We put in a pretty full day today. It was hot – no wind – and the wheat is plenty dry now. No more worries about green. We can just GO! The test weights remain in the 62 lb range. The field we’ve been working on for the past two days will probably average 50-55 bushels. Not too bad considering this area was suffering from drought this time last year!
This morning as I was helping Jim service the combine (which doesn’t include much). A thought came to mind about sharing with you one of our trade secrets. Go to Walmart and spend $10 on a large California duster. This is a miracle work for windows and cleaning out the cab. The best time to clean the windows with this secret tool, though, is at night. If you wait till morning the dirt has stuck to the windows (due to the dew) and it’s harder to wipe off. It’s the best $10 you’ll ever spend…guaranteed!
Today looks like a good day with the possibility of storms this afternoon. We’re in the process of moving to another field.
I’ve heard reports that western Kansas may be cutting next week. Harvest 2012 is certainly going faster than expected!
Let me begin by telling you it’s a little stressful when you get used to something or doing something one way and then have to figure out how to do it a different way! Not having the internet available to you when you turn on the computer is frustrating…and not real great cell coverage, either. And, for Jim – no TV.
Knowing what I’m up against, the daily updates will probably be a day later not the same day as I’ve been doing.
… where the wind comes sweeping down the plain!
Oh my! The wind was certainly sweeping down the plain yesterday as we pulled into Shattuck with load #2. It was sweeping alright – with a vengeance! It was probably a good thing we had wind (as the temperature was near 100°) but 50 mph is a little much. At least Frank didn’t lose mudflaps again and I was able to keep my load on the road.
Harvest was getting back into full swing as we headed north again. The chatter on the two-way indicated the harvesters were working after the rain break that area had. As I was listening, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for an employee getting chewed out by the boss. Apparently, he had dumped grain on the wrong truck. The next thing I heard was something about a shovel and putting it back on the grain cart. Yikes! Just something about an active two-way and the stories you hear.
Today was the day we made the trip with the first load to our new “home” – Shattuck, OK. We were in this area last year but stayed in Arnett. The fields are closer to Shattuck and it’s easier to get diesel fuel in Shattuck so we decided that’s where we’ll hang our hat for a while. When I mentioned to Taylor that we’d be staying there this year, she was disappointed. Even though there wasn’t much in the town of Arnett for them to do, it was a memory and had been “home” to them.
The confusion of what day of the week it is has begun. Harvest has a tendency to make that happen. When you’re involved with this job, you don’t run by a clock or a calendar (much). It’s daylight, sundown – rainy day or sunny. So, today is sunny, hot and another day to try to figure out what is going on with this truck of ours.
We made it to our destination – a farm near Burkburnett, TX. This will be home now until the wheat is cut and it’s time to move north. We unloaded the combine and headed immediately north. The issue with the truck is still ongoing. We stopped in Seiling, OK for a quick break and Jim noticed two of the new bolts were broken. A quick run to the auto parts store for more. Things still weren’t quite right so a call to our new favorite truck repair shop in Ellinwood was necessary. They told Jim to patch it up the best he could and get it to the shop on our way home. Jim’s intention was to drive until he could get back to Ellinwood. He made it as far as Medicine Lodge (1:30) and had to quit for a few hours of sleep. The alarm went off at 5:45 a.m. and we were back on the road. Right now, we’re sitting in RMACs shop in Ellinwood trying to figure out what to do next. It looks like we’ll be renting a car to get home and leaving the Pete in KS for a few days. More expense…more worries – that’s what it’s all about (I guess).
I’ll leave you with a few sights from yesterday:
