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.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Got on the road at sun up this morning and drove one of my favorite sections of interstate highways, I-70 between Grand Junction and Denver, Colorado.  It is absolutely gorgeous as is snakes along beside the Colorado River, through Vail, and Breckenridge, and up and over some pretty steep Rocky Mountains.  I took some photos as I was driving.  They definitely don't do it justice.  Here are a few that I took along the way.

How would you like to live there?  Trying to tell someone where you live could turn into an Abbott and Costello routine.

You can see some of the ski slopes carved out through the trees in Vail.

Then over the first real big mountain. It is just east of Vail and goes up to 10,600 feet.

And then back down.  You can see the tree line in this photo - the altitude at which trees will no longer grow.

Then back up again to the Eisenhower Tunnel.  Elevation 11,158 feet.

This was at the entrance to the tunnel where the road leveled out to go in.  Notice that I'm climbing at break neck speed!!  Had to stop and wait for a few minutes, just before the tunnel, and let the truck cool down.  Remember, I'm pulling about 94,000 pounds up those mountains through that very thin air.

Then I drove in to Aurora and delivered the excavator.  My next load is Monday in Aurora so I went over to the TA truck stop in Denver for the rest of the weekend.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Got up this morning and my back was still a mess.  Did way too much walking yesterday.  Checked out of the hotel and back into the truck.  Of course the rain had stopped, the sun was out and it was going to be a gorgeous day.  Got on the road and drove up I-15 to I-70 and then through Utah.  Here are some of the many photos I took along I-70 in Utah.  It is like driving through 200 miles of Grand Canyon (but on a much smaller scale).

Stopped for the night 19 miles in Colorado at a small truck stop in Fruita, CO.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Didn't hurry getting started this morning. Drove up to Las Vegas.  Haven't been here in a while and after the day I had yesterday, I decided that a little R&R was in order.  Of course it was raining.  Probably first time all summer.  I stopped at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.  It is just a few blocks from Las Vegas Blvd.  They have a large truck parking area.  I have stayed here before.  Rooms are very inexpensive and nice!

Here is the view from my room.  Can you see my truck?

Here it is.

Here is more of the view.

Took the shuttle over to the "strip", also known as Las Vegas Blvd.  Went to Caesar's Palace and walked around a lot.

Then went to Paris and had dinner at the buffet.  Boy was that good!!

After that went to Rio Hotel.  By then my back was killing me!!!  I sat in one of the bars and had a Coke.  This was my server. Nice eye candy!

After that saw a show.

Before it started they had everyone (that wanted to) go up on stage and sign a large envelope.  I signed it.  See my signature?

While I was up there I took a photo showing the view from up there.  The arrow points to my seat. I was six rows from the stage.

Then the show started.

I enjoyed it thoroughly!!  It was very good.

When it was over took a taxi back to the hotel and a good nights sleep.