Happy New Years Everyone

Happy New Years, Everyone. I think I made land speed record to DIA and back yesterday including a quick stop at McDonald's. Four and a half hours round trip. So the kids are gone and it's just the Funny Lady and myself.

Before they left we walked through Vail Village so they could get a few things to take home.

We have regularly taken our pictures at the covered bridge on the way in. Long ago I was taller than Tracie, now I have to stand on a foot of snow to be. The views at VV are beautiful. The river that runs through it is a championship trout stream, though when I have fished I didn't catch anything. That's Adam sitting with a bronze statue of Ben Franklin, looks presidential doesn't he ?!

This morning we toured the new Westin timeshare, it's a very nice facility. We took the tour to get the $100 gift card. No, we didn't buy anything. I thought we would take our gift card and go out to dinner tonight. Course the Funny Lady had a different idea. We wandered over to the exclusive (joking) and very busy Wal-Mart and get ourselves a salmon. How about that big guy, $7.52 for a pound and three quarters. So we'll have grilled salmon with asparagus and rice tonight and salmon patties with fried potatoes tomorrow. I think I talked her into eating out on Friday. There is a German restaurant in the village that looks pretty good.

We have a jucuzzi tub in our bedroom and we bought some fresh strawberries. That along with some chocolate fudge is going to ring in our New Year, but a lot earlier than midnight. Your imagination can take care of the rest.

Have a safe and Happy New Years

Bob and Teresa

Monday

Adam and Tracie went out one more day - Here's Adam coming in f0r lunch. I know, for the younger set, going skiing is irresistible but even for the youngest of hearts by the end of the third day in a row mother nature and the snow gods win. Adam was whipped by 2:30 this afternoon. They went to Beaver Creek today. It's owned by the same Vail company but it's not quite as big. They vote Vail as better.

Was a nice day out. Before we headed out to meet the kids for lunch I put the top down and we cruised around town all afternoon that way. Lots of looks and lots of fun.

Tomorrow around noon I've got to take the jont back over the hill to take Adam and Tracie to the airport, we've sure enjoyed them.

We'll probably hang out here until Saturday then back to Ponca City and back to Dallas on Monday.

This evening at the t/s they had a reknowned story teller telling local historical stories around the firepit, and S'mores too.

Bob and Teresa

On the Move

Today is Saturday, time to move. For the past week we've been at the Christie Lodge and today we're moving over to the Sheraton Mountain Vista till next Saturday. The Christie Lodge is nice, but it's, well, kind of like the Motel 6 of timeshares. Everything is here and most of it works. It's three bedroom and three baths so there is lots of room and that's the biggest advantage. It's the first t/s we bought back 8 years ago and we still like it.

Yesterday I took Andrea back to DIA to head back to Chicago. We watched for the weather, as good truckers do, and noted that we were going to have a pretty good snow overnight. As I am wont to do I woke up at 0410 and looked out. Yep, they were right. I decided we better hit the road. I woke up Teresa who then woke up Andrea and the bustle started.

Wednesday night we played a little Texas Hold'm, this is Andrea in here gamblers outfit... Note her hat. It's from the liguor store across the street; "Beaver Liquors" get it ?

It looked like the snow plows had spent the night up by the Eisenhower Tunnel because I could see them headed west, but our direction (east) looked pretty untouched and I would guess there was at least 5 inches on the road. You could hear the snow rubbing on the underside of the Bug. The trip usually takes about 2 hours, depending on stops and traffic, which there was very little of going east, and this one took a little over 3 hours. I dropped Andrea off and made the turn around back. Going west was a different story, lots of traffic, and this trip was closer to 3 1/2 hours. Successful anyway and no accidents for me. Did see a few unfortunate ones though and several brushings of the guard rail.

I forgot to mention I made the same trip on Christmas day to pick up Adam. On this trip the roads were clear and dry and each direction was closer to 2 hours. While I was waiting for his flight to come I took this picture of the front range from the waiting area at DIA.

In case you didn't know, there is a bridge here in Avon named after me.

Here's a picture of my wonderful and still Funny Lady in front of one of the many decorated trees in Avon.

I just got the call for "where's my tea" and it's time to make breakfast so I better get going.

The kids are skiing at Vail today.

Happy Holidays to all from Avon, Colorado.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas Everyone !!!

