Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Tractors

Tractors. I grew up around tractors. From before I  have memories there are pictures of me and tractors. I suppose we all have those photos parents love to show from our childhood, often embarrassing photos, but not always. Such a photo shows me in my little red wagon hitched to the back of my Grandpa's Farmall CultiVision A. Apparently, I would ride for hours behind him as he cultivated. I don't remember. But some of my earliest and fondest memories are of sitting between Grandpa's legs and steering the tractor, and then later, of sitting on the fender just riding back and forth from headland to headland, just keeping him company. It was around the age of ten when I began driving tractor in the field for myself.

Tractors. The tractors I grew up with didn't have air conditioned cabs and it was mostly before the advent of herbicides. We spent a lot time on those tractors--plowing, fitting, planting, and cultivating. There was lots of back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, etc. all day long and sometimes into the night.

We ran Internationals, but this would be near the vintage of some of the tractors I drove. My uncle had Allis-Chalmers tractors. Notice the lack of protection from the elements. I took this photo when we were in Iowa last Fall on the way back from visiting Chris.
Another photo from that trip. It always surprises me at how big all the farm equipment is now. Notice the big blue tractor with its climate controlled cab.

Tractors. It has become clear to me the moments I enjoy most riding are connected to these experiences of riding on and driving tractor. My favorite rides have been on roads surrounded by crops.  My second favorite rides are puttering through neighborhoods hunting the occasional lawn art, pink flamingo, or turkey.

I discovered this red giraffe on evening as I was taking a long way home.

I think it's sweet how this homeowner has some of the flamingos positioned to look like they are nesting.




Now, this is one proud bird.


Tractors. The twisties are just another road to me. I ride them when I'm on a ride with others. Others seem to like the twisties a lot. Me? I ride the twisties because I need to to get somewhere else.

On State Rte. 94 coming back from Marthasville.

Tractors. I, also, love the being out in the elements. I enjoy the challenge of staying warm in the winter and surviving the heat in the summer. For me, dealing with the weather is a big part of the adventure of riding.

Until I made the connection between my riding and my experience of being raised with tractors I'd wondered how so many others could talk of flying like birds. My riding seemed more plodding, equestrian, and utilitarian. Now I have a clue. There was a peacefulness, an attentiveness, and a connectedness I felt once upon a time in those fields of my growing up. I was deeply longing to taste this experience again and didn't even know it. I'm grateful to have it back.


10 comments:

  1. Some of my earliest memory's are of Tractors also.
    Allis Chalmers W series are the oldest, then there was a string of John Deere's (at least 2 B's) with one or two Farmall's thrown in for good measure. I'm a bit fond of the Johnny Poppers. Thanks for bring back the memory's. GAW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We didn't run Deere's but a neighbor did. And, it is difficult to not have a fondness for that unique sound they made. Farming is so different now. My Dad tells me of GPS guided planters and how the tractors drive themselves now. Oh well.

      Glad to bring back a memory or two. Thanks for stopping by,
      ~Keith

      Delete
  2. Great post Keith. I want to see the picture of you in the wagon though. I can just imagine you having fun with Grandpa. Those memories are the best kinds.

    I enjoy the twisties at a nice easy pace. And the easy going gentle rolling puttering along twisties not the 'trying to race through 15 mph corners' kind of twisties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have my sister on a mission. If she succeeds, and I have every reason to believe she will, I will post the photo here.

      "...easy going gentle rolling puttering along..." sounds like my style all the time, not just on the twisties :^)
      ~k

      Delete
  3. Keith:

    being from the city we really didn't go to the country much. We went to a John Deere tractor museum and saw all the machinery on display, makes you wonder how they did it before mechanization. Can't imagine towing a hoe behind an oxen back in the old days.

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bob,
      My other Grandfather never did adapt to tractors. My Dad would do the plowing and heavy work with the tractor, but my Grandfather would use the horse team for the cultivating and anything else he could use them for. He died when I was eight years old. I remember the horses barely. And, how did the farmers do it before mechanization? In a very much slower, smaller, and more and labor intensive scale.
      ~k

      Delete
  4. Circle blue

    Get a Ural, they're the tractors of the motorcycling world, you'll be right at home...

    Dom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dom,
      Oh how I've thought about a Ural! If it would get 50mpg, and if I could fit it into my budget, and if it would fit in the limited space available in my garage, and if..., and if...

      I think you get the idea. But, you are absolutely correct, I have no doubts I'd be right at home.
      ~Keith

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. Yep. Went out there to test ride a scooter. I had high hopes, but it didn't work out. Of course, I couldn't resist dropping the name Marthasville for two reasons: Those in the know would figure out I was scooter shopping; and, to see if someone from Up North noticed. I'd say she did.

      It's a wee town now. I don't think it has a post office, but you can still tell it is a town.
      ~k

      Delete