Tree carnage
 

The west coast enjoyed a Short but huge windstorm garnished by rain Yesterday night. I knew it was supposed to blow over the next morning so I set everything out for the commute. Except a chain saw. The tree debris and all sorts of other blow over things litter the path so I invoked my right to the road privilege all morning long. Anyone else in the Great Pacific Northwest enjoy a little reef making for Christmas? All the trimmings are all over.
V

Yep. Thursday night I almost got blown over several times when the wind gusts would sneak up on me. Path and bike lanes were already getting littered with branches and the like. Today it was all pretty messy.i think those were some of the strongest gusts of wind I've ever encountered on my commute. Unless it floods I ride on Fanno Creek trail most days and I was actually surprised that nothing big was blocking the path. In lesser wind storms I've had whole trees completely blocking it.

I made it about 100 meters this morning before realizing I had three twigs/branches stuck in my wheels. It's one of those times when fenders are a liability.

I was out riding in the wind last night, which was entertaining at times. Later, I listened to it howling as I was settling in for the night. I expected the worst come morning but was a little disappointed - I don't think I encountered a single branch on the road. I assume I was just 'lucky' and that most people's commutes involved more debris.

I encountered hundreds of small branches or as some may call them twigs, none were an issue.

I did run across one downed tree which took the power pole, it's lines, a fence and a car with it.

I saw worse debris when there was the big wind about six weeks ago.

Sandy & the feburary '14 ice storm had quite a bit of debris stren about, including whole trees.

- Andy

We got some good winds down here in Eugene, but apparently not enough. I usually loose a few branches on my fir trees, and hardly anything is on my driveway now. I thought about going for a ride in the wind (if I could have figured out which direction for a tailwind), but perhaps it is best not to ride with debris in the wind. The wind only lasted an hour or so, so it could have been good for a ride.

'07 storm was More significant a Blow .. Out here every 3rd Pickup has A Chainsaw so downed timber is dealt with Promptly ..

BTW its Wreath , Coral forms Reefs not Firs and Cedars.

Last year around christmass day we had an ice storm. There were trees and branches all over the place, it was a mess.

Yep... last year, Oregon also got hit with some of the coldest weather in 40 years, and there was some freezing rain at some point in the winter.. and lots of down wood.

The irony in my town was, the street sweepers finally got out on Thursday morning to clean up all the fall leaves and everything, so the streets were nice and clean. Then the storm hit that night, and filled the bike lanes with debris again. It'll probably be another few months before they clean that up.

All I can say is Wow!

I wonder where [MENTION=148912]K'Tesh[/MENTION] has gone to. He used to bring cutters and saws with him so that he could attend to these very things along the way.

Friday morning in the dark I came across a downed tree on the Burke-Gillman trail in Seattle. I stopped in time but unfortunately a cyclist coming the other way was not as lucky - he had hit the tree at speed and his downtube was completely crumpled. Frame was totaled and I am guessing his front wheel too. He said he was not hurt and was preparing to call for a ride home.

I've got a 48-gallon yard debris can that's about half full of branches from the Douglas Firs behind my house, but this picture from my daughter's school is more dramatic.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...b0fab8572c3a12

Came upon this after a storm on my way home one day:

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...m/38aca34e.jpg



After an overnight storm left twigs and branches on the trail, this is what happened to the fork on the bike my son was riding when one of the twigs got caught in the wheel:

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps858e0a3f.jpg

He still has a scar on his shoulder.


By comparison a little snow can seem pretty harmless.


You will be happy to know that the bike has lived on with a new fork and a new identity as a fixie though it will never be as pretty again.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps827d4096.jpg

Is that a Pinarello? ;)

Oh, I still cut things as needed. I've been pretty busy @ school (both learning how to teach, and teaching). I'm a Senior right now, and I'm trying to graduate this year.

Rubberside Down!
K'Tesh

Hey, good to see you around! Have you been riding to school? (I'd count that as a commute. ;))

Take care,

- Scott

'07 storm Blew dow a lot of timber on the Coast .. but since 1 in 4 pickups has a chainsaw in the back, it quickly moved off the Roads and into the Fire wood stack,

Yeah, when I lived in on the olympic peninsula, I was surprised when the trails were blocked for more than 6 hours.

not much snow yet here in my area of Durham, NC. A little of freezing rain yesterday, but no downed trees/branches