It all started so simply,…a trailer reversing lesson which would teach wonderful WWOOFER Carla the dos and don’ts, the musts and must nots of hitching, unhitching, reversing and parking the stock trailer. Done a million (well, maybe not quite) times and only to take a few moments. Well, it didn’t all go quite to plan…it didn’t take just a few moments and Greg learnt more than Carla did !!! I guess there has to be one of those old tried and tested sayings that would be more than appropriate for the occasion… I guess Greg had a few tried and tested of his own ( which I am glad I never got to hear).
Greg tried to save a few moments and the ball on the truck hitch would do, it was a “bit” small but it was already attached and he would have to go and get the right one..he was only going a few feet, no problem (?). First lesson Carla….ALWAYS do what Greg didn’t, and get the RIGHT size hitch. Second big lesson Carla, and really heed this one, the brake chain is there for BRAKING and restraining the trailer.. should the wrong hitch ball be inadvertently used. As Greg was turning the big growling Ford…the trailer with the wrong ball and without the brake chain hit a bump ( that shouldn’t have been there !?). lesson three Carla, if you have a trailer which doesn’t meet lessons one and two, remember lesson three…don’t hit a bump ! So, there was Greg teaching Carla the finer points of trailering and said improperly hitched trailer slowly slid by his window. With the rubber mats nicely installed within, the tongue of the trailer pointed to the sky and the wheels ( incidentally Carla, lesson four !) NOT blocked….the trailer took itself for a short and clearly unplanned little ride...in reverse and right into the fence line which very fortunately stopped it continuing the disaster by planting itself in the culvert below. So, Carla did get a lesson in fixing fencing out of all this…sadly, she already had that lesson but the whole incident will stick in her brain and she will (hopefully) always remember what she clearly SHOULDN’T do when moving a trailer. Great job Greg !! No blame policy called into effect…again !!
Malc and Annie continued to soldier on despite the strange behaviour in the pasture. Annie buried nose deep in the garden waging war on the weeds and Malc (bless him) still constructing the newest edition of the Great Wall of China and trying to beat the rain which we know is inevitable. Thanks you two, and we hope that your day release off the ranch will be fun !
Well, news from the publisher and our book “QUEST and GERTIE a true story” will be out in November, if anyone would like a copy please just place your order..it’s fun being an Author !!
Got to go, take care, keep safe, M
Greg tried to save a few moments and the ball on the truck hitch would do, it was a “bit” small but it was already attached and he would have to go and get the right one..he was only going a few feet, no problem (?). First lesson Carla….ALWAYS do what Greg didn’t, and get the RIGHT size hitch. Second big lesson Carla, and really heed this one, the brake chain is there for BRAKING and restraining the trailer.. should the wrong hitch ball be inadvertently used. As Greg was turning the big growling Ford…the trailer with the wrong ball and without the brake chain hit a bump ( that shouldn’t have been there !?). lesson three Carla, if you have a trailer which doesn’t meet lessons one and two, remember lesson three…don’t hit a bump ! So, there was Greg teaching Carla the finer points of trailering and said improperly hitched trailer slowly slid by his window. With the rubber mats nicely installed within, the tongue of the trailer pointed to the sky and the wheels ( incidentally Carla, lesson four !) NOT blocked….the trailer took itself for a short and clearly unplanned little ride...in reverse and right into the fence line which very fortunately stopped it continuing the disaster by planting itself in the culvert below. So, Carla did get a lesson in fixing fencing out of all this…sadly, she already had that lesson but the whole incident will stick in her brain and she will (hopefully) always remember what she clearly SHOULDN’T do when moving a trailer. Great job Greg !! No blame policy called into effect…again !!
Malc and Annie continued to soldier on despite the strange behaviour in the pasture. Annie buried nose deep in the garden waging war on the weeds and Malc (bless him) still constructing the newest edition of the Great Wall of China and trying to beat the rain which we know is inevitable. Thanks you two, and we hope that your day release off the ranch will be fun !
Well, news from the publisher and our book “QUEST and GERTIE a true story” will be out in November, if anyone would like a copy please just place your order..it’s fun being an Author !!
Got to go, take care, keep safe, M
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