DPR, is there anything (ethical) that you haven't done?! What a rich life you've led!
And any estimate of how many trees you planted in those two months?
That's a great story, rich with adventure and zeal.
Thanks.
E
Sounds like a great job, for a couple of months, though longer term tree planting involving a hoedad and an afternoon doobie might result in an eventual foot injury. Maybe I don't understand the technique, though.
Great story. Hard work, but satisfying. By coincidence (?) I ordered my trees today for planting next spring. Only 25 shortleaf pines, but I'm eager to get them in the ground already.
Thanx for the tale.
C. Corax--i have done many things, and not done many more. it has been fun, mostly. as i recall, a thousand trees was a big day, but then it was long ago. and see below, my reply to huitzil, about doobage.
E
whisker--you're welcome. it was fun to recall.
Huitzil--there was both morning and after lunch doobage, for some of us. after dinner too. i never felt that my feet were in danger. two months of tree planting was sufficient for me.
pablo--there are no coincidences!! do you use a hoedad?
I think I have just learned that doobage might be the same substance as doobies?
Neat story but you did not say anything about blackflies. Do they not exist down there? They are the plague of the northern planters according to stories I've heard up here. Somehow, I missed out on the tree planting job and the major wheat harvesters of the midwest too.
What an adventure. Oh, to be young and full of doobage again! The mornings crystal clear, the sparkling light on the water, the leaps of insight.
Tjilpi--yes.
OW--there are horseflies. i don't know about blackflies.
SB_Gypsy--it was a good adventure, although 9 or 10 hours/day planting a tree every 5 or 10 seconds did cut into the time available for insight.
Great story, and took me back to many adventures of my own and great stories I heard from others about those times in the woods in California. I think that you and RD could co-write a book, a memoir/essay collection/photo album/commentary/whatever that would be so fabulous for the wider world. You have a great start already with some of your fabulous blogs and photos.....
See you in a few weeks!
So you didn't wear the flipflops for this job?
kim Tyler--glad you enjoyed it.
books are so twentieth century. blogs are the new books. (ha ha. not. we love books)
KathyR--it was before they were invented.
What an interesting time. It does sound like you've done just about everthing. How wonderful to be able to share these exeriences with us!
Cool story. In fact, a great little slice of americana. Thanks.
OWL---it is fun recalling such adventures. glad ya enjoyed it.
Dave---thanks. the second or third post i did way last january was more writing than i had done in all the previous thirty years. it is an interesting challenge to write coherently. i am fortunate to have RD as my editor.
hey dpr-- I'd go live in the woods with you anywhere anytime. Oh wait. I already do! It's a good thing we've grown out of our visqueen phase of humble abodes, though. It looks a bit rough for our advancing ages. 
Rexroths Daughter--now we put our veggies under visqueen.
Great tale. Fond memories. As I recall the camp looked so much more magical to me in real life. Perhaps it was the doobage. Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us. Blog on!
jsk
Late to this post, but I just wanted to thank you for sharing this adventurous experience. This is what a good life is all about, challenge, adventure...actually living and not watching someone else live on the Discovery Channel.
...I bet there are more tales where this one came from. Thanks again.
I enjoyed this a lot - thanks.
jsk---i had forgotten that you came to visit us at the tree planting camp. it did look rather magical after the rain stopped.
FloridaCracker--thanks. i do have several more odd job stories.
Phil--you're welcome. it was fun remembering.
Pirate, I got yer visqueen right here!
This photo looks similar to some camps I've spent time in, in the northern Sierra. Doobies and LSD got our adventures going. Looking at the scene, I can smell the pine duff and feel the damp chill, but of course I have my flannel shirt, long johns and Redwing boots on! (well, my pants, too)
Isn't coffee in those environs just the livin' end? The ritual of making it is forever in my psyche. Standing around a smoky campfire, or firing up the svea, rubbing my cold hands together in antici-------pation.
Commenting by HaloScan
