The Carrasito

          The carrasito was a free flowing spring for many years.  It was one of many springs on the same underground water supply.  The largest in the chain was at Cliff Thorn’s ranch to the south of us.  Then down the Chavez Canyon were a few small springs.  The water disappeared underground for several miles before coming up at the Carrasito, the Garcia, and finally, the Artesian.  This was all changed when SRP drained the water table to provide water for their new power plant.  They were required, after a lawsuit, to maintain several wells on the ranch until hell froze over.

         The Carrasito was one of these.  It had been a free flowing spring for years.  SRP came out, drilled a hole, and placed a pipe into the water supply.  At that time, the water was still semi-pressurized.  The pipe was attached to a control valve to turn on and off the well.

         The pipe itself was contained in a large well casing so the well would not collapse on itself.  The top of this casing was sealed by a large metal plate.

         Earl and I were at the well, overseeing the work being done.  Earl was standing at the well head and kneeling on the steel plate when all at once the ground disappeared from underneath him.  Evidently the well had created a sinkhole and Earl happened to be standing there when it decided to collapse.  The ground dropped quite a few feet and left Earl perched on the well head.  Needless to say, there were a bunch of workers gaping at Earl and one teenager trying his hardest not to fall down laughing.

         I don’t remember how we got him off that well head, though I seem to remember the use of a sturdy ladder.  I do remember that he was a lot quieter for the rest of the day, and even more so when the picture popped back into my head, forcing another round of giggles.  I’ll always remember that skinny, old man kneeling on a small pipe head, trying to keep his balance and save face while searching for a way out of his predicament. 

         Should I have been concerned?  Probably.  But then again, I figured he had it coming from all the other situations he put me in.  It’s called Karma!