August 31, 2008

View of the day-The bells were ringing at the church while we got ready to combine.

We started out with the best of intentions but we had to wait for the auger to show up so the combining was put on the back burner for a while. We got the air filters and radiators blown out, everything was fueled and greased, then Marilyn started combining to fill everything up.

Al planned on parking the Freightliner at the bin, which was in the yard across from the field, and just running the cart over to it to fill so he wouldn't have to back the truck in for every load. He couldn't park it until the auger showed up and by the time it did, Marilyn had everything filled.

Al finally got to unload something and was dumping the truck until the shear pin went on the auger. The farmer got it replaced and Al got back to dumping the truck. Marilyn stopped the full combine and brought the cart over to the bin and after Al dumped it into the truck went back to combining.

We continued on, watching the sky as the clouds rolled in and the weather reports kept giving the temperature in Minot, about 50 miles away, at 94 degrees while we were at 75 with a wicked north wind. It did sprinkle a little, but it never stopped us and once the bin, trucks and cart were full, we quit for the day...not that we wanted to.

While we were waiting, we were standing by the combine and two fawns came walking through the wheat along a sprayer track about twenty feet away from us. The wind was blowing the right way and we just froze as they walked past us...today's wildlife encounter.

We're hoping the rain misses us...

August 30, 2008

View of the day-Another wildlife day...these antelope have been in the field next to us for the past couple of days. They always stick together and never seem to be in a hurry when we drive by or wait for them to cross the road.

Well, we didn't make 120 acres, but considering the day we had, the 100 acres we did do was pretty good. We got started around 11am and were going great guns until Marilyn heard a ticking noise coming from the knife drive on the header. Al took a look at it and we discovered the wobble box that drives the knife was on the brink of quitting.

This one was a new on that we had gotten last year and when we took the old one off back then, we tightened the nut underneath it and figured that had been the only problem, so we just carried the old one with us all summer. Good thing too. Marilyn went to get it from the combine trailer where it had been riding...it only weighs 100lbs or so...and Al took the other one off the header. We were hoping the old one would work, so we put it on and started combining again...it worked like a charm.

We had called ProHarvest and one of the guys was coming up to Stanley, about 30 miles south of us, and before we realized the old one would work he said he would bring a new one up to the dealer. Al called for a price and was quoted $1200...yikes. The parts man called him back later to tell him the price was $1700 and the change was due to the fact that it was a 'peak season' charge! We're going to fix the broken one and keep it on hand...what a rip job.

Surprisingly we only lost an hour and a half so we were on the same schedule as the past couple of days. We finished the field, then had to move to another field about 5 miles away. Marilyn took the combine and Al drove the tractor/cart over and the farmer picked us up to bring us back to get the pickup, shop and General. He was having his own problems...his A/C went out in one of his 2188 combines, a disappearing finger broke on his header and went through the combine taking out on of his chopper blades, then he had an fuel injector go...

It was a cooker of a day...upper 90's and a blast wind...excellent for combining...

August 29, 2008

View of the day-A cow moose and her two youngsters out grazing by the field.

Another great day! We started off with a fabulous breakfast in a different restaurant...one of the best on the run. We got fuel and picked up the brake pot that had been ordered for the combine trailer and went out to the field.

Al took the truck to the bin to unload it and Marilyn fueled and serviced the combine then went straight into combining around noon again. We finished the 40 acres on the first field then moved across the road to the next quarter and continued on combining. Al kept busy hauling grain and had to move the auger since the 4000 bushel bins were filling up quickly.

The day was gorgeous as well, sunny, some wind and warm...perfect for combining...and we did...another 120 acre day. Al claims it feels just like Davidson, Oklahoma...good going on reasonably flat fields...lots of production. Of course, it looks reasonably flat when you're not in the combine cutting out the water runs...oh, well...shut up and drive.

There are combines running all around us..another similarity to Davidson, and the amazing thing is that they are 80% red machines. There are a few yellow ones around, but we haven't seen any green ones...very odd...smart farmers, we guess. Tomorrow will really feel like Davidson with near 100 temperatures and high winds.

Marilyn's goal is to break the 120 acre limit...

August 28, 2008

View of the day-Al unloading at the bins...he filled a 5000 bushel bin...he was busy.

We had a pretty productive day...a shock to the system after the slow going in Gettysburg. Al did a bit of running around after we had breakfast at the restaurant by the campground. He finally broke down and purchased an alternator for the pickup and we hope that cures the charging problems. He also made a trip out to the big truck repair shop to see about getting a new brake pot for the combine trailer, so now that we will have parts, there will be a bit of fixing to do.

After getting the brake pot off of the combine trailer, Marilyn went out and greased the combine and Al brought the cart out to the field. We were cutting by noon and went straight through until 9:30pm taking down 120 acres of wheat. What a change! The wheat was standing nice, no weeds and running around 52 bu/ac...that is what combining is all about.

