I just started laying the base course of my dry stack retaining. Please have a look to see if anything wrong there. My dry stack wall will be 2.5' high, 1' wide and 73' long. The base is about 16" wide. you can find some photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldyoungguy88/sets/72157627101861970/ . The base is a 4" crushed stone layer. There will be a french drain on the hill about 6' from the wall. So water from the hill will be stopped in that french drain. There is another french drain in front of the wall about 2' from the wall. The wall crushed stone base will be connected with this french drain and water will be drained out by the french drain.

Few questions before I continue:

1. should I fill those small gaps/holes with crushed stone or leave them alone?

2. should I use the same or similiar thickness stone for the base course?

3. The base I laid looks good up to now?

4. I found it is very hard to find enough good cap stone for my 73' long wall. is there a way to cut the stone in order to get more good cap stone?

5. Any suggestion/advice?

thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: photos