September 30, 2009

View of the day-It's another windy one as the flag flaps forward as we combine.

Al was up early and went out to unload the truck and grain cart, then service the combine before starting to cut. Marilyn got lunch ready then stopped in town to pick up some produce at the newly opened grocery store before heading out to take over in the combine.

We finished the rest of the field we were on, then moved a couple miles east to start on the next one. Al was kept busy hauling to the pile and once we made the move, he kept adding to the one he had started in the other field. He had decided to go to the hockey game in Yorkton, so he made sure everything was empty before he left around 6:30pm. Marilyn worked at filling both rigs and finished around 9pm and after tarping both units, headed for the camper.

It was surprising how much it had warmed up by the end of the night...relatively speaking...it was probably 10 degrees warmer than when we started in the afternoon...and the wind hadn't let up. Al did say there was lots of lightning in Yorkton when he got there which seemed bizarre for this time of year...here, anyway.

And where did September go...

September 29, 2009

View of the day-Eliminating a few steps by just dumping from the combine onto the ground in the field. There is a shortage of bin space so the next two fields will be dumped here...doesn't look big now, but wait a couple days.

We started out the day by moving the combine over to the new field, just to cut a patch, thinking it wouldn't be dry enough to start...lots of dew on the grass. But as a former customer told us in the past..."you're not cutting the effin grass"...so we were pleasantly surprised when it was dry enough to start. Well, dry enough to put in the pile we were starting, at least.

Once we had gotten everything else but the van moved over to the field, Al started combining and Marilyn went back to throw lunch together before combine back to take over. It was cold, sunny and really windy...REALLY windy, which made things interesting after the sun went down. There was so much chaff blowing around that whenever the combine turned to go west, Marilyn had to stop and wait for the dust to get blown away before moving...too many power poles, augers and sloughs to be driving blind.

After we finished the south third of the field, Al moved the cart and General out to the other side of the field, then we both went back to the first field to get the van so Marilyn could go back to the camper and Al could finish filling the cart and truck before calling it a day.

And it was a damn fine day...combining wise, anyway...

September 28, 2009

View of the day-More like yesterday...without the rain. Cold, cloudy and windy.

We were up early, even though we were pretty sure we could sleep in. We decided to go to Yorkton to get the van licensed so we would have two vehicles...it is hockey season after all and Al will likely book off so he can go spectate...this way Marilyn doesn't have to walk home from the field.

We woke up to the furnace fan blowing...but blowing cold air...we were out of propane, so Al took the empty tank off and went into town to get it filled. Twice the price we paid in the US for the same tank...but we can't argue...unless we want to freeze. Al went over to Gerald to visit with his brother, Jeff, then came back in time to have lunch before we left for Yorkton.

We went to get the registration renewed for the van then went out to the farm to get it started after it had been sitting all summer. Marilyn left to visit the Staples crew and Al grabbed his hockey season tickets before going to visit his co-workers at H&R Block. After fueling up both vehicles, we met with Marilyn's friend for supper before coming back to Esterhazy.

We did see a few combines going on the way back to the camper, but they were all going in canola...different conditions than the wheat we will be going into. Eugene was combining his canola when we got home so Marilyn decided to get a couple loads of laundry done before the lineup to the shower started.

Tomorrow we get back at it...

September 27, 2009

View of the day-Wishful thinking. Maybe it will just sprinkle a bit so we can get the rigs moved to the next field...riiight.

We got up and the sun was shining...so much for the forecasted rain, we thought...that lasted about an hour. It clouded over, the wind got nasty and it stayed that way all day.

We went into town for brunch...not as good as what it used to be...then went out to the field to service and, hopefully, move the combine over to the new field to cut a patch to park everything. While we were servicing, it started to look a bit foggy to the west...and then it hit. Not a downpour but several bouts of misty rain that lasted for the better part of the day. We didn't move anything.

We went back to the camper and Al spent the rest of the day watching NFL football...good timing for the rain...and Marilyn working on theatre stuff. We went out for supper with Eugene, our landlord, then came back to the camper for the rest of the night.

It was about 2am when Marilyn finally decided to go to bed...and forgot about the blog, so it will be a double header today.

And it doesn't look promising for combining...

September 26, 2009

View of the day-The last load of wheat goes onto the pile...right on schedule.

We got to the field early, serviced everything then did a bit of rearranging as we moved to a different part of the field. We had to use the combine to mow some stubble to the ground to make place for the pile of wheat we would be creating throughout the day.

Al was kept busy shuttling between the north end of the field and the pile, which was on the south end. We eventually ended up a bit closer to the pile by the time we were finished at 7:35pm...5 minutes after Al had predicted we would be done.

The day was windy and cloudy off and on and as we drove the combine back to the pile after we had finished, it started to sprinkle a bit, but it never amounted to much and it didn't affect dumping the last load of wheat onto the pile. We went back to the camper and had a visit with the landlord before calling it a day.

Tomorrow we move to a new field...if it doesn't rain as forecasted...

September 25, 2009

View of the day-The combine and grain cart are full and waiting for the truck to show up.

We got out to the field early to get the knife assembled and back in it's proper place. Al replaced a few guards while the knife was out...much easier to do when you don't have to work around the knife sections. After the greasing and fueling was done, Al started combining and Marilyn went into town to get some groceries, since the cupboard was bare.

