May 31, 2013

View of the day-Our "campground" for the night...cold, windy, wet and no furnace...but the price was right. Thanks, Kenmare Cenex.

We had a busy week, but everything got accomplished as planned...and without incident.  Marilyn went directly back to work at Staples for the last few days before the big inventory, while Al got things ready with the General and combine trailer.

Al had some time to go and visit with his brother Jeff as he was planting corn, which is not really all that common in this area, but, the times they are a changing.

Al dragged Marilyn away from packing the camper on Wednesday, to get some things done in town and since the forecast was for rain...and lots of it...we decided we better get the combine loaded and hooked up before the monsoon.  That little job went like a dream, with perfect weather and synchronized loading, it was like we hadn't just taken the last seven months off. Either that, or we are finally getting the hang of it.

The plan was for AIS from the yard at 10:30am on Friday.  Marilyn actually had the camper packed by Thursday night, except for the necessities that we still had to use...that was a first!  It was also a first that she didn't have 10 tubs of "stuff" that needed to get put away while we spent the night in Carlyle...it was all put away as it got loaded.  Getting the hang of this job, as well...and it was AIS at 10:25am...ahead of schedule.

It was a relief that we didn't get the rain that had been predicted...it was well to the south of us...nothing worse than starting out the season with a muddy camper.  After we finished tying up a few loose ends in town, we were on our way out to get the General aired up so we could start the long drive to Oklahoma for the last time this year.  Even though we still, technically, have to drive back twice again, it is in smaller trips and therefore, not noticeable. Relatively speaking.

So, with the rigs ready to go, we were time to take advantage of the strong NW wind that was blowing and set sail for the sunny south.  Everything was going fine until we got south of Whitewood, when Al was coming up a hill, he noticed the General was lacking power...fuel filter, he figured.  We called ahead to Carlyle to see if there was somewhere he could park the rig and get a filter to remedy the problem.

There had been a lot of rain in the Carlyle area...well over an inch...so we really didn't want to get into a pickle where we couldn't back out, or worse yet, get stuck.  We got the green light to pull in at Wilnick Repair Service where Al got a filter, changed it out in the parking lot and was good to go.

Marilyn had to do a transfer of goods with her sister, Marg, who was good enough to meet in the parking lot.  This year we would not be staying over at Casa del Johnstone.  With the wind giving us a hard push, we decided to forge on and at least get across the border to Kenmare.

We got going again...the filter remedied the problem, and Al was able to stay in the "tall one" even going up the long hill before the border. Bonus.  The border crossing went alright...the officer decided to look in the camper and had quite a struggle trying to get the steps folded out.  For some reason, ever since we pulled it out of the parking space at home last year with the steps out and the cedar tree strategically placed to rearrange them into a sort of...spiral staircase...they just don't fold up like they used to.

After Al pulled in to the crossing, the officer went out with his "Geiger counter" and, upon finding no contraband, sent us on our way. We left the border and forged to Kenmare, where we would park for the night.

Or so we thought. The campground that we had stayed at in the past was almost full of campers...there were three or four empty spots...but apparently, it had been bought up by a large company and was a private spot for the oil guys. Just great.

We stopped at the Cenex to grab something to eat and asked at the counter if there was anyplace else in town. Nope. Not that they were aware of...but we were welcome to stay on the lot, but they didn't have power.

Power?...we don't need no stinkin' power.

We parked, got the jacks down, cranked up the generator, turned on the water heater and fireplace...cause it was only 47ºF and windy...then proceeded to turn on the furnace. The fan kicked in...yay!  But no heat...the burner wouldn't ignite.

Oh well, the fireplace took the edge off and there are extra blankets...we'll survive.  We were pretty tired and were going to close up shop and go to sleep, when we looked at the clock...8:30 was too early to hit the sack.  We felt even worse when we realized it was only 7:30 at home.  Must...fight...call...of...the...pillow...

Or maybe not...

May 23, 2013

View of the day-Actually, this date last year...we were already hard at it, combining canola in Oklahoma. No canola for us this year.

