September 10, 2014

View of the day-Finally, some combining, this is the machine with the tracks blazing a trail.

It was a cold, windy day that started out with some sun, but clouded over by mid morning. It looked like we wouldn't be getting too much done at this rate...at least it didn't rain. We actually had the furnace running last night and when we checked the propane tanks in the morning, one was empty, so we took a trip into Kipling to get it filled.

Beukes had suggested we move over to the field they were working on so we could stay together for the sake of the cart driver, who would pull us out if we got stuck. We moved the combine and General over to the field, then came back get the tractor and cart. Al dumped the little bit of wheat that had been left in the cart before the monsoon had hit onto the semi.

Once we got everything moved, the other two combines were already making dust, so Marilyn drove across the field to find a high spot to start on. At the end of the first pass, she decided to back up to turn around, rather than turning around along the slough, and...you guessed it...down she went.

We had to wait for Alexander and the quad trac to come from the other side of the field, where he was pulling out the other combine. You can just see them in the picture along the horizon. This side of the combine wasn't down as far, Marilyn knows the old adage "when your in a hole, stop digging" not only applies to putting your foot in your mouth, but to getting stuck, as well.

It didn't take long before Alexander showed up and hooked on to the tow rope we had mounted permanently on the combine. They have a large steel cable that runs from the back of the tractor to the front and they pull backwards to get the combines out of the mud. It takes some skill to pull the combine out and keep the cart straight in reverse...and be able to keep enough distance to keep the combine from backing into the tractor once it is out.

With all that power and traction, Marilyn was back combining within 15 minutes of Alex showing up. Now with that out of the way, we could get some combining done. The man with the tracks on his combine looked like he was invincible...or at least should be. Those tracks are worth $75,000 a set!

We combined until dark and the trucks were full, then called it a night...for combining at least. Apparently the fuel gauge on the tractor is not right, it showed 3 bars out of 9 left for fuel, but Al ran out on his way out to the combine. Fortunately, he had enough in the slip tank to get us through the rest of the night, but we had to make a road trip into Whitewood to get more for the rest of the week.

Can't wait to get the duals on...