Back at the camper, Marilyn made lunch and got the shopping put away then went out to the field to take over combining. Al spent the day filling up smaller bins and moving the auger...three or four times...until he got the last bin filled in the dark.

The final bins were in the field where we were cutting, so that made the hauling a lot easier, Al did have to enlist Marilyn once to climb the ladder to open up the last bin. That had to be done by backing the General up to the bin, then putting a ladder in the box...which was 1/2 full of wheat. After emptying the wheat out of her shoes, Marilyn went back to combining until everything was full.

We got back to the camper and had to close all the windows...yesterday was so warm that we had the windows open all night...not a chance tonight. It's 11pm and 47ºF already...chilly.

We're out of bins, so tomorrow we start piling on the ground...

September 24, 2009

View of the day-You can tell the Freightliner doesn't get used that much when the spiders work their magic and tie down the steering wheel.

We were up early to have coffee with the landlords before loading up the camper and making the final move to Esterhazy. We got the Freightliner started then moved into the exit position and started battening down the hatches in the camper.

We got hooked up and left Carlyle around 10:30am and drove straight through to Esterhazy. Marilyn unhooked the camper in the yard then went out to help unload the tractor and cart. Once that was done, we took the Freight back to the yard so the spider could rebuild since we weren't going to be using it right away. We finished setting the camper up...it seems we always have to do that job in the heat of the day...and it has been unseasonably warm...but we're not complaining.

We went back to town and Al took the cart out to the field while Marilyn snagged a pizza for lunch...ahhh...they don't make pizzas like that in the US. We got out to the field at the same time and after having a snack, started combining.

We were straight combining wheat that had been dessicated for a couple of weeks and it was running around 50 bushels/ac, so Al was busy with the hauling. He filled one bin and had to move the auger to another one which slowed him up a bit, but that was okay because just after the sun set the knife broke on the header, so Marilyn was done for the night.

Marilyn went back to the yard to get the shop trailer and got back to the field just as Al was returning from the bins. After taking what was left of the old knife out of the header, we decided to leave it until morning...the mosquitoes would just have to go hungry.

Back at the camper we finished getting the inside organized, showered up, got logged on to the internet, then got caught up with the landlord when he stopped in after his day of combining was done. Once again we have to think about where we are when we open up the camper door in the morning.

Everyplace is the same from inside the camper...

September 23, 2009

View of the day-Al eyeballs the ramps leading up to the trailer, while Marilyn guides him on.

Al wanted AIS at noon, so there was no sleeping in for Marilyn, even though it was a late night. We got the combine loaded on the trailer, strapped down and hooked up to the General, then we did the same with the tractor, grain cart and Freightliner.

Marilyn wanted to set up the rear view camera on the combine for Al to be able to see behind the load while driving down the road. After mounting the camera with the magnetic base on the steering column in the combine cab and running the wire over the top of the combine and through the box of the truck into the cab, Marilyn was able to hook up the junction box and screen so Al had a clear view behind him...it worked like a charm...and it was AIS at 12:11pm.

We left the yard and got up to Esterhazy without incident. Marilyn unhooked the shop trailer that she had been pulling at the farmers yard, then met Al at the lot in town where she had left the straight header yesterday. We got the combine unloaded, took the pickup head off, then Al drove it up to the field and Marilyn brought the straight header on the trailer.

The chokecherries are plentiful around the field where we are working and the trees are putting on their fall colors...a beautiful time of year...the 80 degree weather isn't hurting much either.

After getting the header on the combine and cutting a spot to park the trailer, we went back into town to get the General and have some lunch. Once we got back to the field, Al combined until the truck was full then we quit for the day since the farmer didn't have the auger set up at the bin...he was busy combining himself.

We left for Carlyle and Marilyn had a conference call meeting to do on the cell phone which came and went as the coverage did the same. We got back to Carlyle and got settled up with the landlord before calling it a day.

A busy, productive day...

September 22, 2009

View of the day-Marilyn washes the windows on both combines before they start out on the last day of combining in canola.

The guys were anxious to get started in the canola and Marilyn had a road trip to Yorkton on her agenda, so after stopping at the Skyline to have lunch it was directly out to the field. Marilyn cleaned the windows on both combines then forged on to Yorkton.

After stopping to hook up the header from the farmers yard, Marilyn took it into Esterhazy and parked it in the lot where the rest of the rigs will go once we get moved, then continued on to Yorkton. Once in Yorkton, she started working on the list of 'to do' things that Al had made up...got most of them done, except to pick up his season tickets for the Terriers. Apparently they are open until 5pm in a different time zone because at 4pm the doors were locked and the lights turned off.

Al finished combining the canola and moved the combine back to the yard and blew all the chaff off to ready it for loading and moving tomorrow. Marilyn had supper and a pre-meeting meeting with a couple of girls from the theatre group, then the moved over to the church where the actual meeting was going to take place. After the meeting, Marilyn stopped to get a haircut then went to Tim Horton's to pick up a box of TimBits (doughnut holes) and a coffee before starting on the 120 mile trip back to Carlyle, getting back at 12:30am.

Al wants to be AIS at noon tomorrow...the cart still has to get moved back from the field and everything needs to get loaded before that can happen. At least we know we have our camping spot from last year secured after the farmer read about our plight on the blog...what a relief...we are looking forward to it.

Marilyn saw the Holland Harvesting crew parked at the corner gas station, ready to move north as well...no pictures in the dark, it looked like at least 4 8010's on trailers...could be more...

