Phil organised a great run, and definatly took us all round the houses - including Wayne Rooneys. He was even stood on the end of his drive with Colleen waving to us as we went past (I joke).
Starting in goostrey we went over through Macclesfield and Bollington, through Alderley Edge and up toward Manchester behind the airport. We then went back towards Mobberley and Morley so we could stop for food at there village Hall. A lovely, HUGE portion of Hotpot was very much appreciated when we got there. After this we headed back to Goostrey (starting point) travelling via Knutsford. When written like this it doesnt sound like we went very far and when I tell you it was 65 miles, you will still think it only as a small distance. Hpwever, when you are sat on the back of a tractor, highest speed being about 20mph its a stupidly long distance to have to go. Your rear end suffers for it too if you fail to remember a cushion.
Of course Junction Duty provides a great chance to photograph the other tractors that are behind you. I know you wont understnd Junction Duty, but it is simply the second tractor pulling up on a corner to tell the others where to go (you just look like a dork with your arm stuck out to the side). Thankfully mostare clumped together and therefore know where to go simply by watching the tractor ahead which gave me a while to snap away.
Before setting off I stood on the wall behind a row of tractors which gave me a pretty good, high vantage point to photograph across the yard. As you can see by looking at the sky we were expecting rain so everyone is wearing there waterproofs. The state of me in mine - I looked so hot. Though I'm pretty sure that very few people will agree with me about that.
This was the most well though out piece of additional transport. A trailer (admittedly there was a few) with a ROOF!!! Absolutely brilliant idea and one I think we should invest in for my poor brother who travels in a trailer without a roof. The best bit is inside.. they had a heater. Screw layering up for warmth and having to look like a michellin man all day they had a little house on wheel pretty much.
On the other hand, this fellow used a cab to keep himself dry and soaked his poor passengers. They were poor females too - who had to keep there hair looking alright. they managed this a lot better than I did its safe to say.
Oh this fellow had the most adorable tractor, a little grey fergie. Of course I know that infact they aren't very rare, however its paintwork was immaculate and he had a little ferguson trailer to match. However, no passengers.
No tractor road run is going to run perfectly smoothly, there was a small hold up when a farmer forgot to open his gate to allows the tractors to pass through for a bit of offroading. I think he got the idea that if he ignored us for long enough we would give up, turn round and find an alternative route. He was however very wrong and instead got a knock on his door.
I love this tractor, purely because it is incredibly similar to mine (though mines slightly faster, by all of 1mph). This man was also a keen photographer in his comical yellow mac so he was doing the same as me, photographing when stopped on junction duty. Sadly because I had the better tractor he had the better camera - a 5D, i was oh so jealous of him. He did let me have a go though :D
Now I realise this image isn't one that I really should have been proud of, its a bit blurry and out of focus but those two guys were such good fun and I really enjoyed talking to them. They always paused for a photo too. I also fell in love with the fact that two men were sharing a seat on such a small David Brown.
Convoy of tractors, about to face turning left as they go past me. This image is one of my favourite because it isn't an old man that is driving. Its a young lad, one of the newbies as they were called by Phil, driving for the first time.
Again another convoy. Lil' red one leading a collection of blue Fordson Majors. Taken in the same place as the one above, this time an older gentleman.
DINNERTIMEEE!
Finally, 43 miles down we stopped for lunch so it was another chance to take a couple of photographs. Somehow it turned out the tractors all parked in a curve, though I'm not complaining, meant we got some different photographs where they were't all parked in the standard straight line.
Taken slightly differently, I stood opposite and thought the sky looked pretty which is why you can barely see the tractors presence. I thought it would make a nice change. The tractors have dominated a lot of pictures and photography, though that is my own fault really. I spend an awful amount of time mulling around them.
Dinnertime over, I was one of the first out - clearly eager to continue driving round different places. Climbing on to my tractor I spotted a fab opportunity. "Birdseye view" of the tractors. This is my favourite image that I have taken. I love it.
Waheeeeeeey. Driving fast (9mph) round the corner is such fun.
I used a slightly longer shutter speed and followed the tractor as it went past me. I like the effect I got. The man wasn't too happy, he only just managed to find us after getting lost - somebody abandoned there junction duty. Shocking I know.
I liked it so much that I tried it again. With my two favourite tractor men buddies (seen above!). However I didnt get the same effect I wanted. Love the faces they are pulling and waving at me as they go past, they soon got the message I was going to photograph them at any opportunity I got. That doesnt sound too great does it? Ahh well, coulda been worse.
And well, thats just about it. 60+ miles of tractoring right there. Though of course they aren't the only images I have but you wouldn't want to sit and look at 127 images of tractors taken on Sunday 8th may would you? No I didnt think you would.
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