Saturday, June 30, 2012

Got on the road at sun up this morning.  Great day to be on the road!!  Started off climing again.  The arrow points to the truck stop I stayed at last night.  I'm about 3000 feet up.

Georgous sunrise in Oregon.

Here are some photos of the scenery along I-80 east of Salt Lake City, Utah.  Sorry about the bugs on the windshield.

Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the TA truck stop in Fort Bridger, Wyoming - in the middle of nowhere and at elevation of 7300 feet.  Get started again first thing Monday morning.  Should be an interesting day.  Going to go through a lot of the fire areas in Colorado.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Went over and loaded a John Deere 470G Excavator just down the road in Kent, WA.  It is going to Pueblo, CO.

Then drove out east of Seattle to the TA truck stop and scaled up.  I was too heavy on my drive axles for Oregon - fine for any of the other states I'm going through, just not Oregon.  Untied it and repositioned it.  Scaled again.  Still not right.  Moved it again.  Scaled again.  This time it was ok.  Gross weight is 110,900 pounds.  Tired it back down again.  Then went inside for a well deserved (and needed) shower!!  Finally got on the road. 

Since I was going so slow up the mountains I was able to get a few photos of the scenery for you.  These are I-90 east of Seattle in the Snoqualmie Pass area. Misty rain in that area.

The roadway in the photo below is I-90 west bound lanes.

Waterfalls.

The avalanche tunnel in the photo below. I wonder why only the west bound side?

Continued on into Oregon.  Stopped for the night at the Arrowhead Truck Stop on I-84 in Mission, OR.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Got on the road early again.  Drove through some beautiful scenery today along I-90.  Weather, again, was perfect!  Sunny and in the 60's.  Drove in to the Port of Everett, Washington and delivered the dozer.  After that drove over to the Boeing plant where they build the 747s, 777s, 787s, etc.  and went on the tour again.  They improved it since I did it last time.  Tried to take some photos but the stupid auto focus on the camera didn't focus so they all came out blurry.  Here is the link to the Boeing Tour web site.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/tours/index.html

Next load is in Kent, WA.  That is just outside Tacoma.  Drove down there to a small truck stop for the night.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Got on the road early this morning.  Started off in heavy smoke.  Cleared up after a while.  Passed one fire that was up in the mountains in Montana.  Other than that, very uneventful day with perfect weather.  Only in the low 60's and sunny.  My truck enjoyed the cooler temperatures going up and down the mountains today.  Was as high as 6,400 feet.  Stopped for the night in Superior, MT at a very small Pilot station.  Only at 2,700 feet here.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Left Albert Lea, MN first thing this morning.  Drove straight through to Wall, South Dakota and had lunch at the "world famous" Wall Drug.

Just east of Rapid City, SD, as I drove past Ellsworth Air Force Base, I saw the B-1 Bomber doing touch & go's.  My timing was perfect as one of the bombers went right in front of me then made a left turn tight enough that I was looking at the top of the aircraft as it turned past me.  VERY COOL!!!  I tried to catch a photo of it but it went past too fast.  I took a few photos of the B-1 Bomber from Ellsworth AFB web site so you could see what aircraft I'm talking about.  The first photo is exactly like what I saw except it was the top of it, not the bottom.

It was 105 degrees going through the Badlands, Rapid City, and Sturges, South Dakota.  I stopped for the night in Gillette, Wyoming at the Flying J truck stop.  It is so dry out here that when cleaning the bugs off the windshield the cleanning fluid would dry before I could wipe it off.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Went into Coal Valley, IL first thing this morning and delivered the dozer.  Then over to Peterbilt in Davenport, IA to get the truck fixed. Was first in line!!  Lucky me!  They still had work left over from the weekend so I didn't get in right away.  Replaced the speedometer sensor and an air valve and I was out the door.  Glad that all it was!!!

Drove up to Dubuque, IA and loaded a John Deere 850 Dozer.  Same as the last one except smaller.

