September 30, 2008

View of the day-The old and the new. Marilyn combines next to a few old combines in the farmers yard.

Another beautiful fall day, perfect for harvesting...and harvest we did. Al was dealing with small bins so he had to move the auger quite often seeing as the wheat was running around 60 bu/ac.

We finished the remainder of the first field then moved the combine to the next field...quite a task. The field was a stones throw across from the one we were on, but it was across a creek valley so we had to drive the long way around with the combine. The rest of the rigs were able to get through the 'Pete's Pass' through the valley...very scenic but rough.

Once all the bins were full it was to dark to move the auger over from the bin so we just filled the truck and cart then started a pile on the ground, which is where the rest of it will go now that there are no bins left. We made 100 acres today and quit around 9:30pm.

More fabulous weather to come...

September 29, 2008

View of the day-Al picking up the wheat swaths to make room to park the equipment.

After spending the better part of the morning moving the rigs from the field south of town to one just west of town, we were able to get everything organized and ready to start just after lunch.

Fortunately Al was able to park the truck at the bin in the field and dump into it with the cart when he got a load, which was often since the wheat was running 50+ bu/ac. Marilyn had to go into town for groceries so Al got to take over combining and when she got back, Al had stopped and was preparing to dismantle the front end.

The feeder had been sounding rather noisy in the canola and after tightening up the feeder chain, it had subsided somewhat, but was back to the rattle after 100 acres. Once we had the pickup head was removed we were able to get in to see what the problem was and discovered a roller that holds up the arm of the feeder drum was bent out of shape on one side and missing completely on the other. A call to the Case dealer confirmed they had the rollers but not the bolts, so rather than run for the parts, we were able to find enough washers and bolts to fabricate a replacement. We shortened the feeder chain by a link and once the header was back on, it was running like a top and we were back in the field.

We worked until Al had filled the first of the bins and had moved the auger to the next bin before calling it a night.

After all, it was Monday Night Football...

September 28, 2008

View of the day-The Qu'Appelle Valley has its fall colors on as Marilyn passes through on her way to Moose Jaw.

**By the time we got in from the field last night the internet was down in the camper and the 'tech support' in the house had gone to sleep already, so we had to forgo the entry until Marilyn could get in and fix it up this morning...

Another early day as Al got up to get his grain unloaded and Marilyn took the day off to go celebrate her mother's 78th birthday in Moose Jaw.

Al had to do the combining and hauling on his own for the day. There was 75 acres left and he was doing alright filling everything up then stopping to get everything dumped...until the bin would get full and the auger would have to be moved. It wasn't helping things much that the canola was running over 50 bu/ac.

Marilyn got to get a visit in with her family and of course get a good feed of her mom's home cooking...some birthday for her having to do all the cooking, good thing she enjoys doing that every once in a while to keep in practice. Marilyn had to do some tech support there as well, getting her mom's computer cleaned up and leaving her a few 'cheat sheets' so she could load pictures on her new digital picture frame for all the world to see...well, at least the seniors in the building.

Al had the Sirius radio hooked up in the combine so he could listen to the NFL games during the day, helping him to make the day pass quicker...but not the field. Marilyn stopped in Grayson on the way home to pick up the mail and when she got out of the truck she could hear a snake by the front passenger wheel...well, a leak, anyway, at the valve stem. After getting the duct tape out to rearrange the valve so that the air wouldn't leak as much, they filled it with air and she "drove 'er like she stole 'er" back to Esterhazy.

The plan was to at least get to the camper, but since it seemed to be holding air, she was able to make it out to the field. Since the shop was out there, it wouldn't be a problem to air it back up to bring in to the tire shop in the morning. Al also needed to unload the truck again, so at 9:30pm Marilyn took over...at a time we are usually quitting.

The field seemed to go on forever, but by 11:30pm we licked up the last swath and headed back to the camper...exhausted, but done.

And no internet...

September 27, 2008

View of the day-More colors changing in the valley...not for long with the frost last night and the gusty winds today.

Same day as yesterday as far as most of the day went. Unloading, servicing and combining...the usual. Al had to strategically time his unloading so that he would be able to leave Marilyn combining with an empty truck and cart while he went to Yorkton for the Terriers hockey game...his first of the season.

Al left around 6:30pm and Marilyn carried on combining but came up short of the 100 acre goal, due to the fact that there wasn't any room to put anymore grain. In fact, the General was heaped so full that she had to get the 'box stretcher' out to get the tarp closed. After sitting in the combine for 11 hours, getting up into the box to rearrange the canola was a bit of a shock to the system...time to get back into shape.