Yesterday we left Gettysburg, SD and dropped the hammer home.  We stopped in Selby to visit with our farmer there...they were quite happy with the three inches of rain they had received over the past week. We stopped at Menoken, ND for a visit there, but with all the rain that had fallen, our farmer there was at home near Bismarck, so we drove over to Lincoln to have lunch.

After that it was shut up and drive...Marilyn actually drove from Bismarck to Carpio, where we stopped to pick up several boxes of farm toys that had been delivered for Al.  We also stopped for more toys at Kenmare...it was time to start replenishing stock for the fall.

After a short stop at the border, we were off with a "have a good day" from the guard and it was straight home to Yorkton.

The plan is to leave next Friday...at least that is the thought right now...even though it will be early, we won't be rushed.

It could be quiet on here until then...

May 21, 2013

View of the day - South of Timken, KS, Kevin seeding milo for feed...with a dirty NW wind. 

Day two of our drive back home and Al was up and out to get the slip tank filled and breakfast from McDonalds. After we checked out, Marilyn stopped at Walmart to pick up a few things for the road, then it was lunch at the Great Wall.

We stopped to visit with Ken, who was working in the yard, then stopped out at the field to interrupt Kevin and his seeding. We got the latest on the crop conditions...might turn out good if they get a rain, if not, then not so good...you know farming. 

Once our visits were over, it was time to shut up and drive...well, we drove, anyway. We had lot of ground to cover and aside from a couple pit stops, that's exactly what we did.

We stopped to get a picture of the Lacrosse Motel sign...it gave us a chuckle.

We hit some rain as we got into northern Nebraska and it stayed with us all the way to Gettysburg...no heavy downpours this time, just an on again, off again misting. The temperature dropped and with the strong north wind, it felt quite nasty...not a day for shorts. 

Three days, covering three states each day...hopefully we get close to home tomorrow...

May 20, 2013

View of the day - It was a productive day...no flat tires or construction! 

Al was up early to get a couple of new tires and a rim. Once he got back with the goods, we were on the road north to rescue the header trailer. We were getting pretty good at changing tires, so it didn't take long to make the switch and start back to Stockton. A slight miscalculation...it was 100 miles back, not 80 as stated yesterday.

Back in Stockton, we fueled up the trucks, grabbed lunch for the road and started the last leg of the trip. The last leg for the trip down, at least. 

While on he road, Marilyn had found a radio station that had reported a tornado was about to touch down in Oklahoma City. What a horrible experience that must have been for those people, there is no way any of us could imagine what they were going through. There was quite a difference between the local OKC radio station and the sensationalism of the HLN channel on the xmradio. Our hearts ache for those affected and they are in our prayers. 

We stopped in Great Bend, KS to fuel up and didn't stop again until we hit Cherokee, OK...our destination. We got there just about the same time as our farmers John and Peggy, who were just returning from medical appointments at Oklahoma City...they were out of the city well before the action started. 

We went to scope out a spot to park the trailer so we could unload.

Things change from year to year and with the big oilboom going on, we never know if land has changed hands or if we are still in...and after a call, we found out...we were still in. 

We stopped in to catch up with John and Peggy, then went to get the Freight moved over to the parking lot. 
John met us over there and RL, the owner, had shown up to show us where to park. We were a bit concerned to unload the new tractor for the first time, but it went even smoother than it did with the old tractor. That was a relief.

We took the tractor,cart and Freightliner out to the farm, got them parked, then started back north, again.

We rolled into Great Bend just before midnight, found a room and called it a night. 

More driving tomorrow...

May 19, 2013

View of the day-Sunday afternoon in Taylor, NE...the streets are empty, except for various cutouts of old time residents, which made for an eerie feeling.  Marilyn had to drop the header trailer to check out at detour and it was right next to this family, pointing out the weather...or a bird, or a plane.  Notice the other couple looking into the store across the street.

What a hectic day we had today! It had rained a lot during the night...well over an inch...and it was still misting when we got rolling south.  Once again, we had the wind pushing us, so we made pretty good time, for the most part.  We got out of the rain as we crossed the dam at Fort Thompson and as we neared the interstate, Marilyn thought there was an issue with one of the header trailer tires, so she pulled over for a quick inspection. Nothing obvious that she could see and since we would be taking a pit stop in 15 miles, she "shut up and drove".

