I was right – it has been a LONG day!
We were able to get packed up and on the road heading west in fairly decent time (for us). I believe we were pulling through the metropolis of Jordan at 9:30 a.m. (Mountain Time). We arrived in Lewistown right at noon.
It showered in J Town early Monday night.
Jim and I headed to the field to get the combine moved back to Charlie’s. We didn’t realize the threatening cloud bank was there until we began heading east out of town. Jim kept looking back over his shoulder until it finally got the best of him. “It’s against my better judgment to go any farther”, he said. We turned around and headed back to town. There was NO WAY either one of us wanted to be on those “cow paths” should it begin to rain…especially since our service truck is the only two wheel drive pickup left in this part of the world.
I thought we were done yesterday because the red combines were sitting in the yard and our strip was finished. So, I was surprised late in the afternoon when I got back from the elevator and saw the combine headed to another mile long strip. I asked Jim what was going on and he said, “They’re being good to us”. Thanks, guys, we certainly appreciate it! The best part of this job is working for some of the best people in the world! I truly am going to miss them.
It’s 9:00 a.m. and it’s already 90 degrees. If there’s any green wheat left out there in this area, it’ll be gone after today. Predicted high is 104 and the humidity is 14%. No wonder my eyes and nose begin to burn after stepping outside. I’m guessing the pool will be the likely place to find the girls – or lounging in the cool cottage. According to the Weather Channel, this is not the only place in the country it’s hot. So many areas are in desperate need of rain. The crops are going to suffer – which, in turn, means we suffer.
Before we began our day yesterday, we had 100 acres left to cut. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the last 30 due to extreme high moisture and green straw. In some parts of the field, it was like mowing grass. 
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YES! We were able to get started cutting wheat on Monday. As you can see from the temperature in Lakin on that day, it was plenty warm. Today (Tuesday) was hot (101), as well, and HORRIBLY windy!
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Jim and I headed back to Shattuck yesterday a.m. to get the combine and header – and Frank.
The view of Shattuck through the window of the Pete and from a direction I hadn’t seen it from before – North looking South.
Today began with a trip to Fargo for fuel and then back to the farm where the combine and header spent the night. A quick fuel up, wiping of the windows and we were off on our 12 mile tour. The final acres we have to cut are on the outskirts of Arnett, OK. Once we arrived at the field, Jim thought the best thing to do was to put the header on the combine and test the wheat’s moisture.
Pretty much a normal day with nothing much to report. We started and finished the field that we had to leave. It was PLENTY dry today! Test weights averaged 62/63 lbs, the protein was really low…7-8% and the average was 40/45 bushels per acre. The field was ROUGH with a lot of terraces. It took us the whole day to cut 135 acres. I like the variation the terraces bring to your day but if it’s time you’re trying to make, the flat fields are by far the best! We’ve got approximately 2 ½ days left of the acres we came to Shattuck for. Then what?? Will we move on or find something more to do around here?