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View of the day-The spring wheat is still a 'bit' green near Bismarck, ND.
We ended up getting about an inch of rain out of the weather that hit last night, which put the kibosh on any fieldwork today. We discussed what to do with the day and finally decided we might as well take a road trip up to Menoken, ND with the pickup head.
We figured we would take the regular detour up to Herried to see how things were progressing with the repairs...they are estimating November for the finish date, so we tried to map out a different route on the way back that wasn't quite as rough.
We got out to the farmers yard at Menoken, just east of Bismarck and it looked like it had seen some rain over the past week. We were able to find some high ground to back in the header trailer. After getting it parked and checking things out, we took a drive over to the campground to see if there was a spot for us to park...nope, full, because of all the flooding in the area. They told us to give them a call next week to see if there were any spots open...a lot of them were there on the monthly rate.
We headed back to Gettysburg but took the mapped out route that we had decided to try. It was one that went along the Missouri and although it had rolling hills that looked like they would be a workout for the big trucks, the road was a lot smoother and the traffic was low...it had possibilities. Then we hit the last six miles, and there was a sign saying there was a 6 ton axle limit...well, that just sucked...back to plan A and the old way.
We took as 7 mile side trip into Mobridge and had
a drive around town, but didn't take the bridge tour because it had one way traffic and we didn't feel like waiting around for the lineups to cross, so we stopped for a quick snack and headed for home.
There was not one combine running all the way up to Menoken, lots sitting in the fields where they had been stopped by the rain. There is still LOTS of wheat standing on both of our routes and there are plenty of fields that are still mighty green...our schedule could have a wrench thrown into it.
At least the rain should stay away...and the temps will be a lot cooler...
View of the day-Casey dumps into the semi before the bad weather can catch us.
The weather reports for today said 10% chance of rain...but of course, this is the weekend and the second stringers are doing the predicting.
We got out to the field, serviced, fueled and were ready to go as soon as Danny and Casey got out after lunch. There was a heavy dew and the humidity was higher than it had been yesterday, so we figured it would be a bit tough to start...and it was. But we still managed to get the field finished...not without some issues.
Marilyn had been having trouble with the knife stopping and every time it did, the reverser was not strong enough to get the knife cleared. This meant getting out and pulling the straw out by hand...at least 10 times during the day and it didn't matter if she was going slow or through wheat with no weeds...no rhyme or reason. Now, we had talked to the MacDon guys at the support trailer about it when we were in Pierre almost two weeks ago and they said they would call us before they came out to change some settings on the reverser.
While Al was dumping at the bins, he gave them a call...since we were still waiting to hear from them...to see when they could come out. They had moved to Billings, Montana! They certainly don't come close to 'support'...not like the ProHarvest team, that's for damn sure. Al was somewhat miffed and conveyed his feelings to them...and he's not done with them yet.
Al decided to give another harvester a call to see what we could do and he came up with a couple of suggestions that we could try...tighten the drive belt or switch to fine tooth sections. We started with tightening the belt and it didn't stop again, mind you, we didn't cut a lot more after that either.
We moved up to another field and did a test...it was still over 14% moisture, so we continued another 6 miles to the next field and it was plenty dry, so we got started on it. There were now thunderstorm watches popping up and w
e could see how dark the skies were getting...and they were getting closer all the time, so Casey decided we should pull the pin so we could get the semi tarped before the wind and rain hit.
While Casey was looking after the semi, Marilyn fueled up the combine, then gave Casey a ride home...all the while watching out the rear view mirror as the black clouds were swallowing up what little bit of daylight that was left. By the time she got back to the camper, Al was just getting back from fueling up the General...then the rain hit...and hit hard, thankfully we were settled in for the night.
We won't know how much we got, since the campground mower chewed up our rain gauge...
View of the day-New boots installed, look out stubble.
We had to wait for the tires this morning, they got in late and the tire man was busy so we had to wait until 11:30 before we could get them. Al went out to the combine and did the servicing, then came back to town and we grabbed an early lunch.
Marilyn had homework to do, she had to sign some cheques for Lynn Prevost, the exec-secretary of the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters. Lynn had dropped them off with Al yesterday and was coming to pick them up this morning, so she met us at the bins where Al was picking up the General to take it to the field. After getting caught up with the latest news from the Prevost crew, Lynn went back to get their rigs ready to move from Hoven up to Sterling, ND and Marilyn went to pick Al up at the field, so we could get the new tires on the tractor.
It took about 30 minutes and we had the tires on...it sure went a lot easier with the tires are at eye level...the tires were easy to lift the 6 inches from the box of the pickup on to the trailer. With that job done, it was back to the field to start combining.
