Incidently, it turns out that tree planting is a fantastic cure for jet lag (or, perhaps kill or cure... but i won). Having got in at about 9pm, i decided that i woould plant the next day. Everyone seemed to think i was nuts, but, i mean, what else do you do while stuck in PG on a sunday while really jet lagged? May as well make accomodation costs, at least. In the end, i managed 1200 trees of fantastic quality and density, but was practically dead by 3pm (11pm in my head!) and went to fall asleep in the truck. However, the next day was a day off and it only got easier from there on.
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| End of my first day, trying not to fall sleep at the truck |
The first couple of shifts weren't fantastically noteworthy, nonetheless, there were a couple of notable moments that i particularly enjoyed.
Firstly, about a week in it snowed! In mid-May! Weird... So ' pick your spot at random and hope for the best' planting ensued, which was novel, if not a tad frustrating. On the other hand, it was also sufficiently hot that by midday every last ounce of snow had melted and we were all rather too hot. Turns out it was a nice block afterall, when you could see it.
[picture of snow to-come]
My next highlight came along with one of the first blocks. This was a fantastic day any way since a truck full of vet(ren) planters all snuck off to do it devoid of rookies. It was a little unusual since we were only planting burn piles (the burnt circles left when the big slash piles are burnt on planted blocks). It's really bizarre that this even exists at all if you ask me. If i were a forestry company i would burn and *then* replant, but as a planter, it's awesome - you get a whole day of easy planting that you get paid more for...
However, the real reason that it was so awesome was that it was a block we planted the previous year - my very first block ever! This meant we got to see all our fledgling trees thriving - trees i had, i think fairly, assumed would simply die... Soooo satisfying :D
It is a little disappointing that said trees are very nearly as tiny as they were the previous year, but i guess they must be taking root alright if they're still there. And, hey, they'll grow up alll too quick in the end...
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| So, i don't have picture, but this is a true-to-life diagram of last year and this year trees :D |
The final momentous event of that contract was not one i will ever remember fondly, and was certainly a reminder of the dangers that can be involved in planting. On afternoon very near the end of the contract, we had finished a good days work and were all headed home. In a split second something went terrifyingly wrong and the truck ahead of us made a call on the radio those ahead of them had gone off the road. We couldn't immediately see it for all the dust, and the distance between us. However, after we pulled over we could see the truck sideways and upside down in the ditch, and skewered between the cab and the box was a very sizable tree. That was a pretty heart-stopping moment, knowing that it was you friends and co-workers upside dwon in there.
By some miracle the whole lot of then actually walked out of there with so much as a scratch. I guess it's something of a testement to the trucks that we use - all of the side airbags had gone off and, indeed, the music was still playing. Weird and surreal... As i understand it, the driver was not directly at fault, or, in any case it was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Regardless, or perhaps even more so, this gave everyone considerably pause for thought and thankfulness.
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| Our motley crew 2012, just finished up in PG |
So i guess PG came to a close on a slightly somber note, but planting moves quickly, and planters along with it, and so, to Chetwynd...
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