Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Left early this morning and arrived at the Port in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (it is next to Charleston, SC) when they opened.  Took forever to find out where I was to load.  There are no directional signs anywhere.  I guess you are supposed to know by osmosis!!  Finally the guy came to get me and bring me back to where I was to load.  Got in the machine, started it up and started for my trailer.  Half way to it the engine stopped. The guy came over and explained that when they were unloading it from the ship it ran out of fuel.  They had to put fuel in it to get it to where I found it.  Apparently they didn't get all the air out of the fuel line.  After working with it for a few minutes it was running again.  Then I got it up on the trailer and secured it.

Left there and drove up to Sanford, North Carolina and delivered it.  My next load was in Peachtree City, Georgia.  Started off that way.  While on the way the load got canceled.  I stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Candor, North Carolina for the night.

Monday, September 30, 2019

Was over at the Port of Savannah at 6 am when they opened.  Unfortunately I had to go to the Credential Office and re-do my credentials to get in the Georgia Ports.  They have a new system.  Security directed me to the office which was about 5 miles away.  I went over there and parked in the only place they had for trucks.  Had to walk a quarter of a mile down the road to the office.  The were not open yet so I sat on the ground and waited.  When they opened I was first in line and was out in less than ten minutes.  Walked back to my truck, drove back to the Port, and checked in.  Loaded a Caterpillar 323 Excavator that was going to Augusta, Georgia.

My Georgia permit had not come in yet so I waited for that.  It came in pretty quickly and I was off.  rove up to Augusta to the Caterpillar dealer.  Where they had me unload was in the sand.  It was also on a slight angle.  When I dropped the trailer to detach, the trailer sunk in the sand.  Couldn't get back under it.  The guy that worked there was helping me.  He got a machine off the lot and dug down in front of my trailer so I could get under it again.  Finally got the machine off.  Had even more problems getting put back together. Finally got it done and I left there.  Started off for the Port at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Columbia, SC.  I was totally exhausted!!!!! and in desperate need of a shower and food.  This is a very nice truck stop.  One of my favorites.  After my shower I went in to the restaurant for dinner.  It is a Quaker Steak.

It also has a bowling ally on the other side of those windows to the left.

I was so exhausted it was all I could do to eat and get back to the truck. Oh, I almost forgot, I lost my glasses somewhere today! Going to sleep now.  Phone's off, good night. Hope tomorrow is better.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

They won again!!!!!

Next week might be a different story. 

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Left at 3 am this morning.  No problems at all with traffic going through Washington DC or Richmond, VA.  Actually, no problems at all with traffic. My electronic log decided to act up.  

Fortunately I always have a paper log back up so that was no problem.

Drove 628 miles to the TA in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  Load at the Port of Savannah on Monday.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Left early this morning and went the rest of the way to Diamond, Ohio and loaded a Doosan 255 Drill Rig that is going to Frederick, Maryland.

Left there and got on the road before 9 am again!!  Pennsylvania routed me down some back roads.  LOTS of steep ups and downs, and a lot of winding roads.  Seemed like every time there was a red traffic light it was going up a hill!!  Had to stop several times to let the mile long traffic build up behind me go around.  When I got to Maryland I had to have an escort car.  He met me at the State line and we continued on to Frederick, Maryland.  I delivered the machine.  Then settled down for the night in their parking lot.  Another Grub Hub food delivery night.  Better than truck stop food.  Going to sleep early tonight.  I'm pooped!!

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Left at 2:45 am this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Catlettsburg, KY.  This is where I had to deliver.  The red X is where I unloaded.  Then to get out, I had to back out all the way to the road, the way I came in.

Was finished and out of there before 9 am.  Love it when that happens.  Next load is tomorrow up in Diamond, Ohio.  Started off that direction.   Went past the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The power poles are in the shape of end zone goal posts.

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in North Canton, Ohio.  Load about 45 minutes from here in the morning.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Can you believe it?  Only three months until Christmas!!!   Where has this year gone??  Time flies when you are having fun!!!

Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Not a bad day on the road.  Some traffic slow downs in Atlanta, but nothing bad.  Stopped along the way and scaled.

I guessed where to put the machine on the trailer pretty good!!!  About as perfect as it can get!!

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Carysville, Tennessee.  Going to sleep soon so I can leave in the middle of the night.  Deliver first thing in the morning up in Kentucky.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Went over to Pembroke, GA to load and was there before 1 pm.  As usual, it was not ready yet.  An hour later they brought the machine out and loaded it on my trailer.

Left there but didn't go very far.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Pulaski, Georgia.

Monday, September 23, 2019

This morning I put my new swinging demon baby on the truck.  Had to modify it a bit to get it on there so that it wouldn't break like the last one did.  It looks good up there.

