They Call Me Crazy Bastard

RIP

2010-01-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

Click the image to visit my new blog, HICKWILLY.

I woke up this morning and the first thought in my head was to kill Crazy Bastard.

Ma Pocock was happy to hear the news for obvious reasons.

I'm neither crazy nor a bastard - so it's false advertising.

For those femme-types who think I'm crazy, well, that's just because lily soft minds will never understand rough and ready country ways.

Chow!

Book Burners Unite!

2010-01-06T07:18:00.001-08:00

It was good to read in London's Metro paper about UK seniors, poor, and unemployed burning books in order to stay warm this winter. Good because now I don't feel so all alone.

Here's an excerpt from the article....

"Workers at one charity shop in Swansea, in south Wales, described how the most vulnerable shoppers were seeking out thick books such as encyclopaedias for a few pence because they were cheaper than coal."

Morning Fox Tracks

2010-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Another perfect morning in Deerwood Forest.

Human tracks to the left, ski tracks to the right,
and fox tracks in the middle.

Skiddin' Back

2010-01-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

After about a week on the sore back list, I jumped on the sled and zoomed over to ground zero. My simple back to work plan today was to attempt to skid the SunBurn dugout canoe to Ma Pocock's big house to do some more top secret canoe-making ancient temple super secret carving.

The SunBurn dugout skid chained to the back of the sled hitch.
This photo taken at the base of ground zero.

It worked! This first test of the sled's skidding ability is a resounding
success. It was great to see the stern of the canoe plow back
powder in its wake on the way to the big house. The canoe did
slip the chain once, but I was able to carry the lost canoe about
25 metres on my shoulder, back to chain with no problems.
Should've taken a picture of that!

Later I returned to the FMO for some ancient temple secret back stretching activities.

Here I am slowly sliding my major back muscles over a sapling rail.
Does the sledsuit make me look fat?

Onto loose torso twisting from side to side. Not as glamourous
as it looks, I find.

This is my mime routine 'inside the box'. Y'know what?
My back didn't hurt so much when I took the clogs off to stretch.
Sometimes, I just forget they're on.

Meanwhile, damp snow gear dries over the wood stove.

Brought the skis in and wondered what to do about my
'sticking snow' issue.

Then I composed haiku poetry for a while as I
meditated on the condition of my skis.

The ritual sacrifice of saplings to appease the sun, canoe,
lake, river, rapids, wind, and sky gods. Alas, I can
reveal to you no more of the ceremonial rites - whatever
those will turn out to be.

Sock 'N Clog

2010-01-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

Looks so wrong, feels so right.

The Lumberjack Bill Show: Chainsaw Loading

2010-01-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Lumberjack Bill.

In today's segment, I'm gonna show you how I put the bar and chain on a chainsaw. Remember, everybody, don't handle a chainsaw unless you've been trained by an expert.

The chainsaw engine must be shut off when doing any adjustments.

The disassembled parts of a Stihl MS 260 chainsaw.

The first thing I do is place the chain into the track slot
of the bar with the chain teeth in the proper orientation.
The chain teeth travel from motor over the top of the bar,
and return to the motor on the underside of the bar.

This is the tricky part: While holding the chain tight to the bar
horizontally with one hand, the other hand sets the chain around
the motor's sprocket wheel. This wheel pulls the chain around the bar.

As I set the chain around the motor sprockets, the bar must
also be set into the chain tensioning post which is located
just to the left of the screwdriver on the MS 260.

While I still hold the loose chain and bar in position, I slowly
tighten the bar adjustment bolt with the flathead screwdriver.
This adjustment bolt is set between the two larger mounting
bolts on the MS 260, but the location may vary on different models.

With the chain tightened, but with still some play in it, I place
the chain cover into position and finger tighten the nuts to hold the
cover well in place.

Now I do a final adjustment on the bar tension bolt with the
screw driver.

I like to have about 1/4" of gap on the chain when pulled away from the
bar. I'll click off the chain break and slide the chain along the
bar track to make sure it slides back and forth easily.

Once the chain tension is set, I use my chainsaw socket tool to
firmly tighten the bolts on the chain cover.