The girls skiied yesterday...

Cute little ski bunnies aren't they ?

Adam flys in from Monterey this morning - another trip over the mountain.

We're having a great vaca here.

Merry Christmas.

Bob and Teresa

Avon or Bust

Tuesday in Avon, Colorado. Got about 8 inches of snow overnight. Beautiful everywhere. I went out this morning at 0500 and nearly got stuck, I mean really close several times. Wby did I go out driving in 8 inches of snow you ask. Because I could, and I can't ENJOY getting stuck, etc. with Teresa. You know how ladies panic.

I walked to the bread shop this morning to get some ciabatta (sp) for making pannini sandwiches for dinner tonight. This mountain is the entrance to Beaver Creek ski resort and it goes straight up from there.

Last night we took the girls ice skating. They had a DJ and the magic globe. Snowed the whole time.

The girls may not like all my pictures here, but I can tell you they like my cooking... a little early don't you think ? They didn't even have a chance to get some funk on !

Got one for you... whassis ? Hint; I made it for the truck.

On the bench

Monday morning came in real cold in Oklahoma and windy. With wind chill it was 1 degree. Delivered at Eaton in Shawnee and by 0830 we were empty and waiting for our next w/a. FINALLY, about 1000 we got a message that we were being released for vacation, now. We dropped the trailer at the drop lot in OKC and bobtailed down to Dallas to drop the tractor. You may recall that we had dropped the VW down there a couple of weeks ago.

I warned you guys, no freight, no work. We're home in Ponca City and will be until Saturday when we'll head for Vail for two weeks. Thank goodness Teresa's family is not tired of us yet. We breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa and dinner with Joe and Beth. Don't want you to think we're entirely mooches, I made Gumbo for dinner last night and will make scalloped potatoes tonight with the remaining ham.

Nothing much else to share. The girls fly into Denver on Monday, I'll be sure to get some pictures and update our blog with them and scenes from the Rockies.

We think we'll make it to Vail/Avon sometime Saturday evening, depending on the weather and roads.

Ironic isn't it that I had to fight for the two weeks off, then they forced an additional week on us.

Bob

Weather Bug Bob

I guess becoming a weatherman is in my future, NOT ! But we're sure getting to see lots of variations.

Thursday night we delivered as expected and spent the night there on the lot. Recall we are in St. Johns, MI. Our next w/a was to go to Troy, MI and drop our empty trailer and pick up a pre-loaded trailer. Whoops, no trailer. They were ready to load us up but wait, I've still got air bags in the trailer. They make you take them away at Sav-a-lot.

Just like getting the air out of an air mattress, little bigger and little tougher.

I got them out and worked on deflating them while they loaded us.

The whole way east to Troy it flurried a bit. On our way to Battle Creek is started really coming down.

First snow of the season, and first snow for Teresa. Can you hear her now ?

We spent Friday night in Gary and got on down to Joplin yesterday. We deliver in Shawnee, OK tomorrow morning and that's where we are tonight. When we left Joplin at noon it was 77 degrees and as we hit Muskogee it turned to 60 and as we pulled into Shawnee at about 1600 it was 42 and now it's 36. I hear it's going down to about 25 tonight. Not what I expected...

Craig and Diane - surely you recognize this picture, lousy as it is !!!

When the odometer turned over 600,000 I tried to take a quick picture, like you guys did. Didn't look like yours.

We're happy as clams, little cool, but good.

Baby It's Cold Outside

While I was napping on Tuesday (1230) Teresa went out and check the QC to see if there was any activity. One thing everyone know is that a "watched pot never boils." So what do you think, yep we get a work assignment; go back to WalMart and grab an empty trailer, then run over to Houston and drop it and pick up one loaded with 42,000 lbs. of ... RICE and take it to St. Johns, MI. Just above Lansing. My navigator read the assignment and the deliver looked like it was for 12/12 at 100. But it really was 12/12 AT 0100. I haven't quite figured out how you can do that legally and since our truck doesn't run much at night we had a tough run.

We left Houston and it was 80 degrees, we got to Tehena, TX and it was 60 degrees, we got to Mt. Vernon, IL and it was 36 degrees, and were here in St. Johns, MI and it's 26 degrees with snow everywhere. So tell me, how does one acclimate to that ?

