Author Topic: Visit by A Member! (Read 929 times)

Raider Bill · « **on:** October 11, 2011, 05:49:37 pm »

Danny [WDH] drove up to my Tenn. property Sunday evening.Monday morning after a country breakfast of smoked bacon, fresh eggs, plumb ripe juicy tomatos we went for a 4 mile walk in my woods. I learned that I have 39 differnt species of trees which is about 30 more than I thought. Danny gave me the beginners course on tree ID and answered every question I asked. He advised me on how to redirect water run off awy from my trails, showed me signs of the property having been logged with horses or mules many years ago and advised on invasive plants I need to deal with. What a knowledgeable and great Man!
After that walk dinner [rib eyes, mashed potatoes, a fresh salad] and beverages on the porch watching the full moon and mountains into late evening and more very informattive and great conversation!
Thanks Danny!

Mooseherder · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2011, 06:34:08 pm »

Sounds like a great time!

Now that he is retired maybe he'll educate me with a trek to Maine.

DanG · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:52:20 pm »

I know you had a great time, Bill. Danny took me on a 1 hour tour of his place one time, and I came away feeling like I should have an Associates degree in Dendrology.

Magicman · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:21:14 pm »

Sounded like a couple of fun days for both of you.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2011, 08:48:44 pm »

and all I got to do this weekend was saw logs into boards

WDH · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2011, 09:55:10 pm »

Raider Bill invited me to his place to get away from the rat race, stomp all over his property and look at trees, eat great food, drink great drink, sit on an awesome porch and watch the mountains, and discuss the intricacies of life. It does not get any better than that!

That man can cook, let me tell you. He fixed me up a smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and fried egg sandwich for breakfast and the ribeyes for supper were beyond compare. I really enjoyed our ~~trek~~ walk in his woods looking at his various timber stands and at all the work he has done to improve his property. Then, we rode the trails that he has made with his friend Johnny on 4-wheelers.

He and I are the same age, grew up in the same times, he in New York and I in Georgia. While we got here on different paths, we share the same love of the trees and the land. I was impressed by what he has carved out of those mountains and in his vision for the property. This was truly a special time for me. Here are a few pics of the top of the his property and his house, which commands the highest elevation on his property.

Here is the view to the East in the early morning.

Here is the view to the West.

Here is the view to the South.

Look at this front porch with a South facing aspect! Now that is a fine porch to sit on and discuss important topics

.

Thank you, Bill.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:03:22 pm »

I hope you alls didn't run into a goose :-D

that's a beautiful place you have there, Bill

WDH · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:49:44 pm »

If we had run into a goose, I would have known just what to do

.

Magicman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:07:26 am »

Thanks for the pictures Danny. Good times, friends, and food. Don't get much better than that.

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:27:27 am »

Great stuff! Nice place Bill.

The FF shore does bring people together.

Jon

Norm · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2011, 08:45:06 am »

Now that does look like fun, thanks for showing us guys.

Raider Bill · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:15:33 am »

I'm just a poor Old City Boy stumbling along best I can playing Frontiersman on a partime basis

It was a great time! Danny growing up in rural Georgia and becoming a Forestor and I a Yankee Cop transplanted to Florida but now a part time half back. We have the same thoughts and values. Who'd a thunk that? Heck we even agreed on the Civil War

.

I have been plugging away on this land since 2006 loving every inch and minute I get to be on it and being able to get out of the big city. Danny showed me how to best manage the property by dividing it into sections of pine plantations vs hardwoods vs mixed and how to manage each seperatly for differnt purposes. He gave us a quick leason on felling trees, basel area, measureing tree height etc. His validation of what I have been doing made my day as till now I've just been guessing.

Thanks Danny!

Patty · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:11:56 am »

You have a beautiful place there, Raider!

Raider Bill · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:21:34 am »

Thanks Patty! Everything you see cleared was trees, scrub and thickets I cleared for the house area and view. There wasn't a clearing to be found as it had been allowed to grow wild for at least 20 or more years.
The house was designed on cocktail napkins as I went, built by myself and a few friends and a lot of Bud. The first months I stayed in a tent on the property till I bought a used mobile home. Sort of a back to basics.
I'm pretty proud of it with hopes to pass it along to my Son and family someday.

WDH · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2011, 11:22:27 am »

Quote from: Raider Bill on October 12, 2011, 09:15:33 am

I'm just a poor Old City Boy stumbling along best I can playing Frontiersman on a partime basis

Stumbling Ole Raider Bill

. He stumbled on a Gold Mine! He is a man of vision. He has also befriended the locals with his genuineness, honesty, and generosity. That is very hard to do. He is the best thing that this area has seen in a long while. His neighbor Charlie came over Sunday night, as those mountains must have knew there was a visitor, and a little Moonshine was sipped. Charlie brought over some homemade smoked bacon for us. Folks, that is living. Who would have thought that a New York/South Florida dude would have so endeared himself to these mountains of East Tennessee? Raider Bill is a class act and a man of integrity and generosity.

Thank you Raider Bill for your generosity. It will be returned in spades.

Burlkraft · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:12:50 pm »

I am pretty jealous right now. I wanted to go down to Tenn. and see ol' Raider myself.
We've been through a very rough time lately and I have not been able to leave. As a matter of fact, I should be in Da U P help'in Jeff.
Then to see that Danny was there too I am even more envious.
It really does look like a great place!!
I wish I was there or anywhere else but here $:-\$

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2011, 03:22:48 pm »

Bill, I was practically in your yard in 2001 before it was your yard.

Those woods are growing nicely for being logged off not too long ago. I was with a friend measuring sample plots for SBP at the time. One thing I have learned in my travels, is that you can try to convert a hardwood forest to softwood, but it will always fight to come back to hardwoods.

Glad you both had a great time in the TN mountains.

scsmith42 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2011, 04:57:12 pm »

Is it just me, or does it look like both of y'all are sucking in your guts???

WDH · « **Reply #18 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:35:47 pm »

Yes it is just you

. We was breathing mountain air, and it does that to you. Flatlanders won't understand that

.

Coon · « **Reply #19 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:40:39 pm »

Danny, being that you were in the mountains, I hope you didn't have one leg get shorter than the other to keep you upright while walkin in them thar wooded hills.

WDH · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2011, 11:42:27 pm »

Hey Coon,

A man has to adapt, improvise, and overcome!

WildDog · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2011, 04:32:37 am »

Great stuff guys,

Nice place you have there Bill, your not wearing an "Akubra' yet

thecfarm · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:07:57 am »

It's nice to have someone show you what to do instead of trying to explain in a post what to do. Nice place you have there Raider Bill and good company too.

customsawyer · « **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2011, 11:46:30 am »

Looks like I have missed a great time in them there hills.

ljmathias · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2011, 07:24:21 am »

Sounds to me like Raider might want to start a Tennessee chapter of the FF, kinda like the Southern Chapter. Sure be fun to visit the various "chapters" around the states- meet new people and see new places. Oh, wait, maybe I've already been there and just forgot? How's it go, that old age means you see a lot of new things that seem just like things you've seen before (or is it friends?).

Lj

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Author Topic: Visit by A Member! (Read 929 times)