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View of the day-The Freightshaker having a morning smoke with the horses. Last trip for the old girl this season.
It was moving day, so we got the camper all packed up and the hoses put away, then hooked up to the Dodge, took a tour out to the field to dump the tanks, then parked it back in the yard. We took the little Dodge out to the rigs to get loaded, then Marilyn was going to come back for the camper and leave the truck in the yard for load two tomorrow.
We got out to the rigs and got everything started so they could air up. We worked on getting the combine and trailer hooked up to the General, then got it chained down. While Al did the rest of the strapping in, Marilyn got the backup camera moved into the cab so Al could watch the road behind him when he moves.
The Freightliner was ready for the trip...it was going to be the first load and once it was rolling out of the pasture, Marilyn took off to get the camper from the yard. The Freight was south of the highway and the camper was north, so Al waited on the highway for Marilyn to show up with the beacon he needed for the back of his load. While he waited, he checked the chains, tie-downs and lights...all in order.
We were rolling by noon and once we made it to Melville, we parted ways...Al went through Melville on highway 15 and Marilyn continued on highway 10. Al didn't want to have to go through the city...and past the weigh scales...so he took the scenic route to get out to Yorkton Auction Centre, where we usually park our stuff to load and unload.
Marilyn went straight out to the farm, parked the camper strategically so she could go between it and the house to unload everything. Once it was unhooked, she set off to meet Al out at the auction yard, where they got unhooked and unloaded. By now, it was time to have something to eat...we hadn't done that today yet.
Before we had lunch, we made a short stop at a furniture store to check on sofas...couldn't get any help, so we left to find someplace to dine. After lunch, Marilyn took Al to the Freightliner and we both went out to the farm...we were done driving for the day. Al got the Freight parked in its "garage" and Marilyn started on the camper.
The first thing on the list was to get the dish aimed...it had to be done for Sunday Night Football, after all. Once that was finished, then it was time to get all the farm toys out from their various hiding spots. Al had set them all up in the garage and had a visit from a couple of "toy trading" friends...who didn't leave empty handed. But the pile was still pretty high.
Marilyn just started carting things out and putting them away...that's how it always starts...all organized.
But that usually doesn't last to the end...
View of the day-Al makes a circuit to get the Freightliner lined up for a straight shot out of the pasture.
We got out to the field, then started organizing the spread out equipment to get everything where it needed to be to start the cleaning process. Marilyn got started on the straight header...cursing the engineers who managed to create so many hidey-holes for the straw and chaff to get jammed in. At least we finally had a good wind to help with the cleaning and the temperature was in the low 80's...beautiful.
Once the header was done, she started on the combine until Al brought over the high transport trailer to load and strap it down. Al had been busy getting the combine trailer turned around to face out...when we got here we just unloaded and left everything where it sat. After getting the header where it belonged, we got the combine parked on the trailer, then started with the tractor and cart.
We wanted to get at least one thing loaded and strapped down before our 2:30pm harvest windup dinner at the house. We got the tractor and cart on the trailer and got it hooked up to the Freight, then Al turned the whole rig around so it would be ready for tomorrow morning.
We got back to the camper, got cleaned up, then had a delicious dinner with Bob, Jeannie, Blaine(the other trucker) and Bob's parents George and Martha.
After lunch, we went into Fort Qu'Appelle to take a look at some sofas...we are badly in need of a new one...but the selection was wayyyy too big for Marilyn to make up her mind. We killed a couple of hours in town, then met Roger and Linda for a late snack, then it was back to the camper.
Al had CFL football to watch on TV, so we had to get back for that and Marilyn decided to book off early to rest up for tomorrow's move.
Got to get the General's load hooked up before we move load #1...
View of the day-Making the last pass on the 2012 harvest season...bittersweet. Al is happy to be done for the season...Marilyn, not so much. Perhaps if it was cold and snowy, she might think otherwise.
We knew it was going to be another short day, but that didn't keep Al from getting up early to get the trucks and cart unloaded. Marilyn got out to the field around 10:30am and got started combining right away.
Al only had a couple loads to take from what was left in the field...this last quarter section had a lot of sloughs in it and most of them had connected together leaving lots of little pie shaped pieces. Once again we had banker's hours and finished the field...and the season...at 2:30pm.
Marilyn went back to the camper to get showered up while Al took the truck to the elevator to dump, then took it out to Bob's canola field and then brought a full truck of canola back to the yard where Blaine was going to dump it. It was Al's turn to clean up, then we were off to Fort Qu'Appelle to have a quick snack.
