I'm tired!
Left the house at 7:15 yesterday to do 3 bids on the way to the Snoqualmie Pass to do some tree removal for a friend who's building a house up there. Windshield buggy, so I cleaned it inside and out, at Safeway gas station, went to open the door after finishing, and I'd locked the button carelessly. Grooaannn. Went to Safeway store to use phone book to call locksmith....told him to hold for 7 minutes as I just thought to run over to a fella's house 3 blocks away (who used to work for me now and then) to see if he'd could drive me home 4 miles to get a spare key. Got him up, but no one there had a car. Then, I realized that a taxi would be cheaper and quicker, so did that...$20 and 20 minutes later, I'm on my way.
Did the 3 bids, then while driving, I had a brain fart---or thought I had, that I'd forgotten to load my gaffs. Called Scott, who lives up at the Pass, drove by his place to borrow his. Hadn't seen him all winter(lame) said hi to his very cool samoyed/half wolf "Jane" They were going rafting, and Jane doesn't like water, so was gonna be left at home. I didn't know that but Jane followed me to my truck, and I invited her to jump in. Then she wouldn't hop out when I asked her to, but jumped in the backseat and hunkered down with a mournful look. Scott had to come over to coax her out. Of course I razzed him that she likes me better!!
Head to the job 2 miles away, open the back of the truck, and low and behold, I had my gaffs anyhow. But it was good to see Scott! Pete and his wife were there moving brush around. They'd felled several trees perviously, and left a large one for me. Climbed up a witches broom infected grand fir. Had it limbed to 50 feet when I heard them say that there was a coon above me....Hmmm. So, I took a look at the lay of the land, spotted a pile of brush and a hole which they'd dug with a track hoe. Had them send up a pull line, I descended to set it across the dead end road in a neighbors tree (portawrap for tension) We watched the coon climb down to where the branches were thick--prolly where his hangout/nest was....He stopped and disappeared in the thick canopy. I threw a throw line up, hoping to shoo him down, to no avail.
so, I climbed up to about 18 feet, a height which I hoped would deliver the tree and poor coon directly over the low spot. They rolled the video and away she went, 75 feet of tree.....The coon appeared almost immediately, out of camera range (too bad I'd left mine in the car) stopped for maybe 5 seconds then ran off down the hill, faster than coons are wont to run!!
Did a small codom lead on another tree, discussed future view work, after they get the house built, and took off down the pass. Stopped in the historic town of Snoqualmie, took pics of the old train that offers rides, and an 11'6" 24 foot fir log on display, then headed to the spectacular Snoqualmie Falls. Hiked in 1/2 mile with three cameras, and one dinky tripod. Stayed nearly 3 hours firing away at will..as the sun dropped lower, the scene intensified dramatically, as ya'll will see onanother thread after I get the pics up....
Pointed the camera at some two legged fauna of various genera as well that most here will appreciate---considerably, methinx!!
Left there, now late, but with 2 more bids to do. Stopped before Carnation, and jumped a locked gate to say high to a customer for whom we removed 4 DED killed elms 4 years ago. (Some of you may recall the photos) The arsehole old recluse who owns the adjoining land had refused to do anything to treat his elms, and now all 15 or so of them are stone dead. Scott wanted me to bid on removing one of his remaining three that is too big for him to do. So I scored some more work when he has the $. Looked at the next job at a library under construction in Carnation. Called the last customer to apologize for being 3 hours late, and headed to Monroe to meet her, another 15 miles away, and further from home. She had a smallish red cedar with an old decayed spot at the base. They'd called the pwr co to ask advice (it's near the lines) Of course they said it needed to come down. I dsagreed, said it looked to have 75-80% strength...Suggested that it would be fine or could maybe use some thinning (which I didn't think is necessary or would help much if at all) Then suggested that it might be nice, since I'd saved her some $, that she consider paying me for my advice...She didn't think much of that, so I went on my not so merry way...Danged PUD guys......
Headed home via a detour to Eli's house in Snohomish..but first stopped at a customer's near him. They are both awesome gardeners-and out watering at 9 pm.. They have a fabulously colorful yard.....Doug had ably manned the camera when we removed a technically challenging populus alba 14 months ago. This will give me impetus to put that video together and share it with ya'll and him!
Stopped by Eli's and find out that his new gal and he are planning marriage! She's a sweetheart...and Cdn citizen....this will help her gain permanent residency to the USof Eh, and Eli to work in Canada (or so he said...)
Got home at 11:25, and downloaded 300 photos from 3 cameras..went to bed at 2 and up at 6....this has gotta stop.
Stand by for photos in another thread--sometime soon...they are pretty danged good, if'n I do say so meself....
Oh, almost forgot. I 'd had no time for food, since 1:30, so Eli fed me snax. Got home to an entire wild Alaska coho-silver salmon (fresh not previously frozen-can run over $20 a pound for wild sockeye or King..and silver is about as good!!) that I'd scored for $4.99 pound (Wow!) Cooked up a slab of it, and had an incredibly delicious meal-- at midnight! I'll have to cook the rest today or tomorrow, as I don't wanna freeze it this time.