Yesterday we ran 600 miles and today 518 and were on the consignee's lot so technically we are on private property and "off". We can deliver at 0100 and park and still get our 10 hour break in by morning. By tomorrow night we could be anywhere - just like Matt Lauer.

The long and short is that we're here and waiting. Teresa's got her satelitte dish up and running and I'm blogging and thinking of taking a nap.

Catch Up from Texas

We dropped our valuable rice in KC Friday about 1600. We had been hearing so much about slow freight we figured we were stuck. I closed out my daily log and we went to eat. When we got back, about 1830 we got our next w/a. I figured, cool, we're set for tomorrow. But noooo, the load was one of those WalMart high value loads that had to be picked up within 12 hours of assignment. Not sure when Schneider got it but by the P/U time was by 0417 the next morning.

The problem was that we if we started our break at 1700 we would not be able to leave until 0500 and be there 0600 - LATE. The only other option was to leave immediately and pick it up by about 1945. That's what we did, but it put us past our 14 hour work day. Kept getting the computer generated messages that I was out of time, but no person made an issue out of it so I guess it worked out.

That load was headed for Sealy, TX, about 40 miles west of Houston. Saturday we made it on down to Dallas. Enroute Teresa picked up the VW in OKC and followed me on down to Dallas.
Our next TAH we have to leave the truck in Dallas - any TAH longer than 5 days and the truck has to be at an OC. They say "in case we need to loan it out." It's BS, but we're ready anyway.

We dropped the load yesterday about noon and scrabbled into town. WalMart of course and spent the night there. Today - Monday we're still waiting and I'm losing my patience. We've checked into a cheapo hotel for tonight and we'll see what jibes tomorrow.

Last week in Portland, ME we paid $58 for a Super 8 hotel. Here they want $79. Go figure.

We're staying in an old Roadway Inn for $55. Schneider says they will pay $40. So we're only out $20 (including tax). Not bad actually. But it still doesn't change the fact that no one is buying so there is nothing to haul. So, get out there and buy stuff !!!

11 days until TAH (2 weeks) in Colorado.

We're haggling again, Schneider and me. They "insist" that I give them 3 prospective weeks to take vacation next year. I tell them 12/19 - 12/26. They say I need to give them 2 other weeks so they can "assign" it to me. I tell them "when you pay for my vacations you can pick them, in the absence of that I'm taking Christmas." We have timeshares there we're using, whether they consent or not. We did exchange 1 week to go to Cancun in February, but the other 1 we plan to use.

Bob

We're Doing Fine

They took the entire day to get the hose for the turbo and replace it. I don't get it. But at $87.50 I guess they don't have to move too fast now do they ? We got the truck back about 1600 and decided to spend the night again in Portland, ME. Maybe Schneider will reimburse, I'm pretty sure they will for Sunday night. Monday, maybe.

When we went out at 0700 on Tuesday our next w/a was to go to Raymond, NH pick up a trailer, got to Leominster and pick up a load of plastic things. They looked like the plastic flip top salad things. The whole truck was full and it weighed only 11,000 pounds. I love those. We did good and headed for our delivery which was today in Edison, NJ. We decided that about 1800 we would stop. On the New Jersey Turnpike there are I think 4 service plazas. We stopped at the Vince Lombardi one. I'm sure there were more than 500 trucks there.

This morning on the way to deliver we got our next w/a. Go to Brooklyn, NY. Can you imagine BROOKLYN. We got unloaded fairly quickly and headed over. The directions on the Qualcomm indicated to exit off of 278 at exit 33. Well darn, trucks over 12' 2" can't go past exit 27.

I slowly pulled off and thought OH, #$@%. Yep, that's what I thought. Where the heck are we going now ? I look up and walking towards me in the off ramp is the guy that looks like a sanitation guy. He jumps up on the truck and says "where you headed, exit 33 I'll bet" and I allowed that he was correct. He says, while still standing on the side of the truck holding onto the mirror, turn right here, and I do, and go straight and I do. Then I get the line. I'll show you all the way and I usually get $15 or $20 to save you truckers the headache. In about 10 minutes he had us back on the freeway at exit 30 and on our way. Takes him 18 minutes to walk back and do it again. Might have been a scam, but darn, it was worth it to me. The "official" truck route takes you about 10 miles out of the way.

