WILTON — There had to be a better way to mow an approximately 60-foot-high bank. At least Meadow Lanes Bowling Alley owner Scott Duval thought so when faced with the job that would take two men eight hours a day for two days.

With a little Yankee ingenuity and a few tries, the men joined two push mowers together and tied them to a four-wheeler that lets them down the slope and pulls them back up. The work takes the two men a couple hours on a good day.

“I had plenty of time to think. There has to be a better way,” Duval said.

He started with one mower and a rope attached to a Ford Escort. Then he tried a truck and tractor before settling on the four-wheeler purchased for the job, he said.

It’s perfect, he said.

Tony White pushes the mowers to the edge of the slope and lets go. A rope is attached to the Polaris four-wheeler, which Duval operates. They have to keep adjusting the rope along the way, Duval said.

The first set of mowers wore out after a few years. A couple new and inexpensive mowers bought this year makes the task quicker, simpler and less costly, he said.

On Monday, the two were nearly finished with the task.

Duval said they usually mow about every 10 days or so.  As the season progresses, it’s mowed every couple weeks.

“We just have to keep our eye on it,” he said.

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