Hop Kiln Road 2015

Back in the High Life Again

We'll have ourselves a time, And we'll dance 'til the morning sun, And we'll let the good times come in, And we won't stop 'til we're done.

Gotta catch my breath. A lot's been happening around here. The boys got us a new TV for Christmas. Now my Vermont friends are going to find this hard to believe, but it is flat as a pancake and hangs on the wall like a picture! I'm serious. Well maybe more like a window that doesn't open and all the TV shows come from Outer Space! And I speak not of Hollywood, I'm talking U-F-O Deep Worm Hole Space! More channels than stars. Then tonight M got home a wee bit early and I was just finishing up channeling an episode of Brazil Butt Lift on 347 - don't want to give away the plot in case guys have been out early tapping and missed a couple episodes - and she makes me a Steady Winston Churchill, we just call 'em Winnies, and after awhile she turns off the magic waffle and says, "Treat, why don't you dance your little Brazil out back and put the squeeze to your trees before you turn into a Jet Setter."Oh my. Not! I've seen those snow boarder dudes over to Vermont who can't even wear a hat on channel 218 and been extra careful not to doze off down to Super Cuts. But she's right, as usual, why risk some major life event at my age when I can be out back tapping!

I look forward to this thread every year. Now I know its time to go sugarin. Thanks Bruce!

Hey Bruce you getting any sap down there in Bow? I'm not getting much here in Loudon yet but it should be a good week.

Slow start cause its cold and the snow is pretty but deep. I oughta know. Decided to use dad's old army holster to hold my drill. Wasn't a great fit and what with all the other stuff couldn't keep the new belt up so I found a pair of suspenders. After all the gear, put on a sweatshirt over the suspenders and a jacket, gaiters and snowshoes, and headed up the Line Road mainline. Snow was fine and granular, sank in every step and broke more a sweat than trail. Had to stop to catch my breath, twice. Right about when I reach the top of the last lateral, I had to take an urgent call from mother nature about my last cup of coffee! Took awhile to figure it out, big new belt, suspenders and bibs under the sweatshirt, but finally got all reassembled to kick off the season! Shoed over to the first tap...yikes, no drill in the holster! Tramped around for awhile to no avail and finally decide to use a snowshoe to dig a grid search. Now I'm no stranger to this technique, still got my Aiguille du Midi powder straps kicking around somewhere, over the garage I think. Decided to limit my search depth to three feet, I mean how far could it sink? About an hour later, establish the median snow depth in the area about 5 feet, no drill. Had to knock down some of the sidewall so I could shoe out of the cellar hole. Real tired and decided only to visually search my track in. Nada. Concluded high life is very good and time for a new drill anyway. Took off all my gear and packed it in the back of the truck. Get in and, of course, sitting on the passenger seat is my drill. If I can get my fork to my mouth going back at it hard first thing tomorrow!

Ha ha ha livin the dream!

I hate it when that happens. I lost my tubing cutters the 2nd day of tapping. I know where I used them last and I know where I tried to use them again but no luck finding them. So trudge back out to the 4 wheeler, take off the snowshoes and go back to the sugar house for another pair. Fortunately I wasn't too far from the 4 wheeler and was able to get back to tapping without losing much time.

Forecast is moving quicker than me but not one to easily panic. M found my powderstraps hanging in the wine cellar since I couldn't do the stairs. Not sure how they got in there. M says all the excitement is causing me to lose my concentration so I am taking zero chances from now on; know how to manage my adrenaline flows. Tied one powderstrap to the drill handle and the other to the tubing tool for extra insurance. Also applied sunscreen. Totally alpine out there. Went at it 110% but couldn't get my drill bit to steam. Must be having a drill management issue too. Found one big dead limb busted a mainline fitting. What are the odds of that? Mainline came up with wet leaves. Think that means the ground is warmer than the air above the snowpack. Just spent to long overhauling sugarhouse production flow I guess, but confident I'll have 500 ready for the Wednesday start but haven't figured how to hang the buckets.

Still having adrenaline problems. Broke a .225 bit off in a tree while tapping out the 3/16ths. I was winded on shoes in deep snow and on some slope, but it was the sap rushing down that spaghetti line when nothing else was dripping that started the convulsion. It got so bad I had to sit down on the edge of a wind sculptured tree well and practice my breathing exercises. Still don't feel right. Got to tap that tree with the Guv today. Didn't want to take the time, still got Wheeler Brook to tap and I may have to tunnel, but M said I have to go. Made me shave, floss and wash my best jacket.

Ha...now those are funny stories. Good to hear from you Bruce.

Governor used a bit brace flawlessly. We were at the youth detention center in Manchester where they have a sugarhouse on the old John Stark farm. Has a guzzler but not much was coming in. My lines today advanced from dripping to minor streams. Test fired evaporator and used the hot water to clean up the palace. Some minor plumbing issues. Rigged pump trailer. Put in a couple 3/16s laterals with the Starline taps on the new growth below the sugarhouse. First time the trees have been tapped. They've gone from 6" to 12" in about 10 years, now with huge crowns. Decided to finish tapping over next several days cause I don't think we'll get a run until next week. Might be able to rinse the membranes tomorrow night. Looks like I might slide under the wire.