9640 replies to this topic

[olcowhand]

My biggest issue will be the long days.  Once grass starts growing, my only day off on Sunday will be my only day to get the yard mowed and other chores done.  I'll have to get up early & feed the heifers before leaving for work.  It will be tough, but come to think of it......not much different from cow milking days.

  They do propane also, and yesterday they filled my tanks.  Talking to Mike he warned me of the top heavy nurse trucks and to take my time when loaded heavy.  Otherwise he said it's not a bad job.  When propane deliveries drop off, he's also in nurse trucks.  Every vehicle is different, so I'll have to gets used to the truck to feel comfortable driving.  I just hope this greenhorn doesn't get lost too many times! 

[shorty]

GPS can be handy. Even in the same county that you live in... And how would I know😒

Edited by shorty, February 27, 2016 - 08:22 AM.

[olcowhand]

GPS can be handy. Even in the same county that you live in... And how would I know

Yep, my cell phone has GPS and I'll be using it.  But Mike warned much of one county we'll serve will drop signal on me.  I did order a bluetooth headset for my cell phone so my hands will remain free, and easier to listen to GPS directions.

[JDBrian]

Daniel, Congratulations on the new job. It will be a big change from your past routines but also a nice chance to try something different and new, which doesn't always come to us as we get older. 

[UncleWillie]

Make sure your phone will play gps thru a bluetooth many wont. Look for a topographical atlas. Walmart used to carry them.. They will show every bump and dog track so you can find what the gps wont.

[toomanytoys84]

Keep in mind that if you have Google maps you can use the earth view locate the place you need to go is long press that spot and it will drop a pin and send you there. You don't need the address. I found this out traveling around wv where the address means nothing.

I've gotten to some pretty remote locations without having an address.

[camdigger]

Congratulations on the new job Dan'l.

A few things about finding rural properties I have found in various places....

At home, the counties all have a "parcel ownership map" that not only includes roads from simple bladed trails on up, but also includes the full legal name of the registered owner of each parcel larger than about 10 acres. These maps are easily obtained from the county offices and are often seen on the wall of businesses serving Ag Clients.

Some map applications have a readout of lat and long coordinates that can be entered into all the commonly available GPS navigation systems. The GPS systems like TomTom, Magellan, and Garmin are available from most stores starting at under 100$. Of the three, I've owned TomTOm and Garmin and found the Tomtom more reliable and less likely to send you down goat trails parallel to 4 lane hiways....YMMV

Some BlackBerry, Android, and Iphones have GPS tracking although not all have "verbal instructions" and not all will plan routes. Again, YMMV. Also, your cellular data plan may influence what data you can download and how fast the updates might be.

Good Luck Dan'l

[olcowhand]

My cell has verbal GPS and I've used it several times.  I also have unlimited date, but high speed is limited to I think 4GB, but I never use even close to 1GB, so I'll have plenty.  

[olcowhand]

Last night I fell asleep watching TV and slept 2 hours.  Then I went to bed & slept another 9 hours, and still feel tired today.  This last week I put in a hard day's work every day with roofing one day and then ceiling work the the rest of the weekdays.  Then yesterday I cut, machined, and welded together 9 plow gauge brackets.  I had orders for 2, so decided to make as many as I had materials for to make in case more needed them, and wanted to have some available for plow day.  Hard to bend the 1\4" x 2" straps on my HF bender, so I have to use my butt to push on the handle, and now today......yep, a sore butt!  

  Gotta feed out some rolled hay today, but not sure what we'll do the remainder.  May go somewhere, or may stay home & relax.   

[oldedeeres]

You mean you have some spare time? Unusual concept on this thread, lol. Congrats.

[toomanytoys84]

Free time is a luxury you can't afford to waste!

Seems a common trend with all of us our free time is time to do chores that we can't do when we are working!

I've had the weekend off and only did chores at home.

[olcowhand]

We're in Somerset, Ky just out making rounds at peddler's malls again. Nice relaxing day. Might be the last chance for me to do this for a few months. About to hit 70F.....a gorgeous day!

[KennyP]

Glad you are finally able to just get out and look! We did that a bunch many years ago! A loaf of bread, package of baloney, and cheese and we would go wherever!

[olcowhand]

Pleased with the fuel mileage of the Mountaineer.  Listed mpg average is 16, but we've driven 370 miles and we have averaged 19.2mpg, and top highway is listed as 20mpg.

[KennyP]

That's good! Good to hear you getting to use it!