The clouds were appearing all day and there were a few sprinkles out at the field before we left, but it never amounted to anything. Back at the camper, it came down a bit harder but again, not enough to matter. It's supposed to be cool again tonight...might have to break out the space heater, the jackets are out, for Marilyn anyway.

By the way...on the lost glove issue...yep-two left gloves...

August 27, 2008

View of the day-Al hooks the clips up under the header to get it ready to move out to the field.

Well, we knew we didn't have a long trip today so we got to sleep in a bit. As we were getting the camper ready for transport, we were discussing the fact that it was nice that the slide out was working again...spoke too soon...it wasn't the bedroom slide giving us fits, it was the big slide...it would only move a couple of inches then stop. We discovered a piece of trim had dropped down and was jamming, once we got it back where it belonged we were back in business.

We went back to Sterling and after fueling up we headed for Kenmare. We didn't have any wind to start with and when it did start up it was out of the SW, which was nice...until we headed west. Al had called our harvester neighbor from Gettysburg, who was now in Kenmare, to see if he knew of anyone looking for a harvester and he gave Al a number to call. When Al finally got hold of the farmer, he was indeed looking for someone, so we decided to pull into Kenmare to do a few acres.

We got the camper parked then drove out to the farm to meet with the farmer and get directions to the fields. He told us we might as well unload the equipment out at his farm, so we went to town and brought out the Freight and the shop trailer, then the General and the header. We got everything unloaded, then we took a ride out to look at the fields. We are camped in the Kenmare city park and the fields are only about 10 miles from town...handy.

We got everything but the tractor/cart moved out to the field and combined a patch to park everything...it looks like it will yield close to 50 bu/ac, but tomorrow will tell. The temperature dropped and it was overcast and windy...Marilyn had to get a jacket out...how depressing, it's way too early for that. Too cold to even get the dish aimed...these towns that are built on an angle make it impossible to figure out which direction is south...especially in the dark.

At least we're getting internet in the camper...

August 26, 2008

View of the day-"Marion" does some digging along the highway in North Dakota.

We were up early for our last day in Gettysburg...and South Dakota for that matter. Al went and settled up with the farmer and Marilyn got the camper ready to hook up. By the time Al got back it was a matter of setting the shop trailer in position on the street, hooking the camper to the pickup and hooking the shop behind the camper.

We had a quick snack then hit the road with a strong SE wind pushing us. We made Sterling and just as we got to the truck stop, saw the Gerry and Lynn Prevost crew pulling out to head north. Marilyn called to find out how they had made out and was informed of some construction at Wilton that meant a detour through town...no big deal for Marilyn, but Al's wide load was a different story. We drove to Menoken to park at the campground then went back to Sterling to hook up the header trailer to take it and the combine to Kenmare. The road going north was hilly, but the wind was helping but as we turned west to go to Wilton, it was 24 miles of crosswind from that strong wind that had helped us earlier...no high gear for either of us.

We made it through Wilton with no problems and continued on north. We went through a weather front, passing through rain and of course then the wind changed and came out of the north...the uphill climb didn't help the chug, either. We whizzed through Minot, noticing that the Prevost crew had stopped for supper...or for the night, we weren't sure...and made Kenmare by 6pm.

We headed back to Menoken and met the Prevost crew probably trying to make the border before dark. Marilyn decided to do her last shopping trip in Minot instead of Bismarck, so after the Happy Panda buffet, Al dropped her off at Wal-Mart then went to fuel up and look around town to kill some time. We left Minot around 10:30pm and got back to Menoken around midnight.

While Al went to the shower house, Marilyn got the blog ready then drove over to the rest stop on the interstate to get online. Unfortunately, she forgot to take the laptop with her so she could have gotten it all done and uploaded while they were in the bright lights.

Someone's lights weren't too bright now, were they...

August 25, 2008

View of the day-Getting things polished up at the campground to head north...that's right...WE'RE DONE in South Dakota!!

Al took the second last load into the elevator, then went out to finish combining the little bit that was left out at the field. The farmers wanted another truckload of seed, but they hadn't unloaded what was on it from the other field, so Al filled the General first. They showed up with the truck and Al was able to fill it with seed and then call it a wrap.

He took the last load to the elevator then we went for lunch before starting the big cleanup. We took the shop out to the field to blow the chaff off the combine...we had a good strong SE wind which really helped a lot. Once it was cleaned off we went back to the campground and started washing everything.

Al took the clean General out to move the combine trailer over to where we had loaded the tractor yesterday and got it lined up and unhooked so we could load the combine. He came back to the camper just in time to help finish washing the combine...oh, joy.

After everything was shining, we drove the combine on the trailer and discovered that with the pickup header on, the feeder house didn't want to lift as high...not good. We had a couple of ramps that we were able to put under the tires so it would raise it enough to clear the fenders of the trailer...just clear. There will be some revamping done once we get back to our welderman at home.

