Snap! Crackle! Thud! Goodbye, Old Friend.... by RodS
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Description
Friday morning, July 1, about 12:30 or so, Jo and I were awakened by a loud crack, CRACK, THUD! The thud actually shook the ground. We jumped up, and ran to the front door, not knowing what to expect.
What we saw was two huge branches of the giant oak tree in the front yard down and blocking the entire street. I called the Independence Police to let them know the street was blocked.
When I examined where the branches broke off, I could tell the whole inside of the tree was hollow and rotten (small inset).
To give you some idea of the size of this tree, several of the lower branches would make very large trees all by themselves.
Later Friday morning, the Independence public works folks came out, and cut up and hauled away the fallen branches. One of the workers commented to my neighbor across the street that it was a very dangerous tree. I agreed with that statement. If we got a good windstorm, it could easily fall on - and pretty much destroy - the house. Sadly, it had to be taken down.
It breaks my heart to lose this wonderful old tree, but it was just too dangerous to let nature take her course. So now I have a lot less shade, and 1600 fewer bucks in my bank account.
Watching the tree trimmers in action was amazing, and of course I had to document it.
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I've just submitted the first of the Blending 3D Figures With Photo Backgrounds to the Tutorials section. It's now awaiting approval, and should be available soon.
I'm still trying to get used to the 'new' Rendo website. It seems to work fine, but I'm still not too sure I like the bright blue, garish background. I'd like to see them tone it down a bit - the old slate gray/blue background was much more relaxing, IMHO.
Hope to get a little more time to get some new work up - it's been crazy with work, family, and trees.
Thanks as always for all your support! You all ROCK!
Heading off to (try to) get caight up on commenting!
Comments (35)
boobunny
I agree with the blue being too much. The site is running slow for me, slow loading images, slow posting my comments. Sad to see the tree go as well. Guess like us they don't live forever. Glad no one was hurt. Great shots!
beachzz
What a great series of fotos. These tree guys are amazing, hanging from those huge limbs with their chain saws. It's always sad to see such a grand tree have to be taken down.
magnus073
Great collage Rod, and sometimes it is best to be safe and remove trees that can be a problem
mikeerson
1600 bucks??? did it take out any power lines? It would of been cheaper if you rented a chainsaw at home depot... you can rent a truck to or put an ad on craigslist for the wood.... 1600? - damn,,,, 100 would be very hard for me to come up with at this point in life.... and the shade - oh man... I remember as a kid we cut down a tree that shaded the Kitchen... I remember I didn't want it down and after it was down my Mom noticed how much hotter it got in the kitchen, you're so lucky that tree didn't want a goodbye hug from you = lol
eekdog
superb collage of shots Rod, big tree! very happy that it did not destroy any property. 1600 bucks is alot, i could not even have 160 for that service. our neigbors at my moms house had a similar problem. thanks for sharing your story and shots my friend, very happy you and jo are ok.. steve
mgtcs
Ohhhh This is a spectacular collage dear Rod, marvelous photos, excelletn lighting, superb work!
jocko500
try to get the insure people to pay for it. tell them it will save a lot if it fall on a house.
renecyberdoc
awesome adventure in the yesr and in your wallet lol. brings me to the point why is nature not taking its toll on the humans. a high pourcentage are hollow and rotten from the inside but they wont drop dead sadly hehehehe.
auntietk
Oh gosh! I'm sorry to see that old tree go. I remember it well! As I recall, it was the landmark telling us "here we are at Rod & Jo's!" That was a beautiful tree. There has been a LOT of conversation in the Forum about the color, and RR has actually changed the gallery background color from that brilliant blue to a nicely classic dark gray. So while we'll still have to live with the blue, at least it isn't framing our work any longer.
bazza
Great collage Rod Its always amazing to see these guys at work cutting from so high up hanging off ropes. Have a friend who use to do this work for a living.. Not good on the pocket though 1600 big ones ouch :-(.. Could have got a new computer for that lol. Glad no one got hurt.. Well have a great day my friend!!
MineFujiko
Didn't these branches break the entrance of your house? agree site background color. looks cool.
vitachick
I sent an email to rendo about the background. Was told it gets some getting use to..Also suggested that it would be nice if we had a choice of colors. No reply to that suggestion.. Guess too many complaints. Color has been changed.. Those tree cutters are facinating to watch..Like monkeys climbing up a tree. Excellant captures!!!!!!!!
