Saturday, February 1, 2014

Left Baytown before sunrise and drove straight down to a very small truck stop (convenience store with a few truck parking spaces)  in Brownsville, Texas.  Sunny, 80 degrees, and very windy here. Will be here until Monday morning. 

Friday, January 31, 2014

Last night I came back from dinner and found that my generator had quit working.  Had to idle the truck all night.  

Started at sun rise this morning and drove to Lake Charles, LA.  Dropped my trailer at a truck stop and went over to Cummins / Onan and had my generator fixed.  When it was done I went back and picked up my trailer again and hit the road.  Stopped for the night at the TA Truck Stop in Baytown, Texas for the night.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The roads had improved enough so we could go.  Left at almost 9 am local time.  On I-85 passed a few left over wrecks from the last couple days.  Here is one of them.

Most places the roads were in pretty good shape.  The parts in the shade, under and on top of the bridges were not so good.

Then my "black cloud" arrived again.  A chunk of ice hit the window of the dozer shattering it.

Stopped and got a couple mud flaps to cover the hole.

Then cardboard on top of the mud flaps.

That seemed to do the trick.  

Passed another wreck.

Stopped for the night at the Petro Truck Stop in Hammond, Louisiana.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Last night It snowed pretty hard.  This is what it looked like after dinner when I went back to the truck.

Up north this would be no big deal. Down here they have no snow plows, no sanders, or salt spreaders.  I'm really glad I got through Atlanta before this hit.  What a mess!!!!

Today was a beautiful sunny day.  BUT the temperatures didn't go above freezing so the roads, especially the bridges, remained iced over.  Large portions of the interstate highways were closed.  The interchange of I-85 and I-65 in Montgomery was closed all morning but finally opened this afternoon.  Permit loads were still not allowed to move in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and several other states. Hopefully tomorrow we can move again.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Went over and loaded first thing this morning.  Loaded a Case 2050 Dozer that is going to Brownsville, Texas.  

Started snowing just north of Atlanta.  Just a dusting, no biggie.  On I-85 north of the Alabama line it started with freezing rain.  The roads rapidly deteriorated.  Passed a bunch of crashes.  Most of them from iced over bridges.  Here are a few of them.

I had to stop for the rest of the day because my permit won't allow driving in those conditions.  Stopped at a truck stop in Cusseta, Alabama on I-85 at exit 70.  South from here at mile marker 57 was a very bad head on crash with fatalities.  Traffic was diverted off the interstate.  In Montgomery there was a crash on the bridge at the I-65 and I-85 interchange involving two semi trucks.  The interchange was shut down.  My Alabama escort arrived and I sent him to find a hotel for the rest of the day.  We will see what the weather looks like tomorrow morning.  Hopefully it will improve.  Here is what my load looked like when I stopped at the truck stop.  That is what is on the roads, especially the bridges.

Monday, January 27, 2014

While I was here I had some work done on the trailer.  Had that air valve that was sticking replaced.

Also had a chronic problem fixed hopefully for the last time.  There was a problem with the welds breaking in the back corners of the trailer.  They have been re-welded multiple times.  This time heavy angle iron was welded there to strengthen the area.  That should do the trick!!  Also had six "D" rings added, two toward the front of the trailer (not shown), and four in the back.  They will help a lot!!

I got a load for tomorrow up in Calhoun, GA.  That is north of Atlanta.  After lunch I left for Calhoun.  Had a very nice day on the road until the Macon bypass.  I was cruising along in the right lane (of three lanes) and passing another semi truck that was in the middle lane.  All of a sudden I felt something pulling on the truck.  I though I had a mechanical problem.  Then I looked in the mirror and saw that the truck I was passing had changed lanes right into the side of my trailer.  When we separated we both pulled to the shoulder of the road.  He said that he bent down to pick up a bottle of water and the next thing he knew, he was in the side of my trailer.  That black cloud that has been following me just won't go away!!  Here is what he did to my trailer.  Yes, that is a piece of his truck on my trailer.

I have a very good trailer!!!!

Now here is what he did to his truck.

I took a zillion photos and called the cops.  Macon showed up.

Took our information, filled out an accident report and I was on my way.  Finished my trip up to Calhoun, GA and stopped for the night at a Wilco/Hess truck stop there.  Load a few miles from here in the mornnig