Sunday Challenge

Yesterday while I plugged away at the outhouse pit, Himself took off on the big mower to mow the “top”, the entryway, to our little hideaway. He finished that up then decided to mow some of the trails so after a late breakfast, off he rode. I was preoccupied with the “pit” and busy. When he left, he had taken the walkie-talkie and given me the mate and told me if he had any trouble, he’d let me know via the little two-way radio.

After an hour or so, here he was on the walkie-talkie. Will you come on the 4-wheeler and bring the battery and battery cables. Okay. But easier said then done. I dragged and carried the heavy marine battery to the front porch and backed the 4-wheeler up to the porch. I managed, out of shrill will, to get the battery up and loaded and I was off to the rescue!

The mower deck had become wedged between two dirt banks. It had died and now the mower wouldn’t start. Himself hooked the battery charger up but still the mower wouldn’t start so he got the tow line and hooked the mower to the 4-wheeler. I could tell he was torn. Should I (i.e. the woman) ride the mower (linked BACKWARDS to the 4-wheeler) or should I drive the 4-wheeler and tow him riding backwards? Finally, Himself told me to get on the 4-wheeler, instructed me what gear, etc, and told me he would steer the mower backwards as I pulled him back up the trail. I was a bit nervous, as I’ve not had much experience towing and was much more nervous after he didn’t like the way I was turning the 4-wheeler around on the narrow path. I almost got off and told him to do it himself. I did tell him, come turn this around but he instructed and I persisted and soon the mower was attached by towline to the 4-wheeler.

He was riding backwards and couldn’t see that because of the torque on the mower, caught between two dirt ledges, the 4-wheeler, even in low gear and 4-wheel drive, was being pulled sideways towards a tree. I was fighting it and doing my best. He yelled. I stopped. I tried again. He yelled. I stopped. I tried to explain what was happening. He didn’t care. He didn’t verbalize that but I could tell by “the look”. So I tried again and got the “mule” back on the trail and we got to moving. I was a little unsteady at first and must have gone faster than he wanted and he yelled, “go slow!” On the down hills, the mower would roll and catch up to me. On the up hills, the rope would tighten and I would tow him up the hill. After a bit, I decided I was going to enjoy this no matter what. I was learning and doing something I hadn’t before. I laughed out loud and soon I was pulling him more steadily, at the low speed Himself demanded. So up the trail – and down – and soon we had the mower and Himself back in the shade at the cabin.
Back at the cabin, we both laughed and congratulated each other on the successful mission and will await the next challenge.