Sunday, October 14, 2012

 has the Gators at # 2 !!!!!!

Unfortunately, I don't think that will last.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Went a couple miles down the road and loaded a rough terrain crane this morning.  It hangs over the rear of the trailer 6 feet.  None of my permits accounted for that so I had to have them adjusted .  Unfortunately, that takes time when dealing with Government agencies.  So I only drove about 50 miles today and will spend the rest of the weekend sitting at the Flying J truck stop at the WV / VA state line.  Hope the VA permit gets here early Monday.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Got on the road from the service plaza in Ohio just before sun up.  Drove straight through to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland  and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load is in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania.  Got on the road and drove to the TA truck stop in Greencastle, PA for the night.  Took a few photos of the Pennsylvania color.  Harder to get these, too much traffic.  Not much fall color in Maryland yet.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Got on the road just before sun up and drove straight through to the last rest area in Illinois.  Stopped there for a half hour to wait for my Indiana permit.  Once it arrived I was off again.  Stopped for fuel in Gary, IN.  Then stopped for the night at the last open Service Plaza in Mantua, Ohio on I-80.  The sun cooperated today for a little bit.  But then I caught back up with the clouds from yesterday.  I got a few Fall foliage color pictures for you. They are a little bit better than yesterdays photos.  Hope you like them.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Went into Fargo, ND this morning and loaded a New Holland 190 Wheel Loader.  It is going to the Port of Baltimore and then on a boat to San Antonio, Chile.

Got on the road pretty quick, for a change.  The fall colors are pretty much gone in Fargo.  They were almost gone all the way through Minnesota too.  BUT they are peeking in central Wisconsin.  Great colors.  Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate for photos.  It was dark and overcast all day with periods of light rain.  Tried to take some photos but there was just not enough light for them to show the colors very well.

Hope the sun comes out tomorrow.  Theres always tomorrow.  It's only a day away!

Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Portage, Wisconsin.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Left Albert lea, MN this morning and drove out to Hardwick, MN to deliver.  The time I "saved" in Pensacola was all used up today.  I got there at 11:15 am local time.  They didn't start to unload me until 4:45 pm local time. They unloaded everyone else first including a truck that arrived after me.  I finally got empty at 5 pm local time and headed for Fargo, ND, only 250 miles away, for my next load.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop casino in Sisseton, South Dakota.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Got on the road just before sun up.  The fall colors are in full bloom, so to speak, in Illinois.  Most of the corn is in but a lot of soy bean still in the fields.  Cold front that I drove through yesterday really dropped the temperatures.  Low this morning was 28 degrees.  Slept great last night.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Albert Lea, Minnesota for the rest of the weekend.  Looks like the colors are past peek here.

But now IT'S FOOTBALL TIME!!!!!

THE SWAMP

Seating capacity 90,716

(4) LSU 6

(5-1, 1-1 SEC)

(10) Florida 14

(5-0, 4-0 SEC)

Friday, October 5, 2012

Left Dodge City, Alabama just before sun up.  Had rain for the second half of the day.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Morton, Illinois.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I checked in with Security at 2 am local time and then went to bed.  I was totally shocked when they called me at 7 am local time to go in to load.  Once in, I sat in line with 4 other trucks for another 2 1/2 hours before they started to load.  Even so, it was still a lot better than last time!!  Loaded a smaller hub this time.  It is going to Minnesota.

Then the damn tarps!!

Was on the road by noon.  Drove up to a Kangaroo convenience store in Pelham, Alabama and sat there until 6 pm local time until the Birmingham curfew was over. Then drove for another hour and ran out of daylight.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Dodge City, Alabama for the night.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I'm back on the road again after having a tooth pulled and a lot of "discomfort".  It is the start of replacing that tooth with an implant.  Still a bit sore but I'll manage.  Drove out to Pensacola, FL so I can load another wind energy hub tomorrow.  Hope they are faster than last time, but I doubt it.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Delivered the tractor first thing this morning.  After that drove home.  Have an appointment tomorrow morning to get my tooth fixed.  Getting a small air leak fixed on the trailer while it is there.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

After a bunch of phone calls this morning, got a late start.  Stopped in Atlanta and got the truck and trailer thoroughly washed, including the engine and undercarriage.  Then continued on down to a small truck stop in Bainbridge, GA for the night.  Will deliver first thing in the morning not too far from here.

