You know I’ve had my share The Good. As luck would have it I was sightseeing on another road in town the utility company was burning the end of year budget on. Like a kid in a candy store. Three neighbors were roadside viewing the damage. I stopped and asked if they wanted all that hickory to disappear. No, they’re keeping it but I can have the big oak rounds on the corner of the property. I’m good with that. Thanked them and said I’d be back today. Grabbed a load today. Because they’re not actual logs I only load one layer. As I was loading I met the utilities regional manager for all road crews. He stopped and yelled Thank You out his window for helping clear the wood. We had a good 15 minute conversation. Gave me his business card for future scores. Promised to take down a dead ash on my property that’s leaning towards the wires. I don trust the hinge enough to lean it back away from the road. Twould be might embarrassing to drop a tree and take out all the electricity in the neighborhood,,,,he agreed that wouldn’t be a good thing LOL. Said he is taking down another 40 trees on my road,,,,,I’m good with that Shortly after that one of the neighbors I had spoken to the day before came out and said take all the hickory. They took a couple logs and they had enough. Make it go away. So with the warming weather and rain coming I decided to grab another load of hickory this afternoon before the lawns turn to mush. The Bad. Some lazy procrastinator was running his trailer with tires a little low on air. That same lazy fool should have known better. Anyway a tight turn jack knife to get the trailer into a tight spot was not on my bingo card. That sinking feeling when you’re stranded by yourself on the other side of town with a load of shagbark, no jack, no spare, no air and it’s closing time at most businesses. I lucked out and called the one RV store in the area and they had a tire on a rim. I’ll take it. Called my sister for a ride, what are sisters for? Occurred to me AAA can do this job even easier than I. I’m not even sure my floor jack would have lifted that trailer. Gotta say they did a bang up job. Driver shoved the entire flatbed wrecker underneath the trailer and picked the entire thing up. Had the tire on in minutes. I got lucky on that for sure. Guy knew his stuff and had a great attitude. If the rain holds off I may go back tomorrow. With a little extra air in the tires,,,,,,,,
Wow!! This is an epic score. Hoard on!! I’d be all over that to be sure no one else took a single piece!
Got everything going on at this score. Good wood ,good connections. and a flat tire. Been there done that. AAA has saved my arse many times. Flats, dead batteries, out of gas and of course breakdowns. Nice that enough snow has melted to make it a little less messy. Lots more to be had Joe?
Just checked the forecast. Should be able to grab another load in the morning. It’s shorter stuff which is harder to load but it’ll have a better home here. The oak I can get even if things get mushy. There must be 50-75 cords of wood on that road. Most of it is up on steep banks that I won’t deal with. I’m good with what I’ve been offered.
I got AAA when I decided to drive that old Lincoln to Mississippi. I can’t remember ever getting a flat on the road in my life. They certainly towed that truck back to the dealership enough to pay off. One dead battery and locked the keys in that Lincoln once. It’s nice to have some backup when things go awry. Boatload of wood still there. The Eversource guy offered to have the driver deliver to my house. I’ve already talked to the driver, he has a friend that he delivers all the nice stuff too. Know that I figured he’d bring me all the gnarly crotches I’ll have to see what “blue dots” are on my own road,,,,,,,maybe add a few of my own LOL
Wow! Great score! Bummer on that wheel…but nice fix. Hoping the weather stays good and you can grab more!
Sounds like one of those rare days when the good really outweighs the bad. Good for you. There is more coming and now you also have a spare rim.
Did grab another load of shag this morning. Tomorrow I’ll head back for the rest of the red oak. The three loads and boss lady laying claim to any future mice that inhabit the log pile. Her favorite past time, the cat taught her well.
All in all you’re correct. Tires were getting a little worn anyway and the rims are el cheapos. They are formed and welded crossways. The joint and weld isn’t the greatest job. That’s where the air leaks come from. So tires and rims were in my future anyway. Just a little sooner than expected.
That shag is gonna give your hydro MAJOR problems when you try to split it. Best if I take it off your hands. All kidding aside that's some sweet wood. Have you run hickory through the box wedge before?
There’s a long list of things I don’t know. Somewhere near the top is the reason why that box wedge splits hickory better than Tulip or maple
I always marvel at you east coast guys having big trees that are so beautifully ROUND lol. Gorgeous wood.
Dont worry, we have our share of craggly ugly trees too. You just won’t see me scoffing them up. I only use veneer grade logs for firewood. Brad rightly busts my stones for building a box wedge on a 17 ton splitter LOL. Sometimes my desire to build something breeches the bounds of logic.
Finally went back for the last load I’m taking. Had made up my mind it’s time to stop collecting and time to start splitting. Just remembered five minutes ago I had driven to the wood dump Friday night after dinner and I saw logs there. Cold and dark but I recognized Black Birch anyway. I’ll need to take another ride in the daylight. Think I’ll go out for lunch today and stop on my way back. Still have a bunch of dead oaks in the woods that need to be cut down and brought home. Those will get processed first.
Easy Breezy. Did you ever buy the winch? So far I give this bulldog five stars. FWIW I just stopped by the wood dump. What I thought was Black Birch turned out to be some big pine branches LOL.
Lately I've been busy on the farm still cleaning up downfall from the Feb. '25 ice storm, and I've been able to load all of that with the skidsteer. So with little time or current need, I haven't made any progress on the frame and haven't bought the winch yet. But I will, eventually! Glad to know that winch is working out - I plan to buy one identical to it when I make my leap. I probably need to go ahead and buy it before they raise the price or discontinue it - that would be my luck!
