August 24, 2010

View of the day-A new configuration for Al. We couldn't get an extra driver to help move the pickup head back and we didn't want to make a third trip to
Kenmare, so we hooked it on behind the cart trailer.

What a day. We were up early...and it was damn cold and the wind was huffing which gave us a wind chill of about 45ºF. We rushed through getting the camper and shop trailer hooked up and went over to the parking lot where the rigs were sitting. We got the General and pickup fueled up, grabbed a quick snack, then headed for the border...against the wind...again.

We got to the border and it went well, we were on our way within 1/2 hr after stopping at both offices. We made Carlyle, parked the General in the pasture, dropped the camper on the side of the lawn, so Gordie could get our camping spot mowed, then started back for Kenmare and the second load.

When we got to Kenmare, we fueled the Freightliner and the pickup then Marilyn hooked up the trailer with the pickup head and spotted it for Al to back his rig up to. It took a couple of stabs, but we got it hooked up and Marilyn hooked up to the MacDon header and we struck out for the border. Just as Marilyn was pulling out of the truck stop, the check engine light came on and it looked like the alternator was not doing it's job. We decided to just shut up and drive, then worry about it when we got to Carlyle. This trip was really slow because of the wind...top speed was probably 45mph...it was a hard go. We had a really short stop at the border before chugging the last 50 miles to the farm.

We got the Freightliner parked out by the General, then hooked up to the camper to get it parked and set up. First we had to unhook the shop trailer from the back of the camper, so Al took a piece of 4x4 to put under the jack, then got it unhooked and started to drive away. It was pulling pretty hard and we thought it was because it was in the soft grass...until we looked back and saw the shop trailer had refused to stay put. It had slipped of the block when we hooked the camper back up and it dropped back onto the ball. Kim and Marg have a lovely trench where the jack dug in, but Marilyn replaces all the sod to make it look good as new.

We got the camper flanged in then went back to unload the combine, tractor and grain cart...went without a hitch. We had to leave the Dodge running the whole time since it wasn't charging at all and we didn't want to shut it off, but when we did, we put the charger on it and were able to start it after an hour...looks like we need to go alternator shopping tomorrow.

Al did some servicing on the combine and Marilyn got the camper in order...TV, computers, dish...same old, same old. When Marg came home from work, she had a parcel for Marilyn that had come in the mail...IT WAS HERE!

Marilyn has been thinking about a way to have a copy of all the blog entries that are online...they do not get saved on any of her computers, so she went on a search to find something that would do the job with a minimum of work. Enter "Blurb". This company had software that actually downloaded all the entries and pictures from the 2007 blog. After doing a bit of tweaking she ordered a hardcover book with a dust jacket on August 15 and it arrived in Carlyle today...178 pages worth.

Wow, what a great job they did! The link on the side of the blog will take you to a preview of what the book ended up looking like...you can even order one if you like. Marilyn just wanted to have a hard copy of the blog, so she doesn't want to go into the book business and doesn't get anything out of selling extra copies...they are just there if you want one.

Or better yet, get your pictures together and make a book of your own...