Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/2000 sec, f/3.2, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
In the Tractor Treader
Summer 2008
My folks gave the “Tractor Treader” thing you see above to Anthony about four years ago, on his 2nd birthday. He wasn't quite ready for it at the time, nor, frankly, was I because lacking any kind of pump, it took 30 minutes of huffing and puffing and getting dizzy to blow it up....
Blowing Up The “Tractor Treader”
Four years ago: Fall 2004
Anthony was scared to climb in and roll around in it, but he didn't mind climbing through it to get onto me...
(These last two are from my old family picture site that I no longer update because I now put so many pictures up on my blog.)
We brought it to my folks' place on our trip to The States this summer, where gentle slopes are aplenty and an air compressor is at hand. Now approaching six years old, Anthony was much more interested this time.
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 28 mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Slightly Apprehensive
Photo by my sister Marci
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 60 mm — 1/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Crashing: the Real Fun
Photo by Anthony's Aunt Marci
Anthony seemed more interested in crashing and flopping out (in elaborately staged, exaggerated productions) than rolling around in it. That seems to be his tendancy. It was the same way a couple of weeks ago when we had our Slippery Green Slidy Day of Fun, where he enjoyed sliding down the hill, but thrilled in big noisy elaborate exaggerated crashes at the end.
Anyway, back to this last summer, Anthony's two-year-old cousin Josh (my sister's oldest) was much more willing to try it than Anthony was at that age...
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 28 mm — 1/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Josh Tries It Hamster Style
Photo by Josh's Mommy
Anthony tried pushing Josh in it a bit...
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 100 mm — 1/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo by Marci Kreta
Oddly, though, neither were nearly as excited as I would have thought. (Heck, I wanted to give it a try, and would have if it were a lot bigger.) Eventually, the call of toys and a sand pile took over, and they were off...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 75 mm — 1/3000 sec, f/3.2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Off to the Sand Pile
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 125 mm — 1/2000 sec, f/3.2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Makin' Tracks
Later, Josh found that he enjoyed it most when he stood inside and just flopped over...
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 28 mm — 1/160 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Prepared to Flop
Photo by Josh's Mommy
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 28 mm — 1/160 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Successful Floppification
Photo by Josh's Mommy
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 28 mm — 1/160 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
My New Home
Photo by Josh's Mommy
Still later, they did some kind of play that combined the Tractor Treader with some cheap plastic golf clubs (clubs that I'd bought last year for $4.87 at WalMart, and got more than my money's worth in the resulting photos that appeared on last summer's Kid in the Country: Golf post.)
Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D @ 60 mm — 1/100 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Doing.... Er.... Something
Photo by Anthony's Aunt Marci
You know, I was continually impressed with how tolerant Anthony was of a little kid so much younger. But he played with Josh all the time. And no matter how many times Josh inadvertently (or advertently) knocked over, walked in, or screwed up whatever Anthony was doing, Anthony never once hauled off and whacked him a good one. Anthony’s a nice kiddo!
-Josh’s Mom
ps – You know, I wanted to try that roller thing, too!
The TRACTOR TREADER looks so fun! Where can I find it? I googled it, but didn’t have any luck.
Thanks!
Where can I get one of the tractor treaders?
I don’t know.. we received it as a gift. —Jeffrey
My kids had a Tractor Treader just like that one! I bought it thru ABC Distributing years ago , I have never seen kids have so much fun with a simple blow up toy, I still have pictures also, my kids played the heck out of it until it broke, ABC doesnt sell it anymore , I have seen something similar at the KB toys store , but even the price wasnt as good as ABC Dist. had it for 🙁 wish it was still being sold , I would had bought a few of them if I would had known ..