At 48 degrees this morning, we can safely say that Fall is definitely here.  Temps still getting up into the 80's, pretty much the way I like it, actually.  

Still waiting to hear back from the power company. I've been trying to contact the engineer for an update on when they will come and install the poles and lines.  It dawned on me that they may likely be sending crews over to Florida.  With millions of people out of power, it is very likely that other states will be sending personnel to help with getting it restored. I've seen it in Texas where crews from states far away come in caravans.  The icing event 2 years ago was one of those situations where you saw all kinds of different companies showing up that were from other states.

So, if that's the case, I will patiently wait until they get that situation handled.  But, I don't really know and I'd like at least an answer.  

Meanwhile, I'm having the people come back today and continue working on clearing the trails.  I will be out there as well, lighting up 2 separate burn piles and feeding it with the wood they will be bringing in.  That stuff needs to go and frankly, all of those woods chips from the mulcher man operation need to go as well.

That stuff lights up like dried out pine cones with a match put next to it.  I want to get a steel rake out there and have them clear out the intended camping sites of all of that stuff. I was just going to leave it but the flammability of it told me otherwise.  I will also be assessing the bridge area and installing a set of stairs. 

I was hemming and hawing about that one but that hill is just too steep. People will slip, fall and slap lawsuits.  I was watching several YouTube videos on it, looks like a pretty simple affair to cut out the stairs and lay some flat rock on it.  

Yeah, there aren't any flat rocks around.  In fact, there are hardly any rocks in this region, I was just noticing yesterday.  You know, just use whatever is around to build natural style steps? I saw a few videos where they were using logs, but they look tacky and they also don't look very safe.  Likely go to Lowe's buy the cheapest stuff they have that's flat and be done with it.  

BTW. I didn't say this would be easy work!  This whole "hey, let's figure out a way to cross the creek" affair has become a nuisance.  A bridge, a truckload of gravel, a machine to bring the gravel and now this? And then a handrail after that? Gag.  I wanted walking trails, lol.  I'm neck deep into it now, no turning back on it.  

But now? I don't have the 4 wheeler to move my equipment around back there. Fortunately, I haven't moved a lot of that stuff from the bridge area. Something told me that I would have further use for all of it.  I can tell ya now, if this 4 wheeler situation doesn't improve, I'm going to get that Jeep over there, put a new battery in it and use that instead.  

Anyway.....Dozer, I think next week.  I'm just going to get it over with and done.  I would this week, but it's Friday and I don't want a whole weekend worth of rental. Too much money.  Try to get the stuff done in one day.  I'm going to have to go back to work here sooner or later, this dozer work needs to get done and over with.  

Well, that is if I can find a place that will rent one. I think I found one, but who knows?  I don't want to pay someone to bring and operate one, they'll add thousands of dollars to the bill for that.  It doesn't need to be a professional job, at all.  There is nothing to run into, for the most part excepting if I use it to level out the areas next to the pads, then there are pedestals and water and sewer outlets.  There is  a place two towns over that will rent me a bobcat.

I can't use the local place bobcat because for whatever reason, they don't want their bobcat to clear land.  Note, they didn't say that about the mini-excavator.  I only say that because I used it to clear the doggy park area.  Just some weeds, tho, no trees. I think it's the trees they don't want people tearing up their equipment with.  A bobcat could clear out the land but it wouldn't level it like a dozer will. 

Guess I better get outta here. Those people are showing up soon and I intend on supervising the operation today.  Beyond supervision is working while I'm doing it, I intend on getting some stuff cranked out, over and done with.  I don't want to have to have these people coming back too many times, the bill after a day's work is a bit up there.  Worth it, yes. They aren't lazy and they aren't playing on cell phones all day long.  

I'll take the pick and see how hard it's going to be to dig out those steps!

G'day.