Al checked the tires out while Marilyn grabbed a breakfast of V8 juices, then we continued on...for about 10 miles.  One of Marilyn's jobs as the leader of the move, is to let Al know if the tire remnants, or "shrapnel" was there before she arrived on the scene, just so he doesn't need to be concerned that it could have been one of our tires.  There was lots of shrapnel to report, and it had been a long time since she had had to report any coming from our trailer...until today.  That back driver's side tire on the header trailer shredded, and went flying everywhere, so Marilyn limped it to a wide shoulder, to start the change.

Al had the spare in the back of the Freighliner, so while he was getting the trailer jacked up and the lug nuts loosened, Marilyn got the spare...it didn't look to good, but Al said "that's why they call it a spare".  We got it changed and started off again.

Marilyn was a little gun shy and kept an eye on the "spare"...sure that it would not last the day...but even when she checked it at the Springview, NE fuel stop, it was still holding air.  Shut up and drive.

As we worked our way through Nebraska, the storm clouds were brewing all around us and it was inevitable that we would be hit with at least one of them...and we were.  As we were going through the hills, the clouds let loose with such a downpour, that the wipers couldn't keep up.  Top that off with a train of four vehicles close behind and absolutely no shoulder to pull off so we could wait it out...this made for a couple miles of "white knuckle" driving.  Al was pushing so much water from the wheel tracks that he must have looked like a snow plow in the winter...the rooster tails he was throwing went from ditch to ditch.  Thankfully we were just on the tail end of the deluge and had driven through only 8 or 10 miles of it.

We nicely got through the rain and were just coming over the hill that leads down to Taylor, NE, when Marilyn sees the dreaded orange diamond sign ahead on the side of the road.  

As she gets up to the sign, it says "Bridge Work, 11 ft maximum width"...and the sign is about 500 yds ahead of the bridge.  She was able to get Al stopped while she maneuvered through...there was no way that was 11 ft between the guard rail and cement dividers...she barely made it through with the header.  After getting into town, she unhooked the header and went back to see if there was a detour we could take and as she got back to where Al was parked, she could see he was getting directions from a trucker who had just come through with his grain trailer.  

We took the Dodge around the detour, then Marilyn dropped Al off to take his rig around the detour while she went back into town to get the trailer hooked back up.  And we were on our way again.

Marilyn kept thinking about one of the lines from the play she was just in "They always come in threes, don't they?"...and number three hit just after we had passed through Miller...this time it was the front driver's side tire on the trailer.  The "spare" was still intact.  

Marilyn managed to limp the trailer into a spot along the highway where she unhooked it and left it for tomorrow...we would never find a tire store open on a Sunday.  

Al kept driving and we decided to get as far as we could with the Freightliner, leave it for the night, then drive back and spend the night in Holdrege, NE which was about 30 miles south of where the trailer had been left.  We made it to Stockton, KS, parked the Freight, grabbed a drink for the road and drove the 80 miles back to Holdrege.  

After getting a room and grabbing a snack from the McDonalds next door, we did our bookwork and called it a night.

Two new tires...and a new rim...tomorrow...

May 19, 2013

View of the day-The doctor is in the house...Dana, the welderman does a bit of work on the cart trailer in Carlyle.

We were up early to get the last of the packing done before setting of on the first leg of our journey.  After picking up a few things in town, we were on the road by 10:30am...30 minutes ahead of schedule.  Marilyn was leading the way and that saved the day, when she went ahead to check on the parking out at Precision Ag.  We had called ahead to confirm there was room for us, but as Marilyn neared the corner to turn south, she could see flashing blue and red lights...the DOT had a random check stop set up.  After a call on the radio to Al, we went with "Plan B"...turn west and head out to Kim & Marg's yard to park. We had thought about taking the back road over to Precision Ag, but since it is on the main highway, we figured the DOT might drive by and do a check anyway, so it was back into the bin site at the farm.

