Sunday, June 14, 2020

Ten years ago today I started this blog.  I started it to give my family and friends a place to go to keep up with me, where I am, and what I'm doing. Since then I have added readers from over 50 different countries around the world.  I enjoy hearing your comments and like to know exactly where you all are from.   I never expected anything like that to happen.  Thank you.

I left the Flying J as soon as my 10 hours was up.  That was 2 am CDT.  While on the way, I looked at my paperwork for tomorrow's load.  Much to my surprise, The machine was at the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois and not at the Caterpillar plant.  That was a very good thing!!!   I drove there.  I was the only person at the Daily yard.  Loaded a Caterpillar D7R Dozer that is going to North Canton, Ohio.

I was finished at 10:15 this morning.  Settled in for the rest of the day.  I don't have any of my permits yet so I can't leave right away in the morning.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

As soon as my 10 hours was up I was back on the road.  Stopped at a Wal Mart along the way and bought a brace for my elbow.  That helped a lot, but it still hurts a lot. Very uneventful day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Avoca, Iowa.

Friday, June 12, 2020

We left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  We were making real good time.  Then about 40 miles from Limon, Colorado he had a tire on his trailer blow out.  He was able to limp it all the way to Limon.  We stopped at the TA truck stop there and got a new tire. That took about 2 1/2 hours.  

By this time we were pushed for time to beat the Denver curfew that started at 3 pm.  We left there and made it to Denver.  Then bumper to bumper traffic.  Once we got past that mess we continued to the Vestas plant in Brighton, Colorado.  We checked in at the guard shack and parked in the truck parking lot.  Took off all the chains and straps to be ready for our 7 am unloading appointment tomorrow.  Just as I was starting to settle in for the night they called on the phone and said to go in and unload.  I was overjoyed!!!  They called us both in.  When I got in I was 8th in line to unload.  It went fairly fast.  They used a huge fork lift to unload instead of a crane.  That makes it a whole lot faster.  After I got empty I drove back to the TA truck stop in Commerce City for the night.  Thoroughly exhausted and hurting all over again, all I wanted to do was eat, shower and sleep.   They had 3 restaurants here.  Only Popeye's Chicken was open.  How stupid!!!!  I wasn't eating that crap.  Had to wait 30 minutes to get my shower.  After that, I had Grub Hub bring me food.  OH!!   and while unloading, I smacked my right elbow on something.  I think I may have chipped a bone in there.  Whatever I did, it hurts like the devil!!!  Can't do much with that arm.  Always something.  

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Had no traffic problems going through Fort Worth.  Got lucky!!!  Pretty uneventful day.  Our permit route was a bit weird.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Dumas, Texas.  Felt better today, but still stiff and sore.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Went in to the Port of Galveston, which was across the street, at 8 am when they opened.  Was second in line to load.  When it was my turn, loaded a gear box for a wind energy nacelle that is going to the factory in Brighton, Colorado. It is a heavy one.  It was very hot, mid to upper 90s and high humidity.  Not pleasant at all.  I have been running with another driver since Kansas.  We have stayed together.  He helped me load and I helped him load.  Fortunately he had a ladder because we needed it to get the upper chains on.  

When we were finished we were both exhausted!!!!  Left there and drove 289 miles to the TA truck stop in Hillsboro, Texas.  Stopped along the way and scaled.  His was fine.  I was way too heavy on the trailer axles. When we got to the TA made some adjustments.  It took a while but finally got the weight right.  Fortunately we will get to sleep in a little.  Can't go through Fort Worth until 9 am.  After today we both can use the extra rest.  I hurt all over and can hardly move.  My back is so sore.  Feels great to lay down.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

This evening drove down to Galveston and parked just outside the gate to get in to where I load in the morning.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Looks like I'll be loading Wednesday.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Drove the rest of the way to Houston.  Stopped along the way and got the truck washed.  Boy, did it need it!!! 

Friday, June 5, 2020

At about 1 this afternoon I finally got something to do.  I load next week sometime at the Port in Galveston, Texas.  I left and started that way.  Drove to the Daily terminal in Oklahoma City, OK for the night.  Had Door Dash bring me some dinner when I got there.  