Tuesday Morning, September 25, 2012

Found out what was in the tank truck.  Was top local news story on TV last night.  Click on the links below for details

1  Tank Truck Spill

2  Tank Truck Spill

Monday, September 24, 2012

Left Walcott, Iowa at sun up this morning and drove to Oak Grove, KY.  Stopped there to have dinner and to wait for the Nashville curfew to get over. Then drove down to the TA truck stop in Antioch, TN (just south of Nashville) for the night. In Nashville there was a tank truck that something on it broke and his load of something corrosive was dumping out.  He was parked on the side of the road talking on the cell phone when I went by. Whatever it was inside the tank was still pouring out the back of it.  There was a lot on the roadway that I drove through, along with about a thousand other vehicles. Hope it doesn't hurt my truck.  Just glad I got past it before they shut down the interstate.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

I am so glad that I got this new dish!!
My favorite season of the year!!!

FOOTBALL SEASON!!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Had an appointment with Safelite Auto Glass people.  Their mobile unit was going to meet me here at Iowa 80 and repair two rock chips in my windshield.  He was here at 8:30 and repaired them very fast.  Did a good job. 

 After that I went to a place on the other side of the Interstate and replaced my satellite.  No more VuCube and manually finding the satellite.  Got a Winegard  dish.  It is automatic and finds the satellites all by itself.  SO much better than the old one.  Glad it's done!!  Now it's FOOTBALL TIME!!!!!! 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Drove in to Waterloo, Iowa for my next load.  Picked up a John Deere tractor that is going to Georgia.  

After that drove over to the Iowa 80 truck stop for the weekend.  I am so pissed right now!!  My satellite stopped working last night.  Thought it might just be a fluke.  Was too tired to mess with it then.  Talked to the customer support people on the phone today.  Tried the things they told me to do.  The damn thing is still dead!!  I will replace the damn thing in the morning!!

           

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Got on the road a half hour before sun up.  Zig-zagged (that's the way the stupid State routed me.) my way up toward Fleming, Colorado.  At the scale in Colorado The DOT cop said I was 800 pounds overweight on my drive axles.  He had me re-weigh just to make sure.  I was only 180 pounds over.  He got his thong in a wad  for 180 pounds!!  A 20 year old, snot nosed, kid with a badge.  Total jerk!!   He finally decided not to give me a ticket, gave me my papers back, and off I went.  What he didn't know, and I sure wasn't going to tell him, was that I knew that I was over weight by  1260 pounds with full fuel tanks.  I had not filled up with fuel and went over his scale on the fumes!!  There was a truck stop on the other side of the scale and after I left there pulled in and got fuel.  Was way overweight again !!  But there were no more scales that I was going to cross before I deliver.  I made my way up to Fleming, CO and delivered the hub.  Don't have another load lined up yet but it is sure to be east of here so I headed that way. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ogallala, Nebraska.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Left Shreveport, LA a half hour before sun up.  It wasn't long before the dreaded "trailer gremlins" caught up with me again.  All the marker lights went out on the trailer.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Terrell, Texas (just outside of Dallas) and had them repaired.  Fortunately it was a quick fix and I was back on the road in a hour and a half.  Drove up to Conway, Texas (just outside Amarillo) to the Love's truck stop for the night.  

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Got on the road a half hour before sun rise.  Had to stop in Mississippi just outside of Louisiana and wait for 2 1/2 hours for my permit to arrive.  After I got it I drove to the Petro truck stop in Shreveport, LA for the night.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Arrived at GE in Pensacola, FL to load at 7:30 am.  At 4 pm. I got called to go back in to load. Of course there was a thunder storm going on at that time.  Got in line there (4th in line) and waited for another 2 hours before they started to load everyone.  Finally got loaded with another wind energy hub.  It is going out to Colorado.

I left there at 7:30 pm and drove back to the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.  Ran out of daylight.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Drove the rest of the way to the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama this morning.  Will be here for the rest of the weekend and part of Monday.  Have a UPS package coming from the "home office" in Carlisle that will get here Monday sometime.  After it gets here I can go into Pensacola and load.  

But for now, ITS FOOTBALL TIME!!!!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Well I finally got another load.  It is in Pensacola, FL. and loads on Monday.  I decided that I wasn't leaving the Houston area without getting some Shipley donuts.  They are the absolute best donuts!!  So on my way out of Baytown I stopped and got a dozen!!  The glazed were still hot and they were melt-in-your-mouth delicious!!!!  If you ever get to the Houston area stop and get some, you won't regret it!!

