February 2014

01 - 08 February 2014

This week has been rather slow and had nothing too exciting happening. We have had three days off due to various things out of our control and the days we have worked have been in the shed next to where we are living as we make a start on the 1,000 tonnes of seed potato required for planting very soon.

Saturday was our normal day off so we took a drive to Loxton with Vince and Janelle to do some shopping, but not before we enjoyed a coffee and cake at one of the towns coffee shops and it was very enjoyable sitting in the shade watching the world go by as the sun began its assault on the area. Arriving back at the unit we waited until the sun went down and then enjoyed a BBQ with them on our front porch until the bugs drove us inside to eat our meal in peace.

We have now added a photography page where you can now view our favourite photos. Click here to visit.

09 - 16 February 2014

Another week in Pinnaroo with work in the maintenance shed refurbishing the truck's trailer with the stripping and replacement of the suspension, wheel bearings and brakes, removing a pivot and replacing the concrete pad as well as a few days in the processing shed as we continue to cut 1,000 tonnes of seed potato for planting in a week or so.

Early starts (5 am) of late have meant time to ourselves in the afternoon and that meant that there were a few opportunities to get the camera out for some more practice.

Pinnaroo Main Street
(3 seconds @ f.13 and ISO 6400)

The main street at Pinnaroo on a Sunday evening. The picture is a little grainy but the stars on the lights are good.

Just before work
(6 seconds @ f.13 and ISO 6400)

The lights from the processing shed lighting the ground made for a different foreground and the morning star was very prominent.
This shot was just out the front of our unit around 5.45am.

Today (Friday) was very wet with plenty of rain around to more than settle the dust. After a number of very hot weeks the air has been very dusty but the rain has filled the air with that fresh rain smell as well totally cooling the place off, and the rain drops on the tin roof have provided a very pleasant drumming sound to listen to.

17 to 23 February 2014

This week was taken up with cutting and then planting potato's to start off a new crop. With the pivot about a kilometer up a sandy track there was little hope of getting the truck up there so it was a case of ferrying the bins and fertiliser from the gate to the pivot, 8 tonnes at a time. Unloading the truck and loading the trailer was via the Manitou which was fun to drive then at the other end Brent unloaded the trailer and loaded the planter which Grant was driving.

Manitou

The Manitou

Planter

The Planter

And then as the Caravan and Camping Show was on in Adelaide we took Friday afternoon off and took off to see what was new in the RV world. We hitched a ride with Vince and Janelle and then headed to Adelaide where we had booked rooms at the Country Comfort Motel on South Terrace. Our evening meal was a short 500m stroll down the road to a pizza and pasta bar where for very reasonable prices we enjoyed some great food and toped it off with cheesecake.

The next morning we did some exploring around the Rundle Mall before heading off to explore the show. Booking online and printing our tickets and parking pass meant we saved $3 a ticket and didn't have to waste time in the very long line of people buying theirs at the door to get in. Lots and lots of caravans, motorhome's, campers and accessories to inspect resulted in us walking out with just 10 minutes before they closed for the day. The dealers were having a very slow show and the bargains were getting bigger as the day went on. Vince and Janelle were interested in a new Roma caravan and the salesman was throwing in a bigger fridge,solar panel and changing the lounge from material to leather all for free and a $1,000 deposit would hold the deal for 12 months with pick up anytime in that 12 months depending on when you were ready to finalise and take delivery. So, show over we headed back to Pinnaroo, arriving two and a half hours later exhausted and loaded down with brochures and ideas.

24 February to 28 February 2014

This was another week of work, Joanne in the shed grading and me on the tractor ploughing ground ready for spuds to be planted. The mornings have been a tad cool but very pleasant to look at as we head off to the office.

Morning

The view as we came out the door

With three pivots to prepare it was a busy week with plenty of time sat in the tractor, thankfully with climate control an air seat and a radio to listen to as row by row each pivot (which are anywhere from 60 to 100 acres) fell beneath the chisel plough.

The Tractor

The Office

The Dash

The Dashboard and IVT (Infinitely Variable Throttle)

Using the IVT was an interesting experience with three items to adjust to get the exact speed or power you wish to use and of course you can always adjust the height of the plough in the ground which also changes your speed.

Chisel Plough

The Chisel Plough at work

The Pivot

And once the ploughing is done the pivot is started to get some moisture back into the ground. On average it takes 8 hours to complete the circle.

So with over 1,000 tonnes of seed potato's graded, cut, re-boxed and going back into the newly prepared ground it is time to start on harvesting onions.

Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.