View from a helicopter

pdxman · Dec 8, 2000

Had someone from a place called AirPhoto, Inc, show up at my door the other night with a framed 11x14 picture of my property. Nice shot, couldn't refuse buying even though it was a little spendy. Apparently they flew over properties last summer and took photos and now are going around selling them. You can also see in the lower left corner my tractor with two people nearby. One with a "What in the hell are you hovering over my property for?" look.

See the next 'reply' for a closer shot.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by pdxman on 12/8/00 09:37 PM.</FONT></P>

pdxman · Dec 8, 2000

A closer shot of the Kubota, myself, and can't identify the other person.

Bird · Dec 8, 2000

pdxman, that's a really pretty place you have. Instead of taking the pictures and showing up to try to sell them, I've gotten a couple of things in the mail asking whether we wanted them to shoot aerial photos of our place when they're in the area. Don't remember what the companies were, though.

Bird

EBS · Dec 9, 2000

Have you tried www.terraserver.microsoft.com for free imagery of nearly all the U.S.(resolution to 1 meter)?
Pretty neat.
Ed

Thomas · Dec 9, 2000

pdxman,
You indeed have nice looking setup there.

Its just a matter of time when anybody with a computer will beable to click on a satellite and take picture of there home stead or maybe other places of interest, /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifheck the goverment doing it know arcoss the USA. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

PaulB · Dec 9, 2000

Wow, you must be a horse lover like me. Is that an outdoor riding arena? I am looking in to having one made thios summer - don't even know where to start, but I am sure it is a job for a pro, not something me and my B1700 should tackle.

Billc · Dec 9, 2000

I'm with Paul on this one. First thing I noticed was your riding ring. It's beautiful! Nice fencing.

I spent this year building out buildings. Next year we want to build a barn, riding ring, and runway. So much to do.

Your place really looks great.

Bill Cook

Bird · Dec 9, 2000

Yeah, Ed, that terraserver is pretty neat, but of course it's black & white instead of color, and the image of my place was made in 1995, shortly after I bought the place, so much has changed since then.

Bird

pdxman · Dec 9, 2000

Thanks for the comments. Okay, I'll be honest. The riding arena isn't mine. It's actually my wifes sister and her husbands (also our neighbors). The horse thing is actually between my wife, her sister, and the daughters of the family's. My brother-in-law and myself are just the 'barn-boys'. I helped build the sand arena and fencing. Took awhile to do but is possible for the amature. Because of the sloped terrain we had a Cat come in to do the major excavating. This created a need for a retaining wall we built and backfilled which is what we are standing on(about 12 feet above arena level). I think the arena is about 65x160. It is also where my wife has learned to drive the tractor as she does the dragging. I'd be happy to answer any other questions about this project if someone else is planning the same.

p.s. I checked the terraserver site awhile back. It is black and white. It can also be very difficult to find the area your looking for especially in forest areas.

bsauter · Dec 13, 2000

Well, pdxman, I just excavated 12,000 sq feet of sod to begin my wifes ring with my L3010. Now I have two big mounds of dirt waiting for my friend with the dump truck and bobcat to help move it to a pasture and we are going to make a play hill out of it for the horses. Winter has come and I won't be able to do anything now till spring except for the moving of the dirt hills. My friend also owns a DOZER /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif so he will help level it out and give me pointers on grading with my Kubota. I'll need 'em.

What did you use as a base? We are thinking of rock for drainage assistance then 5" of ag lime then the sand. My wife has some plans but I havn't studied them yet for the materials. I planned on spreading what the trucks don't spread when they dump. When we did our drive and parking area by the barn the drivers were really helpful and I didn't have to get the tractor out to do anything but for this I know I will. This ring will be used for jumping mostly.

Any tips appreciated. If you prefer to email me that is fine. BSAUTER@IQUEST.NET

BTW, Great Picture!

Brad, Kubota L3010HST, loader, R4 tires
Pictures at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=179207&a=9183978