I moved my old one, with the broken arm, down to here.

I love the reaction that I get from everyone.

After I finished that project I drove back up to the TA in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  I load at 1 pm tomorrow afternoon not too far from here.

Saturday, September 21, 21019

Another great day for the Florida Gators!!!!

Friday, September 20, 2019

Well....my next load isn't until Tuesday!!  Glad I came home.  I'll be sitting around until Monday.  Then I'll leave to get closer to where I load.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Still no load so I drove back to Jacksonville, Florida.  Much better there than sitting in a truck stop.  After doing some chores there I took a short trip to see the cargo ship that turned over near Brunswick, Georgia.   The "X" on the map below marks the location of the ship.

As I drove on US-17 over the bridge I could see it very well.  In the photo below it looks farther away than it really is.

I continued on to St. Simons Island and went to the fishing pier.

It is next to the light house.

Here is the view walking to it from the parking lot.  You can't miss it!!!

Here is the view from the fishing pier.  The arrow points to the bridge and location on the bridge I took the first photo from.

It's not every day you see a huge cargo ship laying on it's side like that.  Pretty cool!!!  That is the exact same type ship that transports the stuff I bring to and from the ports.  The ship is the "Golden Ray".  Click on the name for details on the ship.  Here is what it looked like upright.

Internet Photo

Thought you might find that as interesting as I did.  Wanted to share that with you.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Pembroke, Georgia and delivered the drill rig. Didn't have another load yet so I went to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, GA to wait.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

After breakfast this morning I drove back over to get my trailer.  As I was finishing up readying it to go, my escort car arrived.   Shortly after that we left.

Pretty uneventful trip through Maryland.  Had some minor traffic delays, but nothing bad.  Just before the Maryland / Virginia state line on I-95/495 (Woodrow Wilson Bridge) my escort car dropped off.  Only needed her in Maryland.  When going over the bridge I saw the "Air Force One Experience".  It is a mock up of Air Force One (the airplane that the President flies on).  Haven't seen that before.  Looks weird seeing that there.

Here is a close up...

While driving south on I-95 I went through the very outer bands of Hurricane Humberto.  All it was was some clouds and a few sprinkles of rain.  Big whoop!!

As I was passing through mile marker 95 just north of the Richmond bypass, I saw a silver pick up truck, heading north, veer off the road, go airborne into the median and slam into several trees.   Made a huge boom!  If anyone survived it was a miracle!!  I had both dash cams running at the time.  They caught most of it.  It happens very fast so you may have to watch the videos several times to see it good.

Camera 1

Camera 1 Zoomed In

Camera 2

Camera 2 Zoomed In

That was pretty cool!!!   The rest of the day was uneventful.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Dunn, North Carolina.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Was over at the Port of Baltimore before they opened.  Very busy day at the Port.  Lots of trucks lined up to get in.  Once I got in and through security I was first in line to check in.  Checked in at 8 am when they opened and then went over to the crane to unload.  It took them forever to unload it.  They couldn't figure out how to lift it off.  Didn't know where the lift points were.  When something weighs 65,000 pounds you don't just lift it from anything.  Lift points are built into it.  Anyway, they finally got it off and I went to Pasadena, Maryland to load a CZM Drill.   They didn't know I was coming and weren't ready.  They did, however, get it ready quickly.  Put it up on the trailer.  

Had a rear overhang that was WAY too long.  That wasn't going to work.  Not only that, none of my permits allow rear overhang.  We spent hours trying to make it better. That is the very abbreviated version.  Finally got it better, but still have an overhang.  

Daily was not real happy because they had to re-order all my permits.  Just hope I don't have to move the machine.  Won't know that until I get to a scale.  By now it was too late in the day to go anywhere, plus I don't have my new Maryland permit yet.  I also need an escort car in Maryland.  That won't be here until tomorrow morning.  After securing the machine to the trailer I left it there and drove bobtail over to the TA truck stop in Jessup, MD for the night.  

Sunday, September 15, 2019

It wasn't pretty, but it is a WIN!!

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Baltimore, MD.  Now it's time for FOOTBALL !!!!!!

Friday, September 13, 2019

Left early this morning and timed it just right.  Got to Erie, PA to load right when they opened.  Loaded a crated engine that is going to the Port of Baltimore. Yes, that is one engine in that box.  It is huge!!!

Then it had to be tarped.  Some of you have asked how the tarp gets up there?  This is how...

Here is the finished product.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Lamar, Pennsylvania for the night.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Yesterday I finally got my truck back from Kenworth with both fuel tanks repaired.   No more leaks!!  This afternoon I started off for Erie, Pennsylvania where I have an 8 am crane appointment to load tomorrow morning.  Feels good to be moving again.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Brookville, PA.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019