I had another very good trip to my friend's ranch in Suwanee County. Both of us worked until we nearly dropped.
I left Monday morning about 9:00 AM and rode the 168 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with one fuel stop in Ocala. The temp was 61 F / 16 C and low humidity, a beautiful, clear day without a cloud in the sky. Even though I was on super slab most of the way, it was a nice ride without the heat and humidity. It was 76 F / 24 C when I got to the ranch.
My friend was on the tractor raking the cut hay into rows for the guy pulling the baler. I rode out there on the Tiger. It is great for getting around on the ranch. She asked me to bring her some water and told me the keys were in her truck. I rode back to the ranch house, got her some bottles of water and drove the truck back out to the hay field. The hay fields are adjacent to the the barns so I left the truck for her so she would not have to drive the tractor back to the house and walked the 3/4 mile back to the house.
I grabbed that paint brush that fits my hand so well and continued primering the porch of her rental house. The afternoon passed quickly and around 17:30 she came and told me to knock off and get ready for dinner. She cooked fresh fish, grits and pintos, a mighty fine meal.
The next morning, Tuesday we were set to work cattle and the cattle master she hired was to be there at 08:00. We needed to be ready to go and she went to bed early. I washed the dishes and went to be about a half an hour later. I set my alarm for 07:00 just in case I did not wake up.
I woke up at 06:30 without the alarm, turned the coffee pot on and went and knocked on her door at 07:00. The cattle master was there at eight sharp and I opened the gate for him. We got the vet supplies, the records she keeps on the cattle, ear tags and the tool to put them in the ears and off we went to the corral. She had separated and herded the cattle to be worked on Sunday and had them in the holding pen waiting.
The plan was to drive the cattle into the run to the chute and apply topical parasite medication to each cow one at at time and vaccinate any needing vaccinations. Those without ear tags would be tagged. Now getting those yearlings and calves into the narrow run to the chute was a challenge. It takes two people to drive them and one ready to slam the gate when they go into the run. As the least experienced, I was the the gate man. That meant I had to climb up on the corral and jump down and quickly shut and latch the gate. We could get six to eight cattle into the run at one time.
Once in the narrow run, I slid fence posts across the run from one side to the other, one post about 4 feet up and the other about 2 feet up to keep the cattle from trying to back out. The cattle master applied the topical solution and did the vaccinations while my friend did the ear tagging. Once they were finished with a cow, the cattle master opened the front of the chute and the cow ran out to a holding pen. The next cow in line would try to follow it and the cattle master would close the front of the chute and my friend would close the back of the chute as soon as the cow was in the chute. I would quickly move the fence posts up behind the last cow in line. When the last cow was in the holding pen, the process began again with the next group to be herded into the run.
We had to dodge hooves when a cow would try to kick. The smallest calf in the lot kicked my friend hard in the thigh. The cattle master had to throw that calf down rodeo style and drag her by the rear leg into the run. The holding pen and the run collect a great quantity of cow manure and urine rather quickly. Being the guy on the ground behind the cows is not a clean job.
It took us a little over four hours and the job was done. We separated the calves from their mommas for weaning and herded them to a separate pasture. I then checked all the gates in the lane to make sure they were closed and we opened the gate from the hold pen to the lane. There is a mid point gate across the lane and I had closed it. Once all the cows were in the lane and heded to the midpoint, my friend went ahead and opened the gate to the pasture she wanted the herd in. The cattle master opened the mid point gate and he and I herded the cows towrd the oen gate and into the pasture. Job done.
Of course the calves started bleating for their mommas and their mommas starting mooing for their calves. That usually goes on for a couple of days. It is worse early in the morning and late in the afternoon, the usual nursing time.
With that job done, I jumped on the mower and mowed the renter's yard, 1.5 acres. After I did that chore, my friend sent me to town to pick up some more primer and vet supplies. I took a shower first as I was dusty and dirty and my jeans were very aromatic. I smelled like a barn yard!