Now the mystery chainsaw is ready to operate. I'll check the
tension on the chain (with engine off) after running it for five minutes.
The motion and heat of the chainsaw may require me to adjust
the chain tension on the bar from time to time. I pay close attention
to this. Caution and respect and for the chainsaw helps prevent injury.

That's all for now.

Just remember: a chainsaw is a potentially dangerous tool. Handle only with expert training and supervision.

This is Lumberjack Bill saying, "Good Luck and Be Ready!"

Coyote Tracks?

2010-01-02T07:00:00.001-08:00

These running prints in sets of four were blurred by
the deep snow. This makes positive identification difficult.
At least for me it does.

For the last three weeks or so, I've seen some unfamiliar tracks along the Deerwood Trails. I think they might be coyote tracks. Here's the coyote wiki.

They seem bigger than fox and smaller than wolf. It would be a loner, whatever it is. Not deer. I know that.

Right now, for me it's a toss up between a coyote and a fox. Dog? The neighbour's dog passed away a month ago. There are no dogs nearby. These are fresh tracks.

Here's a description of tracks (source)...

Coyote Tracks - The coyote track closely resembles that of a dog or fox although the coyote tends to follow a straight path across open areas where the others will wander or follow aspects of the landscape. The print is a rough oval shape with four toes bearing claw prints. The larger front foot has a much larger pad than the smaller rear foot.
Straddle: 10.5 - 15 cm (4.2 - 6 in)
Stride: 30 - 40 cm (12 - 16 in)
Track: 6.5 cm (2.6 in) long / 5.5 cm (2.2 in) wide
Red Fox Tracks - The trail of the red fox generally follows fencelines and the edges of forests and fields in a straight line but this line may vary depending on the animals speed and gait. The print is usually smaller, longer and narrower than that of a dogs. The front print is wider and larger than the pointed hind print. The heel pad is an inverted V-shape with a unique calloused ridge across the center of the pad.
Straddle: 8 - 10.5 cm (3.2 - 4.2 in)
Stride: 30 - 40 cm (12 - 16 in)
Track: 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long / 5 cm (2 in) wide

Casual Friday

2010-01-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

'Happy Birthday, baby' (BP100101-093961) by Bill Pocock

Deerwood Photos

2009-12-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,

Here's a few photos from Deerwood Forest on the last day of 2009.

Happy New Year,

Bill

Out of Service

2009-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

I messed up my lower back yesterday morning. I lifted up the whole Ski-Doo because its tracks were frozen into the ground. Even after I hurt my back, I had to keep doing lift after lift to pry the frozen track clear. Good to know I can do it. Good to know it will make tying my boot laces agony.

Was going to attempt some cargo sledding and maybe even log skidding today. No dice. Thank goodness for red Tiger Balm and yoga stretches.

I really have to watch out how I abuse my body. The laborious life is a hard life.

But you know what keeps me going? This great Portuguese guy, Joe, I knew in Toronto. 65 year old, worked construction on the big buildings, body of solid muscle. He said to me the secret: "Always think of yourself as young and strong and powerful". Thanks, Joe.

So that's what I keep saying to myself...

"...young, strong, powerful...young, strong, powerful...".

The Lumberjack Bill Show: An Axe to Grind

2009-12-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Lumberjack Bill.

On this segment of the show, I'm gonna show you the basics of sharpening an axe.

Here we look at the edge of the axe head. If you can see
the edge reflecting light (the top portion here), that means it's
time to sharpen the edge.

Place the axe in a vise or hold it firmly with one hand and use a
'mill bastard' to file down the dull edge by pushing it toward
the blunt end of the axe. Take the file off the edge on the return stroke.
Start with the coarse side of the file to shape the blade,
then use the finer side to refine the edge.

You can also use a sharpening stone. This particular stone requires
the use of sharpening oil to move metal filings away from the action.

Start with the coarser side of the stone, grinding in circular
motions, then do the same with the finer grit side.

Here's the after photo.

Now, if you're really ambitious, you could also use sharpening stones to make your axe (or adze) even sharper. I switched to the sculptor's adze for this section because it needed a tune up.

First I soak the 1000 grit and 6000 grit water stones...in water.
I let them sit for about 5 minutes. Notice how there's much more
bubbles coming out of the 1000 stone because it's more porous.
The stones soak up the water and both lubricate the sharpening
surface and help flush away metal filings in a 'slurry'.