Tomorrow Marilyn is on a road trip to Moose Jaw and Al works on his own...

September 26, 2008

View of the day-Canola swathed into...beaver houses...you have to sneak up on them.

Up early to unload, have breakfast and move to the next field of canola. It was another cool wet morning, no rain but plenty of dew. By the time we got everything moved and serviced Marilyn was able to start the outside rounds of the big canola field. This one is yielding better, around 50 bu/ac so there isn't much rest for Al especially with the haul being farther.

It was slow going to start but as the day went on the straw started to break up a bit easier making the beaver houses less of a task to dismantle. Marilyn combined until Al had hauled the last load for the night, then he took over so she could do a laundry run...actually one load...in the house...and she walked.

Not quite 100 acres...maybe tomorrow...

September 25, 2008

View of the day-The neighbors field is done and the canola we are on is not far behind.

Up early again, but it was pretty wet out with the dew, so we got to fit breakfast in again before going out to the field to service. We got a phone call from our Kansas harvester friend from Kenmare, he was finished there and was getting ready to move back to Gettysburg to wait for his fall harvest to start.

Another perfect day for combining and not only were the hawks busy but the ravens had moved in and it was starting to look like a scene from The Birds...they were mobbing up and the rodents didn't have a chance. It was interesting to see how they got braver as they got hungrier...they wouldn't even wait for the combine to go by before dive-bombing their grub and wouldn't move until it was eaten.

We continued on with the canola until the field was finished around 8pm...another productive day without any hold-ups...Al hauled, Marilyn combined...same old, same old.

And the phone is still ringing with people looking for harvesters...

September 24, 2008

View of the day-Al picking up canola swaths. The hawks were making short work of all the rodents we were scaring out of the swaths...couldn't snap a picture without one of them in the frame.

Up early unloading and servicing...Al was, anyway. We got to get eggs in at the restaurant in town...mainly to get a portion pack of peanut butter to put on the trap line Al has to set up in the General...the paper towel is starting to look like lace.

The rest of the day was picking up and hauling canola...no getting stuck, no breaking down...pretty uneventful until we quit at 9:30...a long day.

And so it continues...

September 23, 2008

View of the day-Black gold...Al swings the auger out to unload a hopper full of canola.

Such a day! Al got the grain cart moved out to the field and got a ride back with the farmer while Marilyn got a couple loads of laundry done. We had to pick the combine up at the welding shop, so Al let Marilyn hook the header back on the combine while he did the dirty work...paying the bill.

Al drove the combine out to the field and Marilyn brought the pickup and shop trailer. After getting fueled up, Marilyn started combining canola while Al got the rest of the equipment organized. Marilyn had to go back to the camper, so Al took over for a while until she got back and by then he had a load to take to the bin.

Marilyn was finishing the outside round on the field when she rounded a corner near a slough...things were okay until she felt that unsettling feeling of the combine going sideways as she was going ahead...the water coming ever closer...the right side of the combine had sunk down about 4 ft...not good. After calling Al on the phone, he came out with the farmer and we proceeded to try and get the combine out of the mud...no easy task. We had a 4 inch wide tow strap which is now in two pieces, then we added a chain to the mix...a long one that was now 5 short pieces...we weren't having much luck at all. It used to be the first one to get stuck during harvest had to buy the beer for the run...we both drink diet pop and brought back several cases, so Marilyn has her debt covered.

After piecing the strap and chains together we were finally able to get it pulled out. The farmer couldn't believe there was any place to get stuck...he had swathed around the slough himself and you couldn't even see his tracks...it looked that solid. He believed it when he saw it sunk past the axles. Of course there was no "good" camera in the combine, just Al's cell phone, which he cursed at Marilyn for taking out of his pocket under the guise that she was just trying to save it from falling out...so excuse the quality.

Marilyn had planned on going into Yorkton for a couple of sales and a long overdue haircut...actually a hair repair after having an accident with the scissors a month back. Because of the holdup with the combine being stuck, she stayed at the field longer to help make sure there was enough canola combined to fill a semi for tomorrow, then took off for Yorkton. She got some shopping in and got her hair fixed but then found the main sale she went in for wasn't until Thursday...dang...another trip in...

On a side note, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the 36 year old woman that was killed in a harvest accident near Kamsack, SK. She was working on a US harvest crew hauling grain when she became trapped under the grain in the trailer. Not many details have been released...a sad reminder to be extra diligent at harvest time.

What a day...better things to come tomorrow...

September 22, 2008

View of the day-Sunsets on the old shed out side of Esterhazy.

