The last of winter, I hope.

Last week I started with a new driving student in the log truck. This is a two week course I teach through the college to train folks to haul logs. We have two trucks, one for hauling long logs and one for short logs. So far we have hauled short logs, and not just any short logs.....all pumpkins! Five to six logs per load. We are leaving loaded at 80,000 pounds every load. 

Day two had us crossing over the mountain with a little bit of snow on the road. My student is very green and while I did let him drive in the section I took the photo I drove up the part of the mountain most trouble hits. The second load we did on day two my student had trouble taking off from a stop near the mill and got the truck hopping a bit. He tossed me around the cab like a rag doll and slammed my elbow into the door grab bar fracturing my elbow. 

Today was day six and my student is just not cutting it. He is doing 75% of tasks just fine and 25% of it he just cannot improve. It's too bad as that 25% has to do with engine rpm management, speed control, and shifting gears. We have 18 speed non synchronized transmissions. First thing out of the gate today he ran a red light coming into town and quickly changed lanes without looking to go straight and not turn. Lucky for him nobody was beside us. He then took the truck into a shopping center parking lot to turn around and started to get into trouble so I tried to tell him where to go and he blew up on me for telling him to stop and turn left. 

I took him out of the driver seat and I got the truck out of the area and through town before I let him drive again, after a long talk. I was a half second away of taking the truck back to the college and telling him he was done. He has four more days to drive and only one more strike before I fail him, even if he makes the whole week I doubt I will pass him as that 25% is critical and he just does not have the ability to learn it. 

Day one I slipped off the deck of the truck trying to step on the step and fell off the truck with my right leg caught in the step. I had to fall all the way down to avoid breaking my leg. I only bruised my hamstring. After the driver broke my elbow on day two it has been an interesting time for me to say the least. 

Any way we have hauled ten of these loads, four with smaller logs, and more to come....

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Good grief, fractured your elbow…that’s an automatic failure right then and there 🧐

Absolutely no snow in Idaho, was interesting staying in a ski town with absolutely no snow 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

We have a dozen chicks in the garage. They’re about ready to go outside to join the mature flock, but I want it to be 50° overnight consistently and it’s still dipping down into the 30’s overnight. Maybe Easter weekend?