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Much to my surprise I went in to unload this morning.  Followed a nacelle in.  On the way in the roads were not as good as before.  Even though they were dry, they were soft in places.  In two places the nacelle was going up hill and lost traction.  Had to back down and try it again.  At the top of one hill his trailer bottomed out.  He had to raise it up all the way.  Even with it all the way up  he still scraped.  I did not have those problems.  My trailer is shorter and my load was not as heavy.   Behind us was a couple tower sections and three blades.  The first tower section was a base.  His truck got stuck on one of the hills.  His truck couldn't pull he hill.  He had everything blocked behind him.  The driver of the Nacelle in front of me dropped his trailer and went back to get the tower section that was stuck.  He hooked up the the base and pulled it up.  The last hill before getting up to where I was, he lost traction and got stuck.  A road grader was with us and pulled him the rest of the way up.  When he got up to level ground he dropped that trailer and got back under his.  The cranes set up and unloaded the nacelle.  Then they unloaded me.  As I was making my way out to head back to get another one I got an email from Daily in Carlisle saying not to go to Garden City, they were shut down.  He didn't know why.  So I went back to the Sac & Fox Truck Stop where I started from.  Will sit here until I know where I'm to go next.  They are really backed up here.  There are 5 hubs, and quite a few nacelles and blades all over the place waiting.

**I just found out why Garden City was shut down.  Someone backed over someone and killed him.  Lots of investigations going on from City, State, OSHA, etc. **

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Another day of sitting and waiting. 

One of the 2 hubs ahead of me went in today to unload.  One more to go then me. 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Nothing new today.  Nobody moved.  They say it may be a week before they are able to unload us.  The pads at the job site are not ready.  So here I sit.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Flew home last Monday because I had a very important doctor's appointment to go to.  Then flew back again yesterday.  

This morning I left and drove back up to the Sac & Fox truck stop in Powhattan, Kansas.  I may be here a while, there are already 3 other hubs waiting ahead of me.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Last night had a lot of rain and thunderstorms.  That made the place where I load a big muddy mess. Went over first thing this morning and loaded another hub that is going to the same place as all the others, Goff, KS.  Almost got stuck in the mud a couple times.

Since I'm flying out of here Monday I didn't leave there with it.  Went over to a parking area and dropped the trailer there.  Then went to the Love's truck stop for the weekend.  I'll go back Monday and attach to my trailer before I go to the airport.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Left Salina at 4 am and drove down to the Kenworth dealer in Dodge City.  Was there when they opened.  They took my truck into the shop and fixed the "Check Engine" light.  It was a sensor in the pollution crap in the exhaust.  Left there and went to the Thermo King shop to get my APU fixed.  Much to my surprise he was just finishing up a truck.  Put me in the shop and fixed the APU.  The blower fan was totally shot.  He replaced it and checked out the system.  Could not believe that I got both done today.  That almost never happens!!!!  Left there and drove to a truck stop in Garden City.  I'll go over and load tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Went in to unload this morning.  Was empty and back on the road at 1:15 CDT.  Heading to the Kenworth dealer in Dodge City to get the "Check Engine" light taken care of.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Salina.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Drove the rest of the way back to the Sac & Fox.  My home away from home!  There were 2 other hubs already here waiting.  They had been there for four days.  Bad sign!!  I settled in and took a nap.  When I woke up they were gone.  Good sign!!  Hopefully I will go in tomorrow.  There is a lot of other stuff here waiting to go in too.  Only time will tell.  On a different note, my APU A/C fan still doesn't work, so I have to idle the truck.  Today another gremlin popped up - my "Check Engine" light came on.  Hopefully I'll get empty tomorrow so I can get these things fixed before I fly home next week.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Was over to load at 7 am today.  They weren't as busy today as they were the other day.  Didn't take long for them to bring me back to where my hub was sitting waiting.  A little while later they came over and loaded another hub on my trailer.  Fortunately it wasn't very windy this morning.  How exciting!!  Another hub!!!!

Left there in pretty good time.  Drove to the Petro in Salina.  Had to have a mud flap repaired on the trailer.  Shop took me right in and fixed it.  Then I parked for the night.  Wasn't able to beat the Topeka curfew.  The fan on my APU air conditioner quit working tonight.  Have to idle the truck.  It's always something!!!!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Drove the rest of the way to Garden City this morning.  I'm at the Love's truck stop until tomorrow morning.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Followed 3 blades and a nacelle in to unload this morning.  They unloaded the three blades then brought the nacelle in and me next to him.  

Fortunately it didn't rain last night so the pad was in pretty good shape.  Also they hadn't dug the hole yet either.  Once the two cranes took care of the nacelle, the one spun around and lifted my hub off and I was outta there!  Heading back to Garden City for another one.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Salina, KS.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Well, we had another thunderstorm last night.  More heavy rain and hail.  

