I painted grain elevators across Saskatchewan in the late sixties for a couple of summers. One of my most vivid memories of that time was on a late spring/early summer day when I was on the top of the elevator and something went wrong on the ground. Doesn't matter what, and I can't recall anyway, other than it gave me a first an hour and then two hours on the top since it would be too tiresome to go down and then come up again. So I had two hours to watch a tractor pulling a seeder around a field across the tracks from the elevator. As he seeded, the ground turned from dusty brown to deep brown. The seagulls followed him in diminishing circles, feeding on the insects disturbed by his machines. Since I couldn't be down with him on the tractor, I spent two hours vicariously doing what every farm kid did as they spent what could have been school time instead out on the land with nature.
Hi Bob. Good story. For me, it is motorcycles. My uncle used to race professionally back in the 50’s and 60’s. The old movies of his career always gave me vicarious thrills as a little one and I couldn’t wait to try it myself. My parents bought a motorcycle and toured around Europe, again, back in the late 50’s. I’ve looked at their old photos many times and could almost feel their sense of freedom and adventure. I bought my first bike way back when I was only 17, I’ve had one ever since. There is a zen to motorcycle riding. Nothing like getting in the wind.
All three of my boys (none of whom have licences) are better tractor drivers than I will ever be.
Living the life…those lucky boys 🚜
I painted grain elevators across Saskatchewan in the late sixties for a couple of summers. One of my most vivid memories of that time was on a late spring/early summer day when I was on the top of the elevator and something went wrong on the ground. Doesn't matter what, and I can't recall anyway, other than it gave me a first an hour and then two hours on the top since it would be too tiresome to go down and then come up again. So I had two hours to watch a tractor pulling a seeder around a field across the tracks from the elevator. As he seeded, the ground turned from dusty brown to deep brown. The seagulls followed him in diminishing circles, feeding on the insects disturbed by his machines. Since I couldn't be down with him on the tractor, I spent two hours vicariously doing what every farm kid did as they spent what could have been school time instead out on the land with nature.
What a great image you have spun of a tractor doing its job from the perch on top of a prairie icon Thanks Larry
Thanks. It is an image which has stayed with me for well over fifty years.
Hi Bob. Good story. For me, it is motorcycles. My uncle used to race professionally back in the 50’s and 60’s. The old movies of his career always gave me vicarious thrills as a little one and I couldn’t wait to try it myself. My parents bought a motorcycle and toured around Europe, again, back in the late 50’s. I’ve looked at their old photos many times and could almost feel their sense of freedom and adventure. I bought my first bike way back when I was only 17, I’ve had one ever since. There is a zen to motorcycle riding. Nothing like getting in the wind.
Take care and keep the stories coming.
Late to tractors, but my grandsons will get to know them quite well.