We're sure to see them along the way tomorrow...

September 21, 2009

View of the day-The bridge over the Qu'Appelle River on #9 Hwy...some good graffiti over the years.

We heard rain coming down around 5:30am so we knew we wouldn't be combining. What a far cry from yesterday's weather...time to layer on the clothes...strong north winds and cold temperatures. No need for air conditioning today.

Today's plan was to take the straight header up to Esterhazy and scope out a camping spot...not an easy thing to do with the summer officially over. With the temps dropping, most places are thinking about having the water shut off to prevent bursting pipes. It would be a long commute if we drove from Yorkton...although some people do it all the time...we drive enough all summer.

We dropped the header off at a farmers yard just north of the Qu'Appelle Valley and after Al had a half hour chat with him, we left for Grayson. We stopped in to get our mail and have a visit with Al's step-dad and do a bit of banking, then carried on to Esterhazy. We checked out the local campground...kind of packed and it looked like we might have to do some fancy driving to back into it...an option.

We met the farmer and Al jumped in with him, Marilyn followed as he toured us around the fields we have to do...straight canola...that should be interesting. It doesn't look like we will be making it to Atwater after all. We got back to town, grabbed a sub, then headed back for Carlyle.

Al got his football fix in as he watched the game in the house with Kim, who was relaxing from an afternoon of combining...well, a semi load at least. Apparently the sun came out in the afternoon and he was able to get a little more combining done while we were gone. Marilyn toughed it out in the camper, working on some stuff for the theatre group meeting tomorrow night...pretty chilly, only 58ºF inside.

It's a slippery slope once the furnace gets started for the first time.

September 20, 2009

View of the day-Picking up canola north of Carlyle and dumping in the bins that are in the field. It didn't take long to fill them up with both machines running.

Al and Kim got the combines moved back to the yard to do a bit of servicing...blowing out the rads, air filters and the like. Once Marilyn got the windows cleaned on both combines, the guys moved the machines north to the last field of canola...half section, actually.

Marilyn and Marg mapped out the plans for building the deck that had been on the 'to do' list for the last week. We went into town to pick up lunch for the crew and take it to the field, then brought a sample back to test over at Precision Ag. The sample had a few green seeds, so Kim decided to move to a different part of the field to see if it was any better..it was, so they moved over and were able to continue combining...until the rain came.

Meanwhile back at the yard, Marilyn, Marg and once in a while, Gordie, worked at getting the frame up for the new deck that was going on the north side of the house. Marg had tried to get two different guys to come and do the construction, but they seemed to have no end of excuses, so she said, 'that's it, we'll do it ourselves'. Fortunately, Kim's brother James had the weekend off, so he was able to drive combine with Al leaving Bob and Kim to haul grain, which meant Marilyn had the day off to help her out.

The forecasted rain finally hit around 6pm, so everyone had to shut down...it wasn't a gusher, but it was enough to put the brakes on the combining and the building. That's okay because it was supper time anyway...and there was more football to watch.

Too bad the Roughriders lost today...

September 19, 2009

View of the day-The Steelers making a rush on a hot afternoon in Regina. They lost, but put up a good fight in spite of the weather.

We were up early, Al to go on a parts run to Storthoaks with Kim and Marilyn to go on a football run to Regina with Marg and Gordie.

Kim was able to get a new cylinder for his auger and the guys got everything put back together then finished the wheat field that was started yesterday. They were going to move over to the canola field that we had started on, but it was too hot to put it in the bin so they waited until after 6 to crank it up again.

After getting to Regina and having lunch, we went to a sports store to pick up a new chin strap. We dropped Gordie off at the field then went in search of an umbrella to protect us from the sun at the football field...it was a good thing we did...it was 95ºF and we were facing right into the sun. Unfortunately the Steelers didn't win, but the guys were pretty upbeat.

We had supper then did a bit more shopping before driving home to Carlyle. The guys had finished the canola field and were getting cleaned up to watch the CFL football game. Marilyn came home with only the umbrella as a purchase and she was even in Walmart, but the thought of standing in line at the cash register was enough to leave empty handed. Saturday in the 'bright lights' is insane...there is an upside to shopping at 1am....

Could be some deck building going on tomorrow...

September 18, 2009

View of the day-Combining at sunset in Saskatchewan...need we say anything more?

Al was up early, getting the combine serviced...no truck to unload yet. He went in to see how things were coming with the General...they had some jobber parts on hand that would work which means we could get the truck back sooner than expected.

Today we had a three unit crew as Kim's dad came over to combine with his 7720 yellow top John Deere and straight head. Al combined until just after lunch, then Marilyn took over...it wasn't a demotion...he got to drive Kim's combine while Kim and his brother James did the grain hauling.

We finished the first field, moved over the tracks to the next little patch, then moved to the field with the hills. Not real severe hills, but since we were used to the flat fields we had been combining there was a bit of adjustment time.

Kim's mom brought out supper for us just as the sun was starting to set, and after a good feed, we all went back to work...except for the JD. It would seem just like the old folks, it doesn't work after dark. Al and Marilyn kept the reels turning until the bearing went out in the cleaning fan speed adjustment on Kim's combine, then Al had to park but Marilyn was able to finish the patch they had cut out and that was it for the night.

Kim has a parts run in the morning, not only for the bearing, but for the cylinder that moves the unloading auger in and out. They spent the day combining with the auger out, or as Al describes it...in "Viagra mode"...as you can see in the pictures.

