These bags can be like that.
It was reccommended to me to always mix 2-3 bags together dry before using but that is a pain.
I prefer to add one shovel full of fresh Portland to each bag. This will give you much stronger stones for very little extra cost.

Thanks tufaenough. I have not bought any Portland yet this year. Those 96 lb bags are just too much for me to manage. I don't think I could mix up 2 bags of even 60lb at a time either. I can normally only mix 40lb at a time and that is by donning gloves and mixing it by hand, starting at one end. I do sometimes envy a man's upper body strength. Oh, well, we all have our strenths and our weaknesses. Not too many men have total strangers walk up to them and offer help in Lowe's. There are perks to being a girl. Well, I'm planning some bona fide tufa projects, so maybe its time I bite the bullet and buy the portland. I'll just have to hear some minor grubblings from DH when I get home. Or maybe I can buy a big, wheeled trashcan, have the people at the store put it in the bin, then put the bin in the car. I could probably get it out of the car by myself, then wheel it over to the shed. Hmmm, wheels are turning - where there's a will, there's a way. So, what do the other tufa gals on here do?

Some people take 5 gallon buckets with them and transfer into them at the store. Lighter than the big bags. That is what I store mine in at home. Snap on the lid and store.
paws

Great tip, paws! There is a construction site next door to me with lots of those 5 gallons buckets w/ lids. I've filled those up with sand & gravel, so I know I can move those. Thanks!!

My method is similar to Paws, I have a Jimmy, they load it,I come home, pull the bag on to the tailgate, gather my pails, make an "H" slit in the bag and scoop it out. I can pack a couple of pails to the garage (of course I don't park in there :))

I've restled with more 'heavier than I can handle' things like the 94# bag of portland, furniture, etc than I should admit. Finally, I decided that the cost of a hydraulic lift table quickly pays for itself ($120 @ No. Tool). It can hold 660 lbs and is great to pull up to the tailgate of the pickup, push the bag off onto the table then lower to ground. Need a hard surface to roll the table on though.

The worst part of making tufa is handling those 94# bags. If I go to a big box store, I just wait until some gent comes along and helps me handle it. But, I prefer going to those places that I can drive my car to the site and someone places it in the car. When I get home, I "manhandle" it onto the hand truck and roll it to my work area. Whew! I probably go through 15-20 bags a year. I just hope it doesn't go up in price like everything else has. I'm sure having fun tho. The hosta and rhubarb leaves are out and I'm casting like crazy.