After our supper at Dairy Queen, Roger, Al's toy show buddy, and his wife Linda picked us up and we went into Regina to watch the Regina Rams take on the Manitoba Bison at Mosaic field...their nephew was playing for the Rams. This is the highest ranking Canadian college football which would be equivalent to Division 2 college football in the USA.
It was a gorgeous night for football...full moon, 72ºF, not much wind to start with and an action packed second half. The Rams pulled it out with only 28 seconds left in the game. Just a perfect night.
We stopped at Walmart on our way out of the city...Linda needed a few things and Marilyn can always find something she "needs". We got there just as they were announcing the store would be closing in 15 minutes...WHAT?! So much for that...hardly worth grabbing a cart. Al and Roger waited in the McDonald's until we were through the registers, then we took off back to Fort Qu'Appelle...stopping at Tim Horton's to get a coffee for the road.
After getting dropped off at our pickup at the Dairy Queen...Roger had driven...we went out to the field to get Shimmy, the little Dodge, to bring it back to the camper at 12:30am.
Cleaning and loading tomorrow...
View of the day-Everything filled up and no place to go.
Al was up before the crack of dawn...he could not sleep, so he was up and out the door to see if the train had come to the elevator. It had, so he was off to Jeff's farm at Gerald.
Al had finally sold the sunflower pans that we used on the old 1020 header. We wouldn't be able to use them on our bigger header and with harvests in Saskatchewan being what they were, we weren't able to get back for sunflowers anyway. The guy was coming to pick them up and Jeff had to do the loading, so Al figured he had better be there to help...and to drop off some toys.
Marilyn got to sleep in since she now knew it would be a short day of combining with no elevator to haul to. Still, she was out at the combine to start at 10:30 and since Al had done the fueling and servicing before he left, she just had to jump in and start combining.
The General had been filled the night before, so that left the Mack, grain cart and combine to fill. Since we knew we couldn't finish today anyway, the Freightliner didn't get used after all...no sense in filling it up for only one load. after Marilyn had gotten everything full...really full...then quit for the day. At 2:30pm...now that's banker's hours!
After Al got back from Gerald and Grayson, we went down to Fort Qu'Appelle to grab a pizza, then came back to the camper.
If we can haul tomorrow, the 60 acres left will be our last for the season...
View of the day-Another day with no wind. The dust just hung in the air and with all the combines and trucks running in the fields and down the roads, it was pretty tough to see.
Another day with more of the same. Al went out and unloaded the trucks, serviced and started combining. Marilyn took a run into Fort Qu'Appelle to get a few groceries to last for lunches the next couple of days. She decided to grab some burgers from Dairy Queen for today's lunch around 10:30am before going out to the field...they don't open until 11am, and she wasn't going to wait. That milkshake would have sure tasted good, though.
Back at the field, she took over combining from Al and he went back to his trucking job. The past week, the wind has been non-existent, which has made combining quite an adventure. At the end of the cut, when you turn around, you have to stop and wait to see where the standing wheat is...and it doesn't help that this wheat is really dusty to begin with. As you can see from the picture, it would still be by the swath after Marilyn would get back from the one mile run to the other end of the field. Who would have thought we would be wishing for some wind?
While Al was gone with one of his loads, Marilyn plugged the feeder of the header with some green volunteer canola that had grown in some of the low spots. After cleaning it out and getting started again, she could hear some clattering when she started up the front end and after inspection she could see the connector link on one of the three feeder chains had disappeared. She went back to the yard to bring back the shop trailer, which had a connector link and all the tools needed to fix the chain. Al got back to the field the same time as Marilyn did with the shop, got the chain fixed and after an hour of down time, we were back in business.
Tomorrow the story is, if the train comes in to the elevator, they won't take any wheat because they will be loading train cars. This means we will only have the trucks and cart to fill and will be done for the day. There is only about 100 acres left to do...after the 134 acres we did today...so hopefully we will have enough room to keep us busy until it is done.
Unless we bring the Freightliner into service for the day...
View of the day-Another frosty morning...almost time to dig out the window scraper.
Al was up doing the usual...unloading trucks and servicing. Marilyn was getting organized in the camper and waiting for her friend Brenda to stop in for a visit on her way home from Regina. She was also bringing a couple of breakfast sandwiches for us from A&W as she passed through Fort Qu'Appelle.
Marilyn met her at the Abernethy corner, then led her out to the field, where Al was busy changing a couple of knife sections on the header, so that ended up being our breakfast table.