I start by using the rougher 1000 grit stone, holding the axe head
still with graduated sweep up of the stone's flat surface
from the edge toward the back of the axe. I try to use the full
surface of the stone and flip it now and then to get even wear.
I do both sides with the 1000 then repeat with the 6000 stone.

With the axe head stoned, I do the same with the adze. As the
adze head only has a bevel on the topside, that's the only side I
stone with both the 1000 and 6000. Don't sharpen the flat underside.

The final touch is to strop the sharpened edge with apiece of leather
(e.g. a belt). This will remove fine metal filings along the sharp
edge and hone the blade. I just like how it shines. Ready to chop!

I think I did okay for my first time with the stones. Here's hoping I get better with practice.

Until next time, this is Lumberjack Bill saying...

'Good Luck and Be Ready!'

Cargo Sled Built

2009-12-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

I've screwed, hammered and bolted some old industrial metal roofing together in an attempt to have a cargo sled for the snowmobile. The 1/3 section of a plastic barrel is screwed to the front in hopes of deflecting snow and mounting bumps on the trail.

I need to move fuelwood and logs mostly out of the forest. This challenge has plagued my mind for months now. I've been quite depressed about the whole matter with the dread of failure. As soon as the weather goes minus again for a few days I'll try it out behind the skidoo and see how far it goes.

Crazy Adze

2009-12-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

Adze wrought.

Casual Friday

2009-12-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

Dugout Continued

2009-12-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Spent part of yesterday carving. The other part, reading. Oh, and the other part hauling in snow-covered fuelwood for the FMO woodstove.

If you're interested in following the further progress of the SunBurn dugout canoe, you'll find it all at my very personal, artist blog, Bill Pocock (billpocock.blogspot.com).

Happy Holidays!

Adze Repair

2009-12-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

After the double ax fiasco of SunBurn, I started to put the pieces back together again last night. By the light of the kerosene lamp, I took the metal axe head wedge out of the broad ax and performed surgery on the adze handle to get it operational.

Here's some close up shots of my dark ages effort to wedge the adze handle into the adze head.

Taking out the old, failed metal wedge from the adze head.

After cutting off the top of the wood handle - to get the old
wedge out - I saw a channel for the new wedge down the
center for the new metal wedge salvaged from the broad axe.

Now I carve down the wood handle so it will fit inside the adze head.

Old adze wedge (left) and new adze wedge (right).

It's hard to see, but this is a photo of the new adze wedge
hammered into wood handle top inside the adze head.
I bet it lasts longer than six strikes next time.

Sun Burned

2009-12-23T16:15:00.000-08:00

Swing on by my Bill Pocock blog and marvel at a winter solstice celebration gone rather wrong.

Still, it's a laugh.

More Trail Bridging

2009-12-21T11:06:00.000-08:00

Had some time on my hands yesterday - waiting for the big SunBurn solstice bonfire today - so decided to work on opening up some more of the trails for winter passage.

That means crossing more semi-frozen streams. So, I set out on snowshoes through the powder to the many streams.

Here's a smaller melt stream - four feet wide
- that's partially frozen on top with fairly steep
banks on either side. I started by tossing lots of snow on
top of the passageway.

Here I do my Jesus-walk-on-water routine.
I pack the snow down into the stream, mixing
in the cold water to make slush.

Here's the wide shot of the stream again with the
snow packed down on top. I came by an hour later
and water had soaked up to form icy slush across the passage.

As the light was fading, I walked across a 15 foot wide,
1 1/2 foot deep stream. At the bank edge my
snowshoe went through the ice sheet and I
got a muddy soaker.

Crazy Builder

2009-12-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

They call me crazy bastard, but I take my hat off to this Russian designer/builder for tossing up this 12 story structure in rural Russia. Apparently, the town officials want him to drop it to only 2 stories because it's spoiling the view, but the people are behind the guy. Do they have building codes in Russia?

Anyway, I like the guy's style. This photo reminds me of my own bare-chested casual Friday look. The bare chest thrust must be a common vanity of our type.

Thanks, Rob, for sending this whack to me.