UteBigSmile
debbielove
Well Rod, my friend, being a 100% tree hugger (hard core club), my view of the cuff is man should not have built the houses near the trees in the first place.... Trees get old etc! Move the house first... Harsh nut tough! I know its rotten and has not many more 10's of years to go but its home to hundreds if not thousands of different animals... All gone now and homeless or dead! So my view still stands mate.. And you were out of pocket as well ... Bummer! That said Rod, please don't let my extreme views take away from a fine collage.. And excellent shots of a mighty trees final end! Rob
Faemike55
Wonderful collage, Rod Sorry to hear the passing of the tree (and your $1600).
Rainastorm
WOW!! HUGE!! lol Glad no one was hurt...and GOOD LUCK with the tutorials!!!
angelafair
Great collage! We have had several old trees to break and fall in our area over the last several weeks due to all these thunder storms with horrific winds and downpour rains! Sad to lose such a treasured piece of history, huh?
Erestorfan
Oh Rod, I HATE seeing these old trees falling. The shade they provide is so very welcome and the birds and critters love the protection of the branches...but as here in NH, many of these grand trees are rotting from the inside out and you don't find out until it actually comes down. Fortunately it didn't land on your house!! But $1600 is a real hit to the back account!! OUCH!!! Someone will end up with some nice seasoned oak wood!
mrestey
MAAAAAAAAAAAAN! That TRULY SUCKS Rod! An oak is a beautiful tree - one of my favorites. Those branches are/were what we call widow-makers. Glad that happened at a time when people were not up and about and possibly under it! That much is something to be thankful for. I can't believe the price you were charged! I know a number of people who would have taken that tree down safely just for the firewood.
Froggy
Excellent record Hotrod of the demise of a once great and noble plant! That sounds a bit crap but hopefully you know what I mean!
Raddar
Hey Rod I feel your pain buddy. I had the exact same thing happen here (sort of). We had an oak tree that our builders planted 2 feet from our water main and I had to get it out. It was a massive 12 feet tall, with a trunk about 10" around. The thing weighed probably around 200 lbs with the root ball and all, Im talking a real monster of a tree. It took me half a day, with an electric chain saw and a garden shovel to remove it before it caused some major damage. So I hear ya man, those gigantic oak trees are insane when it comes to removing them. BTW it cost me $48.96, price of the electric chainsaw. ;)
Bossie_Boots
So sorry to see the tree go too still at least it poses no danger to anyone now The color may of changed but the slow uploading of a page is driving me nuts i had a rest for a couple of days it did my head in !!
missblue
Fantastic capture =)!
FaeMoon
Rod, there is a thread on the Community part of the Forums concerning the site look at the moment. I'm encouraging anyone who wants to go back to the neutral grays to go there and post their opinion. The blue is very distracting to most of us. This is a great montage.. and it is too bad about the tree!
npauling
A lovely collage of this eventful tree collapse. Thank goodness no one was hurt but it is so sad to see a huge tree fall or be cut down but as you say this one did look to be past his best. I hope you get a new tree planted soon. I don't mind the blue of the site but it is so slow to do the comments just when we need it to be faster.
MagikUnicorn
Good to take care before it fall down on kids head :) Great collage too (a big tree fall in the street last week here in montreal a very large one almost 300 years old that block the car for hours before city worker came and cut ..
schonee
Wow what a shame. Great capture....yes the site is so slow too
bmac62
Wow, Rod. Quite a story. I, too, remember your old oak very well. You obviously did the right thing...tree rotten...tree breaking up...but move the house:)??? Anyway, your pictures of the "tree surgeons" reminds me of two summers during college when I worked for a tree surgeon back east on Long Island. My forte was spraying trees but I did give climbing a try...unfortunately, I found myself clinging to the tree for dear life and had no arms or hands left to do the required tasks of sawing:-) So, it was back to the ground and the spray rig for me. They paid me the same and I didn't have to risk my neck, arms and legs in the process.
Lashia
Great collaboration of shots- thanks for sharing! :-)
Selina Photography™
adrie
Great photo collage Rod, but it's sad that the tree is down.....also glad that everything is oke with you and yours.