And that is why there is no update...
Friday, June 12, 2009
June 11, 2009
View of the day-Everything is scattered in the front yard in a rush to get loaded and leave.
And that is why there is no update...
And that is why there is no update...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June 9, 2009
View of the day-Pit stop along the Niobrara River in northern Nebraska. We woke up to another day of rain and after grabbing a breakfast snack at McDonald's, started on the rest of the road home.
We had driven about 60 miles and were passing through Taylor, NE when we spied a large harvest crew parked on the side of the road. We slowed up to inspect and were surprised to see another Canadian harvester that we knew so we stopped for a visit to see how their border crossing had gone. They were having a bit of trouble with one of their big trucks so after chatting for a little bit, we left them to their business and continued on.
The traffic was a bit slower on the return trip and the wind was pushing us which helped us to make good time. We stopped in Bassett to fuel up and met up with another Canadian harvester, so we had another gab before parting ways.
The rest of the drive through South Dakota and North Dakota was rather uneventful...rain pretty much all the way. We figured we should make the border just about closing time, although we weren't sure what that was so we tried to call to find out...no one ever answered on the Canadian side. We knew we would be cutting it thin so Al dropped the hammer and was making good time until the sheriff pulled out in front of us. Wouldn't you know he stayed there until just past Kenmare which made our margin even thinner.
We hit the 8 mile corner with about 10 minutes to spare and after weighing the options...do we just go the extra miles to Portal or do we try to make Northgate. We chose the latter and after speeding to get there...we get to see them locking the gates 4 minutes early, so over to Portal we go adding on another 48 miles. Fortunately it was a two minute stop at the entry post there and we were on our way back home.
We stopped in Whitewood at the 24hr truck stop to actually have a meal without a steering wheel in the picture and then made the dash for home. When we left we took a swing through the parking lot to check out the other Canadian harvester that had parked in the lot for the night before making their journey to Oklahoma...they were long asleep, so we didn't knock.
It was a 940 mile/1512K day and we were home by 1:30am. In hindsight if we wouldn't have taken the time for the short visits, we would have gotten to the border in time and saved the extra drive.
And, if the bear hadn't stopped for a s***, he would have caught the rabbit...
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8, 2009
View of the day-The Kansas wheat is still a ways off, but looks good. This was across the road from where we parked the rigs south east of Timken, KS. 
We left the motel at Ainsworth first thing in the morning...well, first thing for us...and went back to Bassett to get the truck ready to go. It was a great day for driving, the sun fought the clouds off by the middle of the afternoon and the wind was behind us making for good mileage.
We stopped for lunch in Elm Creek, NE then continued on fighting traffic a lot of the way...a strange event considering there aren't a lot of towns along the road we travel. Of course, we didn't take into account the various fairs and festivals that were being held at this time of year...we're usually long gone by now.
We got to the bin site at Timken, KS around 6pm and after parking the equipment and having a visit with our farmer, we pointed the Dodge north and started on our way home. It was 1100 miles this far and now we get to drive it again on the way home and then turn around and do it again.
We left the motel at Ainsworth first thing in the morning...well, first thing for us...and went back to Bassett to get the truck ready to go. It was a great day for driving, the sun fought the clouds off by the middle of the afternoon and the wind was behind us making for good mileage.
We stopped for lunch in Elm Creek, NE then continued on fighting traffic a lot of the way...a strange event considering there aren't a lot of towns along the road we travel. Of course, we didn't take into account the various fairs and festivals that were being held at this time of year...we're usually long gone by now.
We got to the bin site at Timken, KS around 6pm and after parking the equipment and having a visit with our farmer, we pointed the Dodge north and started on our way home. It was 1100 miles this far and now we get to drive it again on the way home and then turn around and do it again.
We made Holdredge, NE in the southern part of the state and decided to spend the night so we could start tomorrow's marathon drive fresh.
And, we are supposed to hit the rain again...
And, we are supposed to hit the rain again...
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June 7, 2009
View of the day-Something big must have hit this turbine near Wilton, ND to bend the blade over like that.