Grouse Kill

2009-12-19T06:51:00.000-08:00

Skiing along a trail this morning I came across a kill scene. The small patch of blood and the feathers scattered about gave it away. It was recent as I'd passed this spot yesterday afternoon with no signs of struggle.

I believe a fox killed a ruffled grouse in this spot. The predator tracks follow fox stride pattern as opposed to fisher bounding pattern. These are the two main predators in Deerwood right now. So, That's my guess.

Here's a series of photos taken at the site...

The main scene. Notice the larger prints along the
left hand side.

Closer...

Closer still.

Further down the trail, the fox prints shown in the snow
powder beside the trail.

Ruffled grouse will often rest under the snow powder which acts as an insulator and visual cover. A few days ago a grouse emerged from beneath the snow a few feet from the snowmobile and gave me a bit of a start.

I've seen fox tracks on the trails for a few weeks now. As the trails become packed down, it enables the fox to cover ground very swiftly. I suspect I'll see a lot more kill scenes along the trail in future as forest animals often use the trails because it's easier than plodding through the deep snow.

Fait du ski

2009-12-19T06:34:00.000-08:00

With the snowmobile trails hardening up, I thought it was about time I clicked into my cross-country skis and took them for a spin this Saturday morning.

I didn't want to waste any time in the morning,
so I waxed the skis the night before.

Enjoying the fruit of my labours.

I dreamt of skiing and skiers last night. I stumbled into a secret international society of cross country skiers 'The Adventure' who played all-consuming in group social status role games steeped in secret signs and arcane knowledge. What were the stakes for this power elite? Fame and Glory. I caught fleeting glimpse of their visionary, Meryl Streep.

Sunburn Prep: Where'd Everything Go?

2009-12-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

I made it to the winter solstice SunBurn grounds with the snowmobile - finally.

We've had A LOT of snow dumped in Deerwood Forest over the last three weeks. I could see where the burn pile was buried, but couldn't see where that big log was that I hope to carve into a canoe on the night of the burn. I mean start to carve on Dec. 21st.

I finally located the top of the log under about a foot
and a half of snow.

And with some effort, dug the snow away. I had dreams
of rolling it up closer to the bonfire location. No chance now.

I laugh because it's all a joke. I has to be a joke.
Just has to be!!!

Here's a photo of the burn pile as I found it.

Here's the after snow removal photo.

Winter Stream Bridge

2009-12-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

Solved the problem of fording a melt stream along the Deerwood trails yesterday.

It was fine to cross this ditch stream with the snow shoes, but the snowmobile wouldn't like it much with the sharp up/down on the skis. So, I grabbed some cut off 2x4 and 2x6 then set to work.

Tried to figure out how to secure the lumber in place, then it dawned on me to cement them in place using the materials at hand. I took off my gloves and started making slush out of the cold melt water and the snow. Wow, cold!! Then I pressed the slush along the wood ends on either side of the stream, and piled more snow over all of it.

I left the seasonal bridge over night to freeze and the next day it was frozen solid with water running well underneath. Awesome!

Casual Fridays

2009-12-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

With mornings clocking in at - 25 C, the balaclava is a

must have. Or else my face hurts all the time. Dressing
up just to go outside is a major operation. It's nice not
to have to strap on the snow shoes.

O, Snowmobile

2009-12-17T05:18:00.000-08:00

Just bought a snowmobile from Hardcore. Spider dropped it off with a trailer and after a bit of fun, we managed to get it onto snow.

The big news is that I've been able to run it on my snowshoe trails. Though if it drifts slightly off to one side it tends to get stuck. Got stuck about eight times yesterday. Here's a couple photos for me to remember the good times of digging it out.

My virgin bogdown.

This is right at the entrance of the driveway. Going the

180 direction, the turn was too tight and I had to
grab some air and jump onto the driveway and do
a quick turn or otherwise get stuck. Kinda hairy.

This one was pretty deep. Not fun. But not the worst.
I better get used to this routine.

My second to last bogdown. You can see how it's getting
dark. Worst case scenario with getting stuck? Walk away
start digging in the morning.

The last 'stuck' in a small depression (not shown) on the trail had me leave it over night as the light was fading. Only took about an hour and a half to get it going again in the morning.

