Normally, the floating dock or swim platform would have been set in place much earlier in the year, but I needed to build some new “anchors” to replace the huge rock that got away last year.
To replace the rock, this year there are three five gallon pails filled with rocks held together with cement and an eye bolt for attaching the chain.
These three pails, each weighing 100+ lbs. are linked together on the end of a 50′ chain. I’ve positioned them at one end of the dock for launching, and they are causing the dock to seriously dip down in the water.
Once in position the pails were edged very close to the edge and then pushed over. It’s quite calm today so the true test will come on a day with a strong south-west wind, then we will see if the new anchor system hold.
Immediately upon splashing into the water this huge group of pelicans comes over for a look.
Surprisingly, they don’t seem afraid and actually swim closer for a better look and hang around the dock for 15-20 minutes.