Friday, August 18, 2017

Had several goals to meet today.  The first one was to get through the Lexington, KY area before the curfew started.  The second was to get through the West Virginia Turnpike today because they do not allow permitted loads Saturday or Sunday.  The third was to get to the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia.  

As soon as my required ten hours off was up, we left this morning. Made it through Lexington with no problems.  First goal met.  The rest of the day was through the mountains.  Had rain for most of the trip too.  Stopped at a rest area on the West Virginia Turnpike do do that required stupid 30 minute break.  When it was time to go I started out.  There was a truck broken down at the end just before pulling out blocking the only way out.  I had my escort car block off the entrance so no one would come up behind me. Then I had to back all the way out of the rest area then drive through the cars only area to get out.  Got out of that mess and made it off the West Virginia Turnpike.  Second goal met.  Continued on and made it to the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia with less than 30 minutes left on the clock.  Third goal met.  Will be here for the weekend.  417 miles today and was quite a workout for both me and the truck.  I'm exhausted.  Good night.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Went over to Caterpillar first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 775G dump truck that is going to the port in Portsmouth, Virginia.  Then it goes on an ocean cruise to Israel. 

Left there and headed that way.  Picked up my escort car at the Illinois / Indiana state line.  He will be with me until I deliver.  Timed it pretty good and got to Louisville, KY just as curfew ended.  Heavy rain going around Louisville.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Waddy, Kentucky.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

My next load is tomorrow in Decatur, Illinois.  Drove down there today and stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop just down the street from Caterpillar in Decatur.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Left Denver at 11 pm local time.  Chased a thunderstorm all day on I-80.  Made for great lightening viewing.  Finally caught up to it then drove through it east of Omaha.  Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Des Monies, Iowa when I ran out of hours.  Had only 3 minutes to spare.  Now the thunder storm can catch me.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Went over to Henderson, Colorado first thing this morning and delivered the excavator. Didn't have another load yet so I went back to the truck stop in Denver and got the truck washed.  Then found a place to park and wait.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Another great day on the road.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Denver, Colorado.  Will be here until Monday morning after curfew.  Deliver not too far from here.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Had to time leaving this morning in order to enter Missouri at 9 am when their curfew was over.  I timed it perfectly again.  Crossed into Missouri at 9 am.  Another great day on the road.  Light traffic, good weather, and all the weigh stations were closed.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Salina, Kansas.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Left at sunrise this morning.  Started off in the rain but by noon I had driven out of it.  Clear blue sky the rest of the day.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Went over to Newport News first thing this morning and loaded a Liebherr 926 Excavator that is going out to Henderson, Colorado.  

I got done so fast that I had to wait for the Newport News curfew to get over.  When 9 am arrived I hit the road.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Alta, West Virginia.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Left this morning and drove to a small truck stop in Bowers Hill, Virginia.  It is right next to Norfolk.  I'll load a few miles from here tomorrow morning.

Monday, August 7, 2017

At about 4 this afternoon I got my next load.  It is up in Newport News, Virginia.  I started off that way and stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Canadys, South Carolina.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

FINALLY !!!!!!  Football is back.  The first pre-season NFL game!!!  Only pre-season, but it's a start.

I'll be back on the road next week.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Drove home this morning.  Will be home for a few days.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Could not enter Georgia until a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Timed it perfectly when I left Knoxville this morning.  had some bumper to bumper traffic in Atlanta.  Big surprise there!!  Then drove the rest of the way to Ocala and delivered the wheel loader.  Then up to the Petro truck stop in Orange Lake, FL for the night.  Heading home in the morning.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a good day on the road even with off and on rain.  Got stopped in Tennessee just north of Knoxville.  He though I was in violation of the Knoxville curfew.  BUT I was not.  I showed him on my permit where I was legal.  He agreed.  Then he did a Level II inspection, which I passed with flying colors.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Farragut, Tennessee.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Got started a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Bellevue, Iowa and delivered the dump truck.  Then drove over to Montgomery, Illinois and loaded a Caterpillar 950M Wheel Loader that is going down to Ocala, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Monee, Illinois for the night.  Too much bumper to bumper rush hour traffic.  I'll get an early start in the morning when there isn't so much traffic.  

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Left long before sunrise this morning to beat the Lexington, KY curfew.  But then had to stop before getting to Louisville, KY because I still did not have a Indiana permit and did not beat the curfew there.  At about 9:30 my permit finally arrived and off I went.  Made it about five miles and blew an air line in the trailer.  Had to pull over and call road service.

And here is what it looks like fixed.

Well, that killed off a whole lot of the day.  I did manage to make it as far as the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois for the night.  Not anywhere near as far as I wanted to get today.  I'll still be able to deliver tomorrow but getting over to reload tomorrow will now be a real challenge. 

Monday, July 24, 2017

First thing this morning went over to Cayce, South Carolina and loaded, in the mud, a Volvo A40F Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Bellevue, Iowa.

Left there and drove up to the Pilot truck stop in Corbin, Kentucky for the night.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Had the truck serviced first thing this morning.  Oil changed, chassis lubed.  You know, that like stuff.  When that was done I left and drove up to the new Petro truck stop in Columbia, South Carolina.  I load Monday not too far from here.  I'm glad I choose this place to spend the weekend.  Instead of the normal Petro restaurant, it has a Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant.  A thousand times better!!!  The food is great.  Had a half rack of ribs for lunch, and a steak for dinner finished off with a warm fudge brownie and vanilla ice cream tonight.  Very popular place.

It also has a bowling alley !!!!!  Staff says there is usually a waiting list to get a lane.

It's been a while since I have been this stuffed!!!   Feels good !!!!

Friday, July 21, 2017

Left this morning and drove in to the port in Savannah, Georgia and delivered the compactor.  Then went to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hills, GA for the night.