My secret signals

Hell-B · 06-13-2008, 05:41 PM

I'm going to let you in on my (apparently) secret signals.

Since you repealed measure 37, it means that I must cultivate, mow, do something with land that there is noway that I can subsist on. This also means that I must move machinery on a rural road.

Now I know that you really like this road because even though it's posted at 40..not counting the temporary 25 right now..you can go 60 or more. It gets you away from the crowded freeway and you can really go.

I'll do my best to stay as far as possible to the right side. I will also go as fast as the machinery will go.

You know it's really scary when you fly by forcing the oncoming car into the gravel and I'm on an open piece of machinery.

Can't you slow down and use a little common sense? You know that not too much farther down the road you will be backed up at a stop sign anyway.

Now here's where I'm going to let you in on my secret signal....

When I extend my left arm straight out to the left...it means that I need to turn LEFT.
It doesn't mean for three more cars to speed up to 65 and squeeze by.

You shook me up so bad that I hit my hand on the open wheel. Luckily it didn't yank me off.
Thank you for your future considerations.

fishkisser · 06-13-2008, 06:04 PM

I feel your frustration ...
Moving farm machinery from field to field is a pain and can be dangerous ...
Its never the locals but the city folk can drive you nuts ...
I used to just keep the brush hog up on the three point and keep er spinning ...
That usually backed em off and if it didn't ... I just dropped it down a little and watched the gravel fly ...

PIR8 Hook · 06-14-2008, 07:12 AM

I'm REALLY not trying to stir up the pot OR flame you in any way

, In fact I feel darn sorry for your position and realize that you are unappreciated too, but....
there are two sides here that could be courtous.

I live off Hwy 22 near Hwy 99W. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a line, moving at parade speed because a piece of farm machinery was holding up a line of cars & 18 wheelers over a mile long or longer. Yes, People get frustrated and take STUPID chances.

Don't suppose that they could pull into a field opening or across a driveway and let them by before another innocent person is killed on the Hwy?

Shark Bait · 06-14-2008, 08:00 AM

Ahhh yes.... I remember those days.

I always pulled over when I could, but when you are 20+ feet wide and 60+ feet long there aren't many options. My favorite times were when drivers would ignore the pilot car on bridges and narrow sections of the road. I made one guy back all the way back across the 219 bridge over the Willamette.

I don't know whether it was because he was angry or just couldn't back up but he needed both lanes to do it.

So I feel for you Papermaker and watch out for the crazies!

SB

Hogmaster · 06-14-2008, 09:17 AM

Maybe you should get an amp, CD and some really big speakers.

Then crank up that "International Harvester" song so popular on the radio right now.

"Get back on the Interstate!"

Maybe you are too courteous.

Closer to the centerline?

walt1er · 06-14-2008, 08:05 PM

This kind of thing reminds of something my grampa used to say:

Everyone has one, no choice.
Some people choose to be one.
If you're not sure if you've chosen to be one or not, you should reconsider the choices you're making.

I used to drive tractors up and down Lakeshore Drive in Vancouver. Irrigating corn for a local farmer, which involved hauling 40 foot pipe from field to field, put me through two years of college. I always chose to make that haul as easy as possible for the cars behind me.

The drivers in the cars behind me chose to be one, or not.

Hell-B · 06-14-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogmaster

Maybe you should get an amp, CD and some really big speakers.

Then crank up that "International Harvester" song so popular on the radio right now.

"Get back on the Interstate!"

Maybe you are too curteous.

Closer to the centerline?

I've been putting a little thought into this and maybe I should hug the center line thus not enticing people to go around.

Back when I was younger and helping the farm prosper, I drove a combine with a 12 foot header down the same roads. Had to swerve out around mailboxes but never had a problem.
Guess it's all a sign of the times and I just don't get it.
Thanks to you that feel my frustrations.....for the rest?

Hog...I believe that's the first time I seen you mis-spell a word. We are all human aren't we. You words ring true.

Hogmaster · 06-14-2008, 09:19 PM

I knew it didn't look right!

I was in a hurry this morning.

Trust me, it ain't the first, but thanks for noticing!

And I really feel for ya. It is a sign of the times. People are always in a hurry these days (me too). Ooops!

But if you get the amp and it doesn't work, you could always go for some George Thorogood (and yes, that is spelled right

).

You know,

"One bourbon, one whiskey, one beer"

That might get them to slow down.

Smoked Salmon · 06-14-2008, 09:33 PM

Heh. I get a kick out of your farm equipment driving down the road. I've been behind many times, and take the opportunity to look out the side window and see all the stuff that gets missed at speed.

Thanks for that.

Hell-B · 06-15-2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoked Salmon

Heh. I get a kick out of your farm equipment driving down the road. I've been behind many times, and take the opportunity to look out the side window and see all the stuff that gets missed at speed.

Thanks for that.

Now your talking.

Been stuck in some complete tie ups on rural roads and seen things that I never knew were there. And I've been around for a while.

Chrome Bumper · 06-16-2008, 07:31 AM

Drive a bigger tractor. You didn't have any problems with the 12' combine did you?

Oregon_Lass · 06-16-2008, 11:21 AM

I grew up in the country and farm machinery on the road was a given...you just baha around it through the berry fields!

(no berries were harmed in the passing of combines)

Now as a suburbanite, I have much respect for those big machines, they are way bigger and way heavier than me

. The drivers are always hugging the side as much as they can reasonably do so, to give cars an opportunity to pass. Not worth it to risk your life or the mental anguish of a machine operator who injured or kills you to push it.