If you follow me on Instagram (or Facebook, or Twitter), you know I posted a photo from a grape harvester on Saturday.
If that sounds random to you, it totally was. Harvesting (anything) is not usually in my weekend plans, and riding on a harvester isn’t even on my bucket list (it is now, just so I could cross it off :).
Taking my kids to pick grapes at a family friends vineyard sounded like a great photo opportunity.
Turns out they were harvesting while we were there… and in some whirl of serendipity, I ended up on this gigantic weird looking tractor with my camera.
By the way… If you want to have great Finger Lakes adventures, always have your camera ready!
I did shoot video, in addition to photos. I’m still editing that, so you’ll have to stay tuned by subscribing to my YouTube channel. I plan to have it up this weekend. Good news! I included the video at the bottom of this post.
This is Tim, getting ready to inspect the grapes for leaves, mice, or snakes (EEEW) as they come through the harvester and drop in the bins.
This is Tim’s vineyard.
These grapes went off to Welch’s once they were picked.
Tim’s dad Ernie (age: 92 years!) hopped on for a ride as well.
The grapes look good to me…
We picked a few ton of grapes. I say “we”… what I mean is, I held onto the harvester for dear life with one hand while these guys did all the work.
Thanks to Tim and Marilyn P. for the opportunity to capture this! What a fun time!
Want to know what it’s really like up there? Check out my video “90 Seconds of Grape Picking Glory” on YouTube!
How cool is that. I love that TV show -how things are made. Your post reminded me of that. I’m gonna post this on my linked in group.
Thanks Robert!
Awesome post, Meredith. Glad you got the experience of riding along on the grape picker and sharing the experience with those not priviledged to live in the beautiful Finger Lakes. Wish we could share the sweet smell of grapes on here!
I’m guessing both Tim and Ernie remember the days before grape harvesters when they were all picked by hand, like we did in our vineyard when I have was growing up.