Once it was all strapped down, we parked it behind the Cenex and came back to the camper to clean up our mess. Well actually, Marilyn cleaned up the mess while Al had a conference call for his Terrier hockey team board...very convenient.

Marilyn had set her gloves on the spreader of the combine while we were strapping things down and forgot to pick them up and while following Al back to the Cenex, saw one drop off onto the road. While Al was on the phone she went back to pick them up but it was only one...the other is still on the loose. Maybe it will match the one glove that has been in the cab of the combine forever...the lonely one that someone kicked the mate out the door a while back.

Either that or Marilyn will have two left gloves...

August 24, 2008

View of the day-Marilyn picks up a swath near Gettysburg on the last field of the South Dakota Harvest.

We were on the road early with the header and Freight load...it was an uneventful trip to Sterling, ND, about 140 miles. We saw a few combines loaded in the parking lot when we got there...about 10...and had a chat with a few of the harvesters before having a snack and driving back to Gettysburg. Not a lot of fields left out there to combined and surprisingly while some of the sunflowers are just starting to bloom here, the petals are dropping off the ones in ND.

Once we got back, Al took the General out to the field and started combining while Marilyn got to get the camper cleaned up and ready for the trip north...if that ever happens. Once Al got a truckload, Marilyn went out to drive while he went in to the elevator to dump. They were closed today, but gave Al a number to call so someone would weigh and unload the truck...pretty good of them. He was able to get three loads in before we had to quit...we caught up to the swather again.

We should finish tomorrow and then it will be cleaning and loading time...and bill paying time.

We should get the monthly rate for camping...

August 23, 2008

View of the day-Last week it was full, now we are the last ones in the campground.

Al was up early to dump the truck and find out when the elevator would be open over the next two days for us. We moved the tractor, cart and header over to the camper so Marilyn could take the pressure washer to them.

We started the Freightliner for the first time since we parked it when we got here FOUR WEEKS AGO...that's darn near a month!! We had a quick lunch then Al went out to finish combining the field while Marilyn got to clean the tractor, cart and header. After parking the cleaned header behind the Cenex, she went out to pick Al up so he could get the General moved over to the last field.

Al made a couple of rounds, just enough to fill the truck...that's all he could do since he had caught up to the swather and that was it for combining for the day. Marilyn went back to the camper and decided since she had the pressure washer out, she might as well wash the camper...and the pickup...everything shines.

Al took the tractor/cart back out to where we had the trailers parked and we moved the trailer off the grass and across the street to load the tractor on some hard ground so the cylinder wouldn't sink out of site. We got the tractor/cart loaded, strapped down and parked, beside the header ready for the move up to Sterling tomorrow.

Al's says we're leaving at the crack of dawn...

August 22, 2008

View of the day-Fighting gale force winds...well, maybe not gale, but 45mph. We spent most the time dumping trying to get lined up to break the wind so it wouldn't blow all the grain away.

Marilyn woke up early to the sound of strong winds and the thought of the clothes that were hanging on the line from her 2am laundry junket. Two towels had tried to make a break for it, but they got rounded up and ended up in the basket with the rest of the laundry. It was surprising that with all the wind during the night, the clothes were still damp.

Al got up early to try and pawn off...er...dump the two loads of rye that he feared were wet, but he worried for nothing...the first was 13.7% and the second was 14%. They took it without batting an eye.

We went out to the field to move over to the wheat and test it...13.7% so we started right in. Al combined the first load, then Marilyn took over. Our harvester neighbor from the campground...the only other harvester left in town...came out to the field and rode around in the combine a bit. After the elevator closed, Al filled the truck while Marilyn went back to the camper to build supper.

The temperature has dropped and the wind has finally died down, so it will be a quiet night...no A/C...

Maybe we can sleep with the windows open...

August 21, 2008

View of the day-Al finally gets to dump the last of the rye into the cart. Picture is courtesy of his camera phone...the good one was back at the camper, so excuse the quality.

WOO HOO!! Finished the rye!!! Actually, Al said it should be lower case woo hoo since the last two loads are still in the cart and truck because the elevator was closed.

Another day of hard blowing winds but the temperature never hit 90 so it was still a slow drying day. It didn't start out too good when Al went out and the battery was dead in the pickup. We had cables but nothing to boost it with until we remembered the battery in for the camper, so we hooked that and the jumpstarter and there was enough to get it running.

The farmer continued swathing the wheat and Al went out at noon to do a test, only to come back depressed because it was the same as yesterday...14.3%. Marilyn went out to do another test at 3:30pm and it was 13.7%...good enough to go...and we did.

Al combined the first load while Marilyn went back to the camper to change out the motor on the bedroom slide. The motor had been giving us trouble for over three years...it will push the slide out but Al always had to help push it back in by hand since there was a stripped gear in the works. A new one from the manufacturer was $905...that was insane! Marilyn found one on ebay for $350...bad enough but bigger than the original and Al wouldn't have to push that slide in anymore.

