Too much snow...
I was out trying to clear snow for over five hours today; trying to dig a path from the East side of the shop around to the front with the tractor, so that I could clear the driveway and a path to the West side of the shop. I didn't get very far though - less than 1/4 of the way, and then I just could't get any more traction. The tires on the old Massey-65 are old and worn out, and I have no chains for them. I did move an incredible amount of snow, but there's just so much of the white stuff!! I ache all over from running the tractor; Everything on it is manual, which means a lot of work with the legs and particularly the knees, trying to shift the gears, work the clutch and brake, etc.
The snow out back there is more than 4' deep in places, and the piles of snow I was making with the tractor are 8' high or more. Unfortunately, driving back and forth moving the piles of snow winds up compacting some of it into ice, and that's when everything stops. It's frustrating, because I'm close to the point where it should start getting easier, but I just can't get a grip on the ground with the old tires. I'll have to see if I can get chains for them, and then I'll have to learn how to put them on.
I called it quits shortly after 3pm, then spent another hour clearing the snow from the shop's roll-up door so that I could close it again, and away from the fuel-storage tank outside. The other problem is that after five hours, the tractor must be getting low on gas, but I don't have any gas to put in it. The fuel-tank is nearly empty, and I can't get any fuel delivered to it because the yard is still snowed in. :P
As I was walking out of the West end of the shop and locking it up, Dwayne pulled up in his Kubota 4x4 tractor, and dug out the driveway (again) for us. He was on his way to dig out some other neighbours when he saw how bad our driveway looked, so he stopped to lend a quick hand. He said he'd come back in a couple days to help dig out the rest of it. I certainly appreciate the help our neighbours have been giving us the last couple of days, and I hope that I'll be able to return the favour some day.
The snow out back there is more than 4' deep in places, and the piles of snow I was making with the tractor are 8' high or more. Unfortunately, driving back and forth moving the piles of snow winds up compacting some of it into ice, and that's when everything stops. It's frustrating, because I'm close to the point where it should start getting easier, but I just can't get a grip on the ground with the old tires. I'll have to see if I can get chains for them, and then I'll have to learn how to put them on.
I called it quits shortly after 3pm, then spent another hour clearing the snow from the shop's roll-up door so that I could close it again, and away from the fuel-storage tank outside. The other problem is that after five hours, the tractor must be getting low on gas, but I don't have any gas to put in it. The fuel-tank is nearly empty, and I can't get any fuel delivered to it because the yard is still snowed in. :P
As I was walking out of the West end of the shop and locking it up, Dwayne pulled up in his Kubota 4x4 tractor, and dug out the driveway (again) for us. He was on his way to dig out some other neighbours when he saw how bad our driveway looked, so he stopped to lend a quick hand. He said he'd come back in a couple days to help dig out the rest of it. I certainly appreciate the help our neighbours have been giving us the last couple of days, and I hope that I'll be able to return the favour some day.