Good morning! Are you up yet? What's your plans for today?

[avator]

I'm all that and a bag of chips.

[Jshooter71]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0424 CDST. Yesterday I got my mind locked on cutting down this dying tree in front of my house. I got ready and a call dropped for work at 0745. So I went to work, but on the way I inquired about a towable lift. The rental place I paid a visit to gave me a big ol’ run around, but I was determined. It was going to cost me $327 for a 35 foot lift, when I was looking for a 54 foot lift for $255. We use these things and other things like trailers, etc. often from commercial rental joints, but personnel, price and available equipment has changed at this particular place. But this job needs to be done. I also intended to pickup a new saw, but that didn’t work out either. My go to guy had no saws in stock. I didn’t feel like dropping another $500 at Lowe’s for a saw. So after work I went home to see if I could get my old Poulan Pro 50cc 20” going before I picked up the lift. I brought home a new bar & chain and with the stress of all going on I didn’t even think to get a spark plug & air filter. The saw fired up but would bog down after I took off the choke. So back out I went, to get the lift, and parts for my saw. While all this was going on, my wife got ahold of my landscaping neighbor who told my wife “don’t let John rent that lift, I got one!” So I got home and got my saw running hot and took down 2 smaller trees that also needed to come down. I cleaned everything up and my neighbor got home about dinner time and I see the lift towed behind his big red Ram. He texted me last night and we’re taking down trees today at 0800. Sorry for the long rant, but this job has been a long time coming and yesterday was turning pretty stressful. Work will be picking up too, which is how things like this always get put on hold. I’m so glad this is going to finally get done and isn’t going to cost me an HW & a Hawke to do it! I’ll make sure my wife takes pictures.

[Lt. Dan]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0500 CDST. Congratulations John. Free is always good.  A few years ago we had a pecan tree that died and it was located about 15 yards from the corner of our house.  My son's work had rented  a big self propelled bucket lift and his boss let him use it.  That weekend we took down many dead limbs across the property including that tree. I'm pretty good about felling a tree and having it drop where I want it to but this tree was leaning towards the house.

[Jshooter71]

This tree is funky, Brother Dan. It is only about 2 1/2 - 3 feet from my front porch, the main trunk is more than 2 1/2 feet thick and leans back toward the house, then leans back forward after it peaks my house and has two other main branches that run parallel across the front of the house. I believe it was some type of walnut, used to be beautiful, but it’s full of black ants and the woodpeckers have been harvesting out of it for years. It hasn’t produced walnuts for about 6 years or more and it’s full of woodpecker holes.

[bReTt]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0424 CDST. Yesterday I got my mind locked on cutting down this dying tree in front of my house. I got ready and a call dropped for work at 0745. So I went to work, but on the way I inquired about a towable lift. The rental place I paid a visit to gave me a big ol’ run around, but I was determined. It was going to cost me $327 for a 35 foot lift, when I was looking for a 54 foot lift for $255. We use these things and other things like trailers, etc. often from commercial rental joints, but personnel, price and available equipment has changed at this particular place. But this job needs to be done. I also intended to pickup a new saw, but that didn’t work out either. My go to guy had no saws in stock. I didn’t feel like dropping another $500 at Lowe’s for a saw. So after work I went home to see if I could get my old Poulan Pro 50cc 20” going before I picked up the lift. I brought home a new bar & chain and with the stress of all going on I didn’t even think to get a spark plug & air filter. The saw fired up but would bog down after I took off the choke. So back out I went, to get the lift, and parts for my saw. While all this was going on, my wife got ahold of my landscaping neighbor who told my wife “don’t let John rent that lift, I got one!” So I got home and got my saw running hot and took down 2 smaller trees that also needed to come down. I cleaned everything up and my neighbor got home about dinner time and I see the lift towed behind his big red Ram. He texted me last night and we’re taking down trees today at 0800. Sorry for the long rant, but this job has been a long time coming and yesterday was turning pretty stressful. Work will be picking up too, which is how things like this always get put on hold. I’m so glad this is going to finally get done and isn’t going to cost me an HW & a Hawke to do it! I’ll make sure my wife takes pictures.