We both turned in early that night. My friend was hurting. Between driving the tractor all day the previous day and climbing corral fences and tagging ears, her carpal tunnel flared up really bad. I can tell you I had no trouble falling asleep.
I woke up about 07:00 Wednesday morning, turned on the coffee pot and went outside to watch the sun rise. It was so peaceful and quiet. Becaue her wrist was in such bad shape and she was plum worn out, I vacuumed her house for her. I then completed the primer on the porch. About 15:00 and went back to the house and she was sound asleep on the sofa still covered with the blanket I had put on her when I left to go paint. I tiptoed into the guest room, rolled my jacket into a pillow and stretched out on the carpet. I had changed the bed and did not want to mess it up. I slept until about 16:30. I guess I heard her stirring around and I woke up.
Since there was not enough time to start another project, I asked her if she wanted to out to eat. Keep in mind that "out to eat" is a 30 mile round trip. She said she did not feel good and was too tired.
I decided to go home rather than wait until Thursday morning as I had planned to do. I packed up and loaded the bike. Basically, I didn't want her to try and fix dinner for me. It was now about 17:15. My friend was concerned about me leaving so late. She does not like me riding at night because of the wildlife danger. I assured her that by dark I would be near or on the turnpike and civilization and out of the danger zone. I told her I would stop and eat and refuel. She asked me to call when I got home. She said she would be sleeping on the sofa until I called and then she would go to bed. It was now almost 18:00. I told her not to start worrying until after 21:30 reminding her that I would eat and refuel.
I had put the liners in my riding jacket and riding pants and I had my windbreaker easily accessible. I needed them. I rode south and watched a gorgeous sunset. I arrived home safely at 21:10 and called my friend.
It was a great three days and I came home a little stiff and sore; but feeling great physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That ranch is really a healing place for me. It always feel good to help another person.
I did take some photos; but I left my camera at my friend's. I will pick it up Tuesday on my way to North Carolina and post the pics when I get back home.
I left Monday morning about 9:00 AM and rode the 168 miles in 2 hours and 25 minutes with one fuel stop in Ocala. The temp was 61 F / 16 C and low humidity, a beautiful, clear day without a cloud in the sky. Even though I was on super slab most of the way, it was a nice ride without the heat and humidity. It was 76 F / 24 C when I got to the ranch.
My friend was on the tractor raking the cut hay into rows for the guy pulling the baler. I rode out there on the Tiger. It is great for getting around on the ranch. She asked me to bring her some water and told me the keys were in her truck. I rode back to the ranch house, got her some bottles of water and drove the truck back out to the hay field. The hay fields are adjacent to the the barns so I left the truck for her so she would not have to drive the tractor back to the house and walked the 3/4 mile back to the house.
I grabbed that paint brush that fits my hand so well and continued primering the porch of her rental house. The afternoon passed quickly and around 17:30 she came and told me to knock off and get ready for dinner. She cooked fresh fish, grits and pintos, a mighty fine meal.
The next morning, Tuesday we were set to work cattle and the cattle master she hired was to be there at 08:00. We needed to be ready to go and she went to bed early. I washed the dishes and went to be about a half an hour later. I set my alarm for 07:00 just in case I did not wake up.
I woke up at 06:30 without the alarm, turned the coffee pot on and went and knocked on her door at 07:00. The cattle master was there at eight sharp and I opened the gate for him. We got the vet supplies, the records she keeps on the cattle, ear tags and the tool to put them in the ears and off we went to the corral. She had separated and herded the cattle to be worked on Sunday and had them in the holding pen waiting.
The plan was to drive the cattle into the run to the chute and apply topical parasite medication to each cow one at at time and vaccinate any needing vaccinations. Those without ear tags would be tagged. Now getting those yearlings and calves into the narrow run to the chute was a challenge. It takes two people to drive them and one ready to slam the gate when they go into the run. As the least experienced, I was the the gate man. That meant I had to climb up on the corral and jump down and quickly shut and latch the gate. We could get six to eight cattle into the run at one time.
