In winter 2016, we had a tree near the north gate fall onto the electric line feeding the phantom power pole. PG&E came out, saw to the situation, and we thought that was that. That was when we were young and stupid when it came to living here.
It happened again in April 2018. Turns out that particular type of cypress tree is known for shedding large portions of itself, hazardous given the winds we get up here. Instead of just resting against the power line, this time the tree took the line out. Since that line feeds a second meter which services our gate (and once apparently serviced a mobile home next to the pole), it needed to be reconnected, so PG&E came out and dealt with things. All of this of course happened when I was heading to the airport to catch a plane to visit family.
Still, it was all sorted and we thought that was that…again.
Or course it wasn’t. Just a few months later, yet another section of the tree fell. This time the power pole was untouched but a section of the fence was taken out. Since it seemed the tree was done living and was going to just continue shedding large sections of itself, Agent Smith, his dad and our nearest neighbor spent an evening pulling most of it out.
We still need to repair the fence. It’s only been 20 months, but considering the stay-and-shelter order, we’re actually getting a lot of small projects off our list.