Tomorrow the wheat will be done...

September 17, 2009

View of the day-Al making a last pass in Kim's combine on the barley at Carlyle...thank goodness that itchy stuff is done.

Al got the General unloaded first thing, then went into town to pick up a fuel filter for it. On the way home last night, he couldn't get any power in the high range, so he thought that might fix it...no such luck. Then he thought it might be the air filter, but before he could check it out he had to go with Kim to set the trucks and cart for the rest of the combining.

After talking to the mechanic at the truck shop, he decided to just take it in to the pros and let them figure it out. They called later in the day to let him know the exhaust manifold gaskets were shot and needed to be replaced. We had it in the shop before we left in June to fix a noisy leak and ended up with a new turbo...and still had the leak...so bad that Marilyn could even hear the leak when Al talked on the two-way radio. If that is not the problem, we will at least get the leak fixed. Let's hope that is all it is.

Marilyn got out to the field and started combining, then Al took over in Kim's combine and we went to town on the last 75 acres of barley. It didn't take very long to lap that up last bit, even though it was going over 80 bu/ac.

Once we got that finished we moved everything back to the farm to blow the barley dust off of the rigs, then changed to the pickup head, changed settings to canola, then moved across the road to pickup a semi load for Kim's dad. After fueling up and having some burgers that Kim's mom had made for the crew, we headed back to the yard.

Back at the yard we put the straight head back on to go into Kim's wheat. Since they didn't need a trucker and the cart was left on the barley field to be used on the canola field next to it, Marilyn got to use the shower first.

The keyboard on the laptop hadn't even got warm and Al was calling Marilyn to come out to the field to pick them up...they were calling it quits for the night. A busy day with lots of moving...

Another perfect harvest day minus the humidity...

September 16, 2009

View of the day-Dumping the barley into the latest truck to join the fleet in the field...sporting 'Rider Pride'.

Al was up early to dump the General then go out to the field to service the combine while Marilyn made lunch for the day. We were able to start around 11am...it was promising to be another good day for harvesting. We could have used some wind to keep the heavy straw from piling up against the standing grain, but it was dry enough for most of the day that the straw was disintegrating and didn't create a problem.

Al was driving Kim's combine and about mid afternoon, Marilyn called to say the coolant alarm was going off and after stopping the combine and doing an inspection, discovered the water pump was spewing antifreeze all over the side of the combine. Kim came over with the pickup and confirmed that it was the water pump, so we had to do a parts run to Storthoaks for a new pump. We figured it was a good idea for both of us to go, that way the combine could cool down and we would be able to remove and replace the pump while it was relatively cool.

There was a tanker that had rolled of the side of an approach just north of Carlyle and they had the highway closed all day...some sort of flammable liquid spilled and businesses were evacuated by the hazmat crews. They had been detouring the traffic all day and when we got back to the field from our parts run, the reason for all the traffic on the road past our field became clear. We were on the detour...which made it tough for the truckers trying to get the grain out.

We got our pump and went back to do the fixing...of course it has to be in a place on the combine where you almost need a mirror to look around the corner to see where the bolts holding the pump in place were. We got the old one off and lined up the new one...Al was concerned because everything when 'way too smoothly' according to him...until we tried to get the serpentine belt back on. Once we consulted the manual, the belt went right on and it was time to fill up with antifreeze.

While Al did the filling, Marilyn got the tools back to their homes and prepared to get back to work. Marg had brought supper out and was shuttling Kim to his combine after he brought the semi out for us and she inspected the mess on the side of the combine. That poor combine is going to need a swish at some point in time with all that sticky antifreeze that coated the side of it.

We got back to work and finished up all but the last chunk of the field before calling it a night...the straw had gotten pretty tough and the dust was just hanging like fog, and Al had jumped the reverser chain on Kim's combine...it was time to quit.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a carbon copy of today...minus the breakdowns...

September 15, 2009

View of the day-Kim opens up the field of barley and Marilyn follows him through the 80+ bu/ac crop. We're keeping the truckers busy.

The perfect harvesting day...once we got rolling. We had fog first thing and the humidity with no wind made working outside rather sticky.

We got the pickup head parts put on and after parking it in the grass, put the straight header on and got it ready to move north a few miles to try some barley. Al drove the combine, Kim took his semi and Marilyn drove the cart up to the field, then Al cut a test. Marg brought us lunch out, gave us a ride back to the yard, then took the sample to work with her to test it...it was close enough to go in the air bin. The second trip Al took the General, Kim his combine and Marilyn followed in the pickup.

Kim started opening the field and Marilyn followed until the semi was full, then Al took over combining and Kim and his dad Bob, did the trucking. Al was getting spoiled driving Kim's combine because he has a 36ft draper head...a bit different all around...6 ft wider than ours and a different delivery system. Al is sure if Marilyn tries it she will want one...so she is staying put in our own machine.

Marg brought us a quick snack out to the field then we carried on until dark...and everything was full. What a gorgeous evening it turned out to be and the weather is supposed to hold for the rest of the week, which means we should cover a lot of ground if everything works as it has been so far.

Now, if only the pesky little fruit flies, no-see-ums and flea beetles would leave us alone...

September 14, 2009

View of the day-Another patch job on the pick up head...Kim does some welding while Al ponders the pickup belt dilemma.