Once the combine was serviced and the windows washed, we started combining. Brenda rode in the combine, checking out all the comforts of Marilyn's office, then took a ride into the elevator with Al in the grain truck. Marilyn sent the camera in with her, since Al never seems to get a picture of the goings on in the elevator.
After coming back to ride in the combine for another couple of truckloads, Brenda left for Yorkton and Marilyn continued on with the cutting. Al had another 9 load day and Marilyn covered 136 acres...two days of great productivity.
Not an impossible task with the weather being as great as it has this last month...and according to the fuzzy caterpillars and folklore, the wide brown strip on them means a mild winter. And there are tons of them everywhere!
Two quarters to go...
View of the day-Mother Natures last hurrah. Seems like she gives us all these beautiful colors to help us take our mind off the six months of brown and grey we will have to live with.
Big day today, Al was out early...unloading, as usual. Marilyn was up just as early to make a road trip into Yorkton to pick up a new pulley and belt...the belt was "just in case". We got it under warranty, but it is quite the job to put on...it has to go around 5 or 6 pulleys that are behind other pulleys and belts. We had changed one on one of our other machines and it was a real headache. We are hoping that the one that is on, will last for the remaining 450 acres, then it will be up to the dealership to change it once the combine is taken in for the winter "Uptime" servicing.
Marilyn was back at the field by 11am and since Al had done all the servicing while he waited, the only thing to do was put the pulley on and go.
And go we did. Marilyn got out of the combine only three times during the day, Al on the other hand was getting his exercise by moving the trucks further down the field every time he came back from the elevator. We had made three rounds around this quarter section well over a week ago...it was another one that was testing close to 20% moisture...but now it was down to 12.5% and the elevator had no problem taking it at that.
This field was nice and flat, so Marilyn could make pretty good time on it...it was also running around 33 bu/ac, as opposed to the 65+ bu/ac we had done a few days ago, so that helped with the through-put.
It was Monday, so you know what that means...Monday Night Football...so once the elevator was closed, Al left the trucks and cart for Marilyn to fill and went back to the camper to watch the game. She got the trucks filled and had a hopper for the grain cart, but couldn't fill it because she ran out of field, which was just as well...it was 10pm already.
To be fair, Al did give Marilyn the option of staying and combining while he went in to watch at the camper, or she could go in to the camper and he would combine and listen to the game on the Sirius satellite radio. Marilyn decided that since...coincidentally, of course...most times that Al drives the combine, something goes wrong, she didn't want to take the chance that the belt would let go, so she stayed put.
After finishing the field and fueling the combine, she stopped in Abernethy to get the slip tank filled again, then headed for the camper. When she got back, Al had just returned from the house where Bob had invited Al to try out some fish he had caught on one of his fishing trips. Al was impressed with the fish.
And with the 142 acres Marilyn had gotten covered today...
View of the day-Motherwell Homestead National Historical Site just south of Abernethy. "Motherwell Homestead is a place to discover life as it was. Well cared for, bright buildings draw you into the homestead. Through the sensory experience of food, travel the path from field to fork. Hop on a wagon and tour the grounds, explore the nooks and crannies in the huge barn and magnificent stone house from the ground up!"
What a gorgeous day! Even with frozen water.
Al was up early doing the usual unloading of trucks. Marilyn got fuel for the combine, then we met Bob and Jeannie at the Motherwell Homestead for a yummy Sunday Brunch.
This Historical site closed for the season on Labor Day, but they still have these fundraising brunches to help keep the site running. They are actually running a petition to have the government continue with funding to help with the cost to keep it operational. In our school bus driving days, we brought more that a few class tours here and someday, we might even get to see the old time threshing that they do every year.
After brunch, we went out to the field, serviced, fueled, then started combining. We still had 125 acres to go on this half section, so we knew we wouldn't likely be moving to another field today. Al kept up hauling until the elevator closed at 5pm, then we worked to fill the trucks and cart.
The last 25 acres on this field was on the other side of a small waterway, so we had to move around the road to get to it. Marilyn had just opened it up and had started to dump in the cart, when she though she heard a sound like the grain elevator chain jumping a cog or something. Since she couldn't get out of the drivers seat to see it running, Al came over and decided the chain needed tightening...which we did, then we went over to get the General from the other field so we could top it off.
When Marilyn got back, she started the combine up...the sound was still there, so with the lights of Big Jenn, we checked it over again, but this time we could see the problem was a belt skipping over the edge of a pulley. It was the same style pulley as we had the problem with in Carlyle, except that this time about six inches of the pulley lip had broken away leaving a jagged edge to chew on the belt. The belt still looked like we would be able to use it once we got a new pulley...which we wouldn't be able to do until tomorrow. So that, was that, for that. We were done for the day.
