Sunday, July 31, 2022

Bucking tractors and little bears

 I spent the lion's share of today weeding the garden. I will run the tiller through it  tomorrow. Zucchini, peas, jalapenos so far. Beans, corn, squashes,  pumpkin, and peppers, onions  coming along. I have got loads of tomatoes, five different varieties, all doing well. That's a happy thing.

A couple days ago, Tim got the tractor stuck brush hogging. It is not the first time. He has a habit of trying to mow just a little bit further than he should. He sunk it deep into the mud. With the brush hog. 

Don't ask me why. I have no idea. 

Gave him something to do while I worked in the garden. He had something more to occupy him when his new tractor refused to start. He planned to use that to pull out the stuck tractor.

I just stayed in the garden. A fellow down the road stopped in offer suggestions, which was very nice. A buried tractor attracts attention here for sure. Tim got quite a bit of feedback from more than one person on the topic before it was all said and done along with an offer to tow.

In the end, he unhitched the brush hog and pulled it free. He unbolted the fly wheel from the latest tractor, made a small adjustment, and it started right up. He drove that down, keeping it on solid ground and waded out to hook it to the stuck tractor.

I waded out too, and was given a brief block of instruction which amounted to 'keep it in first and lift off the clutch. If the front wheels pop off the ground, engage the clutch and they will drop back down. Repeat as necessary' and between his pulling and and my tractor hopping, it should work free. Oh...and 'keep the rear tire off that log or it might flip.'

I have had fun before, but this did not sound anything like it. I was sick to my stomach the first time that those wheels came up, but after a few times, it did lurch free. I steered past the log and did not flip it. I was glad to drive it into its regular parking spot. 

Tim was jubilant. He thinks it means I am now a tractor driver. 

He's wrong.

We drove into town to get a few groceries and three little bear cubs crossed the road in front of the car. The final one stopped and stood up on his hind legs to study us curiously before he dropped back onto all fours and scooting into the underbrush with the rest of his family.

It was a quiet supper, followed a quick clean up. I think we earned our quiet night in front of a movie with our respective adult beverages. 



30 comments:

  1. Bear was wondering if you two are really the people that hop around on tractors. Linda in Kansas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hard to tell what was going through his mind. The first one was ducking into the underbrush. The second scampered out immediately after. The third started across, changed his mind, headed back, and must have gotten a lecture from his mother (who we never saw). He started to cross the road again, but stopped to give us a good look.

      Delete
  2. Who knows why they do it....Pirate had a habit of getting the ride on mower stuck in a boggy bit on one of our garden mowing jobs....and yet when I had a turn on doing it he would warn me away from doing those wet patches!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It irks me. He's always ready to boldly go where no man has gone before. And my question is always 'why? Why would you do that?' He seems to think it's a good time. Men are a curious critter aren't they?

      Delete
  3. Oh my goodness, fancy seeing bear cubs crossing the road! We only get the odd cat here!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tractor driver .. a skill to add to your list of lifetime achievements!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of those talents not mentioned. I am a good drywall sander and I sure don't talk about that either for fear someone will need a drywall sander.

      Delete
  5. Bucking tractors can feel like bucking broncos. Been there, got the T shirt. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scared the mess out of me to be sure. Where did you get you tee shirt?

      Delete
  6. Surprised none of the observers/commenters/helpful suggestioners was available when it came time to drive the tractor out. But that's often how it goes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be considered pushy. Offers were made and gratefully acknowledged with a 'we should be able to get it, but we'll let you know if we need help.'

      Delete
    2. Ahh. Understood. Life in a small town.

      Delete
    3. LOL. Not even a town really. The nearest 'town' has a post office. No stores. One horribly expensive fast food place up on the hill. We are in the suburbs of THAT little town. :)

      Delete
  7. I got my new zero turn lawnmower stuck. I first tried with her pushing and me working the levers but she didn't have the strength. I swapped positions after a lengthy block of time explaining how to drive something with levers that she has never driven before. Quarters where I had gotten it stuck were very tight with not much wiggle room. I gave a big push and she took off. It got very exciting really quickly. The end result though was that the mower became unstuck and nothing was seriously damaged.

    I empathize with Tim!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a difference between you and Tim. You did it once. Tim does it a couple times a summer. If it is a wet summer, it will be a regular occurrence.

      Delete
  8. Getting stuck in the mud is maddening. And as in your case, getting the tractor out of the mud can be a challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds scary to me but congrats to you for getting the tractor out!
    I am glad the bear cubs got safely across! That was a cute sight to witness!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was scary. I am not a heavy equipment person.

      Delete
  10. They never plan for things to get stuck, but it sure does happen...

    It always throws me off when you say "brush hog" since we say "bush hog" down here.

    -Kelly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have heard it called that. In fact our 'brush hog' is a Squealer Bush Hog by name. However I have always known it as brush hogging.

      Delete
  11. I thought maybe the B in Bucking was a misplaced letter. Perhaps that was on your mind even so. Tim's tractor driving instructions were very clear and you made them work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't think the word did not pop into my head.

      Delete
  12. One time when I was quite inexperienced on my new motorcycle I was taking it up a short, steep hill on the property. My brothers were at the top and one of them yelled give it the gas and downshift. I did and the front wheel lifted straight up. Not knowing what to do, I stood on the pegs and leaned over the front, which lowered nicely. My brothers scattered, laughing loudly, as I was looking for which of them to run over.
    It takes a lot of learning and practice to do what you did first time. Good for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The tractor wasn't moving. Tim had a tow chain hooked to his tractor. He pulled as I let off the clutch. It raised up because the back wheels were digging down into the mud instead of moving me forward. No talent involved.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are a woman of many talents and now you can add tractor rescue to the list. And baby bear whisperer. I am in awe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No talent required. I think it's one of those things that even a person of little brain could accomplish. Because really, the first time those wheels popped up, I thought to myself, "Self...this is the stupidest thing you've ever done."

      Delete
  15. You are braver than me. I wouldn't be anywhere near that tractor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When Tim walks in the door and says, "Get yer clogs on, I need help," I tend to just go help him. Usually, it scares me to bits.

      Delete

I'm glad you're here!

Weary

I am sure that everyone has seen the video of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I lived in Baltimore for a couple years while my...