The John Deere was waiting for parts for the steering column...it wouldn't stay put, which made for an interesting drive...
but they know the rules...shut up and drive, so Casey worked on the last 20 acres before Danny was able to get the part. Once the new part was on, we moved over to the next field, right at the junction of highways 212 and 83...LOTS of action at that corner.
Al was kept busy running the cart and taking in every second load to dump at the bins, while Danny did the same with the semi. Marilyn had a rider with her for a while, a gentleman from Indiana who is living his dream by working with a harvest crew for a couple of weeks. He and his son have travelled out from Indiana to work with the Sugden crew. His timing wasn't that good because they had just finished the winter wheat when he arrived and he has had to wait for the spring wheat, which should be ready tomorrow.
We combined until 9pm when it started to get tough, but we still had a good day with Marilyn getting just over 100 acres.
About time we got back to normal...
View of the day-Someone is getting new boots.
We knew we wouldn't be combining in the morning, so we decided to get another job on the list looked after and we went to see if the tire man had found any tires for the front of the tractor...at a price that wouldn't break the bank. He actually had found some that were $100 cheaper than the last place we looked and he told us he could have them in tomorrow morning.
We were debating whether to take one at a time off so the tractor would remain stable on the trailer...unloading didn't seem to be necessary, since we wouldn't be needing it here in Gettysburg. It was 16 miles out to the farm where we were parked, so we came up with a plan to get them both off and into the shop...after all, it was chained and strapped down securely...where could it go?
We got the tires to town and had a visit with Shawn Gallagher who had one of his trucks in getting a tire repaired, then went back to the camper to wait for the call. Danny decided to wait until around 3pm to do a test and when he did, it was dry enough to start. We had to go out and move the combine about 10 miles to the field, and we figured for all the time it takes, we would take the header off to avoid any traffic on the gravel roads...lots of semis hauling and these young drivers don't seem to think there is a speed limit.
We stopped at the field first to pick up Danny and Casey so they could bring their tractor, cart and semi to the field. We got moved, hooked up the header and started in on our first field of spring wheat for the year. Al drove the tractor for a while, then Ryan showed up and took over, so he got a ride back to the farm to get the General to help with the hauling.
The clouds were looking like they could be brewing something, but we lucked out and everything stayed west of the river, then split to the north and south leaving us with the sun shining just as it started to set. We are combining right along the highway and are seeing a lot of crews moving through...and a lot of them are out making dust since it has finally quit raining for a few days.
We quit at sundown...it was starting to get a bit tough and it is getting binned, so Danny didn't want to take any chances. Marilyn picked Al up at the bins where he left the General after unloading it. Too bad we didn't check the clearance lights with the truck running...as soon as the key is turned with the lights on, the breaker trips for the lights...never even thought that would be an issue, so now we got some more fixing to do.
We went to Lucy's for supper then called it a day...a pretty good day for starting so late...
View of the day-Marilyn gets the new clearance lights installed on the General.
We had high hopes for today, Al was up extra early to get fuel for the combine and get into the 'zone'. Marilyn got to sleep in after cooking yesterday.
The A/C doctor was out at the combine bright and early, too. He discovered the A/C belt needed to get tightened...it was so loose that he thought it could have slipped right over the pulley. When Marilyn went to check things over yesterday, she had the combine shut off when she went into the engine compartment and the belt looked okay, but she didn't check to see if it was loose...she knows for next time.
So with the call that the combine was ready for action, we got our lunch together, then went out to the farm. If it didn't go, we had our to-do list to keep us busy...and it didn't go, one field was 16.9% and the other was 16.1% and since it is getting binned, we have to wait.
First on the list was getting the new LED signal light on the right fender...that was the easy fix, then we figured now was the time to get the new clearance lights put on the General. This entailed taking off the old ones...not an easy task with the screws holding them to the roof all rusty and seized so bad we almost couldn't tell what kind of screwdriver to use. We got the drill out to make short work of those screws, then discovered the new lights had the screw holes going side to side instead of front to back, so the drill got used to make new holes...but what would we use to hold them in?
We went into the Ace Hardware and found some clips that would slide over the edge of the 1" hole on either side to act as a nut that would lock the screws down...this meant cutting the hole bigger so the clips would be further apart to match up with the holes on the lights. It was ugly, but with a lot of silicone and the foam bases, they sealed quite nicely and now Al has some mighty snazzy LED clearance lights to go with the new signal lights. Another job done.
Next on the list was the headlights on the tractor which was still on the trailer in the other farm yard, so we moved over with the shop trailer to get them working. That was an easy fix...the cables had come unplugged when the hood had been up the last time. Once they were plugged in, they were blindingly bright...well, as bright as they could be in the daylight.