Still managed 105 acres...
View of the day-The trucks wait until Al has cut a patch to park in the field.
We woke up to hard water this morning...really hard...frozen-like. Good thing the holding tank had a reserve...and the water pump was actually working this season.
Al was up early to get the trucks unloaded, then he moved the General close to the next field that we were heading to. Marilyn met him by the General, then we went back to get the combine moved over, so we could get an actual patch cut to park off the highway north of Balcarres. Bob showed up and gave us a ride to get the other pickup and the tractor and cart. With everything moved we were ready to start making dust.
Al only had a short haul to the elevator and we only had about 50 acres on this patch, so we were done with plenty of daylight to spare...so Marilyn moved six miles south to the field that the donkey was in. Surely it was drier that the 22% moisture from a week ago. It was.
Al told Marilyn to keep combining while he got help from Bob's mom and dad, to get the rest of the rigs moved over. The elevator had closed at 5pm...it is the weekend, after all...so we only had the trucks and cart to fill. Marilyn had the General loaded before Al had gotten the last vehicle...the grain cart...to the field, so it didn't take long before had them loaded and were done for the day.
We got back to the camper, got cleaned up, then went over to the house to have supper with Bob and Jeannie. After dining and having a visit, we called it a night and headed back to the camper.
Another night of freezing temps...
View of the day-Al unloads the cart into the General on the other side of the tracks. As you can see, the crossing is only used to get across to the rest of the field and the railway has laid a bead of gravel all along the track for repairs.
Almost the same as yesterday...minus 10 acres, because we ran out of field.
Al was out unloading, servicing and combining by 10:30am. He told Marilyn she should be out there by 11:30am with lunch and be ready to take over in the combine. Al had both trucks loaded by the time she got out there, so he played catch up for the rest of the day.
We got finished on the big piece that was right next to the highway, then we moved across the tracks to the 25 acre patch that was cut off from the rest of the field. That piece didn't take long, but the four times that the cart had to cross were a task and a half. The tires hit strategically on that bead of gravel so the tractor was spinning when we got on the tracks. Even though we looked both ways at least ten times...just to be sure...it was nerve wracking to cross. Good thing there was just a few acres on the other side.
Al got everything spotted for Marilyn, then took off for Yorkton to see his first Yorkton Terriers game of the season. Marilyn only had one more hopper left in the field and once that was done, she parked the combine, washed the windows, then headed for the camper to clean up.
New field tomorrow...let's hope it's fit to combine...
View of the day-Al gets the show on the road and has the General filled by the time Marilyn gets to the field.
We got the word from on high that we were clear to do some cutting, so Al was the first one out to the field to get some servicing done before cranking up the combine.
Marilyn got lunches ready, then went out to take over from Al and didn't get out of the combine until there had been 100 acres covered. Al was kept busy hauling...9 loads...good thing we are only a couple miles from the elevator because with the wheat running over 65 bu/ac, there could have easily been some waiting.
After shutting down for the night, Al went into Balcarres to fill the slip tank and Marilyn went back to the camper, hoping the furnace would magically be working. Nope.
And it is supposed to be well below freezing tonight...
View of the day-All lined up with nowhere to go...at least for today.
Road trip day. We weren't going to combine today...still waiting for the last of those green berries to be gone. By waiting for the wheat to mature, the grade will go up from a #3 to a #2...and the elevator guys won't be so crusty.
We were going to Grayson, so we decided to take the shortest route down highway 22. But shortest does not mean quickest...not by a long shot...average speed 40mph. We were definitely not going back the same way.
Al dropped Marilyn off to have coffee at the hardware store, while he went to get the mail and visit with his brother, Ed. After the socializing was done, we hit up the meat market for some of their excellent beef jerky, then started back for Abernethy.
We stopped in Melville to do a bit of shopping, before going back to the camper and unloading everything. While Al got caught up on some paperwork...his Toy Farmer magazines had come in...Marilyn went on a road trip with Jeannie down to the valley to see if there was a spot to park the camper in their yard along the lake.
Jeannie had an ulterior motive...she had to check the trap lines set up in the house for mice and she needed someone to empty the traps...if there was anything in them. Marilyn brought the gloves and Jeannie had the disposal bag, but she wouldn't even hold it so Marilyn could get the mouse dislodged from the trap. There was only one kill, but with the gloves Marilyn was wearing, it was impossible to get the trap reset without setting it off, so the mice have a break on that one.
