February Journal 08, GO TIME

[tapper]

Theeeeronnn You da mannnnnn and Matt too lol

[andrew martin]

Theron,

SOunds like you are running on pure adrenaline, just don' t fall asleep when you get the BIGSAP ATTACK. If I tapped at night, I would either end up running my truck into a ditch, fallining 100' feet off a cliff or get attacked by a yearling horse - neither of them sound great, plus, my wife would shoot me.

I think our season is winding down here. One more cold spell this weekend, and I can perhaps get 1-2 more boils. Three days of 60+ degrees killed me here. Making Grade B currently. THis time last year, I did not make Grade B until the last week in February. We had great runs last week, and we will be close to .25 gallons of syrup/tap on buckets, quite the improvement over last year.

Andrew

[802maple]

No they are nuts, there is no other explanation. Good morning boys or is Matt up yet Theron.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Young and full of testosterone.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Andrew,

Don't be too quick to throw in the towel. Your taps haven't been in long enough to dry up yet and the 10 day forecast for you don't show it getting out of the forties but one day and some 25 degree nights. The forecast changes several times a day, so you may have some temps in the teens yet. It's still early for the season to end, even for your location.

[tapper]

Andrew,

Yes and at the price of commercial it pays to make it till the trees just wont give it anymore. No matter what it tastes and smells like.

[andrew martin]

Taps are still in, I will probably go another week, or so.

Do you guys ever get together for a MapleTrader party or get-together? I know a good portion of you seem to know each other or at least have met before. I would like to meet some of the traders some time, but between my work and my wife's grad school work, not to mention two little boys with #3 due in June, time is limited. Just curious.

Andrew

[PATheron]

Udate on the bigsap- Last night Matt showed me the royal boil. We worked on the shed plumbing, tanks, etc. We ended up with around 350 gallons of sap the other day with gravity on a few taps so last night we did our first boil. Worked on getting ready to run evap, had to plumb feed tank and finish plumbing evap and cleaning stuff etc. Once all that done we fired up and boiled. Started around 11 pm and finished this morning at 0630. Ended up sweetening the pans and not quite drew off. Sap was 2.3%. Local boy from the trader came over and wanted to check out what we were doing so we put him right to work. Real nice guy and big help. I think I can handle running the evap now and was really impressed with the performance. Very nice even hard boil that was not difficult to maintain even with larger wood. So now we have bush tapped,Roughy 1200, Vac, operable evap and two sap tanks and a concentrate tank. Now just have to plumb in other two sap tanks and minor plumbing on perm tank. Sugarmaster is going to train me on the ro and I have to figure out the press. Really enjoyed boiling the LAST green sap I intend to ever boil. Gonna keep finetuning while im waiting for the big sap. Never could have accomplished all this without Matts help last few days. Most selfless person Ive ever met. Theeeeron

[Lwood]

Taps are still in, I will probably go another week, or so.

Do you guys ever get together for a MapleTrader party or get-together? I know a good portion of you seem to know each other or at least have met before. I would like to meet some of the traders some time, but between my work and my wife's grad school work, not to mention two little boys with #3 due in June, time is limited. Just curious.

Andrew

Andrew,

I get down your way a couple of times a year. Usually in Louisville. Your what, about 1 1/2 hours from Louisville? Next time I get down your way I'd be glad to catch up with you and see your set up.

Larry

[PATheron]

Just talked to Matt at the airport and hes stuck there becouse of the bad weather. I almost felt sorry for him being a little tired with only 1.5 hrs sleep last night. I told him I was sorry for his condition and He said that If I wanted to ever be a real sugarmaker Id have to Waaaaant it. Guy is very mouthy but hard core for sure. Theeeron