Once we were done with that, we left the shop trailer at the farm, then went in to the Rock for supper. A good day even if we didn't do any combining, and the best part was that the temperature was only around 87º and there was a nice NW wind, which kept the mosquitoes away. Perfect.
A lot of combines were running all over the countryside...all winter wheat and we are done with that now and are waiting on the spring wheat. With everything serviced and ready for action, we can start anytime.
And, we still have a few things left on the list...
View of the day-Al picks up Casey on the go in his latest ride...air conditioned comfort and smooth shifting.
We had a knock at the door this morning as Lloyd Everett stopped by to let us know about some potential oats for picking up if we were interested. Al decided to wait and see how the wheat went before committing...and it is a 30 mile move.
Marilyn was still wrestling with her sewing machine and was just about to get the pliers out, when there was another knock at the door, Danny came by to let us know he did a test and it was 13.5% moisture...holy crap...we were going to get to combine today! We got organized, grabbed some lunch, then headed north to the field.
Casey was already making dust by the time we got out there, so Marilyn got in the combine and moved it from the yard to the field. It was cutting alot better than the last time we were out and things were going quite smoothly until Marilyn noticed the humidity going up in the cab...great...the air conditioning had quit and the feels like temperature was only 106º.
Al called Ray at ProHarvest and he suggested a couple of things to look at...which Marilyn gladly did...nothing worked, so Al called the AC man he had talked to yesterday. He told him he wouldn't be able to make it out today and since there were dark clouds and weather warnings across the river to the west, Marilyn did what she had to do and continued combining...with the fans at maximum.
Every once in a while, just to change out the air, she would park strategically so the wind would blow across from the two open doors, then it would be back to combining. As the clouds started to work their way over she was hoping that would help matters...it didn't...shut up and drive...and she did until the winter wheat was finally finished. An 80 acre day with 60 of those acres without A/C.
We got back to the yard with the combine, then took a drive over to see how close the spring wheat was...it could go tomorrow...so we were done for the day. Marilyn figured she shouldn't have to cook and that we should go out for supper, so we decided to go to the VFW when we got to town...only to find out they aren't open on Mondays...Hot Pockets and cereal for supper.
After supper there was another knock at the door and Danny's wife Bev showed up with some freshly dug new potatoes and onions...can't wait for the roast beef and onion sandwiches for lunch. Well have to make sure the A/C is working in the cab, though, it could get pretty high in there. 
Marilyn tackled the sewing machine again...she figured she knew what the problem was...the stitches in the combine were too small on the design, so she used a different one that she had created and took that one for a test run. Success. It worked like a dream. Now there is some fixing to do on the other one to get it too work.
But not until the combining is done...
View of the day-Here's one piece of equipment that gets to make the trip next year. According to Al's rules, "if it doesn't get used, it doesn't come back".
We had a knock at the door this morning and it was a visit from Shawn Gallagher who was camping in the area on his way through to Sterling, ND. We had a good visit with him and were gearing up to maybe try a bit of combining later on in the day, when we got the call that it was still to wet to go...so we had yet another day off.
Marilyn decided to make use of her embroidery machine and work on a gift she had been thinking about...and get some logos for shirts created. She got both done, then set about getting the machine out of it's hidey-hole and set up to run...so far so good. She was able to get everything loaded and the test cloth was set up to go...the first color worked perfectly...then needle two thread refused to work, it kept breaking and upon inspection, she found there was quite a bit of chaos in the bobbin compartment. It took a pair of needle nose pliers to get the wad out and after several attempts to get the bobbin set in right and more rethreading of the thread that kept breaking, she decided it was time to get the manual out to see if there was anything she missed...unfortunately, she missed nothing.
We got to take a break and go out for supper to Bob's Resort with Shawn and Bonnie Gallagher and their girls...another great steak and a relaxing visit with all of them. After supper, we went back to town and stopped by Danny, our farmer's, place just as he was finishing up some mowing...he confirmed that it wouldn't have gotten any drier during the day, even though the 'feels like' temperature was 106º...humidity, again.
We stopped at his brother's place after we left him to see if he would be able to get a couple of new A/C hoses for the tractor...the ones that were on it had rubbed through and all the freon...or whatever is is called now...had leaked out. The hoses will be in, in a couple of days and he will put them on while the tractor is still on the trailer, since we don't need it for this job.
We were a tornado watch and it looked like we would be getting yet another storm and likely some rain out of it...as of 2:11am, we are still dry.
Let's hope we stay that way...
View of the day-The spring wheat is still a 'bit' green near Bismarck, ND.
a drive around town, but didn't take the bridge tour because it had one way traffic and we didn't feel like waiting around for the lineups to cross, so we stopped for a quick snack and headed for home.