Weather today was perfect!!  Anyway, I still didn't get unloaded today.  Went and did some laundry then Wal Mart and got my prescriptions refilled.  Did get some good news tonight.  He said I will probably be going in tomorrow morning.  Lets hope so. 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

At about 4 am we had a nice little thunderstorm.  Lots of rain and some hail.  The pads were a mess without the rain.  I would imagine that they were a real mess this morning.  I'm sure that slowed things down bringing stuff in to unload.   At 9:30 nothing had moved yet.

But just before 10 they started to bring in stuff.  They brought all the blades and some of the towers in.  But not me.  I went back to bed.  At 4 this afternoon I talked to the guy on the phone.  He said he didn't know when I would get empty.  He still didn't have any pads available for hubs yet.  I went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant up the road a bit and then back to my little corner of the parking lot.   Sooooo here I sit.  Looks like we are gonna get another storm tonight.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

This morning everything that was parked in here last night went in to deliver EXCEPT me.  Heard through the grape vine that another tower section got stuck.  This one, they say, was really bad.  Don't know anything more about that. Tonight this place really filled up.  9 blades, 6 tower sections, and another hub.  Hopefully I will get in tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Didn't sleep well last night.  Went back early to get my trailer.  A little after a half hour before sunrise I left.  Had to get out of Garden City before 7 am. That is when curfew starts.  Did good on the road.  Drove up to the staging area at the Sac & Fox Truck Stop in Powhattan, KS.  When I checked in he told me that I might be here a while, he didn't have a pad for me yet.  There are 2 other hubs here ahead of me.  After a short nap I went to dinner with the drivers that had the other hubs.  One of them said he had just talked to the guy and was optimistic that we would get unloaded tomorrow.  Lets hope so!!  After dinner a quick trip to Wal Mart.  Was getting low on Mt. Dew.    There are 4 blades, a nacelle, a tower, and 3 hubs in here now.  

Monday, May 11, 2020

After I left the lab that drew my blood, I drove down to Garden City.  It was very busy in the yard today.  I waited 2 hours before they brought me back to load.  I was 3rd in line.  Waited another 2 hours before they loaded me.  I helped the other two ahead of me with their tarps and they helped me with mine.  That's why it looks better.  It was very much appreciated.  It was raining a bit and very windy too.  By the time we were all finished it was too late to leave so I dropped my trailer there and drove to the truck stop for the night.  Working with tarps on three trucks took it's toll on my back.  Standing and walking is not pleasant.  

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Didn't do much today.  Drove 93 miles to Hays, KS to a convenience store with truck parking.  Have to have lab work done tomorrow at Quest.  This was the closest place that had a place where I could drop my trailer to get there.  Then I'll head down to Garden City to get another hub.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

They finally came by to unload us late this morning.  After the nacelle was unloaded it was my turn.  I pulled up next to the crane once again to the edge of the hole for the tower substructure.  This is what it looks like before they pour the concrete.

Once empty I drove to the Petro in Salina, KS for the night.

Friday, May 8, 2020

At about 7:45 this morning we were told that one of the members of the unloading crew (there are two crews) has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.   Both crews are on "stand down".

A short time later we were told that they have a crew together to unload us today.  They brought in a tower section and 3 blades to join us in the staging area.

They started off with the tower section.  He started in towards the pad.  His rear steer person apparently didn't do a very good job and put it in the ditch.

They brought in a crane to lift it out.  He was sunk in the mud to the frame.

They got him unstuck then brought in another tower section followed by the 3 blades.  Then it was our turn.  It was 4:30 pm CDT.   I followed the nacelle in to the pad where we were to unload.  And there we sat.  Nobody there to unload us.  At 6 pm found out that we were there for the night.  I dropped my trailer there.  A friend followed me as we went into town for dinner.  The restaurant was finally opened for dine in food.  I had a big steak.  It was delicious!!!!   So good to have real food again.  Then went back, re-connected to my trailer, and settled in for the night.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Drove the rest of the way back to the staging area at the Sac & Fox Truck Stop.  Took a nap.  Got a call saying to follow the nacelle in.  At 2:45 we left and drove to another staging area very close to the delivery site.  We were going to wait there for the night.  I took the tarp off, rolled it up, and put it away.   I dropped my trailer and went into town and picked up dinner.  Returned and hooked back up to my trailer and settled in for the night.   