Anyway we picked up 45,000 pounds of rice at Pong Chiens. Chinese rice and are taking it to Kansas City, MO. Don't ask me why, seems a little silly to me, but pays the same, so who am I to complain.

When you see this sign, you know you're headed for trouble. We saw going both east and west...

But we also saw some the great NYC skyline.

We're half way thru PA now. We felt pretty good getting to NJ by 0800 and over to Brooklyn at 1000 and loaded and back out to NJ by 1145. No accidents or breakdowns - I mean by us !!!

Last comment... in order to get to the dock, the Mr. Pong Chien and his brother had me ( I swear it's the only way to get a 53' trailer in ) Teresa had to stop the traffic coming off the bridge and I had to drive about 80 - 90 feet up (the wrong way) the street in order to back into their dock. Took three swings, horns a blaring. Looking at it later I still didn't see any other way and they said they do it all the time !!! Lucky me.

Glad to be out...

Bob

Maxim 1

When life gives you lemons, make lemonaide.

I'm pretty sure there are bunch of folks at Schneider that are FOS. Last week we had the pleasure of driving across the country on Thanksgiving day so that we could deliver on Friday morning at 0900 and then sit for the rest of the day. I should clarify; we didn't mind driving on Thanksgiving but, to "need" to be available even though freight is slow and then have to sit on Friday just didn't seem like good planning to us.

Our delivery was in Plainfield, CT. After we hung around the mall in Lisbon for the day/night.

Saw the movie Four Christmases. Very good. Teresa got a new Vera Wang shawl. Isn't it wonderful !!!

Yesterday, Saturday, we got a w/a to go up, way up, to Bucksport, ME. We got there late in the afternoon. Had a nice dinner at the Seabreeze diner. Nice folks.

This is the Verso Paper mill and the town of Bucksport. That's not smoke but steam, it's was about 20 degrees this morning.

This morning we got loaded up and were well on our way to Maple Grove, MN, almost 1600 miles. Nice run. Except this morning the truck pooped... we were about 100 miles from Bucksport. Teresa was catching some morning snooze and pop - sounded like an M80 cherry bomb. Lost about 60% of the power. Pulling 44,900 pounds of the stuff I hate most, paper. Called Emergency Maintenance and they told me it sounded like the Turbo and to limp to the Freightliner shop in Portland, ME. Of course they are closed today so we're in a Super 8 down the road. I dropped the trailer and someone else is supposed to pick it up and take it to Minnesota.

We'll see what develops tomorrow.

Bob

Big Game Hunters -

Last Tuesday (I think) we picked up 43,000 pounds of Smirnoff drinks and headed for Tulsa and our TAH. Heading south on I55 there is a little town called Funks Grove, where there is also a rest area. Finally stopped. If you're a geography buff you may be interested to know there is a town called Funkhouser in southern Illinois.

We delivered the Smirnoff at 0600 Thursday and were actually lucky to use that day for bug oil changes (few VW dealers in OK - they love their trucks) eye check up and new glasses. Made it back to Ponca City about 1900 Thursday.

Saturday was the big hunting day. Opening day of deer season hunting. Here's Uncle Joe and myself. Tough guys, huh?

Joe mistakenly set his alarm for 545 pm instead of am so we got a bit of a late start.

No deer, dear.

Now the big game hunters get to rest.

We went back out on Sunday actually earlier than expected. I was making ham and egg breakfast sandwiches and the toast got a little dark and set off the fire alarm, so Joe was up at 0530 instead of 0545. Didn't help though. No deer again. I went back out at in the afternoon and tried to wait them out again. No deer. Oh well, was fun anyway, and I appreciate Joe hooking us up with the place and taking me out. Thanks, Joe.

Monday was back to the yard to get our truck. When we pulled in I noticed one of the other ones had been broken into. Wing window broken. No one bothered ours, with TV, and everything I was concerned. I'm guessing it was the previous disgruntled driver coming back to get something. But that's just guessing.

We zipped up to Coffeeville, KS and picked up a load of insulated wire and are headed to Brooklyn Heights, OH. We're spending the night at the Indianapolis OC. Dinner, shower, laundry and a haircut. Don't worry I put on the #3 whatchamacallit.