Well, it rained during the night, so it was a good thing we kept going to get the barley done. It didn't amount to much at the camper, but when we went into town it was clear that they had gotten a lot more.

We decided to take the combine into the welding shop to get a patch put on the floor of the pickup head. It is a few years old and with some of the rocks that have been picked up during the past seasons, it was getting pretty scarred and worn. They were able to work on it today and since there would be no combining, it worked out pretty good. We dropped the small tire off the pickup head that had gone flat at the tire shop to get fixed as well.

We went over to Grayson to do some banking and some visiting, then drove up to Yorkton to pay our taxes and shop around a bit. Marilyn got to check out the old Dairy Producers building that is being renovated into storage space...a massive building that has been sitting empty for years...lots of potential.

We came home the back way and checked out the crops on the way back to the camper...not a lot of combines going. Back at the farm, Al got his trucks and cart unloaded, then we fixed the tarp by putting a new elastic on the closing mechanism.

Marilyn was was working on the blog when the internet went down at the camper...good thing she had to go into town to pick up a pizza.

Canola tomorrow...if it doesn't rain...

September 21, 2008

View of the day-Dam beavers...busy little buggers, aren't they?

Up early again...Al to unload the trucks and Marilyn to service the combine. We were rolling just after 10am and although it we should have only had 100 acres left to do, it seemed like the field would never end. It was another windy day and there was a threat of severe weather to the south of us, but we never had any of it come close. We did see lightning, so we're not out of the woods yet.

Marilyn had her friend from Yorkton come down for the day with Robin's coffee and ghostbuster donuts...a nice treat. She decided to stay until the field was finished and help shuttle Al around after he had both trucks full. Every time she counted how many swaths were left, there seemed to be one more that the time before...hard to figure that one out.

Al had miscalculated how much was left in the field...underestimating by quite a bit so the farmer had to start a new bin in the dark and bring his two trucks over to help get the last of the barley off the field...what a sad state to be in...we should be so lucky. We could have brought a different color machine in and thrown most of it out the back so it would have fit in the bin...

A gorgeous night, really warm for the first day of fall and the low night temperatures are going to be as warm as the high on Saturday...that crazy weather...

At least we finally got the barley done...

September 20, 2008

View of the day-Trying to keep up with the barley. Marilyn dumps in the cart while Al fills the truck.

The day didn't start off too good. After having the charger on the pickup batteries all night the hope was that it would start right up first thing in the morning...no chance...stone dead.

Al dumped the grain truck and by the time he got back, Marilyn had coaxed the truck into starting and Al sent her to Langenburg to pick up two new batteries...enough is enough. Not paying attention to where she was going...for some reason the turn to Yorkton seemed the way to go, Marilyn took the scenic route into Langenburg. After picking up the batteries and a few groceries, she took the straight shot back to the field where Al had serviced the rig and was already combining.

It was a productive day, a few sprinkles every now and again, but nothing to stop the flow of barley...Al was kept hopping. The wind was pretty wicked, which made picking up the swaths going west quite and experience, especially after the sun went down. The crop was so dusty and the wind swirled the dust and chaff in front of the combine, there were a couple of times Marilyn must have appeared drunk as she swerved around in the dark and dust looking for the grain cart. When she did find it, the dust coming off the unloading auger made it almost impossible to tell when the grain was piling up...in the truck or the cart.

A hundred acre day, with less than that left in the field for tomorrow...

September 19, 2008

View of the day-Al dumping one of many, many cart fulls of barley...the Freightliner is called into action.

Yet another early morning, this time the last one in Carlyle for a while. Al had to boost the Freightliner...she doesn't like the cool weather...and leaving the music radio on didn't help either. Marilyn got the camper almost ready to go, but needed help from Al to get two of the slides in, then we were off to Esterhazy.

We got up to the farm, got the camper parked and plugged in, then got the tractor/cart and truck unloaded and moved over to the field. After servicing the combine, Marilyn got to start back in to the barley while Al got to unload a truck...something he would be spending a lot of time doing since the barley was running 70-75 bu/ac. With almost a mile run, there was no way Marilyn could make it up and back without being full, so it took some trial and error to find the optimum place to spot the cart. By dumping every time she passed, there wasn't a lot of deadheading to the cart.

Not a good day for batteries, first the Freightliner, then when we went to leave the field, the pickup wouldn't start. The car didn't have enough juice to boost the pickup so we had to enlist the combine to help out and we finally got it running...there's one rig that will have the battery charger on all night. And back in the camper the batteries were dead in the remote control, mouse and toothbrush...change of atmosphere, perhaps?

