me to bait the trap with that. It worked before!)

No harm no foul.

It does suggest that one shouldn't set traps and then not pay attention - or go on vacation, because you can't always get what you want, etc.

I am greatly relieved I didn't have to worry about a large snake which might have crawled into the trap.

BATS UNDER EAST ENTRANCE BRIDGE

Richard Finlayson writes: Bob, have you seen the bats under the bridge over Little Barton Creek at the (east) entrance? It’s just like Congress Street Bridge. We were there Monday night at 8:03 and it was a fire hose of bats taking off into the sky.



Note: if you watch this and attempt to watch again you might have to refresh the page - this is the first video I've put onto the blog and I am unsure how well it works.

Note 2: If you go to watch the bats ALSO watch out for traffic which as we all know, can come down toward the bridge at high speed and in the center of the (still unstriped!) road.

LIGHTNING STRIKE STORY

Bob, here’s a photo of the damage. The fire was caused when the charge arced from copper plumbing and/or electrical to the gas line. Not sure which way that charge arced, but it blew a pin hole in the gas line and ignited. The flame ignited the framing. You can see the charred gas line and the burned romex. There’s a copper line running through it that looks to me like an arc point but it’s hard to tell.

My family saved the day! Kristin got shocked as she stood by a sink and knew there was trouble. They kept looking around and started to smell smoke. The boys pulled the attic access and found nothing. My 9 year old remembered another access by her room and whey they pulled that access they could see the fire. My son John grabbed fire extinguishers one after the other and he and Will put out the fire. It wasn’t known that the gas line was involved, it makes my heart stop to think about my boys up there putting that fire out with a gas line leak. We are very blessed that everyone is safe, that my kids knew what to do and did it, and that we didn’t lose the house. Lessons learned? Have fire extinguishers, lots of them. The boys think they used two, but there were three empty canisters up there. Also, store photos and videos in waterproof containers and by the front door. (Not the garage door. Garages are the #1 source of home fires.) I knew where all the family videos were but couldn’t relate that to my son, and when the attic access ladder was pulled down it blocked the closet doors that all the family photos are in. It was also directly under the fire and would have been ruined by water if the fire department had been required to put it out. We have already started the “what if” scenarios to be better prepared next time for things like this. The fire department was great, but it is concerning that they had a hard time finding us. The neighbors report seeing them wandering around at the Overlook Pass and Paraiso Pkwy intersection. They ended up down in the culdesac on Warbler Ledge even though there are large numbers on all the mailboxes. I’m going to call and see what we could do to help them zero in faster next time. We are pretty much put back together and the plumbing, electrical, and losses have been manageable. It is interesting that the DC transformers on items that were plugged in got zapped. Electronics, notebooks, AC unit, garage door openers, etc. All direct AC electronics were fine, but the transformers got nuked.

LIGHTNING STRIKE

Wednesday's rain showers brought with them a little drama. A lightning strike hit a house right across the street from Spanish Oaks, on Overlook Pass just beyond the gate into The Preserve. No other details are available at this time. If I get more, I will repost.

We have friends deeper into the Preserve, and in the past, they have had costly lightning-related electrical issues TWICE. Since both houses mentioned sit below ours, we only wonder...

HIGHWAY 71 DETAILS

Bee Cave Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Terri Wood reports that in a conversation with TxDot today, she was told that the project for highway widening to impact our east entrance has been pushed back, but only a little. Bids will be taken in the fall with work projected to begin in April.

NEW WEBSITE

Speeding Hippie attempts to drive through the Early70s barrier.
I've opened a new website as a pathway to more opportunity locally. Why not take a hobby and turn it into a service? Thus: www.PhotographerBobWood.com

At most I would hope to serve as a local freelancer here in the Austin area. No weddings - not that large a scale... but for real estate pictures, family events, etc., I am there.

There are some good pictures on the site and I hope you enjoy them! Contact info is also there. Have a look.

HIGHWAY 71 PLANS ON HOLD?

I can't find anything by doing a quick search on Google, but a good source informs me that the Highway 71 plans for a center turn lane, etc., have been put on hold. Work was to have begun this summer. Since this has been such a big issue, I will continue to investigate.

Click here to see the latest info I could find. This doesn't seem to gibe with 'on hold.' Will find out more.

Meanwhile, other questions INSIDE the gates:

1- Why hasn't the east entrance center striping happened yet? Wasn't it promised asap at the 'annual' meeting?

2- When will the broken curb on SO Blvd be repaired?