We deliver at 1500 tomorrow (Wed) and they estimate 3 hours to unload. Not sure what Thanksgiving day is going to hold for us yet.

If you haven't seen Craig and Diane's blog, you should. She has great pictures and are much like Teresa and myself. He drives and she's the team domestic. The site is http://shantztravels.blogspot.com/

I notice you can't see the letters above, just put your cursor over it and click.

Bob

Starting a New Week

Monday morning in Nitro, WV. Going to fuel and shower and make it to Gary today - about 450 miles. Got to watch DWTS tonight, surely by now you know the ritual.

Nitro - the WV mountains have a dusting of snow and it's getting cold. We were here Sat on our way to Browns Summit, NC. We unloaded there and picked up our next W/A in Fayetteville, NC Sunday morning and are now headed back to Dekalb, IL. The load to Browns Summit was our first repeat in 9 months, same pickup and delivery locations. On our way down I remarked that to Teresa that I was pretty sure that this route was the one we have traveled most and now we're doing it again.

On the way east we had noticed that all of the leaves had fallen and now the ground was covered with the same colors of leaves and the trees were bare. Now the leaves are covered with snow. Beautiful cycle of nature.

Talked to Rapid Reader Ron yesterday - he was at a soccer tournament that daughter Jennifer was playing in. The were winning 4 - 0. Go Jennifer !!!

We're supposed to get home Friday for TAH and have to work the Turkey Week. 'So okay, we get two weeks at Christmas in Vail and then in Feb we're going to Cancun. Can we stand it ? Yep. Oh, and if Uncle Joe gets it worked out we're going deer hunting, the deer hunting season opens on Saturday.

I wrote a letter to one of the Schneider big wigs last night. Turns out that there is a difference in driven and payed miles by about 6 - 10 percent. On an average week of 2,500 miles that 150 to 250 miles that we drive for no pay. That's 2 1/2 - over 4 hours of free labor per week. I find that unpalatable and told him so. I don't expect anything to change from it, but when we leave that will be one of the primary reasons and I thought they should know it. But at the moment, leaving isn't imminent.

Ron, to answer your question - yes we are thinking about our next adventure, are you thinking for us, too ? It has to be the same kind of work situation where we work together. We'll take your ideas for a short time and then I'll tell you one of the situations we have agreed on.

I hear there is also snow in Chicago... see you there, Bob

Ha !!! Twice in one week

Made it up to Champaign Tuesday night and had dinner with Andrea and Josh and Tracie. Josh being Andrea's current flame. Nice fella, musician type. You know, artistic and stuff.

Good burgers at Ruby Tuesday. Took my camera and of course left it in Andrea's car. More on that in a minute.

This morning we headed for Peoria and dropped off our CAT tractor parts. You can really tell that is tractor territory.

Got our next work assignment - a first. We scooted all the way across IL to Milford and picked up 40,000 lbs of BIRD SEED... who new we used that much bird seed. Thinking about it, I'm sure it was the remotest pickup we've made.

So last night not only did I not take any pictures, I left the camera in Andrea's car. Not to worry. This load took as right past Champaign on our way to St. Louis. Andrea met us on I57 and gave it back. Still no pictures though.

I do have one 0f the Charleston, SC docks though.

We're staying tonight at the Edwardsville, IL OC which means showers and laundry. Headed out to the truck to watch Criminal Minds.

Busy Little Beavers

We waited and waited Wednesday for the shop to be done... finally at about 7:30 I pushed it a bit and they acknowledged they had another 2 - 3 hours left. Of course you know that means 4- 5 or more. So we headed back to the Best Western. Should have done that earlier in the day, but I guess my "stuff" isn't that big. I tried to wait 'em out. This next morning, we went back and boy was I happy. They fixed the air leak and replaced 4 batteries and fixed Teresa's door handle. Almost like Christmas.

We picked up a relay load there in the yard at Gary and popped it out to Morris, IL and then picked up a load in Bolingbrook headed for Brown's Summit, NC. Can you believe it we made it down I64 passed right by Tamarack without even a blink. We stayed Saturday night in Wytheville, VA. The hills there are losing their colors, most of the leaves have fallen and the grey woods are now more dominant. EXCEPT for some of the yellows. They are so bright they almost glow.

