Bogged down on the farm

Over the last year we have been enjoying the extra rain the Lord has sent us - we love the fact that the earth is green, the tanks & dams are full & we haven't had to buy in any feed for our stock ( or even raid our hay shed which is still decidedly full from our 2009 hay cutting). We truly are so thankful for each & every drop - it's such a blessing to this land that has weathered so many years of drought.  But with all this lovely rain comes one problem.  Normal paddocks that are hard &  sure become soft & miry & very, very slippery.   If you aren't aware of the extent of the softness and you happen to drive over it, you are bound & sure to get bogged.  In fact I think the 2010/2011 harvest should have been labelled the' year of the bog' - because every day you were hearing of trucks & tractors & headers that were having to be pulled out of a bog somewhere or the other.  

Here on Sunnyside we have been fortunate not to have bogged any big machinery (not that we have anything that would be considered "big" around here), but  we have had a few bogged incidences of our own.

  

The first was when I got bogged in the jeep while driving over a paddock to check the sheep.  I saw our neighbour stop on the lane for a chat & went in that direction instead of staying up on the higher ground & before I knew it I was stuck fast.  Of course it was right when Dave was away for work, but thankfully the wonderful neighbour was kind enough to pull us our with two very long snap straps & his 4WD.   

 The next "bogging episode"  (the photos are from this one) was when we were again checking sheep (silly animals ;)  )  and Dave decided to take the back paddock - now I'm just sayin' here that I did mention that it was very soft down there - well he got right into the middle of the paddock & then stuck fast (this time in his ute).  We had to walk back to the house  right on dusk - without shoes (because Zai had forgotten his, so I gave him mine) - tired, grumpy children - overgrown paddocks - can you say FUN??!!??    We had to wait a few days until the ground was slightly harder before we used ol' blue our tractor to pull it out.  (And isn't it such a satisfying "pop" sound when it finally comes loose?) 

Dave drove the tractor back & I was driving the van - but who was driving the ute??

 The third time was by far the worst - it only happened recently & this time it wasn't actually on the farm (which is why it was so much worse than the others).  We were going to our friends house for tea & Dave decided to take this little random lane (which we'd never been down before). This part of Australia is criss-crossed with dirt lanes between neighbouring paddocks - little drive-through shortcuts for the locals.   It was a quaint, tree-lined lane & you could even see the spiders webs across the road which was evidence that it was long unused (yes, we should have thought a bit more about that).  We were driving our big van and all was going well when we came across a small creek flowing across the road, well instead of slowing down & stopping, we just plowed on through - well that is until we couldn't move.  (I will admit it looked much harder than it was & it hadn't rained for about a week, so we just didn't expect it.) Then began the long process of trying to push & maneuver it from the sludge.  Well there was no way that bus was going anywhere, so we realized we needed help.  Unfortunately our phone had no coverage in that area (in fact it's a terrible phone even though it's meant to be a country one & has no coverage anywhere around here) so we were left with no option.  We had to walk - we were tired, hungry & all dressed up to go out & you can imagine that couple of  kilometres back to the bitumen felt like hundreds (especially in my wedge sandles that were now coated in sticky mud).  Once at the highway we tried to flag down a vehicle to use their phone.  Just picture this - Dave right on the edge waving  and the rest of us a couple of metres off the road just trying to get someone to stop.  Saturday evening is definitely the quietest time for this road & it was quite a while before we even saw a vehicle. The first few cars just thought we were being friendly & waved back at us, but finally a car did stop - only to not have a mobile themselves.  Finally as darkness really began to descend we were able to wave down a big semi.  Thankfully the guy did stop although it took him many hundreds of metres to do so  & Dave was able to run up & use his phone.  Our friend laughed & laughed at our predicament & then she came with her hubby & pulled us out (because they really are wonderful friends!!)  

For us novice farmers these were major incidences, but for the real farmers around here, being bogged has been a part of everyday life this season.  I have heard of machinery bogged & the machinery bought into pull that out getting bogged & then the machinery to pull that out even getting bogged.  The most recent problem has been when the farmers are burning the paddocks (to try & get rid of the summer growth before they can crop this autumn) and getting bogged while in the burning paddock & having to watch their vehicle catch alight.  I can't imagine how frustrating that would be.

Zai has learnt to drive this year (although only in first gear)!

So another part of our life here in the country.  Another part of our story.  Something else to remember way back when our grandbabies are on our knees - the year of the bog!

Joining in

 

Hope you are having a wonderful week
We have a busy week of school ahead of us & then finally we will enjoy our Easter holidays!
Blessings