Al was at work on the header first thing, the centre pickup belt was stopping in heavy crop so he decided to swap it out with one of the outside ones...that didn't change anything...the new belt started slipping too. While we had the belt off we could see there were a couple of cracks in one of the braces so before Kim could get too far away we got him to fix them up.

We needed to pick up a few things for the combine so Marilyn had to go on a parts run...she just had to find out which dealer had all the parts on the lists that Al and Kim had made. Fortunately for the guys, the dealer that had everything was not in the bright lights of Estevan...home of a Walmart among other stores...it was in the opposite direction. Marilyn wasn't looking to shop anyway...it's like napping...if you can't do it for at least three hours, it's not worth laying down...or pulling a cart from the rack.

The guys went out and finished the canola field they were on, then moved over to Kim's dad's canola to test it...too wet. Al pulled the 'portable combine' and they went over to test some wheat...too wet...then they went over to check some barley...just right, but since it was late in the day they figured by the time they moved it would be quitting time, so that was it for the day.

We were in a severe weather watch for most of the day and even though it seemed like something was brewing, the sky cleared off and we ended the day with no precipitation...lots of humidity, though.

No word where the bad stuff hit...

September 13, 2009

View of the day-Some do straight cutting a bit differently. The swather cuts ahead of the pull type combine with the pickup head on it...there was an older New Holland combine working with these two.

Ahhh...communication...the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior...sounds simple, doesn't it? Without being a mind reader, there is no way of knowing the way you have successfully done things for the past 17 years just doesn't cut the mustard...or the wheat in some cases. C'est la vie...

We moved our rigs back to Kim and Marg's to start in on their canola. They had extra truck drivers so Marilyn had the afternoon off...sort of. Marg is getting a deck put on the house this week and the camper was parked very close to the construction site so Marilyn had to move it to a different spot behind the house. After closing up the slides and getting everything battened down for the short trip, we got lined up in a nice spot...we even get sewer service at the new site...bonus.

Al was pretty happy to get a day full of football on the radio and TV...his Seahawk killed, the Riders won the second game of the "Banjo Bowl"...very satisfying all around.

After getting the camper put back together, it was close to supper time so Marilyn ordered pizza for the crew...a large deluxe and an extra large meat lovers. Marg had gone to the casino for some 'relaxation' and came home with winnings in the high triple digits, so she offered to buy with her winnings. Marilyn was at the restaurant waiting for the pizza already, so when Marg showed up they went inside to pick up the pizzas...$77!!! For two pizzas?! We asked if that was right and the young girl gave us a bunch of jibber jabber..."the large is this much and the extra large is this much, then we add on $15 to the extra large..." WTF? Marg will be inquiring to management tomorrow...more at 11.

We had a lovely supper just the same, with the rest of the crew...

September 12, 2009

View of the day-The farmer in her Cat combine unloads into the cart...there was a lot of that going on today...we kept the buggy man busy.

Al was up early getting directions and organized for the day. It's later in the year now, so Marilyn thinks the 8am rule should be stretched a bit, especially if we can't get combining right away...staying up until 2am doesn't help either.

After getting the shop trailer hooked up we went out to the field to service the combine. The farmer had it fueled up and we just had to do a bit of adjusting on the pickup head. We tightened the new chain that had stretched a bit, and adjusted the slip clutch on the auger because it kept plugging off and on in the heavy swaths...just enough that a quick hit of the reverser would clean it out, but it still meant stopping, which cut into productivity.

We finished the field we had started yesterday and moved south down the highway to cross the creek to get to the next field. The dust was flying all afternoon and evening so by 9:30pm we had the quarter cleaned up and the rigs parked for the night. After showers and a quick catch up with the campground landlords we were ready to call it a night.

The weather today was perfect for combining and the forecast for tomorrow is more of the same, so once we move to the next field, there will be dust flying again.

We are hoping for another 100+ acre day like today...

September 11, 2009

View of the day-Al and Kim put the finishing touches on the pickup head.

Al was up early getting the header fixed...well, he did the heavy lifting while Kim did all the welding and fabricating. After getting the needed parts in town they were able to get it put together and it is now better than new with all the reinforcements.

After stopping for lunch, Kim went out to combine wheat and we got the combine serviced and moved it out to the canola field. After doing a sample and taking it in to get it tested...it was 7.3% plenty dry for canola...we went over to Kisbey to get the General.

Once Marilyn got back with the pickup, she started right into combining...with 36 ft swaths and tough straw it was slow going to start with, but as the rest of the day wore on things improved and we were able to make some time. Al hauled to the same bins the farmer was hauling to...they were combining canola in another field...so he was held up a couple of times, but we had the cart for back up so there wasn't any waiting.

We combined until 9:30pm, filling the truck for the morning, then went back to the farm to clean up and watch the football game...where did the day go?

At least the rain missed us...

September 10, 2009

View of the day-The old 'header shuffle'. Al straps down our hurtin' pickup head on the trailer, while we get to use Kim's header to finish the job at Kisbey.

Al was up early rearranging headers on the trailer...Kim was good enough to let us use his pickup head since he was straight cutting wheat, so he brought his combine back to the yard after unhooking his straight head out at the field. After taking our straight head off the trailer then putting the pickup head on the trailer for us, his work was done...for us anyway.