After getting parked, we were working on setting the trailer brakes up and Marilyn noticed a crack in one of the frame pieces on the trailer.  When Al came back to inspect, he found another one on the other side...we needed to find a welder. Kim was able to find someone who was willing to come out and do the job...or at least, see if it was do-able...before he went back to work getting the lumps out of the fertilizer he was loading on his truck.

Dana made it out and after doing a bit of contortion work, managed to jam himself into position to do the fix job.  Marilyn had brought a case of beer for rent on the parking out at Precision Ag, but since we didn't park there and Dana was good enough to help us out, we gave him the beverage...just as he was closing his tailgate, with the stickered message "will weld for beer".  He did an excellent job on short notice, so we were only to happy to give him the tip.

After supper and hockey in the house, it was an early night to rest up for another day of driving...and the dreaded crapshoot at the border.

After a quick coffee in the morning, we got the header hooked up to the Dodge and were on our way.  It was overcast and there were the occasional sprinkles...just enough to make a mess of the windows...but at least we were lucky enough to have a brisk NE wind to help us along.  We got to the border and the regulars weren't working, so it took longer than usual, but by noon...ND time...we were rolling down the highway, once again.

We stopped in Kenmare to grab a quick lunch and check the trailer over again...still intact at the welds...then headed off into the fog.  It was so thick for the better part of the drive from Minot to Wilton, just north of Bismarck...good thing it is a divided highway. After another short stop for fuel in Sterling...nice to see that diesel in cheaper than gas, for a change...we kept right on driving.  There was a bit of construction just before the ND/SD border, but it looks like they take weekends off, so we didn't have to worry about any pilot vehicles...we must remember to time the second trip down the same way.

There were thunderstorm warnings for the area as we were arriving in Gettysburg, but we got parked, grabbed some pizza and went back to the room to watch some hockey and retire early.  We will see what the night weather brings us.  The weather channel was showing their main storm team near Larned, KS and there were shots of a few tornadoes...and we hope to make it that far tomorrow...

Over 400 miles today...likely the same tomorrow...

May 15, 2013

View of the day-Well, a couple of days ago...our "machine shed" where we get everything ready for the run.  It's a good size with lots of ventilation and light...during the day, of course.

It's time to get back into the swing of things, we got the Freightliner back into shape for the first trip to Oklahoma...it started a lot better than the General did.  While Al worked at getting the oil changed on the truck and tractor, Marilyn continued on working at Staples until 4pm, then came home to help get  things hooked up.

We got the tractor hooked up to the grain cart and had it all flanged in...it would appear that everything will work just fine.  But it wasn't loaded on the trailer yet, so we didn't want to get too cocky.  Al got a bit of welding done on the trailer, then took it out to Yorkton Auction, where we have been able to load for the past couple of years.

Tuesday was the day to get the tractor and cart on to the trailer.  We had measured several times and it looked pretty good on paper...but we all know it often doesn't work the same in real life.  Getting it on the trailer was not a big deal...figuring out how to chain it down was another matter.  We hope we have it right, but since the first leg of the journey is 125 miles to Carlyle, so we should have the kinks out by then.

We got everything hooked back up and left it at the auction yard, then went to work on the General.  It will be spending the week in at the "doctor" getting a new starter solenoid...and hopefully, they find nothing else wrong.  Tomorrow the season officially starts when the Freight hits the highway and we have to be in Carlyle before 3pm, due to the Victoria Day long weekend. Everyone that has been stir crazy from the long winter will be on the highway, heading for the lakes.

We don't want to have to deal with that...

May 4, 2013

View of the day-Well, actually the view from most days over the past winter and half of the spring.

It's May and all things should be thoughts of the harvest season, but it is a bit tough to do when you have to wait for the snowbanks to melt to get the equipment out.  It's been a long four months or so since the last post, but it has been anything but quiet on this end.

We finally got our tractor home and were able to find a snowblower to mount on the back, thanks to Al's connections on the toy circuit...it's not what you know...it's who you know.  We had a lot of snow to move around all winter, and it did a great job...after a bit of a learning curve going from pushing with the blade to backing up with the blower.