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Was over to load at 7 am CDT.  I haven't been here for many years.  It really has grown!!  Here is what it looks like from Google Satellite. 

Went in and went over to where my hub was and waited for them to load me.

Once all that was done, I was out of there at noon CDT.  Started back toward Goff, KS.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Salina, KS.  They have good showers here.  Also needed to do a load of laundry.  My back was doing pretty good tonight until I started carrying that laundry around.  Of course I'm parked in the back of the parking lot so its quite a hike to the building. Now it is hurting pretty good.  I'm sure it will feel better in the morning.  Laying down always helps.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Early this morning I went back and hooked up to my trailer and waited.  The had to bring the tower in first - he was blocking the way in.  Once he got in to unload they brought the crane over and I pulled in to unload.  The tower section didn't need the crane.  The trailer he had is one where he can unload himself.  Didn't get stuck today.  The ground was a bit firmer.  

Once again the front of my truck was right at the edge of the hole where the substructure of the tower was.  This is the part you normally don't see.

Once empty I drove down to Garden City, Kansas.  I load there in the morning.  Another hub going back up to Goff.  

Monday, May 4, 2020

Followed a tower section in this morning.  We left at about 7 am CDT.  It takes about an hour to get to the pad from here.  Got to the pad when we got the word that operations were suspended due to lightening in the area.  Not really the best of ideas to be working with a crane when there is lightening all around.  

I hurried up and got the tarp off and everything put away as it was sprinkling. Shortly after that they shut everything down for the day.  I dropped my trailer there and went back to the truck stop.  Try again tomorrow.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning in a thunderstorm.  After a while I drove out of it and eventually it became sunny.  Made it up to the staging area in Powhattan, KS before 10 am CDT.  Still didn't feel very good so I went to sleep.  Woke up mid afternoon and felt better. This evening, after dinner,  I got a call from the guy up here.  I'm going in to unload first thing in the morning.  Excellent!!!!!  

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Saw this truck parked at the truck stop this morning.  Now that is a real heavy haul truck!!  

Went back to get my trailer at 8 CDT.  They started loading me at 11:45.  Loaded another Wind Energy Hub that is going to Goff, Kansas.

My escort car was waiting for me as I left.  At the Kansas state line she dropped off and I continued on.  Drove to the Newell Truck Stop in Newton, Kansas.  I'm exhausted.  Those damn tarps are so hard on my back.  Hard to move.  Another night on the heating pad.  

Friday, May 1, 2020

This morning I was at the loading area at 7 am CDT.  At about 9 am I moved over to where my hub was and waited.  They were going to load a nacelle first then come over and load me.  At about 11 am they told me that the wind had increased too much to load anything and that they were going to see if it dies down enough to load after lunch.  At 2 pm CDT I got a phone call telling me that they were shut down for the remainder of the weekend.  Operations would resume Monday morning.  I dropped my trailer there and went over to the Love's truck stop in Enid for the rest of the weekend.  A little after 3 pm CDT they called me again and said that they would like me there at 10:30 tomorrow morning.  They would try to load me then.  Hope the wind dies down!!  The saga continues!

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Met the repair guy this morning and he followed me back to where the trailer was.  I hooked up to it and he fixed it.  Here are a couple pictures to show where I unloaded yesterday.

Didn't take long and I was out of there.  Headed back to Enid, OK to pick up another hub.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Billings, Oklahoma.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Well today didn't go as planned.  Didn't go in to unload until noon CDT.  Had to follow a nacelle from the truck stop in to the site.  The site is way back in the middle of nowhere!!!  The road in wasn't too bad, but at the pad it was a mess!!  Once the "good" part ended they had to put down crane mats for us to drive on to get up to the crane.  Then waited for 3 hours before they started to unload me.

View of the Pad

They brought in another crane and put down crane mats for me to drive on.  I pulled up on the crane mats and the trailer bottomed out on the crane mats.  Had to be pushed to get unstuck.  Finally got unloaded.  When I backed out found that a drain valve on an air tank on the trailer got knocked off.  This caused the brakes to lock on on the front trailer axle.  

Air Tank on the Trailer

Hole Where the Drain Valve Was

Was able to get it out of the way and dropped the trailer there.  By now it is well after hours and Daily couldn't find anyone to come out because they were closed for the day.  They will try again in the morning.  I left the trailer there and went back to the truck stop, my home away from home.  

