The net that we put up in September of 2024 did not last very long, unfortunately. We think it must have been a lemon because the net we had before this one lasted 10 years. Once it got a hole in it this time, they just started happening one after another. After the first hole, they patched it up and put one of the old aprons over the top of the bed of the net to keep it safe to continue using until we could change it out, but it wasn't ideal. George got the new net shortly after he ordered it, but there wasn't anyone with experience available to help us put it up until now. Herdlyn flew out to supervise the install. I wasn't in town the last time they did this, so it was my first experience putting up a new net. It's quite the job!
It's already a labor intensive and tedious job, but add to it, we have a pool under the net so you can't just lay the net out in place. They worked out a system where the new net was suspended over the old one, and they didn't remove the old net until the new one was hanging where to was supposed to go. We had to disassemble various parts and splice the spreaders onto the new net. Most of these things didn't require multiple people, but we all wanted to help (and learn), so it was a lot of this.
Rod and George have done this a few times, but it's always helpful to have an expert there to make sure it's going smoothly and that everything is safe and lined up properly. Herdlyn has a lot of experience, and he also has a very calm and patient demeanor, so he's a great one to lead the process.
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An added challenge is that it's July, and it's very hot out today. We did have some cloud cover in the morning, so that helped, but it made for a long hot day in the sun.
It didn't actually take that long to get the new net up and in place, but it was all the little things (which are very important to get right) that took most of the time. Even after this goes up, it will be a lot of tweaking to make sure everything is lined up right and the net is stretched to the proper distance.
Tying the aprons on to the new net is a pretty tedious process, and they had to untie it and retie a couple times because they either miscounted squares of had it too far forward. George, Herdlyn, Rod and Bob mostly handled that part.
We took plenty of breaks in front of the air conditioner in the shade, and drank a lot of water. It wasn't all that bad for most of us who were just helping when there was something we could do.
I'm sure this is exactly what Jan wanted to do on her birthday, but hey, a new net is a pretty great gift! Happy birthday Jan!
Once the net was in place and everything was connected like it was supposed to be, we had to go ahead and take our first swings! It's so white and clean! Nothing like that new net feeling!
Thanks to this crew for putting in the work on a hot July day to get our beautiful new net up! Now, let's hope we get more than 18 months out of this one.