The weather is looking good for the weekend so tomorrow should be a good day...today was an 85 acre day, which was pretty good considering we had to move. Of course, we know not to trust the weekend weather forecasts...

And we have high speed internet...mmm...

September 18, 2008

View of the day-First load making a circle out past the barley piles to get turned around to head north.

Up early to get the equipment loaded for the run to Esterhazy. We got the tractor and cart loaded and hooked up to the Freightliner, then loaded and hooked up the combine tot he General. After a pit stop at the Quick Stop, we headed for Esterhazy with the shop trailer on the pickup and the General/combine load.

Not much for wind on the way up and fortunately not too much traffic. We got to the farm, unloaded the combine and after getting it set for barley, went right to picking up the swaths. The barley was running around 70 bu/ac so it didn't take long for the combine to fill up and since Al was hauling about five miles to the bin, Marilyn was waiting at the field.

The first part of the field was about 10 acres and then we moved over to the BIG half of the field...290 acres. The first three rounds of the field required Al to meet the combine with the truck since the grain cart was still at Carlyle. We got a few loads out and by the time 5pm rolled around the truck was heaped full and the combine even had some barley left on it.

Al's step dad came over from Grayson to ride back to Carlyle with us so he could drive the car back to Esterhazy, keeping us from having to make an extra trip back. We stopped at Whitewood for supper and made Carlyle just as the sun was setting.

Tomorrow the camper and grain cart make the move...

September 17, 2008

View of the day-The neighbor wants to bale the straw so he combines it on his own.

Another beautiful day...can it possibly last? Al had a truck to unload and then we started moving things back to Carlyle.

Al had talked to his brother from Gerald, near Esterhazy, and it had rained a bit yesterday so no one was getting any work done up there. When we had everything back in the yard, Kim came back with a severely injured feeder chain that had lost a battle with a huge rock. We still had the pickup head on our combine, so while Kim went on the road to find a new feeder chain, Al jumped in to finish off the last 40 acres of canola that he had left.

While Al was doing the combining, Marilyn, Marg and Gordie dismantled Kim's combine so that when he got back with the parts it would just be a matter of threading the new chain through...in theory...and actually, that's just how it worked out. Tomorrow he will be back in business.

And we start loading to move north again...

September 16, 2008

View of the day-Watch for snakes...sometimes the field is a much better place to 'go'.

These are the days that make harvesting the best job in the world. Absolutely gorgeous weather, dry grain, almost no waiting...simply fabulous. The only way it could have gotten any better would have been if Marilyn had won tickets to go see Elton John in Regina.

We stopped at the post office to mail a letter and Marilyn asked for "delivery confirmation" and the clerk had no idea what she was talking about. After describing it to the part time clerk, Marilyn realized it was a US post office service...not a Canadian one...oh dear...

Back at the field, we had a big move to make to get the next field and Marilyn had to make a stop at the yard to fuel the combine up, so it was after lunch before we got started making dust. Al ran into auger problems and by the time he was able to get the truck unloaded, Marilyn was waiting with a hopper full...thankfully it only happened once. No more breakdowns and lots of dust...

The rest of the day was more of the same...

September 15, 2008

View of the day. Unloading into the General on another gorgeous harvest day.

After a late night of internet woes...Marilyn tried until 1:30am to upload the view of the day...you can't have a post without a picture after all. Thinking it was the low wireless signal, she went out under the window where the router was to try and rectify the problem...didn't help. About the only thing that was accomplished was to bring in a few spiders in from the cold on her person...good for a shriek and little exercise flinging them off...somewhere in the camper. After exhausting all avenues, for the first time this season, she decided to wait until the morning to post.

When coffee time arrived at 7:30am, after a short night, it appeared the internet was working again and finally everything was posted. A quick check on the Regina Leader Post site was in order to see if the online version had the story that Ron Petrie had written, and after seeing that it was, an update to the post was in order so the family could buy up a batch of the daily for all those silly enough to not be on the internet. The hard copy includes a picture...well composed, clear...but the content...yeah...needs a little work...but the story telling more than made up for that.

We got out to the field early and moved the combine to the yard to fuel it up at the tanks. The combine was just on the edge of being too tall for the fuel tank's drain hose so the fueling was slow and without an auto shut off nozzle, Marilyn didn't dare go to far away for fear of a fuel Valdez. Al was topping off the bin, then he came back to the yard just as Marilyn was finishing up the servicing before moving to the next field.

Marilyn can't figure out which feels better...working on a 250 acre field that looks like it will never end or knocking off five smaller fields...either way, we did finish two fields...more time moving than combining, it seemed.

What a beautiful harvest moon to drive home under...

