Saturday, July2, 2011

Left Whitestown, IN this morning pretty early.  Passed a semi truck crash somewhere along the way.  It was still pretty early so it didn't tie up traffic too bad.

Wasn't so lucky going around Atlanta.  There was a church van that caught fire and they had I-285 at a stand still for a while. 

Finally made it past that and drove down to a truck stop in Unadillia, Georgia for the night.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Left Gary, Indiana early this morning.  That made it nice driving through Chicago.  Got to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to deliver early.  Was lucky and didn't have to wait.  They took me in and unloaded me early.

My next load was back down near Chicago in Des Plaines, Illinois.  Loaded 4 rolls of steel that are going to Deland, Florida.

After screwing with tarps all morning unloading and loading again I was whipped.  My back was (and still is) very "uncomfortable" and I was a mess.  Went back to the TA truck stop in Gary, IN to get some food and a well deserved shower.  Of course on the way there I hit PLENTY of bumper to bumper traffic. I timed it for a while.  Took 30 minutes to go 6 miles.

Once I finished at the TA I got back on I-80/94.  It was still bumper to bumper so I got off at the first exit and took local streets to get to I-65 through the WORST part of Gary, IN.  I'm unable to even try to give you any kind of description of how bad this place was.  The Bronx in New York City looks better than this place!!  Plus there was some flooding across the road in many places. We had a pretty good thunderstorm while I was in the shower. 

Finally made it to I-65 and drove, in the rain, down to the TA truck stop in Whitestown, IN (about 20 miles north of Indianapolis) for the night.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Left the Delaware Water Gap early this morning. Very good day on the road.  Sunny and clear and in the low 80s.  Drove all the way to the TA truck stop in Gary, IN.  I have a 7 am delivery appointment at the steel plant in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin tomorrow morning.  That is just outside Milwaukee.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Last night at about 3 am my APU started having electrical problems.  This morning I drove to Allentown, PA to Thermo King and had it fixed.  Took all morning.

 After that was fixed I drove back to Linden, NJ and loaded 11 steel bars.  They are going to Wisconsin.

When finished, exhausted, and a mess, I drove to Columbia, NJ (I-80, exit 4 at Delaware Water Gap) to the TA truck stop.  Took forever to get there.  Rush hour traffic in the NY / NJ area, as some of you know, is not pleasant.  Ate dinner, and took a long shower, and went to bed.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Left Richmond, VA this morning.  Drove through Washington DC and Baltimore this morning and did not have any bumper to bumper traffic!!  That almost never happens!!  Had a little at a construction area in Pennsylvania but that's all.  Drove into Woodbridge, NJ and delivered at a place where they are building an Olive Garden.  That's what that stuff was for.  Drove back to Bloomsbury, NJ to the TA truck stop for the night.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Finally got a small load of building materials from a place in Jacksonville.  It is going up to Woodbridge, NJ.

Of course it had to be tarped!!   My thermometer on the truck said 104 and there was no shade!  Hot as H*%%!!!!!



Took 15 minutes to load the truck and 1 3/4  hours to tarp the damn thing!!  When I finally got n the road I drove to the next truck stop and took a long shower!!  Then I got back on the road.  Drove up to the TA truck stop on the north side of Richmond, Virginia for the night.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Went into the restaurant at the TA for dinner.  I sat down at a table at the end of the salad bar and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Was totally ignored. After I sat there for at least five minutes (maybe longer) I decided that I was just going to have to serve myself.  Got up, walked behind the counter, got a cup, filled it with ice and then water.  Grabbed my silverware and went back to the table.  Still no service so I went to the salad bar and made a salad.  Went to the table and ate it.  At one point one of the servers came over to the salad bar, not three feet from me, picked up some plates and went back.  They were all talking and having a good 'ole time over there.  When I finished eating I got up and walked out.  Totally amazing!!!! 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The new starter that was put in before was bad, so it was replaced.  Still had an electrical problem so I took it to Peterbilt to have that fixed.  Fortunately it was a quick fix and it was all done.  Drove over to the TA truck stop in Baldwin for the rest of the weekend.