There was a Saskatchewan harvest crew parked at Behm's last night when we arrived and by the time we had gotten back there to start things up this morning, they had already moved out...apparently some people did set their watches ahead for the time change. While we were waiting for the truck to air up another harvest crew from Saskatchewan pulled in and we had a good visit before they went in for breakfast and we left for the south country.
We drove through rain all day today and it never did get above 48ยบ. The only place we ran into really nasty weather was just south of Ft. Thompson in South Dakota. It was raining so hard for a while that we just about had to pull over...the wipers could hardly keep it off the windshield. The heavy downpour didn't last very long and we continued on, passing and getting passed by the other two crews from home.
The crops look really good all the way down so far...maybe it was the rain making everything look so green or maybe it is because we are moving through these places at least 3 weeks later that we usually do.
Marilyn is certainly impressed with the new pickup and can't wait to test it out pulling the camper on the next trip down. A nice change having the automatic transmission and the engine brake...but the pulling power is amazing...might just pull the shop trailer behind the camper all season.
A long day of driving...almost 500 miles...made it through two states and pulled into Bassett, Nebraska just as the sun was going down. Once we got the truck parked and the header unhooked we drove 15 miles west to Ainsley to get a room for the night...and have our first (of many) Pizza Hut feeds. Why does it taste so much better down here?
Another day of rain tomorrow, but at least we have a north wind to push us...
There was a Saskatchewan harvest crew parked at Behm's last night when we arrived and by the time we had gotten back there to start things up this morning, they had already moved out...apparently some people did set their watches ahead for the time change. While we were waiting for the truck to air up another harvest crew from Saskatchewan pulled in and we had a good visit before they went in for breakfast and we left for the south country.
We drove through rain all day today and it never did get above 48ยบ. The only place we ran into really nasty weather was just south of Ft. Thompson in South Dakota. It was raining so hard for a while that we just about had to pull over...the wipers could hardly keep it off the windshield. The heavy downpour didn't last very long and we continued on, passing and getting passed by the other two crews from home.
The crops look really good all the way down so far...maybe it was the rain making everything look so green or maybe it is because we are moving through these places at least 3 weeks later that we usually do.
Marilyn is certainly impressed with the new pickup and can't wait to test it out pulling the camper on the next trip down. A nice change having the automatic transmission and the engine brake...but the pulling power is amazing...might just pull the shop trailer behind the camper all season.
A long day of driving...almost 500 miles...made it through two states and pulled into Bassett, Nebraska just as the sun was going down. Once we got the truck parked and the header unhooked we drove 15 miles west to Ainsley to get a room for the night...and have our first (of many) Pizza Hut feeds. Why does it taste so much better down here?
Another day of rain tomorrow, but at least we have a north wind to push us...
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6, 2009
View of the day-Finally we get to leave...the border in sight. Nasty weather, on the brink of snow...yes, SNOW...in June of all things.
Well, we finally are able to officially start the season after a long couple of months of waiting and wondering if we would ever get the chance. We had everything ready to go for the middle of May, but we(and several other harvesters) had quite a time getting final approval for our work visas...a change in filing offices has created a lot of grief...compounded by the fact that there isn't a live person to talk to when you are trying to find out what the problem is.
It was a month of deciding if we were going to be able to leave, or leave later, or not at all...several options were weighed, but thanks to Al's perseverance, we finally got word from the border that the approval had been faxed in to them and we were okay to go. Of course, because we had no idea what was going on while we were in limbo, we never moved the camper, or did a lot of final prep, just in case it was a waste of time...which means panic time to get going...it is a good thing we didn't have to make our first stop in Davidson, OK...
We were still both working, so after finding out on Friday that we had the okay to go, we threw some things together to take the first load down...the load that was sitting waiting patiently at Carlyle for us. We got to Carlyle and the first thing we had to do was hook up the trailer to the Freight again...then get the brake lights working.
