Stormy weather is hard on dead trees. One came down in a recent storm and damaged a walkway. There are others on the same property that need attention.
There are tree falling companies listed under the Services Contact Information tab. If you have connections, Andrew will drop trees if he has time.
My neighbours have Miller Tree Care coming up to take down dead trees on their property. I don't have a date on that one.
They called it a "storm watch." The torrential downpour, interspersed with hail started well ahead of the thunder and lightning. It continued for some time after, with light moisture coming down now.
The Lightning Tracker app on my phone showed the closest strikes just on the back side at the top of Sugarlump, two thirds of the way up Ponderosa, and maybe half way up Baldy Trail. Many strikes on the backside, and to the north, west, and south of us.
Watching the driveway wash away.
I've been here for louder, closer electrical storms than this one. Very happy with the amount of moisture we got. Those in the process of building will not be pleased with the mud. On the Grizzly EXT weather station this morning, the fire danger rating was down to a "2". We may get a flyover in the morning, but I feel confident with the moisture amount.
Congrats Tom - the hardest working, most meticulous builder with the cleanest job site. Engineer Tuesday, Building Inspector Wednesday, and footing pour Thursday. Thanks to Wayne and Cheryl, Hannah, and Jack for helping with the pour. Hey, I would have helped if I knew the pour was today - I love playing with concrete.
For engineer Dan, his project is taking shape with the NOC Construction big excavator working - first retaining wall blocks in place. Dan also had a few minutes away to work a little of the concrete finishing with Tom.
Bruce and Jan are working inside, after taking their place to lock up last summer.
If you are not a resident during fire season, you may want to consider a plumbing update that allows your cabin water to be shut off, while a hose bib outside is still on.
I've had some inquiries about our July 1st water invoices. The book keeping for the water utility is no longer done on the mountain, and the BMR accountant is switching the waterworks to a better accounting software program. You should have a recent letter indicating the increase as of July 1st.
There have been a number of roadside fire starts along Hwy 33 closer to Kelowna in recent years. Some residents have placed large water totes and buckets at the side of the highway.
My first trip to Baldy was over the rough last 4 miles of road construction, 1967. I have been a property owner here for 52 years. I have seen many things.
It does not make any sense to me at all to haul stumps and land clearing waste to Greenwood, with associated hauling costs, and tipping fees of $175 per tonne.
If I had a place to pull off, I could have had a stunning photo of a bright orange/red sun shining through the smoke, this side of Johnson Creek. Fires are not close to Baldy, but you can see them on the BC Wildfire App, and there is a link to the smoke forecast on the side bar,
I have stayed at the Princeton Golf Club RV Park a number of times. Beyond the course and gravel, it can get extremely dry. The "August Lake" fire currently has that area under evacuation order, and the area across the highway to the river under alert.
A hot day for anyone fighting fire.
A strong smoke smell woke me up very early this morning, but had mostly dissipated by the time I got up.
So far I have managed to avoid spending a lot of time tracking wildfires. I suppose I will make that a priority sometime soon.
Ashnola, near Eastgate, "North Fork" north of Grand Forks, stateside south of Rossland. Skimmers picking up off Christina Lake. They are adding up. We are green up here, but it is very dry at the roadside lower down, and it would not take much to start something.
For the FireSmart avoiders, at the very least you should have a plan for the dead trees on your property. Dead and live trees have snapped this year. They become more than a fire hazard if they land on buildings and other assets.
The fire danger rating at Grizzly Ext, a station north of us, was "moderate" today, after hovering around high.
In the clueless department, US officials complaining of Canadian wildfire smoke crossing the border.
Canadian aircraft and crews continue to support USA wildfire fighting efforts.
Thanks to our stateside reporter ;) for providing the update last night just as I was starting to smell smoke. I didn't bother to post, as the fire south of Oroville was already contained.
If you follow RDKB on Facebook, they are posting updates on the fire south of Christina Lake. A change in wind last night blew that fire back on itself. RDKB provided good links for checking on those fires.
Thanks to the Canadian aircraft and pilots for assisting our neighbours to the south.
I just got the automated call from Fortis.
Thursday July 10th and Friday July 11th from 9:00am to 3:00pm
508 customers affected from East of Osoyoos to Rock Creek, including Bridesville, Sidley, and Baldy.
For more information, call 1-866-436-7847 or check fortisbc.com/outages
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| Connections - I played in the school band with Sharen's husband, and was a classmate of Rod's brother. |
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| How many people does it take to pack a fridge up and into the dumpster? |
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| This is not the barrel that recently appeared on Porcupine, it is still there. |