After looking the site over...a beautiful lake shore spot...but the only place that wasn't treed in was to small for a camper our size. No chance this year.
Back at the camper, it was starting to cool down and we thought we should turn the furnace up. Apparently the "no jinx" didn't work...it would not kick in. Marilyn went out and took the panel off and could hear it humming like it wanted to start, so she flipped the switch that was on the furnace off and on, then it started and ran perfectly. Once. As it cooled down even further, we had to go out and do the same thing to get it started. So it would appear it is not fixed...and never was. At least the propane part of it is working. A bright spot.
Maybe tomorrow we make dust...
View of the day-Some serious cracks in the field. The tape measure stopped at 18 inches deep and this crack was at least 2 inches across. Marilyn is sure she shouldn't get stuck this year.
Al was up early to take the tractor and cart into town to get the tire fixed, but there was no hope for it so he ended up buying a "good" used one. He left the tractor and waited for Marilyn to pick him up.
Marilyn was busy back at the camper trying to get the furnace back in working order...although we really didn't need it today. After getting the newly filled tank in its place and bleeding the lines before hooking the tanks up, she was confident that everything would be working perfectly.
Apparently there is nothing in the manuals that state that both propane tanks should have the valves open, so the pressure is constant. Normally we would keep one closed until the other one was empty, but this fancy camper has a special valve that automatically switches tanks when one is empty and starts drawing off the new one, which keeps the pressure at the right level. After posting the furnace problem in the RV forums and getting some whacked out list of things to check, we finally searched the propane section and found this cure...and it worked like a charm...no jinx.
After picking Al up, we decided to go in to Fort Qu'Appelle for lunch, but ended up just going to the grocery store and building our own. For some reason those restaurants get busy over noon hour.
We dined out at the field, then got started on the rubber mat. Al was concerned that it was going to be a tough job, but with the good luck Marilyn had with the furnace, she was confident that this would be a breeze...and it was. It took about 45 minutes to dismantle and reinstall the new mat, so that was another job looked after.
Marilyn took the shop trailer back to the yard and Al was going to follow her over, but gave Bob a call to let him know how we were doing. Bob told him to make a load and see what kind of condition it was in...then make another load, just to be sure. Marilyn stayed back at the camper and got supper ready.
We have another day off tomorrow to let the green get out of the wheat, so we will go on a road trip to Grayson for our mail.
And some of that famous Ottenbreit ham sausage...
View of the day-The trees are changing colors on the ski hill down in the Qu'Appelle Valley...and it's only going to get more beautiful now that we have had a frost.
We woke up to a frozen water hose and no furnace...thank goodness we have a fake fireplace with electric heat to take the edge off. It was not easy to get out from under the blankets today.
No combining today, but we did do some moving around. Al went out to get the General dumped at the elevator, but came directly back to the camper to get the dually and the booster cables...Big Jenn did not want to start. It wasn't long after that he called Marilyn to bring another set, because he needed more juice. Apparently it was tough for the General to get going, too.
After getting another set of cables, Marilyn went out to the field and we were able to get it started and while Al took it into the elevator, Marilyn drove back to the other field and started moving the grain cart over to the field where the combine was sitting.
On the road past the elevator, which was a mile over from the destination field, Marilyn crossed some rough railroad tracks and because Al hadn't locked the tarp handle in...not thinking that we would be moving...the handle jumped out and was swinging in the breeze, with the end dragging on the road. Al said it was no biggie, because it leveled of the bevel from the last time it had jumped out of its cradle.
Marilyn had cleaned the windows before leaving the field, but there was a lot of muddy looking splash drops on one side of the cab. She though it was water that was in the little drain tray over the door that had gone flying over the rough tracks. Al could see that one of the inside duals...the last crappy one...had the fluid that was used for ballast bubbling out of a crack. More repairs needed.
We got a ride from Bob's mom and dad back to the other field to get the little Dodge...which is now called "Shimmy" because of the odd and random shimmying it does at high speeds...and Bob's tandem. We got them back to the field and then proceeded to take the shaker pan off the back of the combine so we could see what was needed to replace a rubber skirt that had ripped and was letting the chaff pile up and leave lumps behind the combine.
Once we knew exactly what we needed, Al called the CaseIH dealer in Yorkton to see if they had the part...nope...Regina was the closest place. Marilyn had a theatre meeting in Yorkton, so she couldn't get it...but Al was done for the day, so Al went west and Marilyn went east. Al got back in time to watch his NFL game on TV and Marilyn made it back with a filled propane tank just after 11pm.