Then we picked up a load headed for the UK... right we'll take it! Except all we got to do was drop it in Charleston, SC and they off-loaded the trailer to put into one of those big ocean containers. We dropped it this morning and picked up a load of Caterpiller parts, from one of those big ocean containers in Hanahan, SC and are outside of Knoxville, TN headed for Champaign, IL. Teresa called the girls and we're having dinner with them tomorrow night.

Got a couple of pictures on the docks, but forgot my camera in the truck.

Rapid Reader Ron had previously sent me some poop on those "creepy" creepy vines.

For the enquiring minds: http://www.jackanthonyphotography.com/yahoola/kudzu/

Kudzu is native to Japan and China, however it grows well in the Southeastern United States. Kudzu is a vine that when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation. Kudzu, over a period of several years will kill trees by blocking the sunlight and for this and other reasons many would like to find ways to get rid of it. The flowers which bloom in late summer have a very pleasant fragrance and the shapes and forms created by kudzu vines growing over trees and bushes can be pleasing to the eye during the summer months.
Kudzu vines will cover buildings and parked vehicles over a period of years if no attempt is made to control its growth. A number of abandoned houses, vehicles and barns covered with kudzu can be seen in Georgia and other southern states. Many of the photos of kudzu shown on this web site were taken in the vicinity of Dahlonega, Georgia, a beautiful historic town in the mountains of North Georgia best known as the site of the first major gold rush in the U.S. in 1828.

If you can't tell, I hate KUDZU. I am getting great delight in seeing it die from the cold. But I'm sure it will be back next year...

Bob and Teresa

We're at it Again

For the record - the Funny Lady that has been following me around the country is gone...

Teresa is now an authorized rider on the truck. We're whole again.

We ended up in KC, MO at the end of last week and on Friday dropped the trailer at the drop lot in OKC about 7:30 Friday night. We had an abbreviated TAH - three days and got back on the road Tuesday.

You may recall that since we sold our truck we no longer have any way to transport anything bigger than a couple of suit cases. Problem solved; couple of weeks ago I ordered a Piggy Backer trailer and had a hitch put on the bug. Saturday Grandpa helped me put it together.

About three hours later, just in time for dinner... we finished.

So now we throw everything into the trailer and swap back to the truck.

We're going to use it at Christmas to take stuff to Colorado, too.

Tuesday we picked up a load of TP. I guess that's one thing that doesn't get hit by a slow economy !!! Hauled it up to Romeoville, IL yesterday. Then we came over to Gary for an oil change. They call it a PM-B. Every 50,000 miles they change the oil and service the truck. In addition it's developed a couple of air leaks so every time I turn the engine off it loses a bunch of air in the tanks. They finished the PM and they're supposed to take it back into the shop soon to work on the air.

Whilst here I took the required winter training and am all trained up.

Since the truck was in the shop last night Schneider pays for us to stay in a hotel close by. Not sure if it will be completed by this evening or not, or we'll be "forced" to stay there again.

Bob and Teresa

Winding Down

Ron, you are correct, Saturday morning was pretty much a bust. I'm not even sure IF I get paid as the consignee would even take the load because "the paperwork" was not complete. Not my paperwork, but the shippers. So we took the Smucker's jam and stuff back over to Gary and dropped it. And picked up a load headed way up north to WalMart in Tomah, WI.

We spent the night at the Ho-Chunk Indian casino by the Wisconsin Dells. We watch a lady play 3 - dollar machines simulataneously with 3 dollars for each spin. You got it - nine dollars at a whack. We watched for a half hour while she went through $1,000. Then she called a guard over. We thought she was going to take a potty break. Nope, more money. She came back with another $1,000. Sure she caught a couple of little wins - $160 twice and $400 once. At the end she left empty handed.

I didn't feel too bad having lost $18.

At WalMart I dropped the loaded trailer and picked up an empty. When I checked it out I could see water inside so I was reluctant to take it, but it was the only one empty there. We were headed to Whiting, WI to pick up rolls of paper and I was frantic that they might get wet. I called the emergency maint folks and since it was Sunday nothing was open to have it fixed at. So I stopped at a truck stop and picked up some silicone and patched it from the inside, hoping we would not catch any rain on the way back to Gary. Well it rained, and hard, but my patch held. When we pulled into Gary I had the guys patch it up right.

