The Tale of a Rock
Sometimes I get carried away and when I do I usually haul away whatever inspired me to be an idiot. This rock caught my attention over 10 years ago and remains my favorite despite the tons and tons of stone that has passed through my hands. Not only was the rock memorable, the experience of hauling it away is something I won’t forget anytime soon.
I found the rock on a hillside pasture that was very rough and fairly steep. It was best left alone but the inner idiot in me had to have it.
First off it was partially buried and needed some shovel work to set it ‘free’. Then because of it’s odd shape getting it to stay on the rollers as I used a come-along to winch it up my makeshift ramps was nearly impossible. It would shift and fall off and took 3 attempts before I got it loaded. By then my poor truck didn’t look the same. It was old, the box was rusted and it had folded up like an accordion from using the tie down hole in the back corner as the anchor for the hand winch.
Getting it loaded ended up to be the easy part. Now I had a rock weighing probably a ton and a half (if not more) on the truck in a rough field with a pretty good slope to get up. The high grass was still wet and my first try going uphill only ended with the wheels spinning. I had no choice but to go downhill to where the field leveled out enough so I could get a running start.
Second try – with my head bouncing off the ceiling of the cab I made it about a quarter of the way up. Third try – I backed up further on the flat and really hit the gas. OOPS only half way and a near concussion as the truck literally bounced in the air even with so much weight on it. I’m sure I heard something on the truck break but am afraid to look. Now I’m thinking it’s best to dump the rock, I’m never going to make it. The sensible thing to do would be to give up but no one ever called me sensible.
So on to the forth try – same effect but progress and hope, I made it almost all the way to the top. I’m not sure how many more attempts I made but I did prevail.
Now I’m on the side of the road and I take a look at the truck. Yep – something broke. A leaf spring had snapped. So now I have a crumpled box and a busted leaf spring. Considering how old the truck was and the poor shape it already was in I figured it was no real loss. The only other thing looking askew was the way the front end pointed skyward.
The couple of miles driving to town proved to be a little difficult. I swear the front tires left the ground when ever I went over the slightest bump. Steering was next to impossible. But I was committed now and had to press on. Speeding along at 5 miles per hour I made the distance to town in record time. I did worry about getting pulled over by the police but figured who ever stopped me would just stand there slack jawed while I made my escape.
Getting it off proved to be as hard as getting it on. It was a good thing I had more stubbornness in me than the rock had. Needless to say when it hit the ground – it was set. Good thing it landed in the direction I wanted it to face.
In the end that rock killed my truck. The clutch had been fairly well burned up too in the effort. It limped around for a while longer as I looked for a replacement since it was just too old and beaten up (by me) to be worth sinking any more money into. The one thing I have to say – A little Ford Ranger can take a beating and really carries a load. Since then I’ve abused another 5 or 6 and they never complain.
I swear that rock has a grin on its face.
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April 30th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
It is quite a deterrent experience. I tried to imagine what has been happening. You have not mentioned any black smoke from the exhaust.
This was not human. Or can I call you human?
April 30th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
The lower right half looks like a turtle! It’s a good rock indeed. I’m glad I’m not the only one who follows through after having committed to something that seems impossible!
April 30th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
This is another one that reminds me of something my dad would do. We’ve ridden down the street with the front wheels coming off the ground like that. I also once helped my dad tear down a house with a tow truck. It all sounds normal to me.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
That is an awesome rock. I would want it too. It is good to know someone who loves rocks enough to destroy things to get them!(-: LOL
Rocks, Rock!!!!!!
April 30th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Well, it IS a very nice rock. You should be proud!
April 30th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I would have wanted that rock too. Shame the old truck gave out, but you do have the awesome rock. *chuckle*
April 30th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Some rocks are just worth it. Very pretty setting you have there. I like rocks, I just don’t like getting rocks.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:29 am
There’s definitely a face on that rock’s face. It looks both goofy and malevolent to me, good qualities to have in a garden.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:33 am
Looks like it’s smirking at you! For the rest of us would-be rock movers, consider posting a how-to on your roller/ramp/hand winch setup. Not that my Jetta could handle the load, but I would love to be able to do this when I finally graduate to a truck! (maybe not the 8 running starts part
May 1st, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Now, that’s a heck of a rock. Definitely worth giving up a truck for… Right? Seriously, it sounded like that old girl may have been ready to go anyway.
May 6th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Heh…go big or stay home, right?