Tomorrow we fix...
View of the day-Organized chaos. Al has his trucks exactly where he needs them, right by the bin...but today, the elevator is allowing him to haul in.
We heard rain on the roof shortly after midnight last night and Al was a bit concerned because he couldn't get the electric tarp closed on Bob's tandem truck...and it was full of grain. Fortunately, there were only 15 drops, so he was able to continue on with his sleep...until 4:30am.
It started raining again and this time it didn't seem like it was going to quit, so Al figured he better go out and see if he could get the tarp closed. After about 20 minutes, he was able to get it closed...but by the time he did, it had stopped raining and the stars were shining.
He started back to the camper and was just going past Abernethy when he got the flashing lights...the RCMP were stopping him. Al has no patience for these stops at the best of times...if there is indeed, a best of times...but having this happen in the middle of the night, well, it wasn't going to turn out good.
The officer's reasoning for stopping him...like they need a reason...was that there had been a lot of thievery going on in the area and a vehicle at this time of night was considered "suspicious". Al wasn't really pleasant with some of his answers and before he had a chance to ask him "what they were doing about the theft that had occurred that was caught on one of those wildlife cameras", the officer walked away and left. Mission accomplished...and Al went back to bed.
When Al took the first load into the elevator, he had cut a sample to see if it would be dry enough to haul in...and it was...so after he got the trucks unloaded he started combining. Marilyn got the lunches ready...she was disappointed that she didn't get Sunday brunch in Fort Qu'Appelle...then went out to take over from Al. It tried to rain a couple of times and it did just enough to make a mess of the combine windows...but we could live with that.
There wasn't a lot left in the field when we quit last night, so once Marilyn took over there were only 10 rounds left...that didn't take long to lap up. Just as she was finishing the last round, she looked to the east and found she had some company...a donkey...or some type of long eared horsey looking animal that was on a mission. It was trotting steadily across the field looking left to right, but not changing pace, even when Marilyn stopped to take a picture. It had a halter on, so it belonged somewhere. Maybe it was going home.
We got the field finished and when Al took the last load in with the General, Marilyn went into town to get fuel for the combine, then met him out at the next field we were going to try. After going out and checking some of the wheat heads, we decided this was going to be the next field we would try. So back to the combine to get it ready to move.
We had to move around 10 miles, but we were able to manage it without taking the header off...and only met three vehicles along the way. Once we got to the field, Al jumped in the combine to make the first couple of passes to see if it was going to be dry enough to cut...it was borderline, but we figured we would cut a couple of hoppers and see where the axe fell at the elevator in the morning.
We tarped the General, went back to the other field to get the little Dodge, then went back to the camper. Only 40 acres today, but we finished a field and got a truck moved, so it wasn't a bust.
Tonight it is supposed to go below freezing...
View of the day-Yet another beauty of a sunset here in Saskatchewan.
Al was out unloading the trucks first thing in the morning, then he got the combine serviced for Marilyn, who was getting lunch ready back at the camper. She got out to the combine right at 10am and after washing the windows, started combining.
We had crossed the line in the wheat field, where the late seeded stuff was and the moisture was just a bit too high. Fortunately, the next field was just across the road where the bin was set up, so it was a short move...and it was dry enough. Before we got everything moved over, Al figured we should get the auger moved to the next bin, so he got Marilyn to climb to the top to open the lids on both of them, so that all he would have to do was move the auger over when the bin was full.
Al took a sample of this next field in to town to see if we had won the "get to haul to the elevator" lottery...and we had. Marilyn started combining and didn't take a break until Al brought her a pop from town at 7:30pm.
Al got both trucks full, then left the cart for Marilyn to fill and went back to the camper. Marilyn finished combining around 9:30pm and had covered 126 acres...a darn good day.
More of the same tomorrow...
View of the day-Al climbs into the hopper to grab a sample, hoping it will be dry enough to finally get going.
We got out to the field around 11am to do a test, then took the sample to the elevator...plenty dry enough but too much fusarium, so they wouldn't take it. Al didn't want to be "that guy" and give him a piece of his mind, so we went back to the camper where he grabbed the semi and headed out to the field while Marilyn made lunch.
By the time Marilyn got out to the field, Al had been combining and had gotten the General full. Unfortunately, the combine was not moving and one of the shields was open...apparently one of the hydraulic hoses on the header and sprung a leak and there was oil all over the front of the combine. Marilyn just can't trust Al alone with the combine.
