Saturday, January 26, 2013

It had snowed a little more last night.  When I woke up it was snowing a little bit, more than flurries but not what you would really call snowing.  Got on the road at sun up. A little while later it started to snow harder.

And harder....

And harder......

The plows were out trying to keep up.....

......but the snow was getting the upper hand.

The "Snow Emergency Plan" was in effect in the two western most counties in Maryland so I couldn't go into Maryland.  Didn't matter though, I had to stop because of the road conditions anyway.  I was already in violation of my West Virginia permit. Fortunately the cops were nowhere in site - a very good thing!!!  I got off  I-68 to go to the last truck stop in West Virginia.

I stopped for the rest of the weekend in Bruceton Mills, WV at a small truck stop. No over-the-air TV. So glad I have satellite TV. Internet access here is very poor.  Was lucky to get the blog updated.

The weather report for tomorrow is good.  BUT, permit loads can't move on Sundays!!  More stupid, unnecessary regulations!!!!  Monday we are supposed to get an ice storm.  I may be here for a while.  The saga continues....

Friday, January 25, 2013

It started to snow about a half hour before I could start for the day.  At a half hour before sun up (when I could start driving) the road conditions were fine.  It was not snowing very much so I left.  In no time did conditions deteriorate and the snow was starting to accumulate on the road.  I decided that it was better to stop rather than get a ticket and have my permit revoked.  I only made it 23 miles this morning and stopped at 8:15 am in Brookville, Ohio.  When I stopped they were already plowing I-70.  Here is what it looked like when I stopped.  Maybe 2 inches of snow so far. Glad my APU is working good again!!

I could have driven all day in this but, unfortunately, with permit loads I don't have that option.  More updates as the day progresses.

Here in my truck at 9 am. Still snowing hard.

Weather radar at 10 am.  Still snowing.

After a nice little nap I awoke to it not snowing anymore.  There was 4 inches of nice white power snow all over.  The kind of snow that you can't make a snowball out of and that skiers love.  I went and had lunch and got back on the road.  The road was clear and just wet with a little slush.  

The plows were out in force and doing a very good job.  

Made it through Ohio and around Wheeling, West Virginia then into Pennsylvania.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Claysville.  I-70, exit 6.  This is what my trailer and nice new tractor looked like after driving today.

Noticed that I had a flat Tire on the trailer.  

Had that fixed at the shop at the Petro truck stop.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

It was 8 degrees this morning when I left to go to Thermo King.  Was at Thermo King when they opened at 8 local time.  Glad I chose to have the work done there!!  They were not busy and I got in right away.  They were honest, and did a very good job.  Best part was that they didn't charge me an arm and a leg to do what needed to be done.  The did routine maintenance and also found that I had a glow plug that was not working and another that was about to go bad.  Was out of there at 11 local time.  

On I-70 just west of the Ohio state line in Indiana is a candle shop that looks so cool.  Doesn't the appearance of this place make you want to go in?

Drove down to the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio for the night.  The weather report is calling for snow tonight.  If that's the case, I may be here for a few days.  Permit (oversize) loads can not move in snow or bad weather.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Even though I was 24th in line this morning it went pretty fast.  By 8:45 local time I was in getting loaded.  Picked up a John Deere 9460 TPC Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  From there it is going on a boat to Melbourne, Australia.  Eventually it will end up at the Wickham Flower Company in Bordertown, Australia. 

After I got loaded I drove down to Morton, Illinois to the Daily Express Terminal and spent the night there in the yard.  Tomorrow morning I will be at Thermo King to get my APU fixed. It is only a couple blocks from the Daily yard.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Nothing all day!!  Finally at about 4 pm I got a load BUT I was nowhere near it.  The load is up in Waterloo, Iowa.  After eating dinner and getting fuel I drove up to Waterloo and got there at about 1:30 am local time.   I checked in at the security office.  I was 24th in line for loading tomorrow morning.  Then my APU wouldn't start.  JUST GREAT!!  Being that it was only 10 degrees outside, snowing, and that I was tired, I idled the truck while I went to bed. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Went down the road a few miles and delivered first thing this morning.  No load lined up yet so I went back to the Petro truck stop in Salina, KS to wait.  This bus was getting fuel here this evening.