We work all over the country, but you already knew that. And while there is no doubt that it’s great to get back home the night of a raising when it’s local to either our Western New York or McMinnville, Oregon shops, the truth is most of us like to travel, and that we get to do!
Out here on the West Coast, where I spend most of my time, we’ve had a summer of unreal views and sights (and sites). Someone asked me recently where we’ve been. Lessee... Yosemite, Leavenworth, Flathead Lake, Carmel, Lake Lapeer, Michigan… Wait Michigan? You bet.
Most of our clients and much of our industry are looking for their timber frames in Douglas fir, so doing these out of our west coast shop makes a lot of sense as we are in the midst of Doug-fir-land here in Oregon. We also feel strongly that whenever possible our timbers should be kiln dried. It just makes a better final product. And yes, we’re in the middle of kiln country as well.
So, sending a large set of hammer beam trusses and bents to a beautiful Michigan lake fits.
As does Yosemite, where we are returning next week to finish the exterior timbers on the top of this hill.
And Leavenworth Washington, known in the climbing world for having great cliffs, and the German American world for having a great Oktoberfest!
Here’s a photo out towards Flathead Lake in Montana, near Kalispell. We understood the view was going be awesome and sure enough…
If you are ever around Monterrey California, you will be charmed by the sweet and small village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I was RIGHT THERE at Pebble Beach, and I don’t golf. What a missed opportunity.
But we did get to eat at Clint Eastwood’s place Mission Ranch though. It was as good as you would expect, and Clint must not have known we were there, because he wasn’t!
So make no mistake, local raisings are our daily meal, and we love them, but it’s not terrible to get out and see this amazing country. It gives us perspective; we meet new people; our families get to miss us!
(I sometimes say that my wife’s favorite two days are when I leave for the week and when I get back at the end, in THAT order.)
Coming up this fall and early winter are full of beautiful places as well, with southwest Colorado, the hill country of Texas, more in California and likely, back in Michigan all in the plans.
See you out there!