Legal width, legal height, but a few thousand pounds overweight.  This one is going to the port in Everett, Washington and then on a boat to Russia.  Got on the road and drove up to the TA truck stop in Albert Lea, Minnesota for the night.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Left Pennsylvania this morning and drove pretty much straight through stopping only for fuel and lunch.  Drove through the weather front in Zanesville, Ohio that is supposed to cool off the north east this weekend.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at a truck stop in Woodhull, Illinois.  Deliver about 30 miles from here Monday morning.  After that I have an appointment at Peterbilt in Davenport, Iowa to get the truck fixed.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Went over to the port and unloaded the tractor and then loaded a John Deere 1050 J Dozer.  It is a big one.  Not too wide, but heavy and high.  I am 13 feet 8 inches tall.  It is going to Coal Valley, Illinois.

After I loaded the dozer I went back to the TA truck stop and scaled up.  My gross weight is over 115,000 pounds. Then took a shower and had lunch.  Got on the road.  Have problems with my speed / odometer.  It is also affecting the transmission.  Will have to have that addressed when I get empty.  Took forever to get across all the mountains on I-70 and I-68.  Very slow going.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Claysville, Pennsylvania. 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Left the service plaza in Ohio  at sun up this morning. Nice and uneventful day on the road today.  In Pennsylvania my GPS took a dump.  Could not find any satellites anymore.  So, when I stopped for the night at the TA in Baltimore, Maryland I bought a new one.  Deliver and reload in the morning at the port.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Left Sawyer, MI this morning and drove up to Sturtevant, Wisconsin.  Took two hours to get through Chicago!  Bumper to bumper traffic almost the entire way through. Finally got to Sturtevant and loaded a Case 290 Tractor, 4 wheels and 2 spacers.  They are going to Dundalk, MD and on a boat to Bolivia.

Got on the road and drove to the first service plaza in Ohio on the Ohio Turnpike.  The Ohio Turnpike Service Plazas are the best ones in the country.  They have huge well lite truck parking, good food court, truck drivers lounge, and free showers for truck drivers.  Stayed there for the night.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Last night after the NASCAR race was over at the Michigan Speedway a couple of the trucks stopped in to get fuel.  Recognize any of them?

This guy won the race!!  Yup, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

And this one is Jimmy Johnson's truck.

They drew quite a crowd.  Lots of people taking photos.

This morning I left and headed off to deliver.  Took all day to get up there.  Drove through a cool looking weather front on the way.

 Finally delivered in Minden City, Michigan.  Next load is over in Wisconsin.  Headed that way. Stopped for the night in Sawyer, Michigan at the TA truck stop.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Thought, since I have a little down time, I'd explain a little about what it is that I am transporting.  When I say that I have a wind energy hub most of you have no idea what that is. 

I'm sure you have seen or heard about the wind energy "wind mills" that are popping up all over the country. 

Most of these produce about 1.5 megawatts of electricity or enough electricity to supply 400 homes for a year.  It costs, roughly, 3 million dollars for each wind turbine.  A minimum of 8 trucks, most of which are oversize requiring expensive permits, are used to transport the various sections of the turbine to the site.  Most turbines are about 394 feet tall or the height of a 40 story building.

The section I have been transporting is called the "hub". 

It's 57,300 pounds and manufactured in a GE plant in Pensacola, Florida. It is the section that the blades attach to and controlls the pitch of the blades. The nose cone is seperate and not part of the hub.

Hope that helps you all understand a bit about this stuff.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Left Sulphur, KY this morning and had a very uneventful drive up to Michigan.  Unfortunately oversize loads over 10 feet wide ( I am 11 feet, 11 inches wide)  can't drive in Michigan on Saturday or Sunday so I had to stop.  Stopped at exit 5 on US-23 in Michigan at the Pilot truck stop for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, June 15, 2012

My Tennessee permit finally arrived and I was all set to go but the truck wasn't.  Tried to start the truck but it was dead.  Fortunately there was a repair shop right behind me.  They came over and tried to jump start it but that didn't work either.  They tested a couple other things and determined that my starter was shot and I had a bad battery.  They replaced both and after several hours and $680 I was back on the road.  