We took the header out to the field and swapped it out with the broken one, then Al took the truck to the the bins to dump and Marilyn commenced to combining. We finished the first field then moved over to the last piece we had to do. The combine was having some random power issues...rpms would drop down and the alarms would go off and Marilyn wasn't even in a heavy swath. All the belts were fine, the rads were clean, so we chalked it up to fuel filters...and of course the new ones were in the shop trailer at Carlyle.

After Al had an empty truck for Marilyn, he took the header back to Carlyle and brought back the new filters. Marilyn just took it easy and it seemed to work just fine...until just before Al showed up with the filters...like the combine somehow knew they were coming. Al decided this time to change both filters instead of just the water separator one...which is the easier one that usually gets swapped when there are power issues...most likely because the one in the engine compartment requires being a contortionist...for some reason that engine compartment has shrunk in this newer combine...and it is damn hot!

We got the filters looked after and the combine ran like a top for the rest of the field. The farmer passed through with his rig...he was working on organic oats while we were on the organic wheat. After we finished both fields we went to the yard to get fueled up, since up here in Canada the farmer supplies the fuel. We had quite a lot of time to kill because the fuel tanks are just about the same height as the combine tank and while we waited we noticed a pickup truck that had passed on the highway had stopped, backed up and pulled in the yard.

The young man that got out was the grandson of the custom harvester that Al had started his cutting career with back in 1989. We had a chance to catch up while we fueled, it was a nice visit and it was good to see him again.

Marilyn took Al back to the General at the field and then dropped the pickup off at the bins before driving the combine back to Carlyle. Once Al had the General dumped he came back to Carlyle in the pickup and then we started the header shuffle all over again...getting Kim's taken off, the straight one put on the trailer and the sick header back on the combine. Marilyn thinks we need one more header trailer to avoid all the switcheroos.

We took the outside pickup belt off the header to try and get to the spot where the two breaks were. There were no mobile welders available, so Kim has volunteered to try and fix it since he had to do the same thing to his header last year...let's hope there isn't too much swearing.

The sky was cloudy all day and those clouds were building into something all around us. It sprinkled a bit after we got back to the yard but it looked like the worst of it was going to the east...and it was getting progressively worse as the night wore on.

Let's hope it is well past us and we can make some more dust tomorrow...

September 9, 2009

View of the day-A nightmare for some of the drivers passing through Carlyle today. Marilyn stopped to take a picture, then turned and went the other direction...which is where she was going anyway. A couple of miles after turning the corner she met four houses being moved down the highway taking up over 3/4 of the road...we wonder how they made out trying to get through the roadside check.

What a night...down to 34ºF/1.4ºC...a bit nippy in the camper and no space heater to take the chill off. Good thing Marilyn always packs extra blankets. Getting out of a warm bed in the morning was tough to do, though.

Al was up early and into town to pick up oil and filters for the pickup, then when he got back to the camper, got the oil changed and waited for Marilyn to make the move so we could get things unloaded.

We unhooked the cart trailer, but didn't unload the tractor/cart...we weren't sure if we would be needing it right away. We unloaded the combine and got it ready to go...greased, fueled, windows done...everything in order to start making dust once the grain was fit.

Our first job is 20 miles to the west, so Al drove the combine over to Kisbey and Kim went over to pick him up. Marilyn was on a parts/satellite run to Storthokes/Redvers...parts for Kim's CaseIH 2388 combine and a new satellite system for the camper and home.

Al did a test before coming back to get the General...it was good enough to go, so he started in when he got back to the field. About 20 acres into the job the side of the pickup head that holds the back roller cracked in a couple of places and will now need to be welded.

Marilyn went over to pick Al up from the combine and to inspect the break on the header...it doesn't look good, but hopefully we can get a mobile welder to put things right so we can finish up.

And only 18% humidity...nice...

September 8, 2009

View of the day-The camper and shop trailer get dropped in the pasture so we could race back to Kenmare and get both loads into Canada in one day.

We were up early getting the camper closed up and the tanks drained before heading to Wilton to get the General/combine and shop trailer. It had rained during the night so that made for a sloppy mess trying to get things hooked up, but we finally did and after fueling both rigs up started on the way north.

It rained off and on most of the way but it never amounted to much, we waved at the Freightliner on the way past Kenmare and made the border around 2pm. We stopped at the US side to check everything out of the country, then at the Canadian side to declare our purchases...everything went smooth as silk. We continued on to the farm at Carlyle, then unhooked the camper and returned to Kenmare to get the Freightliner/tractor/cart and header.

We stopped long enough to fuel up and have a chat with our Kansas harvester who was parked at Kenmare...waiting for things to dry up after the rain, then we headed back for the border. The second trip through was even faster than the first one, but we didn't really have to declare anything since it was all done the first go round.

Back at the farm in Carlyle, we unhooked the shop trailer from the camper, planning to just leave it in the pasture where we had parked, then hooked the camper up to the pickup to get it set up by the house. We pulled up beside the shop and Kim asked us if we were going to leave the shop trailer by the bins and we told him we left it in the pasture...he said, "but it's still hooked on behind the camper". We looked in the mirrors and sure enough there it was tailing along.

When we started to unhook it, Marilyn thought it was mighty convenient that we only had to crank it up a short way before removing the safety chains and flipping the latch. The front end of the camper was raised to unhook it from the truck making the back a lot lower....of course, when the camper got hooked up, the back end raised up...and the shop hitch dropped right back onto the ball.

We had a pretty good chuckle over that one...

