It Seemed like a Good Idea at the Time

There’s a dirty big truck that’s been stuck in our front yard for the past day or so.

It’s because it’s big that it’s dirty and it’s because it’s big and dirty that it’s stuck.

Oh it all started out so innocently, but a few poor decisions added up to one whole lotta trouble.

See, the neighbours are planning on building a new back deck. Before they can do this they need to remove a tree next to the driveway to allow access to their backyard. We happen to share that driveway. At this stage it was so far so good and we had no complaints about the planned removal (the tree drops leaves and funny little spiky pods all over the driveway each autumn making a bloody big mess and slippery to boot).

So there they were, 4 blokes merrily chopping and chipping the liquid amber that overlooks the drive. But instead of backing the truck in off the street (then just driving it straight out again), they drove it in and tried to back it out. That was mistake number 1.

This is where the fun really begins!

The driver apparently had a minor moment of panic about how to go about getting out again as the now fully-laden truck started sliding down the drive towards the drop at the bottom (the aforementioned leaves and recent rain making it even more slippery). Mistake number 2.

The smell of burning clutch was our first indication that something was not quite right outside so the kids and my Beloved decided to go investigate. The driver has managed to stop the truck before it went over the edge of the yard (which drops almost straight down into the bushland reserve below), but failed to do so before all but one tyre left the concrete. So now my Beloved offers his assistance, and his ute. He manages to pull the hopper trailer off the back of the truck (with 3 of the tree guys helping) and drags it across the driveway, leaving scrapes and tyre marks as he goes (what can I say, little ute versus big tree chipper).

The truck driver, on the other hand, has decided to get back in the truck and have another go at backing up. Mistake number 3.

By now the stench of burning rubber has wafted into the house to join the smell of burn-out clutch (and wreaking havoc with my plans for dinner, I can tell you).

Not willing to quit while he’s, um, already behind, the truck driver has another go…and succeeds in ploughing up enough mud for us to plant at least 3 rows of vegies, or another small tree. And still the truck is stuck in the muck.

The fellas in their combined wisdom decide to chock the wheels with some nearby timber. Mistake number 4. We now have almost as many woodchips on the outside of the truck as in it!

Not keen to give up just yet, the men then try propping the wheels with blocks. Mistake number 5- as both blocks and tyres disappear into the soggy boggy mess that was our front yard.

So they enlist the help of a friend’s 4WD and try to tow the truck out. Mistake number 6- now the truck and 4WD have almost totally burnt out clutches (and I have an even more beautiful aroma through my home).

Next they call in another mate with another truck and try using that to haul the stuck truck out. That was mistake number 7 as all they managed to do was pull the 2nd truck’s rear bumper clean off.

The truck has now been stuck for over 3 hours, has developed a dangerous lean to the left, and night has fallen. Deciding that perhaps they would have more success in daylight, they leave truck and trailer smack bang in our front yard, and go home (presumably for a beer or six). Except for the guy whose bumper fell off, he rings our doorbell asking my Beloved if he could help him carry it up to the road- it was too heavy for him alone, poor dear.

Since they weren’t planning on coming back ‘til 10.30am I wasn’t worried about getting my car out for the morning school run. Obviously the boss was a little more stressed about his heavy machinery parked in our garden and turns up before I had even managed to get the kids fully dressed and out the door. So I chased said kids into the car, telling them to finish putting socks, shoes, jumpers, and hats on, while I tore off out the driveway before I was blocked in for the day.

I then figured I’d give them space and time to remove the truck, so took yet another car for a test drive (I don’t know what I’ll do to kill time when I finally find the right vehicle!) but was amused when I arrived home to see even more men, even more equipment, and one truck still stuck. (Oh and did I mention it had started to rain again?)

From what I gather (with an occasional peek out the window) they’ve used a bobcat to dig around the bogged up wheels (sunk in up to the axle they were!) used some stronger better chocks to prop up the tyres, and then another bigger truck to pull the bugger out (and this one kept its bumper bar)!

All up, 9 men, 5 vehicles, and almost 24 hours. Lord only knows how many mistakes in all.

Plus we now have a freshly ploughed field for a front yard, and a driveway that looks like it's just hosted the 2009 Drag Racing Championships.

Maybe next time they’ll back it in…or better yet, park it on the street.

Jx
©2009