Since we were having to bin the wheat, we needed to get the auger moved from one farmyard to another, then set it up at the bin. This is not something we do very often, so it probably didn't go as fast as it would have if the "pros" were doing it. It didn't help that we weren't familiar with the tractor or how the auger would move...but at least the bin was cleaned. After we had it set up, it was repair time.
Back at the combine we managed to get the hose off...no easy task with the tight quarters and spaghetti mess of intertwined hoses...then went in to the John Deere dealer to get a new hose made. Once we had that...and a new bucket of oil...we went back to put it back on the combine. Success.
Marilyn got back to combining...getting a nice layer of dust coating all that sprayed oil...and Al took the General over to dump in the bin. And we carried on that way until well after dark, getting 90 acres done, even with starting at 4pm. Then it was back to the camper for the night.
The weather is still promising and the wheat is dry, so we should be able to get an early start tomorrow.
But we will need fresh water in the window washing pail, that's for sure...
View of the day-How can you not start the day combining in a good mood with this character to greet you? This is the single point connect for the header hydraulics.
Too bad we weren't combining. Al spent the day hauling canola again...we decided not to try the wheat until Saturday. Of course, Al is already moving it ahead one day and wants to try a test tomorrow. Al has his own camera and even though he sits out at the field in the grain trucks waiting for a load, he claims he has nothing to take a picture of. Marilyn is sure that since he took that great sunset picture a few days ago, he thinks his work is done. Marilyn did enter it in a fall picture contest at the radio station and they will be putting all the pictures up at a later date for voting with the winner getting $1000. We will add the link to get your vote when they put it up!
We took a trip into Yorkton this evening, for Marilyn to attend a Grant Writing 101 class. There are so many different agencies that have money to give to non-profit groups in Canada, that the theatre group decided to send a contingent to learn the finer points of bullsh...uh, writing up proposals.
While Marilyn was studying, Al went to visit with Glen, the former tenant at our campground, who was just getting ready to move his camper back to Round Lake from our driveway. He tried to talk Al into the Challenger combine that he had been demoing, but Al said Marilyn doesn't look good in that color.
We went for coffee to McDonald's with Marilyn's friends, Brenda and Pam, then drove the 50 miles back to the camper at Abernethy.
And tried to ignore the temperature gauge on the pickup that was showing 37ºF at 11pm...
View of the day-The neighbours start servicing before dropping the pickup heads for the move to their next field. That flag took a kicking in the wind today.
We decided to go into Balcarres for breakfast today. There was a restaurant at the gas station that we had been to in the past, but as we pulled up, we could see that it was now closed...permanently by the looks of things. So we drove down town to see what we could find...Kevin's Cafe looked good.
Apparently, they just kept the name when they bought the cafe, because we're pretty sure Kevin is not a common name where they came from...and then there was the Chinese cartoon that was entertaining the little boy. We managed to get our order in...then got it later, mostly wrong. The woman was having a hard time understanding what "over easy" and "soft bacon" were, even though Marilyn tried everything but sketching a picture. What the heck, we ate what she brought out.
Once we were full, we went out to do some servicing and move the equipment over to the next field. Marilyn cut a patch to park everything on, then we took the sample in to the elevator...16.8%...we wouldn't be combining today. Still, we finished moving over the tractor and General, then dumped the sample and what was left in the cart into the semi.
The day was really cool...had to dig the jackets out...and the wind was crazy. The canola and field pea swaths were really catching hell. The short time Marilyn was in the combine, the wind was really moving it around and trying to unload without the grain blowing off the truck was a challenge. And don't forget what kind of a task getting the tarp closed on the trucks was...but Al has mastered parking just right, so there were no catastrophes.
Al took the semi into the elevator to dump it before going up to haul canola for Bob with it. Marilyn went into Fort Qu'Appelle to get groceries, then she went back to the camper...done for the day.
Al was hauling back to the bin where the camper is parked, so when he came to dump the trucks, Marilyn could go out for a visit. He was able to stop between loads to have supper before taking the truck back out. He was hauling with the tandem and semi, so there was plenty of time for a break.
No combining for us again tomorrow, so it will be more of the same...
View of the day-This is Al's office at H&R Block, his off season job. They have been setting aside his work for him.
We had a road trip on the agenda today, but we didn't have to get up too early...the appointment wasn't until 11am. Too bad somebody didn't let those fat tap dancing magpies that fell in love with the camper roof at 6am about it. They hopped from one end of the camper to the other over and over again...for what seemed like hours...there would be no sleeping in today.
We got to Yorkton and dropped the Dodge off at KM Auto Care so he could put in the new air conditioning compressor. It was going to take at least 3-4 hours, so the gave us a courtesy vehicle and we went about our business for the afternoon.
