On Day 10, we fueled up with breakfast before tackling the door arches, an iconic focal point. With the dome towering overhead, scaling and passing bags turned treacherous. Still, spirits stayed upbeat as our natural wonder took shape.
Mariana advised critical reinforcement techniques for openings. We compacted thick supportive layers below the arch to prevent settling. Sizeable pillars on both sides help brace the entryway. For clean lines, we used a wooden frame as a guide. The arch was achieved with carefully overlapped pillow method bags, tamping front rows progressively more acutely. Dense stuffing and tight barbed wire integration maintains sturdiness over time.
Finally, we smoothed curved exterior cob around the arch. Though it got super-hot and difficult moving inside the tall dome, I pictured admiring this beautiful entrance soon.
I crashed after dinner duty, overwhelmed. Chandra Mohan kindly served me meals at my resting spot, little gestures of care that uplift spirits. With sore muscles but swelling pride, I eagerly anticipate admiring our handcrafted doorway soon if I can just push through 3 final days!