The next test will be to see if it will tow a sled of fuelwood back to the wood shed. Then the really big question is if it will skid logs back to the mill site. These are the reasons why I've got this snowmobile - not for the fun of it - as a utility vehicle. The fact that the speedometer on it goes up to 160 km/hr and there's a warning on it that only highly skilled drivers should operate it is a bit sobering.

Mallet Making

2009-12-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

One of the things I did today was make a heavy woodworking mallet.

First I cut a short section of a beech wood log (air dried for a year) for the mallet head. Next, I drilled a one inch hole into the end of the small log to fit a handle into.

Then I used the sculptor's adze to chop down one end of a maple branch to serve as a handle. I got the handle insert close enough for a trial fit. I figured why not give it a couple whacks and see if it sticks. And it did. Go figure.

I'll use the small push knife to peel off the bark later. I'll use this mallet for driving large wood chisels.

Sculptor's Adze

2009-12-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

Sculptor's adze.

My very good friend, Jonathan Mahood, gave me a deal on his old sculptor's adze today. I plan to use it in my attempt to make the dugout canoe for the SunBurn winter solstice celebration on Dec. 21st.

Jonathan is a masterful artist with a rare talent which awed me the first time I saw his work over 20 years ago at art school. He creates such amazing work in whatever medium he chooses, I might be jealous if he wasn't also one of the greatest guys in the world.

He's decided to focus on comics with his Bleeker daily and doesn't work wood much anymore. The adze is practically new. He told me a story a while ago. He made a wonderful, monumental wood sculpture years ago for the local high school. It was placed outside the school for all to enjoy. But one person complained about the creosote in the wood - the stuff they coat railway ties with to preserve them - and the sculpture was taken down. With all the lack of contemporary understanding and appreciation for fine visual arts, I understand why artists decide not to continue producing fine works. I could rant for hours and hour about this stuff, but I'm just gonna stop.

Check out his Bleeker blog (here) and his comics.

I hope I can do justice to this tool that a master has used.

Lumberjack Bill's Snow Signature

2009-12-11T14:59:00.000-08:00

'Snow Bill' (BP091211-173861)

Ha!

"Marvel at my dickmanship, ladies!", proclaims Lumberjack Bill.

Don't you wish you could do that?

Had to dot the 'i' with spit, though: didn't want to muss the composition. What prowess. Can anyone believe Lumberjack Bill never went into show business with talent like that?!

Sometimes Lumberjack Bill even surprises himself!

Snow Gooin'

2009-12-11T14:42:00.001-08:00

Another big snow drop today meant another day trying to maintain some of the Deerwood forest trails with snowshoes. Snowshoes, I hate you, I love you.

I may be getting a snowmobile in the near future, so I've tried my darnest to lay down a semi-solid strip of snowpad for the sled track to grip for forward motion. I have no clue if I'll even be able to run a sled through this back country, but I'm willing to try.

Let's get into trouble, babies.

Some shots from this afternoon...

See the woodpile in front of the FMO? I cleared the snow
off of it less than 24 hours ago.

Makin' snowshoe tracks...again.

Can you see the snowshoe trail I made down this path yesterday?
[Apologies for the bad colour correction.]

FMO Casual Fridays

2009-12-11T05:29:00.000-08:00

I was shooting for a Greek God thing,
but I'll settle for either Island Warrior,
or maybe even Threshold Guardian.

The Truth About Snowshoes

2009-12-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

Warming my snowshoes by the fire.

There has been much romancing and selling of snowshoes of late in the downtown outdoors person hangs.

And in this time of heady consumption of newfangled snow walking recipes, I humbly offer a few contrarian words...

'Snowshoes Are...'

Snowshoes are not fun.
Snowshoes are hard work.
Snowshoes are like those lead shoes deep sea divers wear.
Snowshoes are apt to fall off in deep powder.
Snowshoes are like ten times harder to walk in backwards than swim flippers could ever be.
Snowshoes are good at collecting snow balls that get stuck under your boot so it's hard to walk.
Help me, snowshoes! You're my only hope!

The last week has seen about 50 cm of snow fall. In the next two days, the forecast is for another 100 cm and drifting winds. It's near impossible to keep forest trails open. I'm taking a half day off to clear the driveway, bring in some firewood, because I almost blacked out from exhaustion last evening. Started saying things like 'If I could only get a few minutes of sleep in this snow drift...'.

