A Trailer Ride at the Family Gathering
A Trailer Ride at the Family Gathering
By Allan Olson
Nestled on the banks of the Rainy River in Koochiching County sits a quaint little cabin and and an old barn. The top half of the barn has been modified to use for family gatherings for eating, visiting and, of course, having a beverage or two.
Over the years, many family members have made significant improvements to the area, which have served our large family quite well.
The property is surrounded by acres of woods, fields and trails that make it ideal for family members to go four-wheeling (mudding) and – the favorite of many and possibly a first for many family members – tractor-trailer rides.
The tractor and its passengers have been known to travel around the secluded family property at all times of the night, and sometimes even the very early morning hours. No announcement is needed; if the tractor is running and hitched, guests come running from all corners of the property for a ride.
Last weekend, my kids and I were some of the many passengers on the wagon on one of its more interesting exploits in recent times.
We headed down the single-lane dirt road at a slow pace with a wagon full of mostly young kids. The sounds of laughter and chattering rose above the chugging of the tractor. We turned off down a trail that was just wide enough for the wagon to clear, with the woods virtually surrounding us. The sounds of laughter and conversation did not diminish.
At last we came to the end of the trail, and when the driver turned to head back we all heard the unmistakable sound of something breaking, over all the other noise. The trailer hitch snapped.
That was the end of the ride for all its passengers. There was only one way back, and that was on foot.
Many of the kids jumped off the wagon and took off at a run as soon as they realized there was no other way to get back. Those kids (my oldest amongst them) weren’t seen again until the rest of us got back to the farm site, at least a mile away.
I still had three other children to help get back, and I certainly wasn’t running.
My youngest daughter proved to be the biggest challenge of them all. She had no footwear and complained about the prickly grass on her bare feet. Up on Dad’s shoulders she went, at least for a time, before she was forced to walk again, and despite her usual faking “My leg hurts!” tactic, somehow she survived. Eventually she got a ride for the short remaining distance on one of the four-wheelers that was sent out to pick up the stragglers.
My oldest daughter and I chose to walk the remainder of the way under our own power. She would go from holding my hand to running down the road with her arms and legs flailing in all directions. As a four-wheeler driven by one of her uncles appeared, she pulled me off the road. “I don’t want you to get run over,” she said.
Also onboard the ATV was her twin brother. “Should we pick up your sister?” the driver asked. “No,” was his response. He was in luck, as his sister was in agreement.
The ride back home Sunday afternoon was largely peaceful, as all but Abigail slept nearly the entire way. She fell asleep the final 10 minutes of the two-hour ride. When she woke up at home, she proudly announced, stretching her little arms, “I slept the whole way home.” “No you didn’t,” I said. “You only slept the last ten minutes.” I don’t know where she gets her energy, but I wish I could have some.
The opportunities for fun are endless when this family gets together, and this occasion was no different. I know for certain that as little as we saw the kids while we were there, they had a blast, too.
By Allan Olson
Nestled on the banks of the Rainy River in Koochiching County sits a quaint little cabin and and an old barn. The top half of the barn has been modified to use for family gatherings for eating, visiting and, of course, having a beverage or two.
Over the years, many family members have made significant improvements to the area, which have served our large family quite well.
The property is surrounded by acres of woods, fields and trails that make it ideal for family members to go four-wheeling (mudding) and – the favorite of many and possibly a first for many family members – tractor-trailer rides.
The tractor and its passengers have been known to travel around the secluded family property at all times of the night, and sometimes even the very early morning hours. No announcement is needed; if the tractor is running and hitched, guests come running from all corners of the property for a ride.
Last weekend, my kids and I were some of the many passengers on the wagon on one of its more interesting exploits in recent times.
We headed down the single-lane dirt road at a slow pace with a wagon full of mostly young kids. The sounds of laughter and chattering rose above the chugging of the tractor. We turned off down a trail that was just wide enough for the wagon to clear, with the woods virtually surrounding us. The sounds of laughter and conversation did not diminish.
At last we came to the end of the trail, and when the driver turned to head back we all heard the unmistakable sound of something breaking, over all the other noise. The trailer hitch snapped.
That was the end of the ride for all its passengers. There was only one way back, and that was on foot.
Many of the kids jumped off the wagon and took off at a run as soon as they realized there was no other way to get back. Those kids (my oldest amongst them) weren’t seen again until the rest of us got back to the farm site, at least a mile away.
I still had three other children to help get back, and I certainly wasn’t running.
My youngest daughter proved to be the biggest challenge of them all. She had no footwear and complained about the prickly grass on her bare feet. Up on Dad’s shoulders she went, at least for a time, before she was forced to walk again, and despite her usual faking “My leg hurts!” tactic, somehow she survived. Eventually she got a ride for the short remaining distance on one of the four-wheelers that was sent out to pick up the stragglers.
My oldest daughter and I chose to walk the remainder of the way under our own power. She would go from holding my hand to running down the road with her arms and legs flailing in all directions. As a four-wheeler driven by one of her uncles appeared, she pulled me off the road. “I don’t want you to get run over,” she said.
Also onboard the ATV was her twin brother. “Should we pick up your sister?” the driver asked. “No,” was his response. He was in luck, as his sister was in agreement.
The ride back home Sunday afternoon was largely peaceful, as all but Abigail slept nearly the entire way. She fell asleep the final 10 minutes of the two-hour ride. When she woke up at home, she proudly announced, stretching her little arms, “I slept the whole way home.” “No you didn’t,” I said. “You only slept the last ten minutes.” I don’t know where she gets her energy, but I wish I could have some.
The opportunities for fun are endless when this family gets together, and this occasion was no different. I know for certain that as little as we saw the kids while we were there, they had a blast, too.
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