Went past the home of the Chevy Corvette in Bolling Green, KY.  Right next to the car plant is the Corvette Museum.

 Only made it as far as the Pilot truck stop in Sulphur, KY today.  Not nearly as far as I had planned.  Oh well, will make up for it tomorrow.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Finally got loaded this morning.  Loaded another wind energy hub.  57,300 pounds.  It is going to Minden City, Michigan.

Got on the road but didn't get very far today.  Stopped in Montgomery, AL for fuel, scale, lunch, and took a shower.  After that drove to Cullman, AL to Jack's Truck Stop.  Have to wait there for UPS to deliver my Tennessee permit in the morning. 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Didn't get my next load until noon.  It is down in Pensacola.  I drove down to GE in Pensacola because I was told that I would be loaded today.  They called ahead and said I was coming.  Does this sound familiar??  I got there and checked in.  Sat there for over 2 hours.  Went back and inquired about my status.  To make a long story short, Was told that I was not on the list for today and that I would have to wait until tomorrow. Stayed in their parking lot for the night.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Left Paducah, KY at sun up this  morning.  Got to Nashville a bit too early and had to wait an hour and a half for curfew to get over.  Back at it again at 9 am and to College Park, GA (basically Atlanta) and delivered the dump truck.  The place was at the very end of one of the runways for the Atlanta airport.  Planes were landing right over my head.  I loved it!!  Got the truck off and then headed over to the Petro truck stop in Atlanta for the night.  Don't have another load yet.  Hopefully tomorrow.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Drove in to Davenport, IA this morning and loaded a John Deere 250 Dump Truck.  This one is a bit smaller than to other ones I've had.  It is going to Atlanta, GA.

I got about 15 miles south of Bloomington, IL when my "Check Engine" light came on.  Truck was running fine.  I decided to turn around and go back to the Peterbilt shop in Bloominigton to have it checked out. Another loose plug in the wiring harness that supplies the actuators with power.  They spliced in a new plug and I was back in the road.  I will have to replace the whole harness sometime soon.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Paducah, KY.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Left Wheeling, WV this morning and drove, pretty much, non stop to Goodfield, Illinois and delivered the excavator this afternoon.  Did good, it wasn't expected there until Monday.  After that I drove to the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa 
 http://iowa80truckstop.com/ 
for the rest of the weekend.

My next load is in Davenport, IA. Monday morning, not too far from here.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Drove down to the Daily terminal in Baltimore, MD and loaded a John Deere 470G Excavator.  It is going out to Illinois. This one is a bit large, 69,511 pounds.  Had to wait for Maryland to send my permit.  For some reason they are very slow.  The permit was ordered yesterday.

It finally came in, after waiting for over two hours, and I got on the road.  Nice day on the road.  Very slow going through the ups and downs of I-68.  I really don't know why I was routed off the Interstate and sent on US 40 in Pennsylvania. It is like driving a 60 mile roller coaster. 

I am over 112,000 pounds gross and my truck has never worked as hard as it did today. It preformed beautifully.

Some of it was on four lane roads but the majority was 2 lane roads.  Had to drop down to second gear going up some of the hills whizzing along at a whopping 8 MPH.  I had a LOT of real happy motorists behind me.   Took forever to get through there.  Was very happy to see I-70.  Continued to the TA truck stop in Wheeling, West Virginia for the night.