Figured to fuel up and head out bright and early Monday. While I was doing my pre-trip I noticed a bald tire on the trailer, a flat drive tire on the tractor and a questionable steer tire. Spent the next two hours waiting in line and 30 minutes replacing the tires. Anyway we're off and headed for Nashville. So it's Monday and we're arriving in Nasville on I24. Driving to the truck stop was like the old Clint Eastwood move Gauntlett (sp) there were cop cars lining the route. Turns out the t/s was right across the street from the Titan's stadium. That's what all the commotion was about. Pretty cool watching the game on our TV and seeing the fireworks out the front window and TV at the same time.

Our delivery was not until 2100 Tuesday night we we had all day yesterday to wander around Nashville. We went by the Country Music Hall of Fame and the visitor's bureau and headed for Jack's BBQ on Broadway. Couple of doors down is Tootsies, all purple. The proprietor even work a purple shirt. Even at noon all the honky tonks had aspiring musicians playing waiting to be discovered. Some were going to have a long wait. Back to Tootsies. We briefly admired theire autographed pictures ( which all the honky tonks have) and thought nice and walked out. As we're standing there the range rover pulls up right next to us and out pops Kid Rock. No kidding. Teresa recognized him right away. I figured it was just a wannabe. So we ran back inside and got seats.

Pretty cool !!!

We did actually eat at Jack's BBQ and I can recommend it. Little pricey, but darn good.

One more thing on WI... we were on a little two lane highway headed to Whiting and coming down the road I see a white sedan with what looked like a cop top from far away. As he got closer I could see it was a buck. Then I saw a couple more in trucks. Guess deer season is open in WI.

We're in Gallatin, TN picking up printed paper stuff headed for the Kansas City Star. Be there tomorrow, maybe, if they get us loaded soon.

We're supposed to start TAH on Friday, but this one isn't a guaranteed start date so we may be an extra day getting to it.

Bob

Not TAH

TAH is next Friday, Ron...

On our way to Minooka, IL I called the consignee and asked them if we could deliver early. They checked the assignment and determined it was "hot" and they would take it anytime. So we bopped into their place at about 1800 - 500 miles. Not a bad day. Oh, first we missed the turn into the building and ended up in a residential/farm area and had to get turned around. Tough one... My helper is good though, directs traffic and me and we got it !!!

Picked up an empty there and headed to the Pilot in Minooka. This morning we're headed a whopping 36 miles to University Park, IL and picking up food stuff at Smuckers and delivering to Sam's club 1 mile away. Not sure what the rest of the day holds. We learned Thurs night in a Schneider driver conf call that because of the slowing economy and slowing freight that Schneider is picking up these little loads to keep drivers busy and attract customers. Well ain't that grand ?/?/

We'll see what comes up next.

Ron's the Winner

Ron was the first ( of a few ) that responded with an email as to what the picture from the last post was - it's a reflection of us in our truck in the back of a chrome trailer.

Yesterday we delivered our water at Sam's Club in Raleigh, NC then hoofed over to Kellogg in Cary and picked up 40,000 lbs. of Keebler crackers and we're headed for Minooka, IL. Looks like we're headed back to the mid-west for our TAH on Friday.

We excited able to stop in at Tamarack and have lunch and let the Funny Lady wander around the artisan shops. Sure gets her right brain ticking. Now she can't wait to get home and do some more sewing.

Since we no longer have a truck or any way to haul more than a suitcase I have ordered a little "Piggy Backer" trailer to tow behind the VW. I'll be putting it together while we're TAH.

Might be getting old to some, but it's still incredible, the fall colors coming over the mountains in West Virginia.

We spent the night in Nitro, WV and are headed for Minooka today, should get there tonight and deliver our crackers at 0600 tomorrow.

Mike Y. everything OK there, haven't heard from you in awhile ?

Bob

Can you say "York"

We spent last night in York, PA, named I'm sure after my buddy at the big "A", Mike York.

We spent last night at a Motel 6 on the corner of US 30 and I83. Got some much needed rest and showers and got our laundry done. We were feeling a lot weary and abused. Where we had been running the opportunities for any basic needs were wanting. But this morning we are recharged and ready to get back at it. The Funny Lady just loved the king sized bed to "stretch out" on, among other things.

