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View of the day-The fleet sits waiting in the mist...nothing going on today.
It started out looking like the weather might just go around us, but it didn't take long before that hope was dashed. At least we didn't get an actual rain out of the deal.
We took a road trip to look at some standing oats that will need cutting after we are finished with the canola, then went into Kipling for lunch. We discovered the #2 best burger...the #1 being from the Triple C Cafe in Glade, Kansas...it was big and tasty.
The rest of the day was spent looking out the windows of the camper at the mist...
View of the day-Everyone out in the field...and lots of hawks.
It was a foggy start to the day, which meant we would not be rolling as early as we had in the past. Al went out and serviced the combine, then came back to the camper to lay out the plan for the day...he would start combining around 11am or so, and Marilyn would make the parts run.
We needed air filters and a new lat for the feeder chain, so it was off to Windthorst for Marilyn. When she got back to the field, the new filters were installed and she took over at the helm, while Al went back to trucking.
We finished the big field, then moved back to a mile east of the farm yard. It was tough going all day...hitting the 3mph mark wasn't easy for any of the combines out in the field.
But you know the drill...shut up and drive...
View of the day-Another early start, with only one green one missing.
Al got to start combining, since the trucking was under control and Marilyn had to get lunches ready. All machines were running right off the bat, but the green ones had issues during the day as they always seemed to have one down with belt issues.
We finished the field we had started, then moved about 10 miles or so, SE to a five quarter chunk of canola. This field was a far cry from the slough-filled one we had just left...mile long straight swaths. At least some of them were that long...there was a creek that split it up in a few places.
Marilyn had a jogging buddy as this little bunny would not leave the side of the swath. there was a hawk that was eye-balling it up and Marilyn had the camera ready in case it decided to try and lift the little bugger, who was actually about the same size as the hawk. It never happened.
As darkness fell, the beaver houses seemed to get bigger...and tougher. We went until about 9:30, then everyone quit for the night.
More of the same tomorrow and maybe we finish this big chunk...
View of the day-Most of the crowd is in the field as the buggy man unloads a green one.
We had a bit of fixing to do this morning as the fat swaths from yesterday made on of the chains on the feeder chain jumped a link and was running crooked. It took some time to remember how we used to get it aligned, but once it was even again, we tightened it up and were out in the field by 9:30am.
Perfect weather again, hot and windy. There were problems for everyone, with one green one down at a time, then the big red one had bearing problems. The good news was that the third green one showed up and was out in the field, mid afternoon. Al had to come out with the service truck to blow out the rads and filters...all that fine dust was plugging things up. Once they were cleaned up, it was full speed ahead with no alarms.
We had three quarters lapped up and had moved over to another quarter, but this time we were full force...five machines. It sure doesn't take long to finish a quarter with that many machines...and a cracker jack cart driver.
Some days having radio contact with all machines would make things a lot easier...
View of the day-The buggy-man had another busy day, even though the green ones were having issues.
Al got to start combining today so Marilyn could go on a fuel run for the General. It was a fast trip to Whitewood to get some clear diesel and some subs for lunch, then it was back in the saddle.
We had a good day, finishing off the section that we had started on yesterday. The green ones were out at the beginning, but another belt went on one, and there were fuel issues on the other, so they missed quite a few acres. They very well could have been out in the field and not been seen, since it was not a flat piece of land and Marilyn spent a lot of time out back in the low spots.
The weather was perfect...we even had some wind to keep the dust away. It did disappear at sunset, but we were pretty close to done anyway. After getting the combines unloaded, we moved three miles back to the farm yard where we will start again tomorrow.
Jeff, his wife Michele and son, Carson came down for a visit...actually, it was a corn run. They brought down 100 cobs of corn for the farmer to do some canning with. This was the last round of the sweet corn that had been planted and it sounds like they had to fight the racoons to get them. The plans are in the works to racoon-proof for next season.
Finally got to break the 120 acres again...pretty easy to do with 38 foot swaths...
View of the day-The fleet is all lined up and waiting. Al is cleaning out the rads and air filter to kill time.
We didn't get going until after 11am, but once we started we didn't stop until after dark...well, a couple of us didn't, at least. One of the green ones was down with a broken serpentine belt and the big red one(as opposed to our medium red one) had concave motor issues.
We got the field we were on done by 5pm, then moved a few miles south to the next full section we had to work on. All machines were working for the first field, with the green one giving it up just as we were finishing. We had three machines to start on the section, but lost the red one after dark.
We had perfect harvest weather, although we could have used a bit more wind to help dry the big swaths down. We have moved over to 38 foot swaths, up from the 35 foot swaths that we had just finished...the 3 foot difference is noticeable in our machine. The speed has dropped, not due to the power, but the feederhouse just does not want to swallow that big swath.
Maybe it will be better when the sun shines tomorrow...
View of the day-We have reinforcements in the field.
Al went out with the General to service and put the new spring on the header, while Marilyn got lunches ready at the camper.
When we got out to the field, we were joined by a couple of John Deere machines from Alberta. They had previously done some custom swathing of the canola here and were now coming in to help combine. There will be one more machine making the scene...they left with the truck and trailer to back haul for it this morning.
We finished the field we were on, then moved over to another couple of quarters, which we lapped up well before the sun went down, then moved 10 or so miles to the next field.
We worked until just after 9pm when the going got slow for everyone...92% humidity will do that.
More of the same tomorrow...
It started out looking like the weather might just go around us, but it didn't take long before that hope was dashed. At least we didn't get an actual rain out of the deal.
