Port Aransas TX

Today we ventured over to the island town of Port Aransas, TX they were on the very front end of Harvey’s landfall. They still have a curfew, and while we were okay to take the ferry over we were required to stop at the make shift civic center/ FEMA HQ, to check in. All volunteers are signed in, and their skillset is taken into account.

Since we had our trusty chainsaw, they had plenty of folks’ requests stacked up. We were able to help a handful of property owners cut away some broken or partially removed palms, and trim up one oak that had some broken branches up high.

Luckily one of the two ladies (neighbors) had an extension ladder that help me get into a position to cut and remove the branches. Unfortunately there were some vines like ivy running through these branches, so we hooked them up to the Jeep and got them all pulled down. Before leaving we cut a number of yuccas down for them, and removed a previously cut palm using a chain and the Jeep, finally cutting it into manageable lengths that could be rolled into her debris pile.

At another property the owners were away, but after speaking to them on the phone we devised a plan to drop a couple of palms that were close to the corner of their year old house, they’d only just built. We were able to borrow a ladder from a neighbor and went to work cutting small rounds all the way down the trunk until we could drop it safely without any damage to their house. Then we tackled it twin leaning opposite, we were able to drop it in two cuts and a push, before cutting it into moveable rounds.

Our first job (I’ve inadvertently reported them in reverse order) was a request to take a previously cut palm’s stump down to the ground, it took a couple of cuts being twice the diameter of my 18 inch saw, but we got it down to a level she was happy with the outcome, being we tried pretty hard to make it as level as possible. Maybe she can place a planter on it. Time got away from us, and around 4:30 we called it a day stopping by the civic center to check out and confirm our progress. Then it was off one of Connie’s favorite little bars on the water. Thankfully it was open (cash only) for a celebratory drink at the Back Porch Bar before heading back to home base in Aransas Pass.

We grabbed some pictures and video of Port Aransas’ damage as well as some of our good work…

Views Around Port Aransas…

: This is the BP rig that dumped all the oil into the gulf a few years ago. Just getting finished re-rigging it before it will once again be floated out into the gulf waters.

: A boat deposited on land compliments of Harvey.

: On the ferry

: Port Aransas Ferries…

: The damage was indescriminate… Lots of piles all over awaiting pick-up.

: No Jared today, or for the whole week for that matter…

: Everywhere we went there were piles of damaged goods, and household items…

: Many had their boats on lift docks to get them out of the water, but either the winds or the water or both flipped this one on its perch…

: This boat was thrown to the end of the many canals…

: Port Aransas is still without power to many areas of the island. We saw many of these giveaway sites with water and other items…

Our Work

: Lance with happy residents after cutting down their palm stump.

: Taking down opposing twin palm stubs, starting above the roof line.

: Lance moves to the ladder to continue.

: Starting on the second stub…

: Creating the wedge cut

: Wedge cut done, now to finish her off.

: Well I thought, it would be finished, but it required a little more help.

: Connie offers to help…

: So I applied the push, while she finishes the back cut, and Bonnie moves the ladder for safety.

: Just a lil’ more

: Almost got it…

: The finishing blow…

: I gave her a shove…

: And she starts her acquaintance with the ground…

: Going down…

: And down!

: Now Connie cleans off the cut

: It still pretty thick…

: Changing to the other side, to finish up.

: Almost there

: Final cut, after running out of gas. A quick refill and we finished by taking the stump down in rounds, then rounding out the piece we fell.

: The gnarly broken oak tree

: Lance working off yet another ladder…

: Reaching for the bad limbs

: All the limbs are cut but needed some persuading the find the ground..

: We were succesful with roping the first

: But ended up using the Jeep to finish pulling the limbs from the tree.

: Starting on the yucca trees…

: Lance getting after the yucca branches…

: The last few cuts and we called it a day.

Our celebratory drink after a long day, I’m behind the camera (spelling Mandi), Connie, Mandi & Bonnie enjoyed margaritas at the Back Porch Bar, I stuck with my usual A Silver Bullet…

Some video of our drive…