Treeplanting

 
 
Camp 4 crew for Little Smokey Foresty Services during the 2005 treeplanting season.

Jonathan Barrett

Sailing

I have to admit every time I feel like I have to settle down in one place for a prolonged period of time It makes me even that much more eager to be able to get away to some place new.  Now that I feel I will be in Halifax for some time I am in that place again were I am looking at where and when I will be able to get away again.  I have recently been on a sailing kick.  Thinking of how sweet it would be to pickup a 30' sailboat and sail around the Caribbean for the winter one of these years.  I don't even really know how to sail, but it sounds like an adventure that I would be up for and hopefully would be able to coax some friends to come along.

Dalhousie

Today is my official first day of normal classes here at DAL.  I had a survey camp during the past few days to review a few surveying skills, but am now  getting into my core courses for the term.  It appears that it should be a good term a number of classes that interest me.  I would have to say my schedule is definitely a lot more packed than back while I was at UPEI, basically 8:30 to 5:00 daily.  I have 5 classes and a lab today so I should be off.

Heli Show

After Finishing the Season with a week long Heli show from Grande Prairie, I flew home and am now enjoying the Island's beaches.  It feels great to be done for another season.  In total I got in 91 days of work this summer.  For me that is by far the best season I have ever had.  I know have to get my University stuff together over the next week then start another year of school.

Tofino

I would have to say one of my biggest traveling blunders ever happened just this past week when I decided to go to Victoria for a couple days, hike the WCT and surf in Tofino.  Instead because I did not have much time I hiked one day toward the WCT without making it there.  Turned around and went to Tofino.  There was a truck accident on the highway to Tofino causing about a 5 hour delay so buy the Time I got there everything was booked up.  In all I spent about 2 hours on the beach in the cold fog then decided I am going back to Victoria to at least have one enjoyable day.  Which I did.  That is what I get for trying to get too much stuff in with little time and planning.  Now I'm back to work in the morning.

The End... Not Yet

I thought I was done then my Boss said, "Hey we just got another 180,000 trees we need to plant".  So I may be out here another few more days.  It has it's up side and its down side.  I'm excited for it though. 

Day 60

I have been very busy out here working so I have not had many opportunities to update my blog.  Even if I did most of my stories would have to do with treeplanting which I try not to think about too much on my days off.  I am currently on day 60 of planting should only be another 20 or so days remaining.  Other than one week of straight rain the weather has been wonderful.  I often dream of relaxing on the beaches of PEI on those days I just don't feel like planting.  I have been enjoying my summer greatly though.  I best get back at it.

Contracts

I have had one shift on my newest contract.  I would have to admit my first day was tough, but things are starting to look up.  only another shift for this spring plant then I am moving on and planting some roads and burns for Ainsworth it normally is a good contract especially when they have some farmers fields to reclaim. 

Coal Mines

I am finally finished my First contract of the season.  I would say of the 3 years doing this contract this has been my favorite year.  I had 21 days of planting with only two days off during that time.  The wildlife at the mines seems to get better every year also.  This year the Grizzly had two bear cubs and on one day there was a male Grizzly hanging around also.  I thought it was interesting when we were planting trees soaked in blood (to keep the longhorn sheep from eating them) when we had a mother and two cubs in sight in one direction and a male Grizzly just over the hill in the other direction.  Don't know who exactly planned that one.   Well I am now in Grande Prarrie about to go out to my next contract for a couple weeks.  I'm hopeing it will go well but I am having my doubts that it will be a great contract.

Tree planting

Another season is under way.  I am almost done of my second shift.  My first shift was 8 days which is a lot of days for getting the body back into planting shape.    The shift I am on right now is looking like it will be 7 days.  It has been good so far.  A few tough days but very good so far overall.  I'm hopeing for another good season.  My body is feeling it but lots of sleep and lots of good food is keeping me going.  It's tough to type with the way my hands feel right now so it's bed time.