Today....

[Matias]

How's it going?

Still on evac warning, but downgraded from order the afternoon of the 4th, so my family was allowed to come back. The reduction in green cover around us certainly isn't helping with the 113⁰ weather. They are still mopping up the fire, but it is considered under control. Thanks for checking in.

 

[The Green One]

Ironic that guys like us seldom seek power

Yep!

 

[Bucknut]

Unfortunate that the system has evolved so that only money matters. Either you’re wealthy enough to fund your own campaign or you’re popular enough to elicit huge donations, but if either dries up it’s game over.

As an example, there seems to be a growing movement among big Dem donors (Abigail Disney and others) to defund the entire party unless and until Joe throws in the towel. If enough big shots withhold funds it’s game over. True across the board. Not a great situation, but in a world where hyper-expensive tv ad buys are crucial I don’t see it changing.

Edit: glad you’re well. Sorry for derail.

 

[Matias]

Unfortunate that the system has evolved so that only money matters. Either you’re wealthy enough to fund your own campaign or you’re popular enough to elicit huge donations, but if either dries up it’s game over.

As an example, there seems to be a growing movement among big Dem donors (Abigail Disney and others) to defund the entire party unless and until Joe throws in the towel. If enough big shots withhold funds it’s game over. True across the board. Not a great situation, but in a world where hyper-expensive tv ad buys are crucial I don’t see it changing.

More than just donors, loads of elected representatives- Democrats- are drafting an open letter to ask Joe to step aside, for the sake of the party and the country. His administration has a few wins logged now, and he should retire on those wins as he said he would early on.

 

[96coal449]

 

[southsoundtree]

New garden!

Seeds germinated like gangbusters in this heat.

Lots of 'starts'.

A biochar bottom layer (dismantled a burn spot), 2/3 garden mix and 1/3 mushroom compost on top.



Added an extension to the far bed After taking the picture. I had extra soil along with a couple dahlias and a strawberry in containers that I thought would be easier/ better in the bed.

 

[islandarb]

We were spared once again. Our neighbours lost everything. Not a roof left on.

 

[96coal449]

Glad your good Swing.
My regards to your neighbors and others who did loose.
Time heals.

 

[Neill]

Woke up to a noise this morning. I thought it was my son, later went outside to find on of my oaks dropped a 10” limb. Calm morning, been dry and hot here. My shed took it like a champ. Just dented the cap. Crazy lucky and I was shocked, I can only describe it as sudden limb drop, no obvious defects at the place of failure

 

[96coal449]

Woke up to a noise this morning. I thought it was my son, later went outside to find on of my oaks dropped a 10” limb. Calm morning, been dry and hot here. My shed took it like a champ. Just dented the cap. Crazy lucky and I was shocked, I can only describe it as sudden limb drop, no obvious defects at the place of failureView attachment 94525View attachment 94527View attachment 94526

That's a lot of weight dropped from height. If you haven't, check inside for any ridgepole damage.

 

[oldoakman]

That time of year for SLD. Glad there was no real damage. I would cry if my shed/garage got flattened by an SLD

 

[Neill]

That's a lot of weight dropped from height. If you haven't, check inside for any ridgepole damage.

I thought the same thing but no, framing is all good. Must have swung , hit tips first and then sprung off the roof. The butt landed 30-40 away from its starting point. Probably the worst damage was to the white oak it’s resting on- damaged the buttress A bit

 

[Fivepoints]

My buddy was taking a pick of the downtown skyline when. I came flying past on the crane ball and photo bombed him.

 

[islandarb]

My buddy was taking a pick of the downtown skyline when. I came flying past on the crane ball and photo bombed him.

View attachment 94543

Great shot Points....

 

[Fivepoints]

Had to setup on quite a slope. That's 35 inches of cribbing under the left rear outrigger.

 

[Serf Life]

We took down this lightning struck pine with sweet lines of bark blown off. Underground utilities were near its base and a bunch of electrical stuff got fried in the building.

 

[27RMT0N]

Soooo, I ended up buying a bucket truck the other day.

I've always kind of wanted one, but then convinced myself it wasn't useful enough out here because most of my work isn't accessible via truck: too far away from roads/driveways most of the time, and only reaches half way up a lot of our trees, but the idea never left my head. Then I rented a 45' lift a while back and it was just awesome for the job, and that got the wheels in my head turning again. I convinced myself I'll eventually get a lift, maybe a 72HD+ Arbor Pro, but even used those wind up at like $100k. Decent looking older used under-CDL bucket trucks tend to be in the $50k-$60k range, which I decided was too much for what I was considering an interim solution. Then I saw this one for $30k in Idaho, suspiciously cheap, and decided even if I needed to put $10k into it, that was still worth it.

