Today I rented a Bobcat front loader for some pond remedial work from my neighbor, and it nearly ended in disaster. I was filling in some low areas on my newly built dikes when I started to sink in near the water's edge with a full load of fill in the bucket. The frontloader started to tilt to the water and I was stuck and couldn't back out. I got out and commenced to unload the bucket with a shovel to reduce the weight. I got back on but only dug in deeper as I tried to back out.

I called the neighbor over who drives truck for a living and is one of those guys that can do anything with heavy equipement including repair it himself. The first words out of his mouth were "holy -hit" you really are stuck. Anyway he pushed down with the bucket and was able to back out somewhat only to have the frontloader almost tip into the steepsided pond. It was really, really close! One more inch in the direction of the water and he would have tipped in.

My pond bank has a steeper grade than 1:1 (the heavy clay can hold it), and if he would have tipped into the water he and the frontloader would have been headed to 10 feet of water really fast! Can you imagine having a bar holding you in with a seatbelt, and on top of that you could be pinned by the frontloader underwater in mud?

I can assure you once he was safely out of there I praised the Lord. The Lord was with us today! I told my neighbor I was going back to using a wheelbarrel and to take the frontloader back and I paid him for the time I used and more. Yikes!

I now respect equipment and the danger it can put you in more than ever. If I have to haul 40 wheelbarrel loads to the ponds edge I would rather do that! No more monkeying around steep pond banks with a front loader! \:o

Please be careful out there with heavy equipment. If it seems like it could be dangerous it probably is!

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.