An Internet friend (coalsmoke) asked me what I liked about running equipment and the grader in particular, I had to think about it a little bit, do what you love and love what you do sums it up for me. All you equipment operators out there know that there is sometimes a bit of ego and a lot of pride that comes along with the profession....and I am no exception, so here is an edited version of the note I sent back to him:
Well "S" the grader thing and me go back a long way....I have run the other stuff and am a fair hand at dozer and scraper although due to my size I will never be good at hoe, I just can't run the pedals and the joysticks safely at the same time without my legs being in the way. I was taught the grader by an uncle who was in my opinion one of the best. Its more than the clowns on highways do with them ( bunch of blade draggers ) For me its about straight tracks and perfection, I used to level locations just by feel and would get mad when someone brought out the transit or laser, don't know if i will get that good again......There is just so much the grader can do....If it doesn't roll or get stuck it should be able to do it....the fun is taking the machine to the absolute limit and getting a little scared....besides my tracks are usually the finished product and there is no better bragging rights than taking down a slope better than the dozer or even the hoe (And not leaving even a single tire track on a 100ft slope) At one time I was going to buy one. I am back in AB doing the supervision thing, hope to get some time in and bank some money for taxes, if it wasn't for that I really do think I would say F&ck the oil companies and just go back to working for a wage.....
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