[RHClarke]

Today was one of the best weather days we had in a long time. It was sunny and about 10oC with a slight wind blowing. One could labour away without instantly working up a sweat, and one did not have to worry about the billions of annoying flying insects that usually plague the barn.

We were short one of the crew (Grant was away), but we managed to get some more maintenance done before the snow flies, which by all accounts is due sooner than later this year. Bob headed off to Rockland to pick up some hydraulic fluid for the tractor. He and Grant swapped out a diverter valve on the wood splitter and as usual, needed more fluid than what was at hand.

I cleaned out my sea can and set up a winching system to put the HUP to bed. This is necessary as I will not be able to drive nose first into the box after I put in the divider. So, the plan is to hook up the winch system, back the HUP into the box far enough so that I can open the door, shut down and get out. After retrieving the hand winch and hooking it to the front bumper (design still being considered at this point), the idea is to hand wind the truck into the box until its rear wheels hit a cleat. Then it will be chocked.

Since we had no brilliant ideas about how to attach the hand winch to the front bumper, I decided to take the HUP for a spin. Bob decided to roto-till his garden and the small field behind the wagon lines. I met him at the field and he asked if I would like to take a few circuits of the freshly tilled field. Yessir! I had a blast pushing the HUP in both two and four wheel drive. The truck got really loose in two wheel drive, but tracked wonderfully at speed in four wheel drive.

After that fun, we cleaned up and headed home. Nothing like a CMP ride in the cool fall air to raise ones spirits!


Photos:
1 - Bob's pet project - any ideas?
2 - More of the same
3 - Grant's handiwork
4 - The HUP resting after a hard run