3- Why are there so many weeds all over the grassed areas along SO Blvd?

4- A seemingly long time ago, a truck dragged one of the three large rocks away from the roundabout on SO Blvd (east side) - it was never replaced and there's been a gouge there - where it used to be - ever since. Ironically the rocks were placed there to prevent large trucks from running over that very area.

We were also told (again, seemingly long ago) that the roundabout would be rebuilt with a more effective radius. If so, when? If not, why not?

5- Why no regular ongoing communication from our HOA rep?

By the way, I've been told and have seen that crushed granite driveways can be approved here.

'DILLO NUMBER DEUX

The other night while taking the dog out for her before-bedtime necessaries, I spotted another armadillo browsing our shrubbery beds. I noted another large hole dug around our gas pipe feed, just like there was when the LAST armadillo was trapped. Though we had filled it in, these guys are super diggers, and the hole had reappeared.

I take Jessie out with a flashlight, always on the lookout for snakes, said to be especially restless during this heat. So I shine it around and that's when I saw the beast.

I set the trap and today Terri greeted me (she walks Jessie in the early morning) with a "You're going for a ride today!" We caught the bugger and I am charged with driving it away, hopefully far enough that it would not come back. (My limit is 10 miles.)

After the photo shoot, we headed to a side road off Rt 71 (busy highway) to just outside a new development deeper into the Hill Country called Bee Creek. I released on the rocky, undeveloped side of the road but the 'Dillo took off at a run across the road and into the lush greenery of the new tract. I thought I could see a smile.


TRAPPED


NO-NECK, MEET LONGNECK!


THE GETAWAY

POOL and LODGE-NIC JULY 4

There should have been a loop of the song HOT HOT HOT playing as the festivities commenced under a hot July sun.

Perhaps due to the $19.95-a-head pricing, numbers were noticeably down from last year, or from Memorial day - perhaps only a third as many people showed in the hours we attended.

There weren't the gaggles of people - most were in the pool and the lower numbers scattered them about. Some 'activities' or games for the kids had some attendance - a nice try, but the cooler action was in or under the water (89 degrees, cooler than the official record-setting 101).

DVR TROUBLE - TIME WARNER

The other night Time-Warner lost service to this area. I don't know how widespread, but suspect all of Spanish Oaks, or at least the east side. You call and you get the voice mail computer...

Anyway, service is restored, but you might have the same issue we did/do, and that's there are no channels on our TiVo. In other words, the numbers are there, but you go to them and receive nothing.

I THINK it requires a reboot. This means you unplug TiVo power for about 15 seconds, replug, and all should be fine. If I am wrong, or discover more, I'll post it. Try this before you call for an expensive or incovenient service visit!

4TH OF JULY PARTY

FISH CAMP NEWS

Our own Raymond Hayes, Security Supervisor, has taken over keeping Fish Camp supplied with rods, reels, bait, etc. Raymond is an avid fisherman and will be helping us out with lake & fish camp maintenance and care. He will be stopping by Fish Camp most days after 2:00 pm, so feel free to stop and visit with him - he might give you a few pointers!

We've asked Raymond to monitor Fish Camp on a daily basis, as we've recently experienced a bit of carelessness and/or vandalism with the fishing equipment. The HOA has an annual budget for fishing equipment and supplies, and unfortunately if it is necessary to replace more equipment than our budget allows, it may be necessary to stop supplying equipment. We ask that all visitors to Fish Camp be considerate of their neighbors by replacing rods in the racks, picking up any trash that you leave, and in general, caring for the facility.\

...source: Pam Chandler

COONAN O'BRIEN

After our varmint saga some posts below, resulting in a quick ride down the highway for Mister Dillo, there was a brief lull where our grass'n'weeds grew normally. Then more digging appeared, like tiny toy archaeologists were looking for artifacts. I reset the trap. First some bait was eaten but whatever ate it got away with Salmon breath. However, this AM brought another trapped digger. Even while in the cage it managed to ruin the grass under it.


Now I know many will see this and go "ooooh, how cute..." but you'd be wrong! This snarling, wretched, spiteful, straight-razor toting beast was quite intent on breaking through the slammer to slash and chew on my white ass.

My research said that you'd have to drive it at least 20 miles away because they can come back and will certainly find your house and seek revenge. (Okay I made up the revenge part, but they can really wreck a house when inside it, and they apparently will try to get inside - a neighbor trapped 2 DOZEN in Florida as they infested his home!)

And they can be rabid.

