July 20

View of the day-Finishing up the winter wheat.

Things are starting to heat up. We had a strong SE wind and temps in the 90's, just can't wait for the 100+ days due to come in the next week.

We started the day with someone knocking at the camper door at 7:45am. Apparently not everyone knows the "don't knock before 8am" rule that Al has. A farmer was sent over to see us about combining some oats he had swathed. We seem to be one of the only ones here who brought a pickup head. We have 350 acres of rye to take care of first.

We had 50 acres of winter wheat left to do, and managed to get started before noon. After finishing up, we took the header off, since we had to move on the busy highway and through some small gates. Marilyn moved about eight miles NE and waited for Al to bring the header so we could start in on the rye.

We have combined this field at least 8 times over the years and although it is familiar, we never remember where all the rocks are hiding. We have been spoiled over the last month or so, not a lot of rocks in OK and KS, and if there are any, they aren't like some of the headstones in the ground here. So far so good though, nothing hit yet.

Marilyn opened up the field and Al brought the grain cart over. He jumped in the combine to make a round and see how things were working, and he managed to find some mud again. We sunk down about a foot, but he was able to back out, so we will be cutting around that spot for a while. A few of those 100+ days will dry things up. It was going to be the view of the day, but once he started backing, he said he wouldn't stop...how convenient.

Rye grows tall, a good 4-5 feet, unfortunately this rye has a lot of bindweed, which is a clinging kind of vine and once it gets so far up the stem, the rye just has to lay down. Not flat, mind you, just down enough that it doesn't feed in worth a darn.

We came home to find a poster taped to our door, for Gettysburg's annual "Harvester Appreciation Breakfast" to be held on Sunday. They have a free pancake and sausage breakfast sponsored by several businesses in town for all the harvesters.

Catch the review on Sunday...