Friday, September 10, 2010

Picked up my load of PVC Pipe in Calvert City, KY.

Then got on the road heading for Butterfield, MN.  On the way through St. Louis, MO I passed this goofy thing.

Drove 710 mles and stopped for the weekend in Albert Lea, MN.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Went and got my trailer put back together this morning.  They did a very good job.  Then went up to Nashville, TN and delivered the trees.  Went and got fuel, food, and a shower.  Then drove up to Kuttawa, KY for the night.  I pick up my next load tomorrow morning in Calvert City, KY.  It is PVC pipe going to Butterfield, MN.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Went to Crescent City, FL and picked up my next load.  42 trees going to Nashville, TN

I left and headed for Nashville.  When I got up to the Cartersville, GA area on I-75 I had another driver tell me that my tail lights were not working.  I stopped at a TA truck stop to get them fixed.  While looking under the trailer we both saw that the rear plug for the lights was unplugged.  Also noticed that the line was real tight.  Continued to look around to see why the line was so tight all of a sudden and found that one of the cross members of the trailer had broken off and was hanging by the electrical line and the air lines to the trailer breaks.  That's not a good thing. They couldn't re-weld it there but told me about a place just down the road that could do it in the morning. Pushed it back up & zip tied it in place then plugged in the lights. I parked for the night there.

right (passenger's) side facing the rear

left (driver's) side facing the rear

Tuesday, September 7, 2101

Delivered the truck bodies in Deland.  My next load is tomorrow in Crescent City.  Its a truck load of trees.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Drove down to Seville, FL to our yard and parked the truck for the weekend. Mom met me there and I'm spending the weekend with her.  I deliver this load Tuesday morning in Deland.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Got my next load this morning.  Three truck old truck bodies that I'm taking to Deland, FL.

Then I drove 506 miles down to Kenly, NC for the night. Went over the Delaware Memorial Bridge on the way.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Had a broken front shock so I went and had both front shocks replaced.  Then I drove down to Shrewsbury, NJ where I'm picking up my next load tomorrow morning.  On the way I detoured through Kinnelon.  I stopped at Lakeside Deli and got lunch then stopped in the parking lot of Kinnelon Fire Dept. Company 2 (my old fire dept.) and ate it.  While I was there one of the firefighters stopped by so I went in and talked with him for a while.  The place is a mess. All run down, no one is really taking care of it.  The trucks still look great though.  He showed me the plans for the new station they are fixin' to build.  It will be gorgeous.  Two stories high and three bays. It will be built in the empty lot next to the current location.  When its finished they will tear down the old building and make a parking lot out of it.  Our old house looks great.  Wasn't able to get a photo unfortunately, no place to stop.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Got back on the road early.  Drove from Emporia, VA up to Norwich, CT (656 miles) and delivered the panels at a US Food Distributor warehouse. They are building an addition to the building.  I spent the night at the job site.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Delivered used insulated panels in the morning and reloaded right there with 4 brand new bundles going up to Norwich, CT. 

Had to get a DOT physical done before Sept. 3, when my current one expires, so I dropped the trailer after securing the load and tarping the load. Drove to Quick Care in Deland and got that done.  Then went and got my trailer and took off for Norwich.  It was about 2:30 in the afternoon when I left.  There were quite a few other trucks loading up for the same place when I loaded but they were all gone when I came back.

Drove up to Emporia, VA and stopped for the night after driving 655 miles.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Drove to Deland, FL.  Parked the truck where I was delivering Monday.  Mom met me and we spent Sunday afternoon together while I did my laundry. I really enjoy our time together.  Then went back to the truck for the night.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Left Dallas this morning and drove 620 miles to the Oasis Truck Stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.  That's almost to Florida.  Passed the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile on the way.

Friday, August 27,2010

Today I didn't go anywhere.  The Great American Truck Show was at the Dallas Convention Center so I spent the day at the convention. Free truck parking and free to get in.  Here is a photo of our booth at the show.

There was a lot of exhibits.  I looked at all of them.

There was (of course) a lot of gorgeous trucks!!  

Alex from Ice Road Truckers was there posing for photos and signing autographs.  I got a chance to talk with him a little bit.  Seems like a real nice guy.  Very "down to earth".

The guy took the picture before I was ready. I look funny!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Picked up my next load in Wichita, Kansas.  A truck load of insulated panels that are going back to Deland, Florida to the manufacturer.  Drove down to Denton, Texas to spend the night at the TA truck stop.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Delivered the panel to a job site in Wichita where they are building a Quick Trip convenience store.


My next load is here in Wichita but doesn't load until tomorrow morning so I splurged and got a hotel room. Not anywhere near as nice as the one in Las Vegas.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Drove into Ft. Worth and delivered the bowling alley stuff without any further problems. Glad to get rid of that load!!

Then went a few miles down the road for my next load. It is one insulated panel going to Wichita, KS. One of the easiest and lightest loads I have ever had. After the last one, I really needed that!! The photos below are of the loading dock I backed into. I love those! They are a fun challenge to back into without hitting anything. Have to look close at the photos. Inside the sides of the loading dock come in toward the trailer leaving only 2 inches on either side of the trailer. That is so the fork lift can drive right to the edge of the trailer. Makes it much easier for them to center the load on the trailer. Of course I didn't hit anything.

On the way to Wichita I passed the Texas Motor Speedway.

Stopped for the night just south of Wichita, Kansas at a rest area on I-35.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Got an early start today. Everything was going great until I noticed that my load had shifted. The front part of the load had shifted toward the passenger side of the trailer. That caused the trailer to lean. I limped into a truck stop to fix it. 2 guys and a fork lift came out to help. So here I go again un-tarping, this time it was the front half, the blue tarp in front in the photo below. The whole stack had shifted. Had to take them off one at a time and then put them back on one at a time. Then re-strap and re-tarp. It was 104 degrees in west Texas when we did this. I was sure glad to have the help. Wasn't nearly as exhausted as I was Friday. Three hours and $235 later I was back on the road.

While driving I saw a dust devil.  Finally one close enough to get a photo of.

Drove 659 miles in spite of my difficulties and stopped for the night in Big Spring, Texas at the TA truck stop.

When I went in to eat I picked my booth and went to the salad bar.  When I returned and started eating this came in and sat right in front of me.  I could hardly keep from gaging while I ate.  Had to look around the room or down at my plate so I could eat.