What Damn Hole — Part Two

I worked like a dog all day and dug that hole bigger. You know, that hole that hates me worse than I hate it! Found the leak (just a few inches further than yesterday). But it was damnably hard to get at because there were even More roots to be cut and axed! Anyway, about 4 in the afternoon I turned on the pump (for a test) without covering it up. Seemed to work, no leaks. The pump restarted 4 or 5 times while the hoses ran water, then it quit coming on again and so now there’s no pressure, and therefore no water! I just tried to turn it on after a rest, but it almost immediately kicked the breaker off. It had kicked off the breaker a time or two in the last week or two, though I hadn't paid it much mind, just started it again later. I'm wondering if it's just an accident that the pump or switch or something went out on the day I worked like hell on it. I never touched anything mechanical or electric—just dug the hole, found the leak, used 2 menders to insert the piece of new hose, tightened it all, and it was done. Hard part of course was digging a hole that would let me get at the hose—and squat in the hole to reach the hose and jam it and the couplers together! That latter was a bitch for a fat old cripple like me! I'm fairly sure what I repaired couldn't be related to the pump trouble, but it sure is exasperating not to be able to enjoy a little of the fruits of my labor today.

Bugger it all. It occurs to me that that pump and flexible hose weren't really made to last this more than 30 years like it has, that we were supposed to dump it when city water got out here! My family took the city water, but kept the well system. If the pump can't be fixed with some ease, I'm ready to drink bottled water and forget about watering the lawn and flowerbeds.

Later in the evening (approximately 8): I consulted with my brother in law about the pump and decided to proceed with using it. I removed the door to the pump house so that the temperature won’t get so high, something I just hadn’t done yet this year. I don’t know how much longer it will stay trouble-free, but it did a good bit of work just now without giving out or knocking itself unconscious or tripping the breaker. I got so pleased I went ahead and backfilled the hole, using some sand in the immediate area over and under the fixed hose. If the pump does go bad in some way, at least I had a chance to test my repair of the leaky hose. Did I mention how long I delayed fixing the leak? I’m not sure, but I do remember it was a cold month when I started to think I should do something about it! Some time ago!

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