So I walked onto the ferry, took a bus to the airport, flew to Boise and the dealer was literally 6 minutes from the airport. Took it for a drive, tested the lift and dump box, and it all seemed to work, so I bought it and started the 575 mile drive home. It was 106 degrees out, and 100 miles into the drive it was overheating and blew a coolant hose on the interstate, 30 miles from any town. Amazingly I managed to find a heavy tow company and an after-hours mechanic, and within a few hours I was back on the road. Drove into the night, got a little rest in the cab, and got it on the ferry home.

Admittedly it's a bit of a hooptie, I'm playing with it at the house finding all the little things wrong with it, but it all seems solid and functional. Pretty soon I'll get a mechanic to look it over and address what is needed, but I'm excited to have another tool in the arsenal.

 

[Matias]

Soooo, I ended up buying a bucket truck the other day.

I've always kind of wanted one, but then convinced myself it wasn't useful enough out here because most of my work isn't accessible via truck: too far away from roads/driveways most of the time, and only reaches half way up a lot of our trees, but the idea never left my head. Then I rented a 45' lift a while back and it was just awesome for the job, and that got the wheels in my head turning again. I convinced myself I'll eventually get a lift, maybe a 72HD+ Arbor Pro, but even used those wind up at like $100k. Decent looking older used under-CDL bucket trucks tend to be in the $50k-$60k range, which I decided was too much for what I was considering an interim solution. Then I saw this one for $30k in Idaho, suspiciously cheap, and decided even if I needed to put $10k into it, that was still worth it.

So I walked onto the ferry, took a bus to the airport, flew to Boise and the dealer was literally 6 minutes from the airport. Took it for a drive, tested the lift and dump box, and it all seemed to work, so I bought it and started the 575 mile drive home. It was 106 degrees out, and 100 miles into the drive it was overheating and blew a coolant hose on the interstate, 30 miles from any town. Amazingly I managed to find a heavy tow company and an after-hours mechanic, and within a few hours I was back on the road. Drove into the night, got a little rest in the cab, and got it on the ferry home.

Admittedly it's a bit of a hooptie, I'm playing with it at the house finding all the little things wrong with it, but it all seems solid and functional. Pretty soon I'll get a mechanic to look it over and address what is needed, but I'm excited to have another tool in the arsenal.

View attachment 94583

View attachment 94584

View attachment 94585

View attachment 94586

View attachment 94587

View attachment 94588

View attachment 94589

View attachment 94590

View attachment 94591

My buddy has that same one I think. Does yours have the elevator? Either way, they are surprisingly capable at their limits.

 

[27RMT0N]

Yah, they made a ton of these International forestry trucks. No elevator on this, all of those are CDL trucks which I was avoiding, plus they are longer and less maneuverable, which is limiting in our tight driveways.

With forestry trucks, I know both the lift and chip box aren't in ideal locations for site setup compared to dedicated trucks, but there is rarely space for multiple trucks in my work sites anyways, nor do I have the needed employees/drivers. 60'+ rear mount under CDL trucks with a short wheelbase would be the best truck solution here, but those are VERY hard to come by on the used market.

 

[VenasNursery]

Soooo, I ended up buying a bucket truck the other day.

I've always kind of wanted one, but then convinced myself it wasn't useful enough out here because most of my work isn't accessible via truck: too far away from roads/driveways most of the time, and only reaches half way up a lot of our trees, but the idea never left my head. Then I rented a 45' lift a while back and it was just awesome for the job, and that got the wheels in my head turning again. I convinced myself I'll eventually get a lift, maybe a 72HD+ Arbor Pro, but even used those wind up at like $100k. Decent looking older used under-CDL bucket trucks tend to be in the $50k-$60k range, which I decided was too much for what I was considering an interim solution. Then I saw this one for $30k in Idaho, suspiciously cheap, and decided even if I needed to put $10k into it, that was still worth it.

So I walked onto the ferry, took a bus to the airport, flew to Boise and the dealer was literally 6 minutes from the airport. Took it for a drive, tested the lift and dump box, and it all seemed to work, so I bought it and started the 575 mile drive home. It was 106 degrees out, and 100 miles into the drive it was overheating and blew a coolant hose on the interstate, 30 miles from any town. Amazingly I managed to find a heavy tow company and an after-hours mechanic, and within a few hours I was back on the road. Drove into the night, got a little rest in the cab, and got it on the ferry home.

Admittedly it's a bit of a hooptie, I'm playing with it at the house finding all the little things wrong with it, but it all seems solid and functional. Pretty soon I'll get a mechanic to look it over and address what is needed, but I'm excited to have another tool in the arsenal.

View attachment 94583

View attachment 94584

View attachment 94585

View attachment 94586

View attachment 94587

View attachment 94588

View attachment 94589

View attachment 94590

View attachment 94591

Congrats