Saturday, December 9, 2017

Last night the snow continued.

Didn't take long for the truck stop to be packed full.

At about 9 this morning the snow finally stopped.  The sun came out and a lot of the snow melted.  The Petro ran out of fuel this morning too.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Started off this morning in the rain.

Radar From This Morning

Had no problems until about 50 miles north of Atlanta on I-85.  It changes to snow.  Big flakes, heavy, wet snow.  It was not sticking to the roads - yet.  BUT the people that live here don't know how to drive in snow so when they get it, they panic!!  They also have very little snow removal equipment.  By the time I got to Atlanta things were moving very S-L-O-W-L-Y.

I-285 South Bound, West Side of Atlanta

I finally made it to the Caterpillar dealer in Austell to deliver.  They had let all their staff go because of the weather.  There was only a couple guys left and they were about to leave.  The snow was starting to accumulate on the roads, especially the side streets and everything in the Atlanta area was shutting down.  They had me drop my trailer there and would unload me Monday.  

Yancy Brothers Caterpillar, Austell, Georgia

Fortunately I was only a few miles from the Atlanta Petro truck stop.  They told me how to get there on the back roads - the Interstate was a parking lot.  The back roads were jammed up full too.

Back Roads En-route to the Petro Truck Stop

Made it to the Petro and found a place to park.  Glad I was bobtail, made parking a lot easier.  Will be here until Monday morning.  More snow predicted tonight.  Local news is wall-to-wall coverage.  

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Left this morning and got to Caterpillar in Clayton when they opened.  It took forever to get loaded this morning.  Of the 10 trucks in there today, I was the last one out.  Loaded a Caterpillar 938M wheel Loader that is going to Austell,  Georgia.  

Because it took so long to get out of there today, I didn't get anywhere near as far as I wanted to.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Blacksburg, South Carolina.  Weather is supposed to get bad here and all the way to Atlanta tonight and tomorrow.  Local weather reporters are saying snow and ice.  Oh goodie!!  

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove into West Columbia, South Carolina and delivered the excavator.  Next load is in Clayton, North Carolina tomorrow morning.  I drove over to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.  579 miles (932 km) and unloaded too.  Not a bad day.  

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Started off in the fog this morning.  Fortunately it was not too heavy and after a few hours it was gone.  Things were just fine until this afternoon.  It rained. It rained very hard.  Of course when that happens the idiots really show themselves by crashing all over.  Traffic quickly became bumper to bumper.  It took me over 30 minutes to go 4 miles.  I decided to stop a little earlier than I had wanted to but it was better than sitting in that mess.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Shorter, Alabama.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Left San Antonio early this morning in the fog.  On my way to Victoria I passed (again) the Baptist church in Sutherland Springs that in the news for the mass shooting.  There was still a make shift memorial out front.  It was too dark to get any photos.  If it is still there next time I pass by, I'll try to get some.  Got to Victoria when they opened and loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to West Columbia, South Carolina.

Left there and got a lot further than I thought I would.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Egan, Louisiana.