We got started just a little later than Jim thought we might today. Tieing up loose ends takes longer than you might think – especially when you know the two pieces going first won’t have a service truck full of tools following them. Jim does a good job of knowing what tools he “might” need on the road and usually, if we need something, he’s got it. It certainly would be nice to have the full inventory to choose from, should the need arise. But, that’s how we’ve done it most of our years of being on the road.

We don’t have a large service truck (a 1993 Ford pickup) like so many harvesters do. So,  “Frank” (my Freightliner straight truck) fills in quite nicely. What I mean by this is the truck box becomes a storage unit for many of the miscellaneous items, larger tools (generator), tires and the important tent camping necessities. So, we have to make sure that all the items we want to haul around in Frank are in there before it leaves the driveway. Callie and I were just laughing about Frank being the cargo trailer and how I ALWAYS hit my head on the bars going across the box when we unload the stuff once we get to our destination. I have tried and tried to convince Jim we should just buy a cargo trailer so we wouldn’t have to load and unload all the time. I thought I had succeeded this spring but he must have decided not to spend the money. So…one more year of hitting my head. Callie thought maybe she should buy me a helmet.

Anyway, we left the house about 11:00. Stopped for a bite to eat, started our trucks and headed south about 12:30 p.m. We had a couple of minor issues this afternoon. Before we left home, we checked the road closings for all states involved. Then, after we made a quick pit stop just over the border into Kansas, Jim decides to change courses on me. Instead of going the way we intended, he decided another way would be better. Back on the road we go. About two miles down the road, he calls me on the two-way radio to tell me he’s changed his mind again. He puts me in the lead because his “train” is oversize – wider than usual and taller than usual. By having me in the lead, I can sort of scope the road out ahead of him and call him if it looks like we’re in trouble with a narrow road or a lower bridge.

Ok, he calls me and tells me he’s decided we’re going to angle over to the highway that leads to Beloit, KS and then we’ll go south and eventually over to Highway 281 (the main thoroughfare for custom harvesters). Just as I’m crossing the railroad tracks south of Beloit, there’s a sign warning us that anything over 11 feet will have to avoid the highway. I called Jim. He was able to get stopped without having to get that train of his maneuvered through tight areas. I, on the other hand, with the 35 ft. header behind Frank need an acre (maybe two) to make a turn. “Try to get turned around and head back to town”, he says. Well, that’s easier said than done! I keep going south hoping I’ll eventually see a gravel road that looks like it won’t lead me to a dead-end. Finally, about five miles south of town, I decide to head east on a dirt road – all the while praying that I don’t find mud or something that I can’t get out of. “Have you found a way back?”…”Are you out there?”…”How ya coming along?” All these little stresses coming out of the two-way were NOT what I wanted to hear while trying to figure out if I’m going to make it back to town without getting stuck or lost. I did find one cool thing while on my little excursion:

When I see places like this, it makes me wonder who built it and what their story would have been. This house used to be “alive” with noise and importance. Or was it a church or a school? Just think how very important this structure was at one time. It’s made from limestone. There is a limestone fence post in my yard that came from Kansas and belonged to my Grandma. I may have to do a posting on the limestone fence post one day soon!

Finally, after the final “how ya doin?”, I came to a hard-surfaced road which lead back to Beloit. Whew! Once I got to town, though, it was another story. Trying to turn something on a dime which takes an acre just doesn’t work real well! Finally made it to where Jim was with the truck and combine – parked in a truckstop parking lot. “Ok”, he says, “We’ll take Highway 9 west to Osborne and then down 281”. No problem, I think, UNTIL I’m nearly to Glen Elder. Oh no…a railroad bridge with a height restriction of 14’6″ listed on the yellow sign. “Jim, how tall are you?” “14 ft 6 inches”, he says.  I tell him about the RR bridge and he decides to see if he can squeeze under it. So, again, I have to find a place to get my outfit off the road. “Do you want me to come help watch?”, I ask. “No, just stay there”. The patience level is beginning to sound a little less patient on the other end of the two-way. I’m sitting on top of a hill watching him get in and out of the truck – up and down from the combine until finally he gets on the radio and says, “I’m through with just an inch or two to spare” and we’re on the road again. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking why in the world didn’t we just follow the roads we knew we could get down without any trouble? Made for an interesting day!

We stopped for the night in Russell, KS in the salebarn parking lot which brings back a whole lot of memories of being with Grandpa and Grandma. I can see them when I see the building. Highway 281 was THE route for them when they were harvesting. It’s still the route for many harvesters but I haven’t been down it for quite a long time. Funny how the little towns look the same now as they did when I was 13.  Now, throw in an old song here and there and I ALMOST feel 13 again. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

I felt this was ironic – a farmer with his planter in front of the harvester heading down the highway 🙂

This was what was staring at us as we were headed for Russell. I suppose this is what was headed for Eastern NE.

 View from the parking lot of the salebarn. See the guy with the green shirt? That’s Jim getting the phone number of someone to get permission to stay here overnight.

Final resting spot for the night.