That’s great John!

I have two trees that I would like taken down.  One pine, one redwood and one black walnut that needs to be cleaned up and some weight taken off.  Just under $10,000 to have them taken out.  You are getting off cheap my friend!

[Firewalker]

Good morning all! I pulled down all the trees that could hit the house or any outbuildings when we moved in a couple years back.

I'm not a fan of trees being anywhere close to my house after having and Oak fall on a house several years back.

We have pines for wind buffering but those are at least a hundred feet away from the house. Good job pulling those trees down, it can sure be stressful with all that energy hanging in the air waiting for something to crush!

[Blowpipe Sam]

Good luck John.  I love felling trees but not anywhere near a structure.
Anyhoo, it's shaping up to be a busy day at work.  The boat ramp is filling up.  The campground is full, and the picnic area is getting busy.  I'll be patrolling, doing roving interpretation, cleaning bathrooms, and dealing with any emergencies that crop up.  Just another day in paradise!

[avator]

Well, it's been an adventure but both atvs have a brand new set of taller, more aggressive tires on them.
I have a set of 2" spacers coming to set the front wheels on Betty Lou's Kodiak out to better match the stance of the rears.
It looks great with the taller wheels and set out 4" on the rear. She'll be able to straddle ruts much better.
I went 2" taller and more aggressive on the Rancher and set the rears out 2".
All toll I think I spent around $600.
Next, the Rancher gets snorkled and the radiator will get relocated up on top. Not in too big of a hurry to do hers, she don't go where I go... She goes around them big mud holes and pulls me out when I sink... lol

[Firewalker]

Well, it's been an adventure but both atvs have a brand new set of taller, more aggressive tires on them.
I have a set of 2" spacers coming to set the front wheels on Betty Lou's Kodiak out to better match the stance of the rears.
It looks great with the taller wheels and set out 4" on the rear. She'll be able to straddle ruts much better.
I went 2" taller and more aggressive on the Rancher and set the rears out 2".
All toll I think I spent around $600.
Next, the Rancher gets snorkled and the radiator will get relocated up on top. Not in too big of a hurry to do hers, she don't go where I go... She goes around them big mud holes and pulls me out when I sink... lol

Bill, did you get tires locally or online? I am looking for new rubber on my Polaris 6x6 this year and so far, all I can find is Polaris tires, no-can-do!

[avator]

Well, it's been an adventure but both atvs have a brand new set of taller, more aggressive tires on them.
I have a set of 2" spacers coming to set the front wheels on Betty Lou's Kodiak out to better match the stance of the rears.
It looks great with the taller wheels and set out 4" on the rear. She'll be able to straddle ruts much better.
I went 2" taller and more aggressive on the Rancher and set the rears out 2".
All toll I think I spent around $600.
Next, the Rancher gets snorkled and the radiator will get relocated up on top. Not in too big of a hurry to do hers, she don't go where I go... She goes around them big mud holes and pulls me out when I sink... lol

Bill, did you get tires locally or online? I am looking for new rubber on my Polaris 6x6 this year and so far, all I can find is Polaris tires, no-can-do!

I got them online.... Ebay..... lots of shopping.
Better to search by brand as opposed to source.
Look at reviews and comments to avoid scams.
Watch the cost of shipping and location... the closer they are to you and free shipping is good. I placed 3 orders to get them all and nothing took longer than 5 days and all were free shipping.

[Firewalker]

Will do, thank you.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Good morning!  Last day of a seven day week and I am looking forward to my days off.  More ranger stuff today.  Better start the day with the ranger’s prayer. “Lord, please don’t let nothing happen on my shift.”

