PIckin' up the Pickup

Today was a little bit of a change of pace. We did chores, and by that time Merle had decided that he wanted to go and get his new pickup (the one that I mentioned was ordered a month or so ago) in Belle Fourche. So... I had to run out to the hay field by Hisle Dam to get fuel to Ross, and run home and change and we headed out. It took us the full three hours to get there, and we stopped to eat on the way too- so that added some time. When we got up to the dealership, the deal was we wanted to get out of there asap so that we could get the pickup down to Blake's Trailer Repair and have them put the ball in it right away before they closed. So, we pull in and Merle asks if there is any way that the pickup could be taken right away while he filled out the paper work and the guys says: yeah, no problem. He moves is out into the parking lot and hands me the keys! Seriously...I hopped into a brand new (9 miles on it) 2010, red, four door F350- sweet! I drove it all the way back to Rapid with and through town to Blake's Trailer Sales- I cannot tell you how white my kuckles were driving that brand new pickup through Rapid, but it wasn't any worse for the wear! I got there and they started putting in the ball right away. After he had finished the paperwork and made some other quick stops, Merle showed up. It didn't take them long after that and it was ready to go~pretty cool. So, he let's me continue to drive it out of town to a shed where we parked it for the rest of the night until we left town.

I hopped in the other pickup and we headed back in. It was the first day of the Central States Fair today, so we stopped by there to kill an hour or so before the races (the big planned event of the week). The fair was pretty nice because there weren't many people around yet, but on the downside I don't think that all the vendors were neccesarily in full swing- but, non the less it was cool. After about an hour or so there we stopped at the Valley Sports Bar and Grill and ate a pretty tasty supper, then headed over to the race track. We met Harv and Carol there and found some pretty good seats in the grandstands. Since I love the races, and I haven't been to one in over two- maybe three years- I had a lot of fun! There were some pretty good races, and lots of close calls and burnouts. No one got hurt, well except some person in the stands that they called an emt for - no idea what was going on there. But, otherwise they were pretty clean fun, and I had great company, so that was fun too!

But, the races got done about 10:45ish and we started back for the new pickup that we left at a friends shed on the way home. I hopped back in it, and we followed each other back. Merle said he talked on the phone to Harv most of the way (no wonder I couldn't get ahold of him- lol), rather than talking on the phone I ate like 1,000 sunflower seeds, cranked the ac so I was freezing, and blared the radio. It worked- but results in a numb mouth, freezing body, and more hearing damage to already sore ears! haha, what a mess. But, we made it the two hours home with no problems, and I am sure glad because there isn't a grill guard or anything on that pickup yet. In fact, I got to thinking about how much work a new vehicle really is around here- just because we got it from the dealership and it runs doesn't mean it's ready. It still needs a bed liner, already got the ball; it'll maybe need mud flaps, new tires, a radio, running boards, and new bumpers/guards. Yeah...it's definitly not ranch proof yet, but it's good enough for what we needed it for.

The reason we went up in such a hurry like today is becasue the Ford garage doesn't think they will have Merle's pickup ready to bring me home on Tuesday, and he wanted to pick this four door up while he still had someone around to drive it back- so it'll work out good. As far as the pikcup itself goes: it runs like a top, the cab is so quiet you wouldn't even know it was a diesel, and it shifts so amazingly smooth- lots of fun to drive, but a little nerve racking. Now, I can say I put the first 120 miles on that thing before Merle even drove it! lol- cannot believe he trusted me to take that thing!

But, I think it's my bedtime, a busy day- not too difficult, but there was a lot of running. Not sure what tomorrow may bring- guess we'll see:) It was a fun day and a great time at the races!