Wow what a busy two weeks
I still can't believe I got it all done.
Two weeks ago I headed down to Hilton Head again. This time, I had a time crunch and lots to do. My task was to finish milling th last 3 Live Oak trunks that I had saved from Hurricane Mathew in 2016. The house has been sold and I needed to get the Live Oak off the property.
I left on Wednesday at 8 AM. 7 1/2 hours later I arrived in HHI. I immediately began to attack the trees. I had already made the first cut in the 2nd tree (the first was completed and drying in the garage). I milled until dark (about 6 more hours) and completed the 2nd tree.
I connected my ATV winch to the back of my truck and winched the next tree into position for milling first thing the next morning.
I couldn't start making noise until 9 AM so I touched up the chain on my saw and started to cut at 2 minutes after 9. My jig failed about noon so I needed to take 2 hours to replace a part of that. I also needed to have my trailer lights fixed and pick up the trailer to tow all of this wood home. Then a quick resharpen and off I went again.
I milled until the sun was low on the horizon and finished the third tree. I was out of time. It was Thursday night and I needed to be returning to Knoxville the next morning. The largest and most difficult tree did not get done. I'm still sad about that but the time factor didn't work out.
Friday morning dawned early and I loaded a U-haul trailer with 18 boards 8 feet long 2 inches thick and averaging 18 inches wide.
The wood was down to 35% moisture content so each board only weighed about 125 lbs. Still a hefty load at 2200 to 2500 lbs. (435 board feet approximately) I wasn't looking forward to 450 miles towing this load.
The truck was specified at 5000 lb towing capacity, the trailer at 7000 lbs so I knew I could make it if I was able to get up the Blue Ridge Mountains and over the top. I got everything loaded and I was on the road by 10 AM. Already a full days work and I still had a long drive ahead.
The drive was uneventful, well as uneventful as a 450 mile journey towing 2500 lbs can be. In Knoxville I unloaded the trailer (not a small task), cleaned it out and returned it. I rolled into home about 9:30 PM. I was totally drained.
But wait, that's not all!
That was just the beginning of my trek.
I'll share the next leg of my journey tomorrow. You may have guessed, if not....Read the last sentence of the first paragraph again. You will get a hint.
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Sounds like a lot of work! At least most is behind you!
I too live in S.C.(Clemson area) and the rain has been insane !
Best of success to you!
Mike
I can see why you were drained after doing all that. That's quite the accomplishment. Waiting for the next post.
That is an amazing amount of physical (and mental) work, my friend! You must have the strength of an ox and a great back! Looking forward to post 2!
Erin :)!
I was exhausted halfway through reading your post, It's tougher when there's a time limit.
Shoo, hectic Craig! You must be exhausted yet I would imagine you also feel very fulfilled? Strenuos physical work like that is so rewarding.
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Dang hurricanes. We are still rebuilding here on the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Harvey. Slow, but progress is being made fortunately for the families effected.