To sleep, perchance to freeze.

The Lumberjack Bill Show: Axin' Hemlock

2009-12-06T05:14:00.001-08:00

Hi, I'm Lumberjack Bill.

On today's segment, I'll show you what to do about a tree that falls across your path.

Amblin' along a Deerwood trail yesterday, I happened to lean against a tree trunk and it moved. "That tree's gonna fall soon", I said to myself, "better get it down now".

So, after pushing the trunk this way and that, I realized the only way the maze of hemlock branches from surrounding trees would let the dead hemlock fall is right across the trail. Well, that's the way it's gonna go then, I figured.

With a big push and a "TIMBER!" the dead tree dropped to the ground.

The next challenge was to get it off the trail. I'd just stowed the ATV away and didn't feel like lugging the chainsaw all the way to that spot in the forest, so I decided to break out the ol' axe and do this job the old-fashioned way.

I went to the far side of the trail and started to chop angled cuts on one side of the log while standing on the opposite side for safety.

With one side chopped, I switched to the other side. and chopped that. I didn't take more than five minutes to chop through the soft, decaying wood.

You can see in this close up how the log end was half cut and half smashed through with the axe owing to the partially decayed state of the wood.

The last thing to do was lift the cut tree section to one side of the trail and job done.

REMEMBER gang, an axe is a dangerous tool. Never touch, carry, or use an axe unless you have received expert instruction in its use and understand all of the life threatening accidents an axe can cause.

Until next time, this is Lumberjack Bill saying, "Good luck and be ready".

Wonderland Morning

2009-12-01T05:36:00.000-08:00

5cm of snow this morning in Deerwood.

The first of the snowy season.

Yea!!!!

Snow!

2009-11-30T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Lumberjack Bill Show: Balancing Act

2009-11-30T16:14:00.000-08:00

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The following program shows dangerous stunts performed by a professional, Lumberjack Bill. Parental guidance and caution is strongly advised with respect to all content presented herein. Lumberjack Bill (Bill Pocock) discourages anyone to use a chainsaw axe, hatchet, hand saw, any power tool, ATV, chisel, knife, and the like) unless licensed to operate, and encourages spectators to stand at a safe distance from all lumberjack activity].

It's The Lumberjack Bill Show!!!

Hi, I'm Lumberjack Bill.

On today's segment, I'm gonna show you what to do with a hung up tree. That is until things go horribly, horribly right.

Here's the pictures...

Here you can see how the cut tree got stuck like.
So, first thing I do is get the cut end on the ground by
undercutting the contact points. And with a kick or two
the cut end is on the ground. Hmm....

I start to 'walk' the hung up tree toward the hang.
I start with cutting into the trunk about waist
height from the top until the cut starts to pinch the bar.

Then I match the cut line from underneath.
After the two cut ends pinch together,
I often have to kick them apart. Maybe it would
be safer for me to throw a log at it from a safe distance....

Now normally, I will progressively cut four foot sections
off the bottom of the tree until the butt end walks vertical,
then I direct it down with a push. Unpredictable stuff.
The remaining tree can fall almost anywhere.
Dead limbs often fall on anyone underneath at this stage.

And sometimes the tree goes perfectly horizontal
and just stays there. I call it 'Balancing Act' and like
how the branches drape over the trail.

The 'Lumberjack Bill' Song

2009-11-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

The 'Lumberjack Bill' Song

I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care.
I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care.
I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care...
All I know is now.

All I know is now.

All I know is now.

Better be ready,
My time will come.
Better be ready,
My time will come.
Better be ready,
My time will come...
Then I'll be no more.

Then I'll be no more.

Then I'll be no more.

I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care.
I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care.
I'm Lumberjack Bill,
and I don't care...

All I know is now.

- Bill Pocock, 2009

Droppin' Sugar

2009-11-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

I'll show you the nice, non-scary still photos of a sugar maple tree I felled along a trail yesterday.

The semi-scary time was between cutting out the front wedge and the actual falling of the tree. When I did the back cut, the tree fell to about a 30 degree angle from vertical, caught up on branches from two adjacent trees.