January was crazy for travel.  We went to Saskatoon to look after the trade show booth for the Association of Canadian Custom Harvester at the Crop Production Show.  It ended on a Thursday and on Friday we had the Toy Show there for the weekend.  As usual, the weather was frigid for loading, but we got home late on Sunday night, then packed up Monday to go to Brandon, MB to man the booth at Ag Days.  We only had to do one day, since there were other harvesters to take over for the rest of the week.  

By Thursday, Al was on the road to Lethbridge with his toy collecting buddy, Roger, for a first time at that toy show.  Because of the chaos of the month, we weren't able to take in the US Custom Harvesters Convention in Kansas City...so we couldn't come home with any "treasures" from the auction.

February had the big Yorkton toy show and auction. Al was busy getting the final touches done on the auction...all the note taking from last year really helped to make sure there were no glitches.  This year he decided to have a projector with large pictures of the toys on a slide show, so the buyers could have a better look during the auction, which worked out better than anticipated.  Once again we had a charity tractor to auction off, with the procedes going towards a memorial splash park and it raised $700! 

This year we decided to take the M88 mini combine to the Yorkton toy show...something we had been planning on doing since we purchased it several years ago.  We borrowed a flat bed trailer, loaded it up and after Al's buddy, Mike from

Minute Muffler, gave it the once over at his shop, got it hauled over to the hall to move in.  They have the tables pretty tight, so finding room to park was a bit of a task, but after it was backed in between the tables, it was good for the weekend.  It got lots of action from the little guys...some of them spent hours on it.  By the end of the show, we had decided that perhaps we should get a trailer to haul it to a few more shows...and it just so happened that Mike was looking to sell the one we borrowed.

While the toy shows were going on, we were still managing to fit our work schedules in.  Al was now back at H&R Block, getting ready for the tax season and Marilyn was still at Staples and helping Brenda out occasionally at liquidation world.  Marilyn had a few extra hours to spare, so she started working at H&R after her Staples shifts, but only in the back office...taxes are not her cup of tea, but she seals a mean envelope.

Marilyn was also busily involved with the theatre group, since they were short of actors for their next production of Noises Off, she took one of the roles, so now there were rehearsals to add to the mix three times a week.  The set for this production was a bit of an undertaking...it needed two stories and had to be rotated between scenes, so the audience could see the backstage antics.  

Fortunately, she was able to enlist the help of one of the construction guys from the big musicals that used to be held in Yorkton and with the help of Brenda, a fabulous set was built.  We had to do the building in Willowbrook, which was 13 miles west of Yorkton...they were good enough to give us the gym rent free in exchange for being able to have a dessert theatre for the dress rehearsal.  The people that got to see the rehearsal at Willowbrook would not have recognized the play as being the same if they had come a week later to Yorkton...quite a bit of improvising going on.

We took one final weekend off to take in the Lloyminster toy show which we had missed it for a couple years.  We had good weather and the toy show was pretty good, but with so much going on at home, we were glad the season was over...that, and the toy trailer stock was pretty well depleted.  Marilyn was always impressed by the dioramas, and especially the one from the couple from Calgary, AB who had been at all the toy shows we had been at.  Their cattle trailer accident scene detail was amazing!

So the toy shows were over, the performance at the beginning of April was in the books, which gave Marilyn a bit more free time.  Al was still watching his Yorkton Terrier hockey team, who had captured the league title...and bragging rights for another year.  They are now in Nanaimo, BC playing in the western finals for a birth in the national playoffs which will be held in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, starting next weekend...they have one more game to go tomorrow to decide if they make the cut.  We had bought a ticket on the hockey club's fundraising raffle...grand prize being $100,000 to be drawn in June...and were thrilled to get a call that we had won a prize in the Early Bird Draw...$10,000!  Al has decided if the boys are going to to the finals in PEI, thanks to the winnings, so are we.  No Jinx.

So now we are waiting...checking the crop reports and calling our farmers down south to see when we need to get rolling.  Marilyn is itching to get the camper out of it's spot and opened up, Al is working on repairing the hoops on the grain cart that collapsed under the weight of the massive amounts of snow that we had this winter.  It's almost as good as new...ish.

And the blog is back on board...even if we aren't harvesting yet...