If you're in the area be careful. When I went out at 0500 est to get coffee there were 3 officers generously handing out tickets.

A bit of catch up; last Friday we delivered at 0700 and was not able to pick up our next load until 1330 on Saturday so we had a nice time in the Poconos. We hung out at the Mt. Airy Resort where we had this view. Walked around the golf course and enjoyed the day.

Sunday we picked up a relay of water - I hate water almost as much as paper. S000, heavy. Had to deliver at stores, I hate that part, too. Small docks and packed with trucks. Tough to get the big truck into. But the stores were in downtown Philly so we enjoyed seeing that part. We passed the Tower Theater on 69th St. Looked like a dump but the names on the marquee was top of the line.

Yesterday we ran up to Allentown, PA and picked up another load of - yep, water. It looks to us that Nestle has a corner on that market. Seeing the names on the labels looks likes they do.

Anyway we're headed down to Raleigh, NC to a Sam's Club distribution center for a tonight or tomorrow delivery. Might be able to make it on down to Charlotte, maybe get to see our friends Ron and family there. Never can tell, but watch out, Ron.

This is NOT a transposed picture, but can you tell what it is ?

Well, the Funny Lady is now up and at it, so I better finish up. No matter how long we're in a different time zone she refuses to change her watch or brain. So I'm in one and she's in another. But it's all good.

Bob and the Funny Lady,

Pooped and ready for TAH

We've been to PA down to VA back to PA over to NY and are now in NJ waiting to go back to PA. We're pooped out.

Just thought I would let you all know we're fine.

Bob

Whewy Again !

During the night on Friday our next w/a assignment came in. By 0700 we were supposed to leave the Dallas OC go over to the WalMart DC in DeSoto drop the trailer, bobtail back to the Dallas OC, pick up another empty take it back to the WalMart and then pick up our real load.

So we had to get up a bit early and hit it, but as you can guess we got it done. So we headed for Alachua, FL. How about that sunset ? See those spikes beside the Funny Lady's legs ? Thats a riverboat casino (no, we didn't go) down on the water in in Ol' Miss.

We made it on down to the Panhandle of FL Sun night and delivered Monday am. Our next w/a was to jet (literally) down to Lakeland, FL and pick up a load of pallets and take them up to Gaffney, SC. Who would think they would have to bring pallets all the way from FL to SC ? Anyway we dropped them on Tuesday and got another w/a enroute. Did you know that Nestle's owns Stouffers ? Neither did we. Anyway that's where we dropped the pallets. Turns out down the street that had a "Stouffers Thrift Store." After we dropped the trailer of pallets we stopped in and got several frozen dinners. The stuffed peppers were real good today.

It instructed us to bobtail to "Atlanta Roadway" in Braselton, GA. No problem with Braselton, but the rest of the instructions were a bit vague. At least we were bobtailing. We had to turn around three times.

Finally found it - it was a real racing roadway. I think they used the trailer for advertising. We got to drive all over the grounds to get it. Way cool !

We took this empty to McDonough, GA - just south of Atlanta and picked up a load of female products and kleenex and are headed for Pittston, PA.

There's these weird vines that grow along the freeways, all over the south, I'm sure other places, but this is what I can see.

They grow like Mongolian hordes over everything in their path. Their scary weird. They completely envelope anything in their path trees, fences, houses, really anything.

Several long and early days in a row. I really like to go 350 - 400 miles a day and we've been getting over 500. More money but more tired and less time to walk/exercise.

Caught up now...

Friday Night Lights

We dropped of the load of salt in Grand Saline and headed over to the local Wal-Mart to get some stuff. It was unusual that this WM would not allow trucks to park in the lot. So I found this place to "squeeze" the big dog into. Quite a slope.

Then we headed over to the Dallas OC. We're here waiting for our next w/a which is supposed to come soon. It's a HV load from WM going somewhere, we don't know where. Now you'll have to come back and see "where in the world the Funny Lady is."

We've been here several times and I always wanted to get this picture. I HATE to touch garbage cans to put garbage in. Some enterprising "genius" has come up with this little handle. You can open the front with one little finger, and you basically know that know garbage has been up that far on the face. I LOVE IT...

That's about it for Friday, but a least I get credit for two days in a row !!!