Ranch Trip

I drove up to the ranch yesterday morning.

The plan was to weigh and fly spray all

the cows and then turn around and 

drive back home again.

But the cows had a different plan.

It was HOT.

And they weren't having any of it!

They were quite happy laying in the

shade waaaay back in the back of the pasture.

We got them to follow the CanAm

part of the way, but when they realized we

wanted them to get in the alley and walk

all the way to the front

they said 

NOPE.

Well, 5 of them cooperated.

So we worked those 5 and let them back out.

And then we went back in the house.

At 2:00 we drove into Gainesville to pick up

the tractor that FINALLY has a fresh new

windshield all installed.

YEA!

It's a TINY little parking lot.

On Wed when Kyle had to drop off the tractor,

he had to pull his giant truck/trailer into the

teeny tiny parking lot and then do a 

"blind back" out into the street by himself.

But when we got there on Thurs,
a truck and trailer were

already in the only spot in the lot,

so he just parked on the street.

It wasn't any fun to load up his tractor

out there.

A lady very nearly ran him over.

But he got it done.

And we got the tractor back to the ranch.

About 7:30 the cows finally decided it was

cool enough to follow us up to the front.

Well, all but a reluctant 7.

They just turned around and went back to the shade.

But we got the vast majority of them.

Once you get them up to the facility,

it's slick as a whistle.

We got them all weighed and sprayed and 

let loose again just as the last rays of the sun

disappeared over the horizon.

By that time it was 8:50.

So I blew up Kyle's air mattress in his spare room

and settled in for the night.

We got up this morning,

loaded the farm truck onto his big flatbed trailer,

and headed south to our house.

The truck is only 6 inches narrower than the trailer.

It takes an amazing driver (Kyle) to load

something that wide on the trailer.

Meanwhile.

The building continues.

Slowly.

The guys showed up Thursday morning

and finished bringing in the fill dirt

and smoothed it out in preparation for

the concrete floor.

And then they LEFT!

Later in the day we heard that he has an

appointment for concrete.

Next THURSDAY!

This build is dragggggggging.

The builders are terrific.

But these concrete guys aren't worth much.

Even the company owner said he doesn't

like to use them much... but he did for this

job. No idea why. Somebody's brother-in-law?

Or something?

Anyhow.

Because the building isn't done,

Kyle can't work on the truck there.

That's why he had to drag it to our place.

And then he'll have to drive it back.

But that means his car will be here.

So if he has another problem with the truck,

he will be stuck.

Did I tell you about the truck?
Oh yeah.
No.
Reader's Digest version.
It broke.
Ha.

On Wednesday Kyle took the tractor
to the dealer to get the
windshield fixed. He hooked his trailer to the
farm truck to take it over there.
But on the way back, the brake caliper on the
right front started dragging.
The brake fluid boiled. The rotor glazed.
The whole thing smoked and luckily didn't catch fire.
I stayed on the phone with him while he limped
back to the ranch, unhooked the trailer, and
jumped in his car and drove to our place.
(A 4 hour drive)
Switched to his truck.
And then Linda called, she broke something
at the Melbourne farm, so he headed over there
to fix it, and then headed back up to the ranch,
arriving there at 11:30 pm.
After a day that started at 7:30.

It has been a long week.
So he and I drove home together.
(Well, each in our own vehicle...)
And he is going to fix the truck.
And he is going to build a "roller" out
of two 55 gallon drums so he can roll
the pasture he just finished plowing so the
seed doesn't just lay on the top.
And then he is going to TAKE MONDAY OFF.

I'm teaching.
But I'll be back late Sunday night.
We might all just spend Monday napping.

A look at the building with his house
in the background so you get a feel
for where it sits on the property.
I'm standing next to his little garden
which is next to the cattle facility.
It will be awesome when its done.
In August.
(just kidding.)
(I hope.)