Once Al had the truck loaded, Marilyn went back out an took over while he went to the elevator to dump. It was a toss-up whether we should quit with just a few rounds left because the temp was going down and the moisture climbing up, but we decided to drop the hammer and get it done and over with.

We would deal with the elevator tomorrow...

August 21, 2008

View of the day-Al takes a picture while driving the cart and Marilyn dumps on the go...somebody doesn't clean his windows...

We got out to the field around lunch time and were able to start right in on the wheat. There was only 45 acres, so it didn't take too long to get that lapped up. The wind was unbelievable...it was just like Oklahoma, dust swirling and a haze in the sky...great drying weather...or so we thought.

We moved over to the rye field...the dreaded rye field...and did a test...14.3% moisture. Bad news...the elevator refused to take anything over 14%. The farmer had just finished swathing it, so it was very likely that by the time we had finished the 60 acres it would have been even higher moisture. We called it an early day, again, so the farmer could get a little further ahead with the swathing.

We parked everything and went for an early supper, then went back to the camper for another super-do-nothing evening of Olympics and internet.

Al is back to looking for the rope...

August 20, 2008

View of the day-Marilyn does do windows...and fuels...and greases...

The dust was flying before noon for a change...four minutes before noon...but before just the same. There was only 40 acres left on the last piece, so we were done in no time at all...relatively speaking.

It was interesting how all the volunteer corn stalks in the swaths was wreaking havoc with the unloading from the combine and the cart. The sugars in the stems were making it unload like it was 20% moisture...bridging and sticking in the hopper...we had to drive half the field to unload on the go, just to get empty.

Marilyn drove the combine back to town while Al unloaded the last truckload from the field, then met Marilyn at the next field. The farmer had just finished swathing it earlier in the afternoon, before heading over to the dreaded rye field which was right next to it. The farmer took us back to pick up the tractor/cart and pickup from down south and when we got back to the field, decided to call it a day and let the swatherman get ahead of us a bit...we would have just been waiting again for it to dry down.

Al claims that bad things come in threes, so he counted the roller on the pickup head as one...Marilyn called a broken link on a safety chain on the header as the third bad thing-just so it would be over with. The second bad thing follows...

Marilyn had stopped for fuel last night and as she was putting on her seat belt, heard a bang as she was driving away from the pumps. After checking things out, it looked like the hose had gotten caught on one of the duel tires in the back...nothing seemed to have gotten wrecked, so she drove home and thought no more of it. This morning, after filling the water jugs at the grocery store, the clerk was rolling them out on the cart and noticed the fender on the passenger side and said it looked like there was an "owwie"...yeah...apparently the bang was the running board sliding against the fuel pump guard...it cracked the "hip" fender along the bottom. Al was right all along...

Seat belts cause accidents...

August 18, 2008

View of the day-Al gets to pick up wheat swaths by the sunflower field.

Al got up extra early and took the combine over to the welding shop to get fixed. They burned the bearings off...even had the right size new ones to put back on...and took the front roller off, straightened it on the press then put everything back together.

We moved it back out to the field and started to get the rest of it put back together. What a time to have 90 degree heat and no wind...a cooker to work in, but we managed to get all the pieces back where they belonged, relaced the pickup belts and got combining around 2pm.

We finished the next piece then moved onto the last 80 acres on the south field. Marilyn made a few rounds until Al came back from the elevator, then went into town while Al filled everything up for the night since the elevator had closed at 7pm.

Back at the camper, Marilyn was able to catch up by phone with a couple of theatre friends from home to find out how the first Shakespeare in the Park went...depressing that she missed it. Her sister and family were online chatting from their hotel in Rapid City, SD where they are taking their last holiday before school/harvest...too bad they are going back west through Wyoming and won't be stopping to visit us.

The swather had just finished on the last field as we were finishing the first piece, so we are catching up to him. Al said if we hadn't had the breakdown to hold us up, we would have had to wait anyway.

He would have rather waited it out in the cool camper...

August 17, 2008-Happy Birthday Al!

View of the day-Six belts missing...Marilyn gave Al the same birthday gift he got 10 years ago...a bent roller, thanks to a big rock hiding in the swath.

We got the combine fueled and moved south to the field just after lunch. What a change, the moisture was 12.2%...we dropped the hammer.

The first field was split corner to corner by a deep water run that was pretty soft, so the farmer cut it in two pieces. Al had taken the first truckload into town and Marilyn had three rounds left to pick up when she managed to hit a big rock that was under the swath. Normally she could see where the swather had lifted up to go over any rocks...and there were lots of them...this time it was just low enough for the swather to go over...but not the pickup.

