A couple of weeks ago, Hubby was towards the tail end of hauling hay for our friend. I went out after work and rode with him. We were using Older Son's farm truck, which has a gooseneck hitch. This is the view looking back from the passenger's seat as we were on our way to dump a load of bales in one of two spots.
Looking ahead on the way to said spot, you can see how Older Son has made his truck "unique," to stand out amongst the other 1,000,000 white farm trucks you see in this part of the country.
Hubby loading bales onto the trailer with the tractor.
OK, this next photo shows a major "achievement" in my life. I have always wanted to try to pull a trailer, of any kind, any distance, SOMEHOW, at least once in my life. I was used to riding along with Dad on all kinds of trailer-pulling chores, so seeing it done was familiar. But I had never actually done it myself.
Well!
This day, I got my chance. Several chances, in fact. After Hubby showed me how, it was a big help for me to pull the empty hay trailer to the next line of bales while he moved the tractor from the previous location of bales to the new one. I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE BLISS OF FINALLY BEING ABLE TO DO THIS .... driving "our own" farm truck, a manual transmission (which thankfully I've done a fair bit by this time), and pulling a HAY TRAILER of all trailers. It was empty, but hey, you've gotta get your feet wet somehow, right?
Our "distinctive" hay-hauling rig.
THEN .... things got stepped up a little. On the last load of bales that was at the end of the field, we figured it would save a trip clear across the field to get the tractor when we came back, if we instead had me pull the LOADED HAY TRAILER to the entrance, and Hubby drive the tractor to the entrance, so we could continue with a few bales there when we got back without another whole trip across the field. Anything that saves time or distance or fuel is good in farming, so .... I obliged, but a bit nervously! It's one thing to pull an empty hay trailer around a line of bales. It's another thing to pull a LOADED HAY TRAILER through a field! "Field" containing things such as ruts or weeds or whatever, that you really do need to watch for. But I went slow, and, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. So that was very awesome to me to be able to accomplish what most farm folks would consider "ordinary," but to this town-raised kid was "extra-ordinary." I think I hugged my husband and maybe had some happy tears when I got out at the gate.
A pretty view.
This photo has a story. That bale accidentally rolled off the trailer as we rounded the bend to the one dumping spot. (Can you say, "centrifugal force?" - ha ha - we were going plenty slow, but something must've made one come unbalanced and fall off.) On the next trip, some cows were already at the bale, chowing down. I laugh at the hay sticking out of one cow's mouth.
Another pretty view .... distinctive landmark.
Bales and sky.
In farming, you never know when a piece of baling wire might come in handy. So when a stray piece latches onto your truck and jangles as you're going down the road, you stop, unhook it, and secure it on the truck somewhere, "in case you need it."
At the second dumping place, the sun rays coming through the clouds made for nice scenery.
Back at the loading place, we got sprinkled on a little. You can see the condensation on the outside of the side window from the AC blowing on it, and the raindrops making spots in it. Humid!
A couple of tail-end views coming up by some pens, as the last glimmers of sunlight shone on the clouds.
Awesome, I remember hauling the trailer with my cattle to the butchers for the first time. I had a girlfriend with me at the time, my knees were knocking so bad, I still wonder how the heck I was able to drive for over an hour! The hard part was backing up to the doors! I still don't hardly ever drive the stock trailer but I am not quite so nervous now.
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience! Thanks for sharing, Lisa ... :) I would be terribly nervous if I had to be out on a public road with a trailer.
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