While Marilyn and her sister, Marg got the lights figured out, Al and Kim worked on getting the straight header out from the barn where it had been stored...behind several other pieces of equipment. Once it was moved out, we discovered there was a serious wiring problem on the header trailer...the lights stayed on even when the truck was turned off. Once the wiring experts had a look at it, a few changes and the lights were working better that before...now we could roll.
We got a few miles south of town and hit the rain, which we would stay in the whole way to Minot. We got to the border around 5pm and had the shortest stop we ever had getting the machinery and visas done...we were through in 15 minutes...amazing after the weeks of waiting. Really a pleasant surprise...we even had "Mr. Happy" checking out our serial numbers and he was 180 degrees different from last year.
We made Minot, parked the header and truck, then booked into the Comfort Inn for the night. Tomorrow we will put a lot of miles behind us as we drop the hammer and head for Kansas to park things so we can race back home to get the camper and combine loaded to make the trip again. We said we would never move down that way again, one after the other.
Shut up and drive...
Well, we finally are able to officially start the season after a long couple of months of waiting and wondering if we would ever get the chance. We had everything ready to go for the middle of May, but we(and several other harvesters) had quite a time getting final approval for our work visas...a change in filing offices has created a lot of grief...compounded by the fact that there isn't a live person to talk to when you are trying to find out what the problem is.It was a month of deciding if we were going to be able to leave, or leave later, or not at all...several options were weighed, but thanks to Al's perseverance, we finally got word from the border that the approval had been faxed in to them and we were okay to go. Of course, because we had no idea what was going on while we were in limbo, we never moved the camper, or did a lot of final prep, just in case it was a waste of time...which means panic time to get going...it is a good thing we didn't have to make our first stop in Davidson, OK...
We were still both working, so after finding out on Friday that we had the okay to go, we threw some things together to take the first load down...the load that was sitting waiting patiently at Carlyle for us. We got to Carlyle and the first thing we had to do was hook up the trailer to the Freight again...then get the brake lights working.
While Marilyn and her sister, Marg got the lights figured out, Al and Kim worked on getting the straight header out from the barn where it had been stored...behind several other pieces of equipment. Once it was moved out, we discovered there was a serious wiring problem on the header trailer...the lights stayed on even when the truck was turned off. Once the wiring experts had a look at it, a few changes and the lights were working better that before...now we could roll.
We got a few miles south of town and hit the rain, which we would stay in the whole way to Minot. We got to the border around 5pm and had the shortest stop we ever had getting the machinery and visas done...we were through in 15 minutes...amazing after the weeks of waiting. Really a pleasant surprise...we even had "Mr. Happy" checking out our serial numbers and he was 180 degrees different from last year.
We made Minot, parked the header and truck, then booked into the Comfort Inn for the night. Tomorrow we will put a lot of miles behind us as we drop the hammer and head for Kansas to park things so we can race back home to get the camper and combine loaded to make the trip again. We said we would never move down that way again, one after the other.
Shut up and drive...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
May 17, 2009
You're probably thinking...it's about time!
We haven't started anything yet, so it didn't seem like there was anything important to report...then the snow hit! Well actually we have been doing a lot of stuff in the background, just waiting for our paperwork to come back so we can get serious about making the move.
Unfortunately we won't be going to Davidson, OK this year, due to the absence of any wheat to cut...hopefully it will be better further north, we are going through withdrawal already...especially when flipping through last year's blog entries.
The snow didn't help matters much...not a lot of seeding getting done in the area this week, but it certainly didn't stop anyone from trying to get to town to shop. Broken limbs, vehicles in the ditches, no travel recommended...didn't make a bit of difference. This was also the long weekend for us in Canada...the weekend that kicks off the outdoor camping season...poor suckers. It is supposed to get up to 70 degrees today, so that should help get rid of the remains of the snow...the longer days help too.
More to come...
Friday, January 16, 2009
January 16, 2009
View of the day-The temperature gauge in the pickup this morning at 9:30am...and it went up two degrees before Marilyn could get the camera focused...
Tomorrow the jet stream passes over and we will finally get to warm up a little...
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