View of the day-All set up in the tent at the Yorkton Thresherman's Show...the last show of the summer season.
We were able to get into the grounds at the Western Development Museum just after lunch on the day before the show, so it wasn't a mad rush to get set up. We had four tables and Roger had four right next to us, which he and Linda started filling a few hours after we got there.
After the set up, we went out for supper with Roger and Linda, then they got their RV parked in our yard for the weekend. There was perfect weather for the show...a nice change from the rain that seemed to be a regular occurrence lately. There was a lot of action around the grounds, but it seemed like we couldn't get away from the toys to see any of the threshing demonstrations. We got to see them getting ready for the parade at the end of the first day.
Sunday had a lot more traffic than Saturday did, but Marilyn didn't get to take in the festivities or the pack up, since she was trying to get last minute costumes and sets constructed for the Renaissance Fair that the theatre group was putting on the next weekend...that, and pack the camper. Fortunately, Mike and Heather, two of Al's toy pals were able to save the day, helping him pack up after the show.
There was also the ladder extension kit that we had gotten from CaseIH to move the platform out past the dual tires, for easier cab and servicing access. Right now, the ladder has to stay in the 2/3 turned position because of the tire width. This kit was supposed to add to the rails and platform...unfortunately, the tires we have are not 'standard' size and the whole thing was about 9 inches short. After Marilyn had struggled to get it all apart and partially back together, we ended up putting it all back the way it was and proceeded to come up with a plan to lengthen it and still keep the support.
Monday, Marilyn got the final load in the camper...well, enough to keep Al going for the week until she was done with Staples and the Renaissance Fair. After taking the combine into town to get loaded, we took the camper down to Langbank, not to where the header was sitting, but to a new farm that was just looking to get some combine help with fall rye. We had met these farmers at AgDays in Brandon and when they found out we had combined a few miles west of them, and that their crops might be ready earlier than the Kipling area, it was a perfect fit.
Al made the big move to sell his combine trailer in the spring, so now we relied completely on Kardynal Transport to shift us from place to place...not a big deal when you are not going all the way to Oklahoma. 
Because the combine was so wide, due to the duals, Al had to pilot the load, while Marilyn followed in the rear. We got out to the farm and while the combine was getting unloaded, Marilyn got the camper set up for Al. It was easy to keep an eye on what was happening with the combine, since the view was perfect out the camper door to where it was unloading.
After we got the combine set for rye, it was time to move out to the field and get the rust off. There were three other machines in the field...all green...but at least the tractor and cart were red...Versatile red. 
Once Al set up, Marilyn went back to Yorkton and he was able to start picking up swaths as soon as he was out at the field and continued until the field was close to done, then Al was sent packing to do the winter wheat on his own for the rest of the night. 
After switching to the straight head, Al started cutting the winter wheat around 6:30pm and combined until 10:30 before shutting down for the night. Unfortunately, Al woke up to the sound of rain on the camper roof the next morning, so he came back home to Yorkton for the weekend.
While we were at home, Al got the General ready for action, whenever it would need to be called to duty. He also spent some time looking for parts to make the ladder extension work on the combine. There had been more rain during the week, so we didn't have to get back to Langbank in any great hurry, which was good for Marilyn and her theatre business.
It was a perfect day for the Renaissance Fair...a little long, even though the event was from 11am to 7pm. Marilyn and Brenda had to get to the park by 7am to get the sets and tent up. This was the first year for the fair and it turned out pretty good considering there were several other things going on around town the same day.
With the weekend finally over, it was time to think about heading back to Langbank. Marilyn got the rest of the stuff for the camper loaded up, then we hooked on to the shop trailer and headed south. By the time we got to the camper, it was already dusk and the mosquitoes were hungry, thank goodness for the automatic satellite dish. We were a bit concerned about the signal finder...Al had run over the cord with the lawnmower...but it worked.
We are looking forward to a week of hot weather, this is the thermometer on the combine at 9:30am! We got the windows washed and were out in the field in no time. Since they only need the combine here, Al gets the honors and Marilyn gets time off. The shop trailer has been needing a good cleaning, so that is what has been on Marilyn's agenda for the last couple days. On a rough road, the bolt bins give up their cargo and usually we just use the magnetic wand and dump them all in the trays, Marilyn decided it was time to sort and return them to their rightful spot. Not sure how long that will last.
Al got finished with the winter wheat, then it was time to move over to do some straight barley. The road over was too narrow for the straight head, so we had to put it into transport, mount the pickup head, then move to the next field. When we got there, we had to unload the pickup head and put the straight head back on.
Al started making dust...itchy dust...and Marilyn went back to her bolt sorting. After getting that done, there were even a couple of nightmare drawers in the tool box that got a makeover. 
Marilyn took supper out to Al and then rode along for the rest of the night. The barley was yielding pretty good, so Al was only able to go up and back on the field before he was full...a couple times he almost couldn't make it back to the truck. There was only one other combine in this field and the grain cart was on the other field with the other two machines. 
Thank goodness for the camera in the hopper, as you can see, it helps to fill the hopper right up without spilling over...that's quite a pile!
So now it is official...we are in the swing of things and the blog should get updated regularly...for a while at least...
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