So, drastic measure time.



I can assure you the circle of life is an unbroken one. Read into this what you will.

PAVING

No doubt you've all seen the marked areas of pavement throughout the property over the past few weeks. We have awarded the contract for these repairs to Ballard's Asphalt & Concrete, and they are scheduled to be on-site this coming Tuesday, June 16th, to complete the work. It is anticipated that everything can be accomplished in one to two days, and the contractors will be re-routing traffic as they work. They will try to minimize any inconvenience, but will appreciate your patience while we complete this long-awaited project. I have attached a map to this e-mail locating the areas to be repaired. They include:

1) The approach to the East Gate, including dips and alligatoring pavement at both entrance and exit lanes
2) The significant dip in Club Blvd. on the westbound side near Malaquita
3) The pavement failures at the East Roundabout (Club Blvd. & Paraiso Parkway)
4) Corner of Musket Rim & Paraiso (both ends of Musket Rim)
5) Intersection of Overlook Pass & Calabria Court

On a second visit, not yet scheduled, curbs will be repaired and a pavement dip as you enter Malaquita Branch will be repaired, along with some other paving work for the Developer. Please don't hesitate to give me a call or an e-mail with any questions. Pam Chandler.

POOL CRUD VANISHED!

This might help you. I have no financial interest in what I am about to describe.

If your pool has accumulated what I can only guess to be calcium or other hard mineral deposits around the tile edging, you might know it's almost impossible to remove this scale. I have spent hours in the water with a pumice stone, rubbing until my hands were raw, even through a cloth 'protection.' No amount of scrubbing made any difference.

I saw advertised, bought and tried a 'miracle' gel which supposedly contained some type of acid which would cling to the crud and eventually detach it (I never was sure about what it would do to the water itself, but in short order I found it didn't work at all.)

I also tried pool acid itself... Muriatic. Diluted, then increasingly stronger. It works some, but you can't keep it where it needs to STAY due to that pesky gravity thing.


Crud on pool tile

Crud on spa wall at waterfall. I even tried chipping away with a chisel and hammer and a LOT of elbow grease.

Then Terri brought home a one-sheet for a new process. One of the realtors in Lakeway had the detail... the process is called Soda Blast. Think of sand blasting or bead blasting but with Magnesium Sulfate. From Wikipedia: "Magnesium sulfate is a chemical compound containing magnesium and sulfate, with the formula MgSO4. In its hydrated form the pH is 6.0 (5.5 to 7.0). It is often encountered as the heptahydrate, MgSO4·7H2O, commonly called Epsom salt." Said to be softer than alternatives, and claimed to leave your tiles intact, and be PH neutral, we hired the guys.

They arrived in a big truck trailer with a VERY large compressor on the flat trailer. Hoses, pressure vessel, and mixture pumps were unloaded.

The guys go to work.
They lowered the water about 8 inches and drained the spa completely, then went to work blasting the tiles. The magnesium sulfate turns grey when wet, and so did the pool.

Blasting
They 'sort of' cleaned the pool, but since so much of the stuff was in the water, obviously couldn't get it all.

Pool Murk, after...
I was told to refill, turn on the pumps and let them run for a while - 8 hours or so, then to backwash, and possibly repeat. After checking pressure on the filter, which surprisingly hadn't changed, I decided to let the pump run maybe 24 hours. The pressure still didn't change. Overnight the water went from really murky to clear!

You can decide for yourself if you think the process was successful. A good 4 years of crud is gone, the pool and spa look new and clean and, I am amazed. Finished tile

Cleaned Spa at waterfall. If you notice pits on one tile to left, I did that with chisel in another failed attempt to clean it myself.

The name of the company is Soda Blast Express.

Our water is sparkling clear today.

LUNKER LURKING

It's out there in the fishing hole. Oh yes. About 8 inches long. And hungry.

CAPTURED! AND RELEASED!

This is where the trap was set. Catfood bait.


I'll bet the beast weighs maybe 15-20 pounds!



I only hope THIS is the one which has been digging up our lawn and planting beds.

Until now, I can't recall ever seeing one up close. I have seen them occasionally on the roadside, with little Xs where the eyes would be.

The Texas armadillo is about the size of a large cat; its overall length is about 2½ feet, and adults weigh from twelve to seventeen pounds. The shell is really bone.

I drove this big fat one about 7 miles away and released it, somewhere where it hopefully will stay far from here. I let it go and it ran behind a fenced in property, once I shook it out of the trap.