Worst. Hayride. Ever.

The National Weather Service predicted 20 to 30 mile per hour winds yesterday, Sunday, just in time for our church's harvest fest. The whole town was invited and DH agreed to bring hay wagons for a hay ride. Even with a wind advisory, the show must go on.

We brought sleeping bags and our riders covered up. Even though he cut the ride short, we turned into the wind just as a 40 mile an hour gust hit. It doesn't sound like much, but while sitting in an open wagon, it brought tears to our eyes. The wind howled through the metal sides of the wagons, utility lines galloped overhead and a light pole came down. Two toddler fairy princesses huddled in the blanket. with just their magic wands and foam and glitter wings showing. THeir mom wore a raincoat while the rest of us were in Carhartts and fur hats. Everyone survived, dashing into the church for hot chocolate as soon as we deplaned.

When we got home -- although we expected limbs down, and speculated there might be too many in the lane to get the wagons through -- we did not expect to see a pile of rubble where one of the other hay wagons stood.

Grandpa and Grandma watched it happen. This one, also with high sides to catch bales from the kick-baler, was made of wood and caught a lot more of the wind. All this summer I thought it seemed tippy when we unloaded it. The wind hit and the box tipped one way, then tipped the other way, then as another gust went through it rolled off the gear and crashed.

I guess that piece of equipment is now depreciated out.

Here's the break down list:
Neighbor's combine.
Monday, arrived to run corn. Broke down, needed chain links
Tuesday, broke down, needed hydraulic hoses. DH and Neighbor had to make two parts runs.
Wednesday, broke down.
Thursday, broke down.
Friday, bad weather.
Saturday, bad weather.

Cattle trailer ... needs something welded.

Truck tailgate ... doesn't latch. After all the abuse, I'm surprised it took this long for something to break.