Construction down by the ranch......and a little history

I have had several inquiries about the construction equipment along the road just above the ranch. I held off posting hoping to catch Harvey in person to get the full story.

I can tell you that the speed bump we have been slowing down for has been repaved.

When I was a kid, it was Arthur McCuddy's ranch, aka McCuddy Creek Ranch. Extensive water rights are attached to that property.

The next owner was architect Henry Mann. The original stagecoach route, McKinney Road, went right through the property in front of the house. When the Oliver Baldy road was put together in the eighties, Henry did not want a wide road through his yard. A new road was built around the ranch, known as the Mann Bypass.

Current owner of "Camp H" is Harvey Demelo. The dirt bike features were built for one of his sons who was on the Red Bull and other extreme sports circuits.

What we have been watching lately, I believe is an upgrade and/or repair of the water supply to the ranch.

Harvey's Dad, was one of the first Portuguese immigrants  to come to the area in the 1960's. He worked hard on orchards owned by people I knew, and eventually acquired a lot of acreage, and brought his sons into the orchard operations.

Harvey and his brothers were on the same school bus route as I was. 

Luis taught gentlemanly manners to his boys, and when Harvey operated a cherry orchard next to my house in Osoyoos, he called me Ma'am.

Now that the senior Demelos have passed on, the remaining acreage including cherry orchards, the packing building, the family home, and Bow Tie Tech are all on the market.

Cherries grown at the ranch mature later than the valley cherries, and most years they will hit the market when the price is better.

The roof was already caved in...........

The old office trailer that has been down near the shop for a few years is in the process of being dismantled. I shall bite my tongue on what wasn't looked after back when the area was in receivership. This unit served the place well, and was moved when Snowy's woodfurnace was installed.

Yahoo - Danger tree removal

Day two of a contractor working for Fortis. They don't use the orange paint dot anymore, the trees are on a GPS map. As in the past, they have encountered, and taken down more dead trees than are on the map. I talked to a couple of the guys - one maybe two looked familiar, but it is a different contractor. They confirmed that Fortis does not want them to take down anything that has even one green branch.

Back to work on the Eagle

Trevor and Parker went to the CWSAA conference last week, and they are back working lift maintenance.

Black Pick-up with junk in the back - scoping the village?

Same truck yesterday and today. Witness says - looks sketchy.

Chipping/Burnpile

We do not have permission to continue with the gravel pit site.

Two members from the FireSmart group have been working with the RDKB to find a new site. I expect to hear from them when something is in place. 

*Further to the FB comments, the update I have is that it will be awhile before something is in place.

I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from starting work on their properties. We also do not need any illegal dumping. I don't have a huge amount, so will be piling at the top of my driveway. I realise that it is not that simple for others who will be moving fuels through someone else's property.

Bear Aware

Mother and 2 cubs nearby. 

May 2nd

 

He prefers outings with the ladies on snowshoes, but he will happily accompany his human if that isn't an option.

He has also been known to hop in a vehicle if he thinks one of his favourite ladies is at the destination.

First of Many

They grow at Baldy with no special attention. My cousin gave me a few bulbs years ago, and they keep blooming. More recently, they dug their garden in Delta, and had about 1000 bulbs to give away. I planted a bunch, and they are just starting to bloom. There should be 3 types. The stalks and leaves are shorter than those grown in better conditions, but the flowers are great, and they survive spring snowfalls.

Dust Control

 AIM applying dust control on McKinney road today.

I met one tridem heading up around 10:45, and followed this one this afternoon. He stopped at the bottom of toboggan hill, but I did not see an applicator truck.