The same thing happened to Marilyn in North Dakota exactly 10 years ago...only the bend was a lot nastier. When Al got back to the field we started to dismantle everything to get the roller out so we could take it in to the machine shop across from the camper. After working on it for a couple of hours, we ended up roading the combine back into town...the bearings were seized and without getting them off, there was no way to remove the roller.

Al drove the combine back into town and parked it, hoping that the machine shop will be able to get us in first thing in the morning...sometimes they don't seem to be in too much of a rush to get things done.

We would have just caught up to the swather anyway...

August 16, 2008

View of the day-Al checks on the swathing progress.

No combining again, but we were productive. The pickup head got a new belt, lubed and ready for action...everything working as it should be...just need the wheat to be ready.

Once we had the straight head loaded on the trailer...we won't need it anymore at this stop...Al roaded the tractor and cart to the field 10 miles south of town while Marilyn moved the shop and header trailers over to the parking spot in town, then met Al out at the field. We came back to town, then Al took the General out to the field and caught a ride back in with the farmer, who had finished swathing for the day.

We had the rest of the day off and back at the camper Al watched the Canadians finally get some medals at the Olympics while Marilyn took a walk around town. It was a beautiful evening, no wind, no bugs and just the right temperature...and it is supposed to stay that way for a week.

The rust comes off the pickup head tomorrow...

August 15, 2008

View of the day-The sunflowers are starting to bloom...way behind the normal schedule.

We went out twice to test and move things over to the other end of the field. The first test was 17.3%...15.3% once the weeds were cleaned out of the sample. We went out four hours later and the test was down to 16.3 with the weeds, but the elevator refused to take anything over 15.

Al went out to chat with the farmer and they decided they would have to swath everything because of the weeds, which means we will have to wait for more drying...Al is looking for the rope again.

Good thing the Olympics are on to watch...

August 14, 2008

View of the day-Combining across from the elevator Al is hauling to...doesn't take long to get back.

A lot of moisture in the air...not from rain, thank goodness...so it was a late start again.

Al pulled the first shift combining while Marilyn made a trip to Highmore to get a new belt for the pickup head we had brought back from Carlyle. The farmer had tried to get some swathing done, but was having problems keeping out of the mud, so they were going to move to the field south of town. That will be a shock to the system...having to drive 10 miles to a field.

There was lots of bad weather in the area...a tornado touched down SE of Highmore, but that was well after Marilyn was out of the area. The clouds were building all around us, but it seemed like we were under a dome because we didn't get any rain at all. It was pretty cool out, so the grain never did get very dry and it didn't take long before the elevator "suggested" we call it a day around 5pm due to the high moisture.

With time on our hands we went out for supper then Al went out to check in with the farmer and Marilyn walked home to start rewiring the camper. There was quite a rat's nest of wires behind the TV running to printers, hard drives, receivers, etc., so it was labeling time...and time to install another wireless USB hub, so the laptop could access everything when the desktop computer is off.

The first farmer we cut for came over to get settled up and we had a good visit, then Al went back to his Olympic coverage and Marilyn went back to "networking".

Everything is working as it should...

August 13, 2008

View of the day-Making the last pass by the bins in Gettysburg.

We didn't get an early start, the first test was at noon and it was 16.3% moisture so we went back to the camper to kill some time before trying it again.

We tried it again around 2pm and it had come down over a point to 15.2%, so the elevator figured by the time we had a load cut it would have dried down even more...so we cranked it up. It took a few loads to get dry and by then we had finished the first piece of the field that we were on...and hardly had to worry about any mud.

Marilyn cut a pass through the big part of the field, dodging the sprayer tracks that had standing water in them and made it back in time for a driver switch. Marilyn had to get back to the camper for a Theatre Saskatchewan conference call meeting...surprisingly it was only an hour long and by the time it was over Al had a load on the truck.

The elevator waited for Al's last load while Marilyn picked up fuel for the combine...apparently the price drop hasn't reached Gettysburg yet, it's still 45 cents a gallon more that just up the road in Selby. It is also a pain that the pumps cut out at $250.00...what's that...six gallons?

Back at the camper it was pizza and laundry and since the dryer doesn't dry, the clothes are on the line for the night.

Let's hope the rain stays away tonight...

August 12, 2008

View of the day-Canola swaths in central North Dakota...mighty fluffy looking.

We were up early and off to the U.S. border to make our way back to Gettysburg. It took us five minutes to clear the crossing...a familiar face behind the desk made things go a lot smoother...thank goodness.

We stopped in Kenmare for a snack, then drove to Tuttle where we parked the header so we could take a side trip to Pingree for a visit. We stopped at Robinson on the way to check in with one of our farmers there and that's where we saw the canola. The trip to Pingree was an extra 150 miles, but we knew we wouldn't have a lot to do in Gettysburg and we hadn't been out that way since we came back in early May. The crops looked pretty good considering they weren't getting the rain that we were here in the Burg.

After we had a visit then picked up of some more toys that had been sent to Mike's, we stopped at the 281 Stop for supper before coming back to Gettysburg.

On the way back, Marilyn got a call on her cell from the theatre group back at Yorkton who were using our tent for their "Shakespeare in the Park" performances this Saturday. Unfortunately we were going through the "hills of no signal" so it took quite a while to get the instructions translated over several dropped calls...since they hadn't picked up the "cheat sheet" with the construction info when they picked up the tent. We had only set it up once so the memory was a bit fuzzy...but they figured it out. Let's hope they don't get any wind that day.

We made it back to Gettysburg just before midnight and checked the messages that were on the phone, and it seems our farmer might not swath after all...just spray chemical on the weeds to kill them...which means we don't need the pickup head after all.

Maybe...

August 11, 2008

View of the day-Al and Kim work on getting the pickup head strapped down to the trailer at Carlyle, SK.

Marilyn was the first one up this morning, earlier than anticipated, because she had to set the time on the clock in the hotel room and it was an hour out...oh well, there was shopping to do.

A trip to the mall, next door to the hotel to the Target to pick up a few things for the folks at home that they couldn't get there...at least not at such a bargain price. And speaking of bargains...or lack of...what the heck has happened to the price of coffee...it's worse than fuel! Just a little vent...

The rain started during the night, lots of lightning and thunder to go with it...and it was still drizzling for most of the morning. After Al got ready to roll, we went down for the "continental breakfast" and were looking for someplace to sit when who should be sitting in the corner, but Al's uncle and aunt from back home in Grayson! What a nice surprise, we got to have a good chat with them until the free breakfast police kicked us out of the room.

We left Minot and the rain started to let up and by the time we made Kenmare to get fuel, it had pretty much stopped. We got to the border and had an uneventful entry...even with the back seat of the pickup stacked full with Al's farm toys. Once we got to Carlyle, we got the pickup header loaded on the trailer, then left to meet Al's step dad, Ray, in Whitewood.

Ray picks up our mail while we are gone so he had a pretty good size bag of bills we really didn't want to see. We had supper with him and had a visit with a friend who is part owner of the White/Agco dealership in Whitewood, then it was back to Carlyle for the night.

Tomorrow it's back to Gettysburg, via Pingree...

August 10, 2008

View of the day-Al dumping at the elevator in Gettysburg, those four bins hold 432,000 bushels.

We knew it would be a "super-do-nothing" day, so Al got to sleep in for a change....after being roused at 6:15am by a phone call from the farmer. Apparently he doesn't know the 8am rule that Al has...

We went out for lunch, fighting the church crowd, then we drove south of town to see what condition one of the fields we had to do was in. The farmer had told Al that the rain was fairly spotty, there was even combining going on at the five mile corner west of town and a farmer south told him they had only gotten .30 inches. Out at the field we discovered a lot of green growth peeking over the wheat so Al went out to visit with the farmers, and they were tossing around the idea of swathing the crops.

It seemed like Al was able to convince them it would be a good idea, so that meant we would be making a road trip up to Carlyle, SK to get our pickup head. We spent some time trying to decide if we should go early in the morning or leave today...it was already getting late in the day...so we hooked up the header trailer, packed a bag and hit the road, around 7:30pm.

We aimed for Minot, stopping in Sterling, ND to grab a coffee for the road. There, we had a chat with Gerry, the harvester from home that had been in Hoven for a while...they hadn't had as much rain, but it was enough to slow them up too, so Lynn had a chance to go back home for her grandson's first birthday.

We watched the lightning all the way to Minot and passed through a couple of rain showers. There are severe weather warnings to the north, but it looks like Gettysburg missed all the showers today.

Tomorrow we get back into Canada...

August 9, 2008

View of the day-We got some rain today...2.75"at the combine...in about a hour.

Well the day started off good.

Al got up early and fueled and serviced the combine so Marilyn could catch a few more ZZZ's. We tried it at noon it was 15.3, so we had lunch, then started at 1:30. We continued on the first field, the farmer wanted to bin the rest of it for seed, so Al go to finish combining while Marilyn did some work on the computer back at the camper.

The clouds started building most of the afternoon and when we moved to the next field it was dark blue in the west and north. Marilyn helped get everything moved and Al got started combining. He had just dumped his first hopper when the odd rain drop showed up on the cab window, so he unloaded it, took the truck to the elevator and just after he got it unloaded, the rains came...and boy did they come!

When it was all over there was 2.75 inches in the rain gauge in the combine and some of the streets in town turned into rivers. When we went out to check the combine and open the trap doors on the hopper to let the water out...it was a waterfall and there was standing water all through out the field. Marilyn finally got fed up with loosing her shoes, and just took them off, sinking about a foot into the mud. The farmer only managed to get one of their two trucks out of the field, the other was stuck and would probably have to sit their for a day or two. It looks like we may have some time on our hands waiting for things to dry out.

