April 30, 2010

View of the day-We finally found a parking place near Pratt, Kansas...before the sun went down.

We were up early to get back over to Bassett, where we had left the rigs parked. Once they were warmed up we headed out and were making pretty good time with the north wind.

We were almost to Alma, NE just north of the Kansas border where Marilyn was going to fuel up and 4 miles from town, she heard a pop and looked in the side mirror to see a tire that just didn't look right, so she pulled over and saw something that we never expected to see on an new trailer...a flat...and the rim wouldn't be good for anything but a planter.

Al pulled over and we got the trailer unhooked and tried to take the bad tire off...not easy with no tools...well, some tools, but not the right ones. We drove into Alma to see if there was a tire place...there was, he had a tire and was kind enough to lend us a tire wrench.

While we were putting the tire back on, we reminisced about driving past other people with flats changing them the hard way...who would have thought that would be us with all the tools we usually carry. Well we got it changed and were on our way after returning the tools...no idea what caused the flat.

We had hoped to make it to Cherokee, Oklahoma but by the time we made it to Great Bend, KS and got fueled up, Pratt was as far as we could make it. So after parking the rigs, we found a room and called it a day.

Tomorrow we get to our destination...we hope...

April 29, 2010

View of the day-As we were getting ready to leave the parking lot at Minot, a truck carrying this little beauty was right beside us.

We got an early start and were pleased that, although the wind was still out of the south, it was only 5 mph. Better yet, by the time we had gotten halfway to Bismarck the wind had switched and was coming out of the north. Bonus.

We got to Gettysburg,SD and stopped to fuel the rigs up before dropping the hammer for Nebraska. We passed in and out of rainy patches all along the way but missed any nasty weather...it was all to the SE of us, although there is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the area for tonight. That's good because it means the wind will be out of the north tomorrow and we can make some time.

We got to Bassett, Nebraska ten minutes before the sun set and got the rigs parked where we usually leave them, then drove 20 miles west to Ainsworth to get a room for the night. The Pizza Hut was right next door to the Super 8 so Al got his fix, then it was back to the room to get some rest for the next leg of the journey.

So far we logged 121 miles the first day to Carlyle, 129 yesterdayto Minot and today...a whopping 505 miles to Ainsworth. Pretty much makes up for the first two crappy days. If things go alright and we don't have to wait for any construction, we could make Oklahoma.

We won't count our chickens just yet though...

April 28, 2010

View of the day-Getting ready to cross the border...notice the flags stretched straight out from the SE wind.

We were up early, not looking forward to fighting the wind that had been forecast in pretty much every state on our itinerary. There were wind warnings for high profile vehicles and if you have ever tried to carry a sheet of plywood or even a big piece of cardboard in the wind, you know what it can do...and the cabover is about as aerodynamic as a sheet of plywood. We had started to rethink our plans...but we definitely wanted to drive the 50 miles to at least get across the border.

We had faxed all our information ahead of time, just so we wouldn't surprise them by just showing up. After stopping in on the Canadian side to check on a few things, we had the girl in the office call over to the US side to make sure we still had to go "in through the out door". They had installed some scanners on the US side and didn't make them for wide loads, so we had to detour the last time and we just wanted to make sure it was still the status quo. It was.

We knew exactly who was working there when the CDN officer said she had "some combiners wanting to know where to go" and when she got his reply she just laughed, then asked us if we were Kuntz Harvesting. Marilyn asked if his reply to her was "tell them to stay in Canada, we don't need no combiners down here", she laughed again and asked how we knew...we told her he says that to us every time we cross...and no, it wasn't Mr. Happy.

We went in with our paperwork and after Al broke the fingerprint machine...or at least tripped it up causing a couple or three reboots of the program, we got rubber stamped and were on our way. About three miles from the port, a little white blazer pulled up in front of Al in the Freightliner and pulled into a driveway, then after Al passed him, he pulled out and around him again so Al figured he better stop. It was the other border officer with Al's work visa that he thought that he had forgotten to staple into his passport. The passport was in the pickup with Marilyn, who was a half mile ahead, so the officer came up with the paperwork...but there was already one stapled in the passport. Apparently with all the resetting of the software, he had printed two of the same visas. Not his day, today.

We struggled against the wind and decided that we had a cushion of time so we would just stay in Minot and hope that the wind would not be as bad tomorrow...maybe even change directions...ha, good one...

Marilyn got a bit of shopping done...found the rubber chicken she needed for the play she is directing...while Al checked his eyelids for cracks, then watched the hockey game...stinking Habs...

We had checked the construction reports for the trip down and found an issue in northern Kansas. Fortunately Al was able to get in touch with someone in the know...namely the farmer we cut for there...and he gave us a call and the directions for a detour.

One less worry...

April 27, 2010

View of the day-First load ready to roll from Yorkton.

Well, we officially made the first move to Carlyle...as planned. We got the tractor and cart loaded and hooked up to the Freightliner as if we had been doing it regularly for the last 6 months...not a hitch.

We were on the road ahead of schedule, but we did have to make a couple of stops...Marilyn at Staples while Al forged ahead solo to stop at the AGCO dealership in Whitwood. Marilyn was able to catch up with him and we continued on to Carlyle to Kim and Margs place.

We got there just in time to hlep Kim celebrate his 50th birthday with a weiner roast...the wind and cold weather didn't dampen any spirits...except his at reaching this milestone. Marilyn welcomed him to the 'dark side'...Al will be there soon enough in August.

Then plan for Wednesday is to get to Gettysburg, but all we hear is big wind warnings...all the way to Oklahoma, so we might be stopping sooner if it is a tough chug.

Shut up and drive...

April 27, 2010

View of the day-...was this really necessary??

So obviously we didn't get any loading done, waking up to this mess. Al had his last day at H&R Block and Marilyn got the paperwork in order for the border, then had the last rehearsal for the play she is directing.

Tuesday will be different...

April 25, 2010

View of the day-What we use our front lawn for.

Things are starting to happen now! Al went to get the grain cart home last Thursday so we could get it cleaned up, hooked up to the tractor and loaded for the first trip south this coming week. Of course, most of that will happen today...if it doesn't rain.

Yesterday's plan was to go to Carlyle with the new header, but first we had to pick it up from the dealer. Since we purchased it from the AGCO dealership in Whitewood (halfway between Yorkton and Carlyle), and he did not have any combines on his lot to put the header on the trailer, he had to resort to plan B. He was able to get a farmer with an CaseIH 8010 to pull the old switcheroo and get it ready for us to strap down and hit the road.

Tyler Nagy, the young farmer that was able to help us out, had actually worked for us one season on the harvest run...until the end of the season, no less. After a gab session, we went for lunch with Glen from White's Ag, then started the drive to Carlyle.

We were a bit concerned with the lights on the trailer...a case of having some wires crossed. As usual, once we got to Carlyle, Marilyn and Marg got the test lights out and did a bit of rearranging and were able to get all the lights working as they should be...and even got the brakes on the trailer working. At least that rig is ready to roll. Once it was parked and we had supper we headed back home to Yorkton.

Now to commence cleaning and loading...