Well, this bites...

Yeah, I should've known better.

This happened yesterday. Was on solid ground for awhile there, pulling a cartload of rounds out of the woodlot. Must've run it into an old logging rut or something. She bogged down, turned the tires and stuck fast. Tried prying it out with a log, inserting logs under the tires. No soap. So I hiked back to the garage and got the comealong. Chained it to a tree, dumped the cart load and pulled the darn thing out.

The woodlot has been pigged up pretty much all year. I've been able to just recently get in there, avoiding the spongy areas. Or so I thought. Anyhow, I got 'er cleaned up with the pressure washer and heard a cold brew calling.

Today I was determined to make a better path where the ground isn't as bad. Am pulling partial loads in the cart to avoid getting stuck again. Once those ag tires start turning and you stop moving, that's all she wrote. It's bad out there, my friends.

Got a couple loads of gum out and split today. It's taking a bit longer but I'll take any progress over none at all.

Yup, dropped the trees back in mid December. Most years I've got the rounds loaded out and split before now. It's been nothing but snow and rain all winter.

I try to drop trees where the ground is better but that isn't always feasible. Ya gotta drop 'em where there's room. And where they won't get hung or destroy a keeper tree on the way down. If the weather cooperates, great. It didn't this year.

Clyde, we're west of Dover, a few minutes from the Maryland line. I used to live in VA... born and raised in Chesapeake. Did a stint in Madison County. I miss the area but there's no jobs.

Gum ain't the greatest for heat but it grows like weeds here. We burn a lot of it this time of year. Have a couple red maples and two red oaks to get out yet. One oak is limbed but not bucked - plan to get to that later in the week.

Good news. Today was better. The new path held up long enough to get the remaining large rounds out. Seriously mudded the tires but didn't get jammed up, at least. With the rounds out of the way I had room to make a U-turn and drive out the way I go in. The ground is a bit higher and doesn't get pigged up. Finished gathering the little stuff and called it a day's work.

Tomorrow is stacking day.