September 14, 2008

View of the day-Reflections on a summer day...it is still summer, isn't it? Way too soon for the colors to be changing

Just a heads up, if you are in Saskatchewan and can get your hands on the Regina Leader Post, Ron Petrie's story on his day in the field with us is published in Monday's paper.

Back to the show...

A not so early day by last weeks standard, but early enough. Al decided since we weren't going to get going very early today, we would go on an road trip up to Esterhazy and Yorkton.

We made Esterhazy around 12:30pm and were able to sweet talk our insurance man to go down to his office so we could renew the licence plates (tags) for our pickup and car. We were lucky we called when we did, he was on his way for a holiday to Minnisota on his bike and was leaving right after he finished with us.

We stopped out at the farmers field on the way to Yorkton to update him on our progress. He was finally getting to combine some canola, so we kept it short and moved on. We were surprised to notice pretty much all the way up to Yorkton there were way more fields standing or swathed than combined...probably only 10% had been done.

We had called ahead to have a pizza ready when we got to town...mmm...we really miss the Canadian pizza's...they just don't get it down there...the toppings are the important things. We headed up to our house to unload the batch of toys we had dropped off when we went to Carlyle a few weeks back to get the pickup head. After getting that done, we tried unsuccessfully to start the car...dead battery, and no cables long enough to reach from the pickup to the car. Al pushed it out of the garage where we were able to get the cables on and we walked over to the neighbors to pay for a hockey season ticket that she had picked up for Al and drop off some bottles of...er...beverage for lawn cutting services.

Back at the house we were finally able to get the car started and Al went into town to get antifreeze and oil to top it up, while Marilyn stopped to pick some apples off one of the trees in the yard before meeting up with Al in town. After filling the fluid, we tried starting it again, but it was dead again. Marilyn suggested purchasing a new battery for it but Al poo-pooed the idea and forged on back to Carlyle with it. Marilyn stopped to pick up some groceries before heading back in the pickup.

Al went straight out to Kisbey to see if the wheat was dry enough to go...and it was...so he finished the rest of the field then went back to the camper. Marilyn met Al's step-dad at the junction to get the latest bag of mail that he had been collecting for us. While we were standing having a chat, Marilyn noticed some wide loads coming around the curve and was quite surprised to see Holland Harvesting from Minnisota moving north on the highway. Even though we see this all season long, it seems odd to see a crew of six combines with all the support equipment moving north...especially one from the USA. On the way back, Marilyn stopped at KFC at the lake to pick up chicken for the Carlyle crew who were trying to get the last of the barley done.

Back at Carlyle a visit to the field found Kim and Mike trying to get the draper head to feed properly and finally the dark chased them home for supper. Al on the other hand was a little more productive...and the car started...although he was bummed his Seahawks lost in overtime.

And now we struggle with the internet connection...

September 13, 2008

View of the day-Putting the final trim on the garage door.

No rain during the night, but we got up to a cool cloudy day. We went out to the field even though it wasn't looking too promising...still no rain but really dark skies to the west.

Al dumped the General while Marilyn serviced the combine, then made a round to check the moisture...not quite dry enough...in fact, it was wet. The farmer couldn't see us getting started at all today...the rain was inevitable, so we went back to Carlyle. We didn't see a combine going anywhere between Kisbey and Carlyle...not a good sign.

Back at the camper, we found that Kim wasn't doing any combining either. Marg had gone to Estevan to pick up a new garage door...and a Wii for Marilyn...so when she got back we had the afternoon mapped out. It eventually rained, just as we thought it might, but we didn't get the downpour they had Estevan...but it did confirm that combining was out.

Marilyn helped out with the garage door and Al made sure it was warm enough in the camper. It took about four hours, but we managed to get the old one out and the new one in...and working properly...a nice bonus.

Followed by an evening of football...

September 12, 2008

View of the day-Al get a turn at picking up organic wheat swaths near Kisbey.

This crack of dawn stuff is getting kind of tiring...

We moved the combine back to the yard to fuel it up and give it a good cleaning before we moved to start combining organic wheat. After Al got the General unloaded, we moved 20 miles west to the field with the combine and shop trailer. We went back to Carlyle, had some lunch then moved the General over to the combine to start on the wheat. There must have been a lot of Riders fans on the road...lots of waving and blowing of horns.

The wheat was plenty dry so we were able to start right in. It wasn't yielding near as good as the barley...that was to be expected...so Al got a pretty good break to read the paper and listen to the radio...probably fit a nap in there somewhere too. Al gave Marilyn a break for a couple of hoppers so she could regenerate and continue combining while he unloaded at the bin. We got the bin almost full, but Al didn't want to top it off in the dark, so we quit for the night.

