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I think it's been a week since I've had a chance to post something. It's been a week of water issues and disasters. I am now relatively knowledgeable in all things PVC and basic water systems. I think the last time I posted was Friday.
On Saturday Jim and I did all sorts of different jobs. We're getting referred to as the James Gang which Jim appreciates for the outlaw angle (Jesse James' gang) and I like for the musical side. My uncle who so cleverly dubbed us the James Gang confirmed it was for the music. We loaded a few trailers full of hay and got them back to headquarters. We cleaned out one of those 18-wheeler cow pods. It was bullshit, literally bull's shit (jokes and jokes and jokes). We went out into the pasture where the bulls had been kept and rounded up a couple of strays while everyone else was dealing with a clogged pipe that was depriving a few hundred cows of water. When Stephen got back he took us aside and told us how "damn proud" he was of us. Then while we were digging this hole right next to the bunkhouse Jim hit a pipe and water started flowing everywhere. The pipe eventually got fixed, had a little leak the next day, got fixed again, within an hour had a huge leak and left us without water for a night, and then finally got fixed with metal piping so that there could be no holes or cracks.
Sunday was our day off and I took the opportunity to do absolutely nothing. I'm thinking about hiking a nearby mountain and had intended to do so Sunday but I need to get over my cold first.
Monday I was fixing fence all day. It's not a terrible job. They just give you a four-wheeler, a ton of wire, a few posts, and some tools and stuff and you just go out for about 10 hours or so by yourself and check a whole pin for problems. Most of the problems are due to elk and are pretty easily managed. I went into town with Jim, Luke, and Nancy for dinner. Luke has already skyrocketed up the "People I Wish Were My Big Brother List". I think most people have that list whether they know it or not.
Tuesday I went all the way down the draw with my uncle and Juan and learned how to fix to water tanks. They fill up with float system that similar to the back of a toilet. After that we went up to a pasture that was having some issue with a big dirt tank. As it turns out the dam we had built a couple days back and been trampled and because the water had gotten too low it had turned to mud. This meant that 400 cows were without water and had to be moved immediately. We went back to HQ and got some more help and our horses and then moved them into a nearby pitch.
Wednesday and Thursday we moved the same cows down about 8 miles to a pasture with good water. We then built an new gate on one of the pastures. I think that was the hardest dirt on the planet.
Friday was another day fixing fence. I concluded it would be a lot better if I had headphones that had two working earbuds.
Today we had to move those same 400 cows even further to another pasture that has more grass. Afterwards I moved up from the bunkhouse to my aunt and uncle's place. The issue right now is that they don't know if they have the money to hire me on as a full-time hand. We're trying to work it out but it just doesn't look like it's in the numbers. If this does fall through I'll probably stay out here for for a week or so and then come back East in mid-July. Even if I'm not getting paid I'm sure learning a ton and getting a place to stay out of the deal.
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