My Trip out West

Burlkraft · July 25, 2006, 08:47:23 AM

I just got back from a trip to Grants Pass, Oregon where I met Tinman and his family. I bought his Peterson mill.......Once again sorry Tracy fer emptying out yer garage. For some reason I was way excited to get the mill and I fergot to take any pictures at Tracy's house. >:( >:( >:(

I then went up to Dallas, Oregon to visit with Frank Pender. He was just a hoot and I enjoied the complete tour of his farm and milling operation. I still ask myself......does one guy need 4 miils ??? ???

The answer I always come up with is Heck Yeah ;D ;D ;D

I got the usual over the top hospitality from Frank and his wife that I have experienced with all the forum members that I have come in contanct with. Round trip it was 4860 miles. I drove that in 4 days with a day break inbetween to visit with Frank and get some sleep.

This is the mill loaded up in the trailer...with some extra room.......

The extra room was enough for a couple of Western Big Leaf Maple logs...with some growths on them ;D ;D ;D

What will a guy ever do with these ??? ??? ???

Here's one of Franks live burl trees ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Big fire in Montana :-\ :-\ :-\

Here's Frank by one of his big trees that he has to cut down or loose it in a slide

Thanks again to Tracy and Frank and always remember that if yer in this neck o the woods....feel free to stop by ;D ;D

beenthere · July 25, 2006, 10:08:32 AM

That's great. Thanks for the pix.
We'll look forward to hearing of the lumber-making, burl-cutting, first-board sawn, and sawing-tales in the future. Also those pictures

(need to invent a built-in digital camera in a FF hat that is always available and handy to snap pix at the spur-of-the-moment, when lugging a camera along just doesn't seem to work out).

Did you make that marathon trip alone?

Burlkraft · July 25, 2006, 03:53:00 PM

Yup......... just me and the old Chevy ;D ;D

SwampDonkey · July 25, 2006, 04:10:50 PM

Been on then marithon trips before, once goin and once come'n. ;D

It's good that ya shared a few pics so we can see some of the left hand coast since alot of the members are camera shy in those parts. ;D

Why didn't ya ask Frank what that loggers tape was for on his hip, I'm sure it weren't for ballast was it?

;D :

beenthere · July 25, 2006, 04:32:56 PM

SD
You know those 'old' loggers fall over raht now, if they don't have that tape on their side.

Whether ballast or balance, they gotta have it on.
Followed a many of them around in the woods over the years, near always after a long, long dusty ride on dry logging roads behind their pickup truck.

Part_Timer · July 25, 2006, 09:37:06 PM

Burlkraft

Congrats on the new mill. It sound to me like ya had a great trip.

Are you still planning on coming down to the demo?

Tom

Burlkraft · July 26, 2006, 08:24:51 AM

PT,

I'll be there.........

Although Jill is not too happy that I will be gone again..It ends up that I was home just 6 days in the last month >:( >:( >:(

Part_Timer · July 26, 2006, 08:26:19 PM

Steve bring Jill with you. Her and Kate can visit while we work with the mill. As long as she doesn't mids dogs or a cat we're good.

I can offer a fold out futon for the two of you in the family room. That's the best I can do with the remodeling going on here but your welcome to it.

Burlkraft · July 26, 2006, 09:59:14 PM

PT,

Jill has made it VERY clear that I shouldn't even be going. I am going to miss out on the 1st. birthday party for the son of a girl she USED to work with :

:

Frankly....I'm pretty DanG glad that it is on the same day ;D ;D ;D

Thanks for the offer but I'll be drivin' down and back.........I guess after this last trip it's just a short jaunt to your place :D :D :D

I cut my first log on the mill tonight. I had a 12" oak log that was a blow down and I threw that on and got the feel of the mill....so I'm not a swingmill virgin anymore..... ;) ;)
I already got some questions.....There have been adjustments made that I'm not sure are correct. I'll be writin' them down as I think of them so be prepaired

tlooney · July 26, 2006, 10:42:59 PM

Burlkraft, I think I saw you wave as you zoomed by me. I am just about 25 miles east of interstate 5 in between Grants Pass and Dallas. I could have shown off one of them other brand swing mills that I happen to own.

Maybe next time.

tlooney

Burlkraft · July 27, 2006, 09:25:01 AM

Did ya see me ??? ??? ??? ???

I'm sure I waved......at least twice :D :D :D

That is some beeutiful country you guys are livin' in there......

I'm pretty jealous.......so many nice trees ;D ;D ;D

Maybe I can catch ya on the return trip. The AAW turning symposium is in Portland next year so I'll be makin' the trip again ;D ;D

tlooney · July 27, 2006, 08:43:04 PM

Hope to see ya then.

Oregon_Sawyer · August 21, 2006, 01:44:10 AM

Burlkraft:

I can't beleive Frank didn't bring you over the hill to see me with my LT70. I am just 10 miles north of him.

In fact I just took my mill over to Frank's to show him how to break everything in one weekend. ie, two flat tires, one wheel, two hydrolic hoses and a computor board. That was a fun weekend.

Loren

SwampDonkey · August 21, 2006, 04:04:05 AM

Gee boys, it much we a really rough place at Franks. ;D

Burlkraft · August 21, 2006, 09:39:26 AM

Loren,

Frank problly woudda took me places...but I was on a tight schedule. I was in Grants Pass at 9:00 ta get my mill and at Franks by about 1:00. I got the tour of the operation and the farm and then a quick shower at the hotel and it was out for prime rib digin1

I had to leave about 4:30 the next mornin' :( :( :(

We are comin' back tho.....The AAW turning symposium is in Portland next year 8) 8)

We're gonna take a few days ta visit Frank and Alice so maybe we'll have some time fer visitin' then ;D ;D ;D

Huh.....nuthin' got broke while I was there...actually we fixed a couple a things