We drove back to the farm where the camper was and discovered Marilyn's brother had ridden his Harley over from Avonlea to help Kim out for the weekend. He got a crash course in combine driving and will probably not be allowed to go home until Kim is finished...if Marg has her way.

Slight chance of rain in the morning...

September 11, 2008

View of the day-Finally a flag for the combine...Al really didn't want it...he's not a fan of the Canadian Football League...but Marilyn needed a flag, so the Saskatchewan Roughriders made the cut.

This is the first break with the tradition of flying the US flag on the combine and it is coincidental that we first started flying the Stars and Stripes in honor of the Sept.11 tragedy in 2001 and here we are on the anniversary of that date.

Up and at it early again...trucks to unload, machinery to move...same old, same old. A beautiful sunny fall day to continue the barley cutting...Marilyn never left the combine, but Al shifted back an forth between hauling grain with the General, then taking over Kim's combine when he hauled in with the semi.

We had a short break for supper in the field again...a change from the US harvest when everything is on the run or when we get in at night. Once we had a quick snack, we continued on combining until it got too tough to cut, then drew numbers for the shower.

Another long day...

September 10, 2008

View of the day-Kim unloads from his combine into the General.

Up early again for coffee, then Al put Marilyn right to work servicing and moving things around...no chance to even shake the cobwebs out.

We moved over to some standing barley so that meant a switch of the headers...back to straight cutting again. We were combining along side Kim and his CaseIH 2388. He covered more acres with his 36 ft draper head, but his hopper was smaller, so synchronizing the unloading was a bit difficult. Al was hauling with the General and shuttling with the grain cart when he had time and Kim's dad, Bob was hauling with their smaller grain truck.

We combined all day and well after dark...no waiting on trucks...the boys kept the combines rolling and with the exception of two short stops for repairs...Kim on his header PTO shaft and Marilyn with a broken knife section there was hardly time for...you know...stuff. Kim's new grain trailer was delivered after supper, which gave Bob a chance to book off for the night.

Marg and Gordie brought supper out to the field and we had a short break for that burgerfest, but it was back in the combines to try and finish the field. It would be such a shame to leave 10 acres for the morning.

But getting it done doesn't mean we get to sleep in...

September 9, 2008

View of the day-Everything started and warming up to get unloaded as Al & Kim finish their morning conference.

A really early day for Marilyn...up to have coffee in the house before everyone was off to school and work at 8am. Al got the trucks started then we got the combine unloaded just as our company for the day showed up.

We were lucky to have a visit from Ron Petrie, a columnist from the Regina Leader Post newspaper. Along with his regular column...a damn funny one, at that...he does a weekly story about life in Saskatchewan. It was time for his annual story about the harvest in Saskatchewan and decided to come out and spend the day learning about the custom harvesters life. It was a great day and hopefully he will be kind...we hardly yelled at each other at all...while he was here. He was nice enough to take us out for lunch before we got the rest of the equipment unloaded and moved out to the canola field.

We did a test and the canola was dry enough to go, so Marilyn got started right in making dust as Ron rode along learning about the harvest life...probably more than he wanted to know. After taking a few pictures, he went with Al to the bin to unload a truck full of canola...Al was impressed with the way a "city folk" was able to line him up to the auger.

We kept going on the canola as it got dryer as the day turned into night when we were finally able to get the field finished. We weren't able to get the combine calibrated right away so we can't say what the yield was for sure, but it was close to 45 bu/ac...pretty good.

A great day with no rain...

September 8, 2008

View of the day-We're back in Canada and parked out at Carlyle, with a welcoming committee...what a day!

We were up bright and early to get things settled up and battened down for the last leg of the US wheat harvest. Al went out to the farm while Marilyn got the trailer road ready, then it was time to hit the road.

We started off with the General/combine and pickup/camper/shop trailer. We had a bit of a NW wind, but nothing to keep us out of the 'tall one'...high gear for you automatic transmission folks. We made the USA/CAN border and stopped at the US side to get our stuff cleared, then went over to the Canadian side...oh, dear...

Marilyn had always had her paperwork in order when crossing the border...all receipts in categories, divided by vehicles, two extra copies, all required forms filled out on the computer...perfection, really. A few years back the regular officers had said we didn't need these forms and receipts any more...Marilyn kept filling them out anyway. Not having them done felt like not wearing a seat belt when you have done it all your life...like you will fall out of the seat. The one time she doesn't have it done...there is a new woman at the crossing...not just a novice...an expert on all rules pertaining to declarations.