I had to go all 'Lumberjack Bill' on the mostly cut 16" diameter stump. I finished the cut and gave the trunk a few good kicks and away it went. It can get dangerous when a cut tree gets hung up because it can suddenly shift and fall unpredictably, kids. You can be standing there, just watching it, and it comes down without time for you to move out of the way if you're too close. From moment to moment, alone in the woods, I don't know what's going to happen next.

I survive The Game of Death. This time.

There's so many dangerous elements to dropping trees in dense woods. Maybe I'll have a Lumberjack Bill series of posts now and then to describe the many dangers.

Why, just the other day, right after dropping a tree, a 2 inch branch fell 50 feet straight down and slammed into my face. Lucky I had my face visor down. If it was a 3 inch branch I'd have a broken nose and be spitting teeth. If it was a 4 inch branch....

Spalted Maple Stump

2009-11-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

While I'm on the deeply fascinating subject of interesting log ends...

Take a look at this sugar maple tree stump end.

Partially spalted maple stump.

You'll notice perhaps 40% of the left side of the stump has decayed due to fungal rot. This is called 'spalted' wood. If left to active fungus, the wood would eventually become 'punky', too soft for furniture treatment with preserving oils and not enough BTUs for burning.

Looking at the stump end I know the one or two log sections cut from this tree for slab milling will produce entrancing decoration over the surface of the wood. That day of milling will be a happy day. People who know and love furnishings reserve a special place in their hearts for materials like this.

Enough of my boring wood talk!

Cut Silver Birch

2009-11-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

This silver (or yellow) birch had to be cut down.

Such a nice bark. I should have taken a close up photo.
Maybe tomorrow.

And the log end grain patterns are beautiful to my eye.

These would make great tree decor in a contemporary living environment. I could see either adjustable feet or locking casters on the base with a furniture grade sand and oil finish for the top end. The pattern ends of some trees are just amazing. This is one of them. They remind me of cosmic nebula.

No Crime Scene

2009-11-28T05:04:00.000-08:00

My previous post of a possible chopped-up-body-parts-in-a-buried-garbage-bag thingy, um wasn't the case in fact.

Steve and Sandy stopped by for an evening stroll in the woods yesterday. I tried, unsuccessfully, to spook Sandy a little with scary tales of mysterious buried garbage bags in forest clearings. "I want to see it", I believe was her reply.

So we hiked there and after some searching found the dreaded spot. I think Sandy may have actually pushed me aside, sweeping clear leaves around the bag with boots.

Sandy investigates the Crime Scene.

And so it was only the remains of a garbage bag after all. I knew, I'm sure, that I thought it was all probably nothing. Er, thanks, Sandy. Nothing to see here, folks. Keep moving. Did I mention Sandy doesn't like mice?

Chainsaw Chaps

2009-11-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

It's a good idea to wear some leg protection when using the chainsaw.

Boy, howdy, look at that new tear in the chaps above my foot. I didn't even notice when it hit.

Droppin' Wood

2009-11-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

Close-up of moss on a granite boulder.

'Twas another day of felling fuelwood trees marked for death.

How do I decide which tree's 'gottago'? I look up in the canopy to see which trees have a healthy, dominant crown of branches - they stay. They'll improve with room to grow more leaves and have less ground competition for vital nutrients and moisture.

Taking out overtopped trees helps prevent mass tree deaths due to insufficient ground water in dry years. Deerwood has lost many otherwise healthy trees in years past because there are more trees in the woodlot than annual rain falls often support.

The result, hopefully, is fewer, healthier trees which are able to survive dry years, grow into open spaces, and seed future generations.

So please, understand why I cut down trees!

Sap's flowing inside this soon to be ex-sugar maple.

Notice the pool of maple sap collecting on
the stump five minutes after the cut. Sap flows when
it's above freezing during the day and below freezing at night.

Fuelwood Season

2009-11-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

Makin' fuelwood.

Did a bunch of things today, back from a week in the city.

With all the trails cut and cleared for end of season, it's time to cut fuelwood timber and pile it along trails for winter sled pick-up.

Some photos of the day...

Two yearlings grazed past me while throwing

slash off the trail. The doe passed nearby.

Puddle Jumping

2009-11-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

Pulaski Axe and Co.

