During our time in Montana, the most difficult thing about our house has been the driveway. It’s steep, it has sharp curves and sudden drop-offs, and in the winter it turns to ice. Over the years we’ve shoveled it and even raked it. But once we’d paved it, I thought things would finally be easier.
Alas, today I had to sweep the driveway. Yes, all 1,800 feet of it. During the winter, our snow plow crew had done a great job keeping it clear for our cars, but during those months, a bunch of sand had been dumped on it to provide traction. As it turns out, when the snow finally melts, the sand doesn’t go anywhere. It just sits on the driveway, thick enough in some areas that the car actually spins out on it!
So we bought a 24″ wide broom, and I went to work. Here’s a close-up of my point of view as I worked my way down the asphalt.
It’s taken me two days, but I’ve finally cleared all 21,000 square feet. It looks a lot better:
As I did this, I kept telling myself “next winter, I won’t have them lay down any sand”. But when the snow and ice show up, I may change my mind…