Well, an hour and a half later we left the border, blank forms in hand for the next trip through while we wondered where we had gone wrong. On the bright side, she had us pull so far ahead of the crossing so we would be out of the way of the other traffic and because she was so busy with the other people trying to get through, she never looked in any of our vehicles or trailers. Unlike the poor couple who were just going home in their car...she opened up their luggage and riffled through it...lucky us.

We got to Carlyle, parked the General and it's load, then found a level spot to park the camper...within wireless range, of course. After that we turned around and headed back to Kenmare to get the Freighliner/tractor/grain cart and header. On the way down we had to go through the US port again...oh boy, the friendly lady on that side waved us to move up to the gate...then walked away. It was quitting time for her, and who should be taking her place? Mr. Happy...and the first thing he did was take our passports and tell us they weren't valid...what??! We had just gotten them in the spring...yes, he said "but you haven't signed them"...whew. And we were on our way.

We got to Kenmare, fueled the rigs up, then headed back north. At the US side this time, we dealt with one of the old regulars, while Mr. Happy had his supper. On the Canadian side, Marilyn pulled up and the officer came out to find her with a hand full of forms that had been filled out...as requested by the morning shift...and he said..."that's a load of crap(translated), have a nice day"...he waved us on and walked away. He had come on shift just as we were leaving the first time, so apparently he knew what was going on. Marilyn wonders if it is possible to phone the border to find out who is working to save on the grief in the future...

Back in Carlyle, Al got the Freighliner parked just in time to catch the second quarter of the first NFL game. After supper with the landlords...Marilyn's sister Marg, her husband Kim and their son Gordie...Al continued on with football, while Marilyn got the camper set up and the dish aimed. There is wireless internet here, but it seems we are just on the fringe, so it is not unlike dial-up.

Tomorrow we move the router...and maybe do a test...

September 7, 2008

View of the day-Al gets the combine trailer moved out of the mud and on to the road so we can load on solid ground.

Well, the decision was made to call it done here in Kenmare. With yesterday's rain and all that had fallen the past week and all that is forecast for the week, we decided it was time to move on.

It's always a tough decision when you have to leave unfinished work, but with the phone constantly ringing to find out when we will move north, we just couldn't stay any longer. This would be one of the downfalls of having only one combine...we don't have a crew to split to divide our resources. Good thing the farmer has his own combines...in both places.

We went out to the farm and got the header trailer, then went out to the field to take the straight header off and move the combine back to the farm. The cart tire was completely flat and the shop trailer with the compressor was just out of reach to air the tire up. The combine was the only thing around to move the shop trailer so Marilyn hooked the safety chain from the trailer up to the feeder house and moved it closer to the grain cart. After airing up the tire and blowing all the chaff and straw off the combine, Marilyn drove the combine back to the farm.

Al got the grain unloaded off the General, then took the header into town to park it. When he got back to the farm, Marilyn was there with the combine then we both went back to the field with the General to empty the cart and bring it back to the farm. Marilyn got to drive the slow moving vehicle while Al got the General and the Freightliner unloaded and Marilyn went back to the field to get the shop trailer.

We were able to get the tractor and cart loaded on the trailer where we had parked it when we got there almost two weeks ago then we moved it into town and parked it by the header trailer. The combine trailer was a different story...it had to be moved onto solid ground, so Al hooked a chain around the feeder house and moved it out on to the road where we were able to get it loaded and then moved into town.

Back at the camper we got the paperwork in order to cross the border, then Al got his NFL fix in...well, at least until tomorrow night when he gets to see the Monday Night double header in Carlyle.

If they let us in...

September 6, 2008

View of the day-Clouds gather over the Pioneer Village by the camper.

Another sleep in day...no rain to start, but it didn't take long. Al went out to the farm to put the brake pot on the combine trailer and see if it was dry enough to try and unload the trucks...no luck there...and no one around to talk to, to find out how much rain had fallen. If there was that much at the farm, Al didn't want to take any chances going out to the combine to check the gauge.

Back at the camper, Marilyn watched as those popcorn clouds came up, poured then disappeared one after the other pretty much all day long. The sun would come out with such promise, then the thunder would start...yes, thunder...and the rain would pour...the cloud would move on and the cycle continued.

We had a visit from our Kansas harvester friend who had just gotten back from his week long jaunt back home for a rain break. After getting caught up on all that had happened the past week...rain...rain...rain...and more rain, he filled us in on the crop reports to the south, then went back to his camper to take it easy.

