Saturday, September 28, 2024

Yesterday morning when I arrived at the truck stop there was no power and it was still windy and raining.  I went to sleep. When I woke up yesterday afternoon the rain and wind had stopped and it was sunny.  The power had been restored.  There was a line of cars over a mile long waiting to get gas.  I learned that I-40 in North Carolina, south of the Tennessee state line, in "the gorge" was gone.  It was washed away.  Same thing for I-26 in Ashville.  Both will be closed indefinitely.  I'm so glad I got through there before any of that happened.  Part of those areas was shown in the video from yesterday.

I-40 when I went through...

Internet Photo

I-40 after I went through...

Internet Photo

Internet Photo

My 10 hours were up at about 7:10 PM EDT. and I left.  I had no problems at all driving.  The downed trees had been cleared from the travel lanes of the Interstate.  I could see that the power was still out in most places along the way.  I drove to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville and got there just before 2 AM.  I'll be there for the weekend. We have power in Jacksonville and no storm damage here, other than the usual tree droppings.

Friday, September 27, 2024

 I left at about 1:15 AM EDT in the rain.  I didn't get ahead of the hurricane, instead of going west it went east.  That meant I drove right into it.  It rained the whole time I drove today.  The storm's most powerful wind and rain and I met in North Carolina south of Ashville.  By that time it had downgraded to a tropical storm.  Heavy rain and strong winds.  Trees were down all over the place.  I sat still in traffic for an hour and a half while crews opened at least one lane for all of us to pass through.  I put together a video of what it was like driving through Tropical Storm Helene.

I stopped for my 10 hours a bit earlier than I had wanted to because the Interstate ahead was still a mess with downed trees.  Stopped at a truck stop in Inman, South Carolina.  When my 10 hours are up I'll check the road conditions, and if they are ok, I'll go.

Thursday, September 26, 2024

 I went back to load this morning and sat there waiting all morning.  Finally loaded a Caterpillar 3512 Engine and 6 boxes going to Savannah, Georgia.

I left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Waddy, Kentucky for my 10 hours.  Going to try to stay ahead of the hurricane.

Wednesday, September 25, 2025

 I left at about 2:30 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to Lafayette, Indiana.  Delivered the engine. My next load is right there but not until tomorrow.  It wasn't ready yet today.  So I went over to the Love's truck stop that was just a few miles away.  I'll be there until tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

 I left this morning at about 1:30 AM EDT.  No traffic problems in Atlanta or Chatanooga this morning.  Not so lucky in Nashville.  Quite a bit of bumper-to-bumper traffic there.  After that, I continued to the Petro truck stop in Glendale, Kentucky for the night. 562 miles today.

Blog readers for the past week...

Monday, September 23, 2024

 Went to St. Augustine Caterpillar and delivered the telehandler when they opened this morning.  After that drove back to the daily terminal in Jacksonville to wait for my next load.  Didn't take long to get it.  I drove to Ocala and loaded a Caterpillar 3516 Engine that is going to Lafayette, Indiana.  Then it had to be tarped!  93 degrees, no shade, and no breeze.  HOT!!!

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Tifton, Georgia for my 10 hours.  This happened this evening in front of my truck.  Expand the video to full screen and watch the back of the trailer on the truck pulling out of the parking spot in front of me.

Sunday, September 22, 2024