The first stop was to have lunch with Marilyn's theatre cohorts Brenda and Pam at the Chinese Buffet. We sat and caught up for an hour or so, then while the girls went back to work, we did a couple of errands, then went visiting.
We stopped in at H&R and had a great visit with Curtis, Erv and Sarah. That's where Al got a look at his office...actually they are using it to get some papers sorted...and to give Al a jolt. It worked.
We went over to Minute Muffler to visit with Mike, one of Al's farm toy pals. Al didn't have any to drop off for him...just yet...but they were wheeling and dealing, just the same.
Marilyn stopped in at Staples to have a visit while Al was getting fuel for the tractor in the slip tank. They are waiting for her return, but she is not ready to leave the combine just yet.
We picked up the Dodge, got a few pointers on how to dismantle the radiators so we could clean in between them. They were pretty plugged up and even though we had tried to keep them clean with screens on the front for bugs and special skinny air wands with holes in the side, it was almost impossible to do a good job...or get to all the spots where dust and fluff were collecting. We have our papers now, so hopefully we won't have the same problem in the future.
We got back to Abernethy and took a drive out to one of the fields that Bob thought might be ready...or close enough to ready. We will move the combine over in the morning and do a test.
And hopefully get rolling again...
View of the day-This is what happens when you book into a campground after Labor Day...you get to do some high-steppin' through the grass. Marilyn didn't step high enough over the satellite dish cable and had a lovely trip flat on her face...thank goodness for that thick pillowy grass.
No harvesting for a while, so today Al took a road trip to Lipton to drop off some farm toys...clearing out a few hidey-holes in the camper. He got to spend some time in a new CaseIH 8230 combine...he's not sold on getting one just yet. Besides, our 7088 is working just fine, thank you very much.
Marilyn spent the day in the camper with the windows and doors open to let the breeze in. It was a perfect day...not to hot and even though there was wind, the camper was protected by the bins and the trees. Quiet and relaxing...who could ask for anything more.
Tomorrow we get the air conditioning fixed in the Dodge...road trip...
View of the day-A step back in time...September 9, 2008 in the canola...
Al was up early to get the trucks unloaded and Marilyn had instructions to be combining by 10:30am...and she was. We finished the field we were on...there was only a hopper left...then started moving everything over to the next fields. They were only a mile as the crow flies, but we weren't crows, so we had to take the scenic route.
We made four trips to get everything moved over and once everything was was placed for loading, Al took the General in to the elevator and Marilyn started cutting. The sprayer had only made three rounds around each field and we could see the difference...the inside was still really green, so it looks like we will be having some down time.
On the first round of the first field, Marilyn plugged the feeder house from picking up the wheat that had laid down. Al came out to give a hand pulling and it actually turned out to be not that serious and after 20 minutes, she was back making dust. After getting the outside round done on the first quarter section, Al had made it back from the elevator and was back in the cart tractor. The next field was three quarter sections together in an "L" shape, so in order for Marilyn to make it around, Al had to follow with the cart, to keep her going.
The elevator closed at 5pm, so Al focused on filling the trucks. After Marilyn finished the sprayed rounds, Al had his trucks full and had a dump on the cart and we were done for the day...and a few days, actually, because it's way too green.
Back at the camper, the landlord came for a visit...
View of the day-Al gets to pull the first shift in the wheat.
We were up extra early this morning...Al wanted AIS at 7am...ouch. We had to run into Yorkton to get our other pickup and put licence plates on it. This way, Al could go out to the field earlier to get trucks unloaded and Marilyn could go out later, after making lunches...and stuff.
We got to the farm and hooked up the batteries in the pickup...it took off without a hitch, then we went back into town to get the paperwork looked after. Once we got that done, we went across the street to grab a quick bite at McDonald's, before heading over to the cardlock to fill the slip tank with fuel for the tractor.
Al left town right after getting the fuel, while Marilyn did some grocery shopping, then headed back to Abernethy, to unload the goods at the camper. After getting things put where they belonged, she had time to get the satellite dish aimed before going out to the field to take over from Al.
There were four red machines working in the next field to us and with the complete lack of wind, it must have been tough for their cart driver to find them.
Al got two loads into the elevator...one semi and one in the General...before they closed at 5pm. We kept working until we got both trucks and the grain cart filled, then shut down for the night. Marilyn's low fuel light was on anyway, so we had no choice. We still did over 100 acres.
Tomorrow is going to be another great harvesting day...