[Jshooter71]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0430 CDST. And boy am I sore. We cut a total of 6 trees yesterday and it went great! Only chucked one small log through a window in my office.  The log bounced off the trunk, skidded down the wall and took a bad hop off the bushes back into the window. It was just a lower sash, easily replaceable, considering ALL the hazards, it was nothing to me. I boarded the window up with a sheet of 1/4” plywood until the window guy comes. Other than that small mishap, everything else came down safely and I’m indebted to my neighbor, Adam. We’re both veterans and gun guys. On our way in for lunch, I had him take a shot from each: my Walther Parrus, DPMS Panther A4, Walther LGU, XS60C and my Diana AMO3 Stealth. He only took one shot each, as we needed to eat lunch and had the last tree to fell and cleanup. But, at 30 meters kneeling, with the AMO3, he nailed the 1” spoon. I told him one day we don’t have work to do, to come over & shoot.

I figured I’d put up a post & some more pictures here: https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=159293.0

[avator]

Rambo let me sleep in until 5am. Depending on the weather, I have mowing planned today.

[Lt. Dan]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0630 CDST. We stayed up, watching a movie till around 1am this morning.  Yesterday the wind was blowing so hard I didn't even bother trying to shoot any.

Congratulations on the tree removal yesterday John. That one walnut was an ugly thing I see why you hadn't already removed it.  It was real close to the house. I'm glad you only had one mishap.  The proverbial bad bounce has probably happened to us all at one time or another.

Yesterday morning I hooked up my green trailer and hauled the last of the stored items to a friends house. She left he husband and had been living in a small apartment an we were storing some of her things for her.

It is suppose to rain this morning and high winds this afternoon so probably no shooting today.  My oldest daughter and her family are coming tomorrow and staying a couple of days so I will be helping Pam get things ready for their visit. 

[Jshooter71]

Thanks Brother Dan, I’m quite relieved. I’m excited for your visiting daughter & family, that sounds like a good time!

[Lt. Dan]

Thanks Brother Dan, I’m quite relieved. I’m excited for your visiting daughter & family, that sounds like a good time!

Thanks. It's been a long year since we have seen them. Regretfully they will only be able to visit a couple of days.  They are going to see his parents near the end of the week. We live in South Mississippi and his parents live 1.5hours north if Memphis.  Then must return to Memphis on Friday night. Andy, her husband,  is a paid guitarist in their church worship team and they have to practice Saturday for the EASTER service.

But we plan on making a trip to see them in the near future. 

[Firewalker]

Up at 8 (blessed sleep!) , coffee, walk around the house to look at trees after reading John's post and see that the black willows need some deep pruning.

I'll make charcoal from the wood for other uses.

Heading out to sharpen the chainsaw and gas it it.

[bReTt]

Good Morning GTA! Up at 0430 CDST. And boy am I sore. We cut a total of 6 trees yesterday and it went great! Only chucked one small log through a window in my office.  The log bounced off the trunk, skidded down the wall and took a bad hop off the bushes back into the window. It was just a lower sash, easily replaceable, considering ALL the hazards, it was nothing to me. I boarded the window up with a sheet of 1/4” plywood until the window guy comes. Other than that small mishap, everything else came down safely and I’m indebted to my neighbor, Adam. We’re both veterans and gun guys. On our way in for lunch, I had him take a shot from each: my Walther Parrus, DPMS Panther A4, Walther LGU, XS60C and my Diana AMO3 Stealth. He only took one shot each, as we needed to eat lunch and had the last tree to fell and cleanup. But, at 30 meters kneeling, with the AMO3, he nailed the 1” spoon. I told him one day we don’t have work to do, to come over & shoot.

I figured I’d put up a post & some more pictures here: https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=159293.0

Thanks for the pictures John!  I love the brick homes of the south.  We have brick homes here but they are less common than down there.  Great job on the trees!  What a relief 😅

[bReTt]

Up at 6.  Showered.  Caffeinated.  Shot in the calm morning.  Now it’s breezy and looking like rain.

Church at 11.  Lunch (beans).  Wanna go run through the trails but we shall see.  We walked it yesterday and I stormed the hills.  I’m waaaaaay out of shape!  I need to get some strength and endurance back.  I’m thinking about joining a gym since the gym at work has been shut down since COVID last March and considering trainer to help me in a direction.