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View of the day-Al gets to start in the canola.
Yesterday was a "do nothing" day, so there wasn't anything much to report. We pretty much took it easy in the camper.
Today, we got the straight header cleaned up and loaded on the high speed transport trailer. At this point in our harvest, it looks like we are done straight cutting...we only have canola left. We also did a bit of work on the switch for the General's electric roll tarp.
We took the switch off...it seemed to be the issue. Al was having trouble with it when he would try to close the tarp...moving the switch cables would sometimes activate it and sometimes not. The cables all looked good, so we had it narrowed down to the switch. We drove into Kipling to see if we could find a new one.
We went to a couple places, with no luck, then drove 10 miles down the road to the Case dealer at Windthorst to see if they had such a thing. No luck there either, so we went back to the yard, got the electrical contact cleaner out and put it back on the cables in the truck. Al would have to continue doing the same thing to close it...the cleaning didn't help.
We got the word that the canola was going to be good enough to start on, so we got the pickup header on the combine. Al noticed that one of the big springs on the pickup head had broken, so we needed to get a new one, although it could be used without it for the time being. Marilyn called Windthorst and this time they had the part we needed, so while Al drove the combine to the field south of Kipling, Marilyn drove back to Windthorst to get the part.
Al had started combining by the time Marilyn got out to the field. After making a couple rounds with Al, the rest of the trucks and combine had shown up, so he went back to his trucking job, while Marilyn continued picking up swaths. It was slow going, but we managed to get almost 40 acres done before the dew started settling on the pickup belts on the header.
Tomorrow, we go full tilt...
View of the day-There's the total...you could take a little bit out for the floating chaff.
Another down burst this morning, then the sun kicked a few of the clouds out of the way and the wind was blowing hard. We did pretty much nothing but watch the BlueJays and the Roughriders...both won their games. The Riders finally won one, they are now 1-9 for the season.
After the games were over we went for a drive into Kipling for an ice cream cone and to see what the results were from the rain. We stopped at the combine and opened up the trap doors to let the water out that had been pounded in. There was water laying in the low spots of the fields, but since we are done with the straight cutting, we should be able to spot any traps before falling in.
After a tough day like that, it feels like nap time...
View of the day-This should show how much harvesting got done today.
We got to sleep in and woke up to the sound of rain and thunder.
After a feed of fresh corn on the cob, we decided to take a road trip to Yorkton to get our mail and pick up a few things. It was after 11pm by the time we got home through the thick fog.
More rain forecast, so Blue Jays and Roughriders on TV for the day...
View of the day-It's official...the last load of oats for the General.
Another long day in the oats, but at least we got to see the end of it. It was a lot cooler today...two shirt cooler...but not cold enough for Al to put his jacket on yet.
The weather reports are saying we could get over an inch of rain on the weekend...cold, windy and wet.
But that's the "weekend" forecast...
View of the day-Working on the buggy first thing this morning...can't be without it!
With rain in the forecast, the push is on to get the oats finished, so it was another early start. Al was pretty depressed because he had to say goodbye to his dollar store sunglasses. He set them on the spreader of the combine while we were getting it set, then the wind blew them off and "someone" stepped on them. This is his theory as to why one should never spend more than $1 for sunglasses.
Al's brother, Jeff, came down for a visit and he brought a load...a big load...of sweet corn from his two acre patch. His two kids, Taegan and Carson, are going on the circuit selling corn to raise their own money. Marilyn can't wait to dig into the corn...it's been a long time coming.
We finished the field we were on, then moved across to the three quarter sections that are the last of the oats. It was another 130 acre day and Marilyn stayed late to help finish all but the last quarter.
If the rain stays away, we could see the last of the oats tomorrow...
View of the day-Meals on wheels as Marilyn's friend Teresa comes out for a ride and brings a snack.
Out at the field servicing at the usual time, with the promise of another beautiful harvest day. Unless you were a trucker...it was a hot day to be in the oats dust.
We are still in the same field...it runs four quarter sections in a row...and we are down to the last quarter. It is pretty rough in places due to the ruts left from last years wet debacle, but Marilyn will take the rough field over getting stuck, anytime.
We had Dairy Queen burgers and fries out at the field courtesy of Teresa who was on her way back to Yorkton from Weyburn/Estevan. She got to ride around with Marilyn and filled her in on all things theatre from back home. She is a member of...as Al likes to refer to it..."that f'n theatre group". After a good visit, she continued on her way.
We worked until the semi was full and the straw got tough, then called it a night.
Slow going at times, but still managed over 100 acres...
View of the day-Al getting the start on the oats today, dropping straw for baling.
We were out at the combine early to service and fuel up, then Al started combining while Marilyn went back to get lunches ready. Al had to make a few changes to the settings so he could drop the straw...it didn't look like much in the swath behind the combine, but we will see what happens when the baler shows up.
When Marilyn got back to the field, we switched drivers and al was back to hauling oats...lots of hauling and lots of oats. Even with only two combines, the cart man was racing to keep the grain away from the combines.
We combined until just after 9pm, managing to cover 133 acres...a new high for this season.
And its hardly even a month since we started...