Once in the narrow run, I slid fence posts across the run from one side to the other, one post about 4 feet up and the other about 2 feet up to keep the cattle from trying to back out. The cattle master applied the topical solution and did the vaccinations while my friend did the ear tagging. Once they were finished with a cow, the cattle master opened the front of the chute and the cow ran out to a holding pen. The next cow in line would try to follow it and the cattle master would close the front of the chute and my friend would close the back of the chute as soon as the cow was in the chute. I would quickly move the fence posts up behind the last cow in line. When the last cow was in the holding pen, the process began again with the next group to be herded into the run.
We had to dodge hooves when a cow would try to kick. The smallest calf in the lot kicked my friend hard in the thigh. The cattle master had to throw that calf down rodeo style and drag her by the rear leg into the run. The holding pen and the run collect a great quantity of cow manure and urine rather quickly. Being the guy on the ground behind the cows is not a clean job.
It took us a little over four hours and the job was done. We separated the calves from their mommas for weaning and herded them to a separate pasture. I then checked all the gates in the lane to make sure they were closed and we opened the gate from the hold pen to the lane. There is a mid point gate across the lane and I had closed it. Once all the cows were in the lane and heded to the midpoint, my friend went ahead and opened the gate to the pasture she wanted the herd in. The cattle master opened the mid point gate and he and I herded the cows towrd the oen gate and into the pasture. Job done.
Of course the calves started bleating for their mommas and their mommas starting mooing for their calves. That usually goes on for a couple of days. It is worse early in the morning and late in the afternoon, the usual nursing time.
With that job done, I jumped on the mower and mowed the renter's yard, 1.5 acres. After I did that chore, my friend sent me to town to pick up some more primer and vet supplies. I took a shower first as I was dusty and dirty and my jeans were very aromatic. I smelled like a barn yard!
We both turned in early that night. My friend was hurting. Between driving the tractor all day the previous day and climbing corral fences and tagging ears, her carpal tunnel flared up really bad. I can tell you I had no trouble falling asleep.
I woke up about 07:00 Wednesday morning, turned on the coffee pot and went outside to watch the sun rise. It was so peaceful and quiet. Becaue her wrist was in such bad shape and she was plum worn out, I vacuumed her house for her. I then completed the primer on the porch. About 15:00 and went back to the house and she was sound asleep on the sofa still covered with the blanket I had put on her when I left to go paint. I tiptoed into the guest room, rolled my jacket into a pillow and stretched out on the carpet. I had changed the bed and did not want to mess it up. I slept until about 16:30. I guess I heard her stirring around and I woke up.
Since there was not enough time to start another project, I asked her if she wanted to out to eat. Keep in mind that "out to eat" is a 30 mile round trip. She said she did not feel good and was too tired.
I decided to go home rather than wait until Thursday morning as I had planned to do. I packed up and loaded the bike. Basically, I didn't want her to try and fix dinner for me. It was now about 17:15. My friend was concerned about me leaving so late. She does not like me riding at night because of the wildlife danger. I assured her that by dark I would be near or on the turnpike and civilization and out of the danger zone. I told her I would stop and eat and refuel. She asked me to call when I got home. She said she would be sleeping on the sofa until I called and then she would go to bed. It was now almost 18:00. I told her not to start worrying until after 21:30 reminding her that I would eat and refuel.
I had put the liners in my riding jacket and riding pants and I had my windbreaker easily accessible. I needed them. I rode south and watched a gorgeous sunset. I arrived home safely at 21:10 and called my friend.
It was a great three days and I came home a little stiff and sore; but feeling great physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That ranch is really a healing place for me. It always feel good to help another person.
I did take some photos; but I left my camera at my friend's. I will pick it up Tuesday on my way to North Carolina and post the pics when I get back home.
I'd sleep for a week after that kind of work.
Her ranch is about 20 miles from the Suwanee River. 