September 7, 2009

View of the day-A New Holland combine between Minot and Bismarck laps up the last pass as the sun goes down.

We went out to the farmers yard at 9am to get the Freightliner started and to get settled up before making the move north. We decided that to avoid getting one of the trucks stranded in case it rained a lot, we would take the General and combine up to Wilton...about 40 miles north...and park it in the Cenex lot until tomorrow. That way if there was a deluge, we wouldn't have to worry about wrecking the farmer's yard or getting stuck trying to get to the highway.

We took the shop trailer and General to Wilton then came back to get the Freighliner, tractor/cart and header, then started out again...but this time we would take the loads all the way to Kenmare.

We had a south east wind which was a great help for most of the way but just out of Minot Al called to say that he was having power issues and perhaps the fuel filters were plugged. Now, the Freightliner doesn't see a lot of action, it's really just to haul the cart rig and for backup grain hauling, so the fuel filter hasn't been changed for...well, let's just say they haven't been changed in the 2000's and leave it there. We got to Carpio and found a place to park the Freight because Al knew it would never make the climb out of the valley.

We took the header into Kenmare and the Ace Hardware store was open and luckily we were able to get new filters for the truck, so with a gallon jug of diesel fuel and the filters, we went back to Carpio to doctor up the Freight...we just hoped that was the problem with the power.

After we got back to the Freight, we changed out the filters and it started right up so we figured we might as well get it into Kenmare as well. The filters did the trick and Al had all kinds of power...for the Freight, anyway...to get us parked in Kenmare.

We stopped in Minot to pick up a few things at the Walmart, then forged on back to Menoken to get things in order for the move across the border. We encountered a couple of showers, but nothing serious and hopefully that is all of the precipitation that falls so the rest of the harvesting gets done.

Tomorrow...the border...

September 6, 2009

View of the day-Cutting the last of the wheat at Menoken with the neighbor to the west's flax swaths in the background. Officially our last day of combining wheat in the U.S.

We only had about 40 acres to do and there was high humidity again so we decided to go into Bismarck to get our water jugs filled and have brunch. We drove to Walmart only to find that it didn't open until noon...what the heck??! We killed time by having lunch at the truck stop before going to get our water and heading back to the field.

When we got to the exit to the field, we could see that there were combines going in the next field...four Masseys...we only knew of one person that could be...Gallagher's.

Al called over on his cell to see what the moisture was and it was around 14%, but they were going into air bins so we had to do our own test. Fortunately ours was 13.8% which was good enough to go...and we did. Shawn came over and had a gab with Al, getting caught up on how things were going over at Sterling...it sure didn't take those four machines long to whip off that field across the road.

We got the field finished around 5:30pm then figured we had time to get everything cleaned off and loaded up, ready for the move north. The original plan was to get at least the header and Freightliner load to Wilton to help shorten the haul and avoid getting stuck in the yard if the forecasted rain should hit while we were moving the other load to Kenmare. We would have been cutting it too close to sunset, so we decided to wait until tomorrow morning to move the first load to Kenmare.

So now we get our papers in order and prepare for the trip back into Canada. We will come back and stay in the camper tomorrow night, then take the combine, camper and shop trailer right to Carlyle on Tuesday.

If everything goes as planned...

September 5, 2009

View of the day-Unloading on the go as the sun works it's way down at Menoken...that's right, we got to combine!

High humidity this morning but at least the sun was shining and of course one of the two places in the state that had fog was right here where the combine sits.

We decided to go into town for lunch and had omlettes on the brain so we figured we would check out a place the farmer had told us about in Mandan...we didn't realize how far from town it was...but we got there and got our egg fix in, then made it back to the field to do a test at 1:30pm. It was 15.3% so we went back to the camper to kill a little time before trying it again.

We did a couple more tests before we finally got going and once we did we were able to keep at it until 9pm...Marilyn actually got the use the lights on the combine. We did around 50 acres which should leave about 40 to finish for tomorrow and hopefully we can start a bit earlier and even have time to load some stuff up.

Wouldn't that be something...

September 4, 2009

View of the day-Another day of fixing...a successful day of fixing. We better get combining soon because we are running out of things to do.

No fog today but the clouds and humidity put the brakes on any thoughts we might have of combining. Marilyn unloaded the rest of last night's non perishable purchases out of the pickup and got them put away. A purchase of the "magicJack", a USB phone jack that gives you a phone line off the WiFi or other high speed hookups. Now usually, if it says "as seen on TV", you're getting some kind of crap, but after getting the thing hooked up and registering, it worked as described. Marilyn called her sister in Carlyle and it sounded just like a regular phone line. For $40 for a years worth of free calling anywhere...a damn good deal, even if the signal is as bad as it is here in the campground. Sales pitch off.

We went into Bismarck for lunch and to pick up some new tail lights for the cart trailer...and just kill some time. We got the stuff we needed, except for the new Farm Forum Green Sheet...we could only find last week's edition and that was old news. After taking a quick trip around Tractor Supply and coming out empty handed we fueled up the pickup and headed out to the field to do some fixin'.

First on the list was the light on the grain cart auger, once that was completed it was on to the tail lights on the trailer. There was such a good deal on the LED tail lights at the truck supply shop, we figured we might as well change all four of them rather than just the one that the blown tire took out. We were having issues with our magnetic flashing lights that we use on the pickup, so we got some quick connect plugins and got alligator clamps to go directly to the battery since the cigarette lighter plugs that they came with had connection issues.

