Saturday, August 10, 2013

Got started as soon as I could legally drive this morning.   Went through a little rain at first but soon drove into the sunshine.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Matthews, Missouri and had routine maintenance done on the truck.  After that continued on up to another TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  Will be here till Monday morning.  This is a good location.  Chili's (where I just had dinner), Walmart, and other stuff right across the street.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Drove over to Hull, Texas this morning and loaded a pump skid from a job site.  They are constructing a huge underground crude oil pipeline.  

The place was a big dust bowl!  You can see the layer of dirt on the truck, I have more on me!!  This thing is going up to Patoka, Illinois.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Prescott, Arkansas for the night.  Going in to scrub the layer of crud off me and get something to eat.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Drove the rest of the way into Houston and delivered the wheel loader.  Had to jump start it again to get it off the trailer.  Don't have another load yet.  Working on one for tomorrow.  Won't know for sure till then.  Spent the night at the TA truck stop in Baytown, Texas.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

This morning went to Mountain Home, AR and loaded an old, used Caterpillar 966D wheel loader that was bought at auction by someone in Saudi Arabia.  Taking it to Houston, TX for it's little boat ride across the big pond.  Had to jump start it to get it running!!

Drove down to Marshall, Texas and stopped for the night at a truck stop there at US-59 and I-20.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Continued on my journey toward my next load.  Drove over to Gassville, Arkansas to a small Citgo station for the night.  Load in the morning a few miles from here in Mountain Home, AR.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Found out at dinner time that they won't be able to load me here until next Monday.  So I took a different load.  Drove up to Wichita.  On the way here is what the sky looked like with a thunder storm off to the south.

As soon as I got parked at the truck stop in Newton, KS (just north of Wichita) a huge thunderstorm hit.  This was the most severe storm I have been in in many years!   Lightening and thunder crashing all around and very close!! The wind was amazing!!  This truck was really rocking A LOT!!!  National Weather Service said in their Severe Thunderstorm Warning that the wind was gusting 50-60 mph.  I believe it!!  The rain was unbelievably heavy and sideways.  Had pea size hail too.  Parking lot was a river for a little while. Just an awesome storm to be in.  I loved it.  Just sat in the cab and watched it.  Unfortunately it was well after dark so I couldn't get any photos for you.  They wouldn't do it justice anyway, had to experience it live.