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.