After a very rainy night, I spent the day doing long overdue sustainable irrigation of some woodland seeps.

Every year wind-thrown trees and fallen leaves choke up the flow of water pooling. And then there's...The Beaver Clan.

Leave the standing trees to drown? Not on my watch, babe.

Oh, and if Beaver Clan play their games, I can play mine.

Sketches of clan members from Fort Beaver.
Note small drawing of huge Fort Beaver in the
background as clan members guard the frontier.

Mondo Pine

2009-11-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Believe me, this is a big pine tree. Could get my

arms only halfway around the bottom branch.

Squirrel Perch

2009-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Clearing brush today, I saw a red squirrel perched on a regal balcony formed by the precarious splintered end of a fallen hemlock.

Can you see the squirrel up there?

Chewing on something.

Then I'm spotted...

And the squirrel books.

Crime Scene?

2009-11-16T04:57:00.000-08:00

There's a woodland clearing in Deerwood I intend to use for a slash [wood litter] bonfire on December 21st as a Winter Solstice celebration called, 'Sunburn'.

Yesterday I stopped the ATV with a haul of slash at the clearing and noticed something odd uncovered by the ATV tracks.

I've taken a series of photographs from wide angle to close up, establishing the position of my find...

Closer, you can see the top knot of a garbage bag buried in the ground. Now I wonder what to do next. Do I touch it? How long do plastic garbage bags take to break down? The ground looks undisturbed and seems naturally compacted.

Aside from an old fire pit and some broken booze bottles nearby, there's no reason why someone would bury anything on this spot. Ma Pocock thinks a neighbour's son may have burned and drank there a decade or so ago.

Why does the idea of this being a crime scene and severed body parts inside the garbage bag spring to mind? Too much crime TV I bet. If I call the cops - what do I say - "Gee, Constable, I found a garbage bag in the woods." Do I dig it up and see what's inside on my own?

Then there's another thing. Just a feeling - a feeling I don't recall having before. There's something different about this forest clearing. A strange sense about this place.

Any advice?

The Way of the Chainsaw

2009-11-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

See Crazy Bastard dispatch invisible bears over at Bill Pocock with his Kung Fu Chainsaw Form (1).

'The Chainsaw Sharpener'

2009-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

I sharpened the chainsaw today, but didn't flip or file the bar.

'The Chainsaw Sharpener' (BP091114-180561) Bill Pocock, 2009

Deer Here

2009-11-12T17:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was another mild, sunny day. A real treat.

I went to the FMO and went inside to have lunch. I turned to close the door behind me and there was a male yearling deer standing, looking at me about fourty feet away. Didn't even see him.

I hailed the buddy with my usual, "Hey, how's it goin', deer?"

Then I noticed there were a female yearling and the doe about sixty feet away. So, I sat down and ate a sandwich inside the open FMO door, and watched the deer as they grazed. The male looked up out of curiosity if I moved..

And that's how I spent the half hour.

I can't wait to hitch them up to a sleigh!

'Blow Up'

2009-11-12T16:29:00.000-08:00

'Blow Up' (BP091112-192861) Bill Pocock, 2009

Now and then I like to do some retro art movie photography.

Normally, I'd post this sort of thing on my Bill Pocock art blog. But I thought I'd toss it here as it shows the forest area I was working in today.

'Here's Billy!'

2009-11-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

Set up a printer for Ma tonight.

It works.

FMO Woodstove

2009-11-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

Just to prove They Call Me Crazy Bastard isn't all about destruction, I want to show you the FMO woodstove.

Look. See? That's where I burn things to keep warm.

The nice little wood stove with the stack of drying logs, and mill saw heat shield.

And...the water kettle I destroyed in the previous post.

Whoops! There Goes Another Kettle....

2009-11-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

A former and current leaky kettle.

I noticed the kettle Ma Pocock lent me for the FMO had a leak along bottom seam.

Water had soaked the top of the wood stove and started a thin layer of RUST!

So, looks like I'm gonna have to get me a new kettle.

.........................................

Welcome from Mossonwood to 'They Call Me Crazy Bastard'. It was either that or Leaky Kettle.

I'm Bill Pocock, your host as I stumble my way as a sustainable forest manager in Seguin Township, Ontario, Canada.