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Well today wasn't the day.  He tells me that I'll be unloaded in the morning. We'll see.

Monday, April 27, 2020

The parking lot cleared out pretty good today.  I think I will get unloaded tomorrow.  Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Saturday when we had the cook out one of the other drivers had a drone up and took some photos.  Thought you would like to see a few.

Looking South

These photos were taken before it rained.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Yesterday evening, while they were setting up for the cook out, three blades arrived.  Thought you would like to watch them back in to the parking area here.  I sped up the video so you wouldn't get bored.

As soon as everything was set up for the cook out it started to rain.  Had a brief shower.  Just enough to soak everything.

After the rain passed we had our cook out.

Other than that, I slept a lot today.  Nothing else going on.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove to the staging area in Powhattan, Kansas.  It is a small truck stop at the Sac and Fox Casino.  No food here.  Have to go get it.  There are a lot of trucks here already waiting to unload.  3 tower sections, 2 nacelles, and 3 more hubs. Talked to the guy that is responsible for getting us unloaded. He said I might not get unloaded until Thursday. Another reason I hate hubs!!!  Oh well.  The guy that is responsible for unloading us is having a cook out for us here tonight.  That will be nice.  

Friday, April 24, 2020

In Enid, Oklahoma GE has a huge yard with hundreds of wind energy blades, nacelles, and hubs. I was there at 7 am CDT to load.  They had me position next to the crane.  And there I sat.

Just before 11 am CDT they came back and started to load the hub on my trailer.

After it was on my trailer and chained down came the "fun" part, tarping the thing.

When that was done I left with my Oklahoma escort car.  To make a long (a very long) story short we had to stop 12 times to add more bungie cords to keep the damn thing from flapping.  And that still didn't work.  When I got to Kansas my escort car dropped off and I continued on.  Had to stop again on the north side of Wichita because the entire back half of the tarp flung all the bungies off and was flapping like a huge flag.  Re-secured the damn thing again.  Continued on to a truck stop in Newell, Kansas.  My back is so sore tonight it is hard to walk.  Took a long hot shower and that didn't help.  Sleeping on my heating pad again.  Good night.  By the way, this thing is going to a wind farm project in Goff, Kansas.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  Drove the rest of the way to Enid, Oklahoma.  Stopped for the rest of the day and night at a convenience store with truck parking in Enid.  Load just a few miles from here Friday morning.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had to stop and wait for 2 hours at the Texas / New Mexico state line for my pilot escort car to arrive.  When he arrived we were on our way.  Made it way back off the road in an oil well field outside of Jal, New Mexico.  There were hundreds, if not thousands, of oil wells in there.  It was like the Saudi Arabia of America in there.  Once the crane was set up they unloaded me.

Left there and started off for my next load in Enid, Oklahoma.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with truck parking in Brownfield, Texas.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Went back to the Caterpillar dealer this morning and got my trailer.  A Caterpillar Genset going to Jal, New Mexico.

Left at 8:45 CDT to time it so that I arrived at the curfew area at 9 AM when the curfew ended.  Was doing real good until I heard a trailer tire blow out.  For a change I actually heard it this time.  Looked in the mirror and saw the rubber flinging everywhere.  Pulled over to the shoulder and went back and checked it out.  Decided that I could drive to a safe place to stop.  On the shoulder my load was sticking out into the travel lane.  Not safe.  I drove slowly about 4 miles to a place that was wide enough for me to stop safely and also safe for the guy that was coming to fix it.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the guy showed up and changed the tire.

Got back on the road again.  Obviously I didn't get as far as I wanted today.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Big Spring, Texas for the night.  I'll still deliver tomorrow, just not as early as I wanted to.

Monday, April 20, 2020

This morning I drove to the Caterpillar dealer in Irving, TX to load.  Had to wait for the crane to get there.  It arrived sometime after 1 pm CDT.  After they got all set up they loaded a Caterpillar Genset on my trailer.  By the time they finished, and I got the thing secured in the trailer, it was too late to go anywhere.  Fort Worth has a curfew from 4 to 6 pm.  I dropped my trailer there for the night and bobtailed to the TA truck stop on the south side of Dallas for the night.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Left early this morning in the misty rain.  Didn't even get out of OKC when I was cut off. 

Oh well, that is normal.  Happens all the time.  But if he had hit me, they would try to blame the truck.  Drove to the TA in Denton, Texas. I load tomorrow afternoon in Irving, TX.