Monday, May 14, 2012

We Made It!

Well here we are again in southern Oklahoma! The 2012 wheat harvest has begun. But let me back up to tell you about the past couple weeks..... On Saturday, May 5th young Dan or Dan D. as we will call him (we hired a person named Dan just to make things more confusing for everyone) left the Melchert farm with a straight truck and one of the double header trailers with 2-30 foot heads on it to drop it off at our first stop in Ryan, OK. Then on Sunday, May 6th Jon and Danny (Jon's brother) each took a straight truck with a combine on a trailer behind each truck down to the same place. Marg, their mom rode with them. Young Dan got back to the farm on Tuesday and the others got back on Wednesday May 9th. Dan had just a couple minor issues on the truck that he was able to resolve. A back tire blew on the truck Danny was driving and there was a pinhole in a coolant hose on one of the trucks as well during their trip. Those two things happened the first day they were driving. When they pulled over at a restaurant or truck stop to look the truck over Jon had his hands over his head in the motion he does when he has to think about what his plan of action will be. After assessing what he needs to get things fixed and going again he walks into the restaurant and asks someone inside if he can borrow a phone book. The gentleman says,"I'm already on it for you. I know someone with his own shop and will get you his number." Wow. This simple act on his part saved Jon a huge amount of time and possible frustration trying to locate what he would need. Being that it was a Sunday evening, businesses wouldn't be open, and without knowing the owners names, he would have had to wait until they opened in the morning. So Jon took the truck and got a new tire and hose that evening so it was ready to go early the next morning. We are grateful to that man for his thoughtfulness. Meanwhile back home Dan (Jon's Dad) and Holly got invited over to Velzke's for lunch after church that Sunday. Their son Jacob (who is a relative of Dan's) will be working with us on the crew this summer and they were having a little going away lunch for him. We couldn't decline that and we are glad we didn't! The lunch was great and so was all the visiting. What a great family. On Tuesday, May 8th Winston, Charlie, and Kyle come to the farm to help Dan and Andy continue to get the trucks loaded for the summer and help with other things around the farm like getting beans out of the bin and spring planting. They stayed in the shop until we left that Saturday. It was such a hectic week getting everything ready to go, so many details thought of and last minute things to do. Friday, May 11th Holly's sister Laura graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
She earned a 4 year degree in communications, well done Laura! Saturday, May 12th The day we were set to hit the road with the rest of the equipment. Jon got to the farm a bit after 6am and I finished getting things finalized at home. My mom came over to help me finish up some things and load up my car with the coolers and final things to go along. Then at the shop were all of the guys going along of course, plus a whole crowd to send us off with hugs and well wishes. What a nice thing.
Cookies from Grandma Wagner and choc. chip banana bread from my mom for snacks. I'm not sure if they even made it to Kansas they were gone so fast! Everything was checked over one more time, pictures were taken, hugs and kisses given....then at 8am we were on the road with home in the rearview mirror. An emotional day I'm sure for everyone. Such a big trip for the new, young guys. We have the experience of the past 2 summers, but also know how much can go wrong. We are positive and pray for a good safe trip, but we hold our breath around every corner, through every town, whenever a vehicle pulls out in front of these big loads that cannot stop fast, and hope that everyone is careful.
Our 2012 crew: Dan D, Charlie, (Digger the dog), Kyle, Jacob, Winston, Holly, Caleb, Jon, Andy, Marg, and Dan.
Jon & Holly 3rd summer of wheat harvesting together :)
Coming up to the Fort Randall dam where some work was being done.
It was close but we made it!
Sheep! Just for Danny and Bob back home :) We didn't see many but spotted this herd and they looked so nice out grazing. We made it to Grand Island, NE on Saturday night around 8pm and stopped there at a big truck stop on the south side of town. No problems or holdups all day!! It was nice and cool, so it didn't matter that we didn't have air conditioning that night in the campers. We ate pizza in the truck stop then turned in, everyone was tired from a long day of driving.
It was getting dark but I took a picture of this wind turbine blade anyways. There were several of them at the truck stop. We ooed and aahed at them. 120 feet long and they have to be steered at the back as well! We even touched them. Sunday morning, May 13th - Mother's Day! We were up at 5:30am and on the road by 6:30 or so. If nothing goes wrong we would make it to our destination by dark. We will see.
Stopping to fuel everything in Enid, OK. What a bill that was!!
But the trip is going perfectly so far, and that is something to smile about!
This man came out of the convenient store with his grandson shouting,"Combines! Yeah! Harvesters! Woo-hoo! Wheat cutters! All right!" He came over and they were looking at everything and talking with the guys, it was funny. We made really good time and got to the campsite by 8pm on Sunday night! What a relief it was and the best trip down here we have ever had. Not a single problem on this trip down, it was shocking!
Jon & Kyle moving branches as we back the campers in. We got everything set up and then went to get food at the Sonic and 9:10, is closes at 9pm on Sundays. So back to the campers and it was beef sticks, pb & jelly sandwiches, popcorn, and cake for supper. Then we all got to take showers, YEAY!!! I slept so good that night. Plus it is cool right now, for this time of year for Oklahoma. The days are upper 70's to 80's and evenings you can wear a long sleeve shirt and be comfortable. A couple weeks ago it was in the 100's they said. Monday, May 14. We slept in till 6:30. I went for a 45 minute walk while the guys unloaded the machinery. Then I got groceries at Delbert's and made lunch. The guys came back to the campsite for lunch today which was nice. Jon thought it was Tuesday and said burgers are 1/2 off at Sonic, Jacob thought it was Sunday and asked if we are going to church, and I said,"It's Monday so no we aren't going to church and maybe tomorrow on Tuesday we will have to get the 1/2 off burgers."
We had cheesy chicken sandwiches, chips, fruit, and choc chip cookies for lunch under our shade tree.
The last 2 years I could pretty well just remember what people liked and didn't like for food. This year with more people I asked them what they didn't like and wrote it down. 3 people will eat anything. The others just have a few things they don't like, mostly green vegetables. Charlie said,"I used to not eat lettuce until you made me eat salad last summer." ha!
Resting our stomachs for a few minutes after lunch. Then they will combine a small portion to test the moisture and see if it is good to keep going or if we will have to wait. We will let you know, stay tuned....

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