But all in all it was a not too bad day...

August 8, 2008

View of the day-Marilyn dumps a load of seed wheat into the farmers truck.

The day started out the same as the others, although we went out to cut a sample at noon...a couple hours earlier than usual...just so we could see where we were at...16.3% moisture.

We had lunch, came back to the camper then went back to do another test around 3:30. We had a good SW wind and it was in the 80's, so we thought for sure it would have dried a bit more...and it did...down to 14.6%...that was it for Al. We moved the combine over to the spring wheat to see if there was any chance at all that it could possible be close enough to go...13.8%...holy crap...we finally could combine something!

The first load was a point higher, but with the spring wheat, the elevator had gotten a lot of dry stuff in so they could blend off the wet stuff with the dry. With the rye...we were the only ones cutting it so it had to be dry...it can sit and wait until we're done with the wheat.

Al got to haul a few loads to the elevator..two blocks from the field...before we called it a night and headed down to the Legion for their $1 hamburger night. The first farmer we had cut for here, met us for supper and we got caught up with how his harvest was going...he's done.

And we've finally put a dent in our getting done...

August 7, 2008

View of the day-Al puts the final touches on the oil change on the General.

Oh, the day held such promise...sun shining, some wind blowing...out of the east as it always does, it seems...no rain in site and no fog during the night as was forecast.

We waited until 2pm before going out and doing a test...16%...back to the camper. Al dropped Marilyn at the Do It Center just out of town on his way to take the test to the elevator. He was going to pick her up on the way back, but got held up buying an oil filter, so Marilyn walked the half mile back into town...good thing the purchases were light and a little exercise never hurt.

We killed time back at the camper, then Al went out change oil on the General and after Marilyn showed up, we did another test...14.8%...back to the camper. Then we decided we might as well go to the Medicine Rock Cafe for supper...old people's supper at 4:30pm.

While we were there, one of the long time harvesters that had retired this year was passing through and saw our pickup and decided to stop in for an ice tea and a visit. This was the first summer in 28 years that he had not gone on the run...he claims he sure didn't miss the headaches, but did miss some of the people he had gotten to know over the years. He said the border hadn't gotten any easier to cross...while he was trying to jockey the leftover equipment he had left at various stops on his former run...they weren't any easier on him.

We thought we would go out an try it one more time around 6pm...14.8...it hadn't changed a bit. We can't figure out what the problem is with this stuff, we only have 60 acres left to do, but it just won't cooperate. It's a good thing the spring wheat isn't ready or Al would really be looking for a rope to throw over the auger...

Marilyn has two reasons for depression...she forgot about the bingo in town last night and our job at Bismarck...the farmer has his neighbor combining it because it is ready to go. We figured it wasn't going to be in the books this year...unless we could have gotten the rye done and made a quick move up to do the wheat then come back for the spring wheat here in Gettysburg.

No bright lights for Marilyn...

August 6, 2008

View of the day-Al dumps a load of rye from the cart to the General.

All the rain missed us last night...everything went south, but we still had the humidity to deal with in the morning, but yes indeed, we finally got to combine today!

We decided to wait until 2pm to do a test, just to give the rye some time to dry out, and it worked...the rye was 14%...borderline, but "the man" said we could cut a load and see where we were at.

The load was dry, so we kept going and finally finished the field that we had started on Friday...80 acres...not great productivity. We got moved across the road to the next field and made a couple of rounds, but the combination of the bindweed and humidity as the sun was going down meant an early night. Even though the grain was plenty dry, the weeds were bringing the moisture up to the danger zone and the elevator said to shut it down for the night. The forecast is for fog tonight, so it will be another late start tomorrow.

Maybe we can finish the rye...

August 5, 2008

View of the day-We got nothing to do but look at the sky...through the ladder on the side of one of the bins.

A beautiful day...with nothing to do. Well, almost nothing.

Ray from ProHarvest showed up to change a valve on the combine and it seemed to correct the problem of the header creeping down. The guy back at the dealership said that the amount of creep we had was within factory specs...that's fine in the field, but the fenders on the combine trailer tell a different story. Ray pulled rank and fixed it the right way...what a great guy, too bad his partner doesn't have the same drive.

We put in a couple of small parts that needed to be replaced and did a test...16.1% moisture...more sitting. Al did a test later on and it had only dropped to 15.6%, so that was it for the day.

There was lightning to the SW but so far it has managed to stay to the south, although there is a chance later on in the night for some showers. Our farmers are debating whether they should swath the grain to bring it along, and if they do, we will have to make a fast trip to Carlyle to get the pickup head.

Hurry up and wait...

August 4, 2008

View of the day-The rye is still waiting...

We heard the rain start to fall around 6:30am, and this time it didn't just sprinkle...it continued on until almost noon. Al was up and moving around when there was a knock at the door, it was Lynn and her husband Gerry stopping in for a visit on their way to Pierre.

After we had coffee and Lynn was able to get caught up online by hooking up to our wireless...now that's a change...they and their crew were off to Pierre. We had lunch then headed down there ourselves after checking the new rain gauge on the combine...at that point we had .60.

After making the rounds to the usual stores, Al was able to catch up on his sleep in the parking lot while Marilyn took care of the inside job. Every other harvester in the area seemed to have the same idea, as the parking lots were full of service trucks and the crews were roaming the aisles.

We had supper at the china buffet and headed back to Gettysburg with the backseat full of...stuff. Once we got back to the camper, we got everything put away and then took the rest of the day off.

No rain in forecast for the week...

August 3, 2008

View of the day-A semi moves a part of a turbine down the highway.

We were up bright and early again...not by choice. We had decided to pass on the harvesters breakfast...sleep seemed to be more important....until Lynn called to let us know she had come into town and was waiting for us.

We changed our minds and made a dash for the waffles and eggs. There wasn't a lot of harvesters when we first got there, but they filed in in bunches while we were enjoying the meal. No count on how many were served...that will come later in the week when the paper comes out. After we finished, Lynn came back to the camper so we could get some catching up done on the Canadian Harvesters Association, then she headed back to Hoven to get her crew moving.

Ray from ProHarvest made a visit to the combine to see if he could discover why the header was still insisting on creeping down...of course, while he was there it didn't do it...he told us to call him again if it continued. Al waited a while then went out to do a test...still to wet, as we knew it would be...and the header crept down.

The morning rain went to the north and south again, but that dang humidity wouldn't let up even with the sun shining. Marilyn decided to get some laundry done at the campground...one washer, and a dryer-that doesn't. They have clotheslines right behind the camper, but it seems the other harvesters did their laundry during the night...and didn't bother to take the dry clothes off the lines before they went to work. Oh well, we had nothing but time.

At least while we wait, the wheat gets closer...

August 2, 2008

View of the day-The team waits for the humidity to drop in a field of rye outside of Gettysburg, SD.

Well it was Crazy Days in Gettysburg and no one was crazier than Marilyn who was over in the other campground at 6:55...AM!...to pick up Lynn so they could have .25 coffee and catch up on the doings of the summer. That, and do some shopping.

It was really humid and cool...more than one item was blown off the tables that were set out for the sidewalk sales. There had been rain to the south, but it was moving straight east so we got lucky, although it remained cloudy and there wasn't much drying down of the crop.

Lynn had to get their camper moved up to Hoven, 25 miles NE of Gettysburg, so we only shopped until 9am and then she was on her way...with several bags of treasures. Marilyn went back to the camper to get Al, who got to sleep in, then it was time for breakfast and some decision making about the day.

We waited patiently for the humidity to go down...it never did. We went out and did a test...15.2% moisture...not much of a chance there, so we went back to the camper. Marilyn went back to do some more shopping...she only had one bag from the mornings excursion...and picked up a neat portable ice maker that just fits perfectly in the camper...makes 12 ice cubes in 6 minutes. The zippy marts can stick their $3 bags of ice...well, you know where...in the freezer. This baby will make 35 pounds of ice a day!

We went out around 4pm and did another test...this one more promising, so they said we could cut a load and see how it went. Al took the load in while Marilyn carried on combining until Al called on the radio and told her it tested 14.6% and perhaps she should quit. After he returned to the field with the empty truck we went back to the camper and called it a night...for harvesting at least.

Marilyn decided to take in the local dance recital at the town auditorium. This recital is for the summer dance classes that the 4-13 year olds take for six weeks. It was a change of pace and because Marilyn is a tapper herself...some of it was painful to watch...good thing they were cute and the costumes were fabulous. Actually it was pretty good for only six weeks of lessons.

On the walk home, Marilyn noticed the haze starting to fill the air and once again the humidity is at 91% so it will be a late start tomorrow. But we still have to get up early...

It's the harvester's appreciation breakfast...

August 1, 2008

View of the day-Al's view from the cart mirror.

We were rolling by noon and once again Marilyn hardly got a chance to stop to "powder her nose"...Al kept the combines empty with the cart. We finished the last field around 5:30 and by 6pm we were on the road to the rye field.

The rye field was on the outskirts of town...and right on the main highway so once again the traffic was heavy. Lots of motorcycles heading out to Sturgis for the big rally. Another crew from Saskatchewan pulled into town while we were cutting...the exec-secretary of the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters. Marilyn had been trying to meet with Lynn all summer but we were always too busy or just too far away, now they will be moving north again tomorrow...only 25 miles so we will be able to meet after all.

Tomorrow is the annual Crazy Day in Gettysburg...sales everywhere, which Marilyn always takes advantage of. The best bargains are early in the morning from 7-9am, so Marilyn will be picking up Lynn at 7am...that's right AM...for coffee and some shopping before they head up the road.

It has to be an early night...