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

What a day!!  Last night my APU gremlin reared it's ugly head again!!  Left Ashland, VA this morning and drove to Carlisle.  As I went over the Potomac River I saw 2 of the 3 helicopters that carry the President flying towards me from the direction of Andrews Air Force Base.  Then they turned and flew up the river toward the Capitol. I thought to myself, "there are only two and there is three when they transport the President.  I'll bet they just dropped him off at Andrews".   I was right.  I looked up towards Andrews and saw Air Force One take off.  It went up very steep and then turned and flew past me parallel to I-95. I could see it very well.  Tried to snap a few photos of it as it went by but couldn't catch it. Continued on up to Carlisle, PA and delivered the piece of junk paver.   After that went over to the "home office" and dropped off my paperwork and filled up the fuel tanks.  Fuel is cheaper at the home office.  Then went over to Thermo King in Carlisle.  They are open until midnight.  Got there at about 4 pm.  It took a while but they finally found the electrical problem and replaced the faulty wiring harness.  Then I went over to the Petro truck stop in Carlisle for the night.  Got in the shower at about 10 pm.  Boy am I tired!!  Good night all!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A great day on the road today!!  Made up for yesterday.  Must have driven through a weather front.  Had some rain but then it cleared up nicely.  Going through the scales in North Carolina got pulled in for a Level II inspection.  No problems, passed with flying colors.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Being at home sure was nice but now it's time to go back to work.  Drove down to Orlando this morning to load a paver.  This thing is OLD and was bought by a company in Pennsylvania.  It would not start.  They had to jump start it.  Then the fuel line broke because it had dry rotted.  They replaced the fuel line and cleaned up the mess.  Then it started and he put it up on the trailer.

Tied it down and went to the nearby truck stop and scaled up.  Too heavy on the trailer axles.  My permits are for only 2 axles on the trailer, not three.  Went back and untied it again.  Moved it toward the truck cab a couple feet. Then the rear deck of the machine would not lower. This thing is such a piece of antique crap!!  Finally got it lowered.  Tied it down again and went back and re-weighed.  Was OK this time.  By now It is rush hour in Orlando.  That means I-4 is it's usual parking lot.  Stuck in bumper to bumper traffic from South Orange Blossom Trail all the way up to Altamonte Springs with only a small gap where we could actually move.  Because of all that, I could only make it as far as Kingsland, GA to the Petro for the night and a very badly needed shower!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Replaced the flat tire on the RV, and renewed a couple tags that expire next month. My big truck is getting  new breaks on the front drive axle.  That should be done today and I'll be ready to go back to work again and stop spending money here at home!!

Breaks are finished.  Put the inside of the truck back together (put away laundry, and re-stock food and drink cabinets) and changed the configuration of my trailer a bit.  Flipped up the nose extension to shorten up the trailer.

Then chained up the third axle so the tires do not roll on the ground.  It's hard to  tell from the photo, but the tires are up.  Could have flipped it up too, but this is easier.

Won't need them for my next load Monday. 

Now I can finally veg out for the rest of the weekend!!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Was at Camping World before they opened again.  They fixed it and I had it back before noon.  I was still really p&#$@* off, and they knew it.  They did take a lot off the bill.  But there definitely won't be a next time, if I can help it.  Went back to the RV park and found a flat tire on the RV.  Just F'en GREAT!!  I'll deal with that tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Last Saturday I made an appointment with Camping World in Jacksonville to have my TV antenna repaired or replaced.  I arrived there at 7:30 (they open at 8:00).  At 8 the service writer took all my info and they took my RV back to the shop.  I left.  At about 11 I called to check on the progress of it.  My service guy was in a meeting with the manager and they told me he would call me when he got out.  At 12:30 I still had not heard from him so I called back.  They had not started on it  yet.  Said they would start first thing after lunch.  Said he would call me in about an hour with news.  As you can imagine, I am not real happy.  At 2:30 still had not heard from him so I went back there.  They still had done nothing!!!  I told him I was ready to take it out of there.  He said that he could have the antenna replaced in 45 minutes.  I said do it.  15 minutes later he came out and wanted to show me something.  We went up on the roof and he showed me some minor water damage in the area of the place the antenna mounts in the roof.  It had to be repaired before the new antenna could be installed.  They could not do it before closing and said that they would finish it first thing in the morning.  By now I'm really furious!  I, basically, exploded on him!  Fortunately I had a great place to spend the night.

Tuesday, May 28, 2012

Went in to Alachua and delivered the tracks first thing.  Went to Thermo King in Jacksonville after that and had a problem with my APU addressed. Then to the Daily yard.