Have seen zero rain since midMarch, not necessarily rare here in west/central Texas, but it's been a crispy one this year. Four days ago, a stalled front brought our annual average rainfall in three days - this morning cruising around the county looking at the damage, I was saddened by my turn into Luckenbach (Waylon and Willie fame) where I tend the trees.
The dancehall, store, and the historic cotton gin were hit at 4:00am with a wall of mud, all merchandise destroyed (collections from 1845) and the beer-drinker's hall of fame decimated. I parked and assisted with clean-up but it's overwhelming. Happy to report however, the oaks survived - minor limb damage, mostly the mudflows caused havoc. One thing though - the cobra system didn't hold as well as my old cable bracing - one limb down but the old horse-drawn wagon fifteen feet up the tree was one hell of a test for tensile strength. The cabled limbs only had hell and highwater to resist.
Going back now to help with the kids loaded and ready - there are fourteen thousand commerative golf balls and five tons of t-shirts to move to a laundromat in town. Luckenbach's character has changed like most of America - it's become a tourist mecca with everything for sale at premium prices, yet somehow, this flood with all the sad but determined volunteers just may make it a true community again, with people being the important commodity instead of trinket reminders of something that was and can never be again. I've spent many a happy night pitchin' washers, drinking not just a few beers, and hearing some wonderful pickin' and singin. My best bud Juan Crouch is Hondo's son, the well known late mayor of Luckenbach.
I learned yet another lesson in being a true arborist - keep an 020 fueled and oiled in the truck at ALL times - never know when whatever can happen - the caretaker of the town was trapped with his woman in his little shack 'cause a hackberry fell into his living room, keeping them hostage in the bedroom - LP gas fumes and power still on and water risin'. He had a gash exposing his kneecap and blood a pumpin'. Everything I ever said bad about the new 020T, I take back - it started first pull and didn't spit until Mac and Reba made it out.
The dancehall, store, and the historic cotton gin were hit at 4:00am with a wall of mud, all merchandise destroyed (collections from 1845) and the beer-drinker's hall of fame decimated. I parked and assisted with clean-up but it's overwhelming. Happy to report however, the oaks survived - minor limb damage, mostly the mudflows caused havoc. One thing though - the cobra system didn't hold as well as my old cable bracing - one limb down but the old horse-drawn wagon fifteen feet up the tree was one hell of a test for tensile strength. The cabled limbs only had hell and highwater to resist.
Going back now to help with the kids loaded and ready - there are fourteen thousand commerative golf balls and five tons of t-shirts to move to a laundromat in town. Luckenbach's character has changed like most of America - it's become a tourist mecca with everything for sale at premium prices, yet somehow, this flood with all the sad but determined volunteers just may make it a true community again, with people being the important commodity instead of trinket reminders of something that was and can never be again. I've spent many a happy night pitchin' washers, drinking not just a few beers, and hearing some wonderful pickin' and singin. My best bud Juan Crouch is Hondo's son, the well known late mayor of Luckenbach.
I learned yet another lesson in being a true arborist - keep an 020 fueled and oiled in the truck at ALL times - never know when whatever can happen - the caretaker of the town was trapped with his woman in his little shack 'cause a hackberry fell into his living room, keeping them hostage in the bedroom - LP gas fumes and power still on and water risin'. He had a gash exposing his kneecap and blood a pumpin'. Everything I ever said bad about the new 020T, I take back - it started first pull and didn't spit until Mac and Reba made it out.