We did a test around 3:30pm and the farmer ran it to the elevator in Sterling...15.5%...not a chance. Mrs. farmer brought out chicken and muffins for supper and after we had a snack we went out and did another test...14.6%...that was it for the day. The wind was really blowing and the sun did come out when we were in Bismarck, but it wasn't enough to overtake the humidity, so we called it a day.

We went back to the campground, which was now full up...probably because it is the long weekend...and Marilyn stopped by the shower house to see if she could get a warm shower instead of the cold one she had to take yesterday. It was laundry day yesterday for most of the guys in the campground...they were lined up, so that meant no hot water...it wasn't pleasant. But today, a hot shower and the laundry got done as well.

There is a harvest moon out and we aren't harvesting...that's not right...

September 3, 2009

View of the day-The wheat still waits...

We woke up to fog again and although it cleared off, the clouds remained for the better part of the afternoon. The sun eventually broke through but after testing a couple of times the moisture was still a percentage point to high to go in the bin.

We got a lot accomplished, even though it wasn't combining. The new tire got mounted on the cart trailer along with a new mudflap and oversize load sign. The grain cart got a new power plug in and most of the lights are working...except for the auger light which must have taken a hit on the road somewhere because it was kinked over and it jingled when you shook it and the straight header got a new plug for the flashers.

Marilyn got to go into Bismarck for a shopping marathon, although it didn't start until 8pm so it was late when she got back to the camper. Al decided to stay at the camper and watch local TV...with the digital signal and the new TV he was able to get cable quality...only 5 channels, but it was TV.

By the time Marilyn got back it seemed there were a lot of campers online and there was no way to upload the blog so it had to wait for the slow down.

Sorry...it shouldn't happen again...

September 2, 2009

View of the day-Al gets to make a round or two until the cart gets full...fortunately he had to fill the farmers truck first so he got an extra couple of rounds before he had to go back to cart duty.

There was high humidity and clouds so it seemed like we wouldn't be doing much combining until later on in the afternoon. We went out to the combine and Al got the oil changed and rads blown out while Marilyn greased then blew out the air filters, then we took the blown tire off the cart trailer. We decided to go into Bismarck to get some parts and a new tire...and have lunch somewhere different for a change.

We dropped the tire off then went for lunch at the steak buffet...excellent, of course. We stopped to get a new wide load sign and mud flap for the trailer since the blowout made short work of the ones that were on there. After we got most of the stuff we needed, we went back out to do a test...imagine everyones surprise when it tested 12.7%...apparently the humidity hadn't affected it as much as we thought.

We got started combining and went great guns for the rest of the afternoon getting another 50 or so acres done before the straw got tough...not that we couldn't cut it, it just makes a mess when it throws it up against the standing grain and leaves 'normies'...little stands of uncut grain. The farmer hauled into the elevator and Al continued putting the wetter stuff into the air bin. We pretty much have it filled up but that's okay since most all of the green stuff has been cut.

Back at the campground it was a mad dash to the shower house to make sure there was hot water tonight and no lineup...none in the shower or the laundry room.

Better save that job for the morning...

September 1, 2009

View of the day-Marilyn gets to cut some pretty nice wheat just east of Bismarck, North Dakota.

We were up early and got all our errands done but missed our 10am AIS by an hour. Getting the bills added up took some time at the fuel and camping places so we ended up being somewhat behind schedule.

Once we were all hooked up with the camper and shop trailer, we had to do a quick fix on the cart trailer lights...don't know what we did, but we got them working. We're pretty sure it was just a ground issue, but it could have had something to do with someone dragging it back out of the way to get to the old corn head we were parked beside...either way we had signal and brake lights so we were happy.

The construction wasn't as bad as yesterday, they had smoothed it down a bit at Herried but we still had to wait for three pilot cars over the whole trip. We had an unexpected stop about 12 miles south of the interstate when Al blew one of the tires on the trailer, but after inspecting it he decided to try and limp it in the 25 miles to the farmers yard.

Marilyn rushed on ahead and got to the campground at Menoken, unhooked the shop trailer then got parked in the camp spot...full campground so no sewer, but water and electricity. Fortunately we are just across from the shower/laundry house and as long as there isn't a line up from the other harvesters/road construction/tourists, we should be alright. After hooking up the shop trailer it was over to the farmers yard to see how Al was making out.

We took the combine out and did a test and while the farmer took the test over to the elevator at Sterling, we unloaded the tractor and cart. He called back and it was tested 13.5% so we started combining right away. There were a lot of green spots due in part to the 8 inches of rain they had gotten earlier in the season...5 inches in one shot...so there was standing water and lots of drowned out spots. Al was dumping in an air bin in the yard so while the farmer trucked the dry grain to the elevator, we took off the wetter wheat and dumped in in the bin.

It started to get tough after the sun went down so we quit around 9:30pm and came back to the campground. Good news here is that we have WiFi for internet, but we are at the end of the campground so the signal isn't the best and it comes and goes, but at least it's not the usual rest stop internet we have had in the past.

And then there was the shower. The shower house is spotless...quite a difference from the last campground. Al was able to have a good shower but by the time Marilyn got to take her turn, there had been a lot of showers and laundry done...a cold shower is not really what you want at the end of the day. Tomorrow it will be a different story.

And at least we got moved, parked and combined 50 acres...finally some productivity...