Tractor Tuesday - Unimog U500

Back in February I bliped the county council Unimog U400 and just a month ago, Tom's Unimog bought for his daughters 3rd birthday present in a years time!.

Today I heard the Unimog coming 10 minutes before it appeared. It is time for the road edge mowing and the poor machine has to cope with all the rubbish thrown out of car windows . bottles, cans, McDonalds bags etc.

Caught them as they passed our entrance as shown in the "Extra Photo" below. An hour or so later when heading out for the dog walk, saw them parked up in the village with all the gear packed away. Asked if I could Blip them and after a bit of sceptisism and showing a few past stars of Tractor Tuesday they agreed.

The U500 came out in 2000 but I forgot to ask how old this one is. The original ones had a 6 cylinder 230 or 280 hp MB motor, 24 forward & reverse gears! The complete driving position can be switched within seconds from right to left hand drive. Today for mowing the edges, the driver was sitting on the right. He was accompanied by a passenger who I suspect is responsible for the rear flail mower while the driver concentrates on the forward mower and dodging the posts erected every 50 meters on the edges. Certainly need to concentrate but I suspect the Unimog does have some pretty good equipment onboard. Seems the rear wheels have sensors to keep the body level.

Today was forecast to be a real summer day with warm air being shovelled up (with dust) from Africa but lasting less than 24 hours. It was warm very early but mainly overcast. There was a haze in the air which on the horizon looked as though the promised storms were on their way. In fact it was haze caused by the incredible amount of dandelion pollen. When a gust of wind passed the spruce trees in the forest, huge clouds of mustard yellow appeared, as though the tops were on fire. Everything, simply everything is covered in a layer of yellow, even indoors regardless of keeping doors and windows closed. The price one pays!

The bees are enjoying the continued supplies of pollen and nectar. The heavy rain of the last few days and the promised storms this afternoon kept most tractors in the yards today. I did see the grass pellet factory in Sontheim has started operations and indeed saw their fully laden JCB delivering a load when I had to go in to Memmingen late afternoon for a docs appointment.

The appointment at 5:30 at the internist was a follow up from an introductory visit last week. Arrived at 5:31 and was shown directly in to the office - I had feared a long wait. He has now studied my case history and wants now to have a look inside. So next appointment made in a few weeks time. Don't like these examinations but it does need to be done and important that the doc who doesn't know "my insides", sees what state the pitch is in. Then he can plan the game strategy.

Angie home early as one of the German railway unions having another strike this time for 6 days. It's a small union for the train drivers fighting against it's bigger union cousin for the right to represent all rail employees and the customers are suffering. The railway company wants to negotiate one annual pay deal applicable to all employees. It has been going on for 10 months and now looks as though the government will pass a law to forbid such tactics.

So while at the docs she rode out with Sultan and the dogs. It was very humid so they took it easy for Flash but then back home mad Sultan do a good session on the sand school on the longe.

No sign of the storms by midnight although lots of warnings for the Munich area.