  

Drove on over to the TA truck stop in Grand  Bay (Mobile), Alabama for the night.  Had routine maintenance done (you know, oil change, etc.)  on the truck at the shop there.  Will hop on over to The Oasis in the morning and spend the rest of the weekend there.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Left Mitchell, TX a half hour before sun up and drove in to the port in Galveston, TX.  Of course I arrived while they were at lunch so I had to wait.  Once they got done with their 1 hour and 45 minute lunch (unions!!) I delivered the grader.  This is the view from the driver's seat.

The ship it is going on was in port.  Here it is.

Don't have another load yet so I went to the TA truck stop in Baytown, TX  to wait.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Had to wait for my Arkansas permit to arrive before I could load this morning.  It was ordered yesterday but the State in their normal "speedy" fashion didn't get it to me until after lunch today. Finally went and loaded a Caterpillar 14M road grader.  It is going to Galveston, Texas to the port.  From there it is going on a boat to Singapore. I am over width, over weight, and over height.

Got on the road and made it only as far as a crummy truck stop in Mitchell, Texas. The State has me zig zaging a lot.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Drove in to Springfield, MO and delivered the wheel loader before 11 am.  After that went and had the truck aligned and replaced the left front tire.  Next load is in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  Drove down to the Petro truck stop in North Little Rock, AR for the night.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Went in to Pooler, GA first thing this morning and loaded a Volvo L90G Wheel Loader that is going to Springfield, MO.  

Was in and out of there pretty quick.  Got on the road and drove up to West Memphis, Arkansas to the Perto truck stop for the night.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

It was so good to be home again.  Got a lot done.  Lots of work done to the trailer.  Finally had the flip axle straightened and aligned. That was quite a job!!  Some more new tires too.  Had work done to the truck.  Upgraded the APU alternator from 65 amp to 120 amp.  Hopefully that will fix the problems I have had.  Also replaced a leveler valve that was bad.  Got the windows in both doors tinted with clear UV protected window tint. I load Monday in Pooler, GA so I drove up to the TA truck stop in Savannah, GA.  Got there before 1 pm so I could spend the rest of the day watching football!!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Got up real early and drove in to Alachua, FL and delivered before the sun came up.  Then drove home to Jacksonville.  Be home for a few days.

Sunday, August 2, 2012

Left Cartersville, GA this morning and drove down to the TA truck stop in Lake Park, GA.  On the way I passed what I thought was a wreck.  I was half right.  

As I passed it I saw that the medics had the truck driver on the stretcher at the back doors of the ambulance about to load him in.  They were doing CPR on him.  Looks like he had a heart attack and hit the guard rail. No other vehicles were involved.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Got on the road real early this morning.  I stopped to have breakfast and while parking I did real good!!  Clipped a cement post that I didn't see.  Bent my bumper a bit. Pretty, isn't it??

So after I finished breakfast I stopped at Peterbilt in Nashville, TN and got a new bumper.  Then drove down to the TA truck stop in Cartersville, GA for the night so I can watch football!!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Got on the road real early and drove down to Roanoke, Illinois and loaded two Caterpillar tracks that are going to Alachua, Florida.

Got on the road but didn't get very far.  I had stayed up late last night watching the RNC Convention so I got very little sleep.  Since these things don't deliver until Tuesday (because Monday is a holiday) I stopped early at the Petro truck stop in Effingham, Illinois.  I ate, showered, and went to bed very early.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Finally got a load.  It was back in Camp Ripley, MN.  Drove over there.  When I got there found out that the military had ordered one too many trucks.  Guess what?  Yup, I was the one too many.  Got another load for tomorrow.  BUT it is way down in Roanoke, Illinois.  So I took off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Portage, Wisconsin.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Took my tarps to the tarp shop here in Fargo to be repaired.  They were a mess.  I have used them before, they do a terrific job.   They should be ready tomorrow afternoon.  Then went to Thermo King and had the belt tightened on my APU.  Then back to the truck stop.  At 4 pm they called and said my tarps were finished so I went over and got them.  Then back to the truck stop.  No load yet.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Left Council Bluffs, IA at sun up.  The stupid state routed me the long way to Park Rapids, MN.  They sent me east to Des Moines, then north to Minneapolis, then back west and up to Park Rapids. Really dumb!!  BUT I made it and delivered this afternoon.  After that drove over to Fargo, ND to the Petro truck stop for the night.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Went over to Aurora, CO this morning and loaded a Caterpillar RM350.  It is going to Park Rapids, MN.

After loading and chaining, went to scale up.  I'm over 100,000 pounds.  Got on the road and drove all the way to Council Bluffs, Iowa to the TA truck stop for the night.