We decided to try out the local bar downtown that had an ad in the paper for Saturday prime rib special...which they were out of. It must be a popular place because it was packed and we had quite a wait until we got our meal...but it was great...and when we finally left...you guessed it...it was raining again.

And the beat goes on...

September 5, 2008

View of the day-Old time wheels at the old time town near our campground.

We got up early enough to get to the restaurant for eggs then went back to the camper to finish off the bookwork. It was nice to see the end of that task.

No word on how much rain fell during the day and we didn't go out to the combine to check the gauge, we figured the roads would still be pretty soft. We didn't want to mess up the farmer's yard unloading the trucks either, so we just booked off for the day...again.

After supper in, Marilyn took a walk around the area to check out the scenery...and wear off some of the cheesecake. There is a small pioneer village right next to the campground...closed for the season, but not fenced so she got to walk around and check a few things out and then carry on around town. Strange how it could be uphill both ways. It's kind of depressing to see the flowers dying off and the leaves starting to change...but nice the mosquitoes have laid off.

There were clouds building all around...but just the popcorn shower kind, and by the time Marilyn got back to the camper one of them opened up for a few minutes, but it didn't amount to much.

We've got our fingers crossed for tomorrow...

September 4, 2008

View of the day-Pretty much the view for the whole day out the window of the camper.

Yep...pretty much it...bookwork and TV...

September 3, 2008

View of the day-The combine and cart wait by the church for the grain to dry down.

No rain during the night but with all we had it was going to take some time to dry. We went out to the farmers yard to see if the auger had been moved from the bin down south...it had, but it wasn't set up to a bin yet, so we went out to do some fixing on the pickup and combine.

The road to the field was fairly dry, but we had to check out the road that went out past the other field we have to do, and we needed 4X4...it was a bit soft. The field was solid enough for us to move the shop trailer over to the combine so we could change the oil in the wobble box and put some air in the grain cart tire that seems to be going flat all the time. The rain gauge on the combine showed 1.3" of rain...that was including the chaff floating around in it...good news since there had been reports of up to 2" in the area.

First thing on the list was the alternator on the pickup...other than the cramped quarters and awkward positions we had to be in to get the bolts removed, it went fairly well and did solve the charging problem. One job down. Next we changed the oil in the wobble box on the header...another job with awkward bolts, but only one was a trouble maker. After that was done, we did a bit of revamping on the new brake pot to make sure it would fit back on the combine trailer...it will get attached tomorrow...we don't want to get carried away.

We had aired up the tires on the cart when we had gotten out to the field and by the time we were finished with all our 'fixin' it had gone flat again...another job once it gets emptied...it still has a load of grain on it which isn't helping much.

We went back to town to change up some bolts and return the old alternator for the core charge, then went back to the camper. After three days of running the little electric heater...which we unplug when we leave...it was a shock to the system to open the door and have it so warm inside. Nothing that cracking open all the window and turning on the fans didn't fix in a hurry.

Seems strange getting the blog done in the daylight...

September 2, 2008

View of the day-Another day of duck...or rather fowl...weather in Kenmare.

It started raining again during the night and again, it continued on most of the day.

Al was up early and went out to pay the truck man for the brake pot. He told Al if he wanted to change the alternator in the pickup, we could pull into his shop so we wouldn't have to work in the rain.

We went out for lunch then went back to the camper to do some bookwork while the rain continued. Later, Al checked his eyelids for cracks and Marilyn got caught up on some Changing Rooms episodes...a truly lazy day.

The rain is over...and so is the heat, apparently...

September 1, 2008

View of the day-It was a day for the ducks near the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge.

It started raining in the early hours of the morning and continued to rain and mist off and on all day. We knew there wouldn't be much combining going on and the road out to the field would probably be a bit moist, so we decided to hit the bright lights to get some laundry done.

It really wasn't a good day to hit Minot since all the Labor Day vacationers were getting their last day of shopping in. Al got his Pizza Hut fix in for lunch, then we went to do the laundry...at the nicest laundromat on the run. All state of the art machines...washers that hold 6 loads and dryers so big you could almost stand up in them...and that actually dry the clothes.

After the laundry, Al dropped Marilyn off at Walmart while he went to the Case and John Deere dealers for grease and toys...in that order. Marilyn found that Walmart was as busy as Christmas...quite crazy...and a forever wait at the cash registers. Good thing they supply those magazine racks at the tills for customer convenience.

After the shopping was done we headed back to Kenmare...boy, the traffic on the highway...was anyone left in Saskatchewan? After unloading the truck and getting everything put where it belonged it was time to call it a day, get caught up on the latest hurricane Gustave news and check things out online.

Tomorrow is fix-it day...