Keepin' on truckin'

I guess there's a bit to catch up on and will try to keep it in order and skip some of the boring stuff. We picked up the truck Thursday morning. Now remember that was in Piscataway, NJ, right on the harbor. Then headed for three pickups - Dayton, NJ, and Fredericksburg and Mechanicsburg PA with a drop at the KMart distribution center in Warren, OH.

The next work assignment was to pick up an empty trailer in ... I can't remember. Anyway it was in OH and dead-head to Rochester, NY. That's about 250 miles empty. Like Schneider doesn't have an empty trailer or driver in NY. Oh well, I get paid the same. So we picked up a bunch of auto parts at a GM supplier in Rochester and headed for the drop Saturday afternoon in Detroit.

Going east and west on I90 we went through Buffalo twice. Couldn't help but think about Tim Russert. I really enjoyed him on MTP and had read two of his books last year.

On the way through Ohio we took the Lake Erie Circle Tour drive on US-6. It was really quite beautiful. We stopped to take a few pictures. I don't know if my camera is taking a dive yet but I got 5 black pictures. DRATS.

I did get two. But the best ones are of the house the owner of this dock is painting. He's painting the house to look like the original Mayflower ship. You could see the bow and rails and spindles. Really cool. But his dock was very nice, too. My pic of the Funny Lady was also black...

We delivered in Pontiac, MI and are resting in a rest area north of town. No load yet today. If they don't hurry up we'll have to head for the casinos downtown and have a Sunday brunch.

More later.

Might be in the dog house again

Delivered the truck this morning promptly at 6:30 and they started on it right away. I chatted with the owner a bit and then headed out. Before I left I entered on the QC that I would be unavailable until tomorrow at noon ( I thought ) I actually entered today. So at noon they started shoving loads my way and when I didn't respond I got a call to get the truck and get going. When I said I really couldn't, I was in NYC I got a raft of #$%t. So I think I'm in the dog house again.

Somehow the Funny Lady found out I was going to Times Square and must have followed me there. What a beautiful day in NYC, no humidity and about 85 degrees. We took the down town and up town bus tours again. Had a wow lunch at the Taj Mahal in the East Village. Took a nap in Central Park. Enjoyed the subway in and out of NYC and cheese cake from Juniors for the ride back to Pascataway, NJ.

We walked up and down Times Square and had a blast.

Back to work in the morning and see how long being in the dog house will last.

Thanks for the VM, Ron... and, yes, I did honk at you in PA.

Moose Crossing - Kennebunkport

On the way to Raymond, NH the next work assignment popped in.



Let me back up a moment, just to fill you in. A couple of issues have come up since the Funny Lady showed up. First, I can't just stop anywhere, got to have a bathroom. I used to be able to stop most anywhere but now it's got to have a bathroom. That brings up the second issue, noise. Where there's toilets there are other trucks, usually a bunch. Many still run all night.



Some of the best places are Supercenter WalMarts. They are 24 hours and have b/r and she can get her pedicure !!!



Next are rest areas. Some are better than others. Truck stops are the worst, but they have my morning coffee.

And of course hotels...



Anyway with the combination of the above we're working it out.

So, where are we now ? The next work assignment sent us over to Hollis Center, ME to pick up
45,000 pounds of Poland Springs water. With three drops this morning, 2 in NY and 1 in NJ. I hated it. Through the tight suburbs to deliver at local A&P stores. About 2 hours at each store. Pain in the butt.

So what am I doing in the picture at the right. Well a couple of days ago the driver side latch mechanism hung up and the inside handle ended up breaking, not even the outside latch would work. So for the next couple of days I would go in and out the passenger side door. Now you can imagine the hassle that caused. Then last night the passenger side hung up and eventually that handle broke. Sot the only way to open the door was like the picture above.

Started at 0400 this morning with three stops, in and out opening the door like that... that's it !!!

I contacted emergency services and got the location of a Freightliner repair shop close by the last drop and after dropping it drove over to the shop. It was about 4:00 by the time I got there so they told me to come back in the morning. So I dropped the trailer and we bobtailed out to I287 in New Jersey and in the morning (0630) I'll drive the truck back over and let them have it. I suspect they'll need to keep it tomorrow and order parts and install them Thursday so at this point it looks like we'll spend tomorrow afternoon and evening in NYC.

We were whipped... but we had a bath and a great dinner at Red Lobster and can relax now.

Sunday - Day of Rest - NOT !!!

I wanted to add, one more time, that Tamarack - the Best of West Virginia was a real treat to stop at. If you're even close by make a point to spend some time there, you will not be disappointed.

We made it to Danville, VA by about 10:30. I thought we were going to one of their distribution centers. But no, we're delivering the grocery carts to a brand new store set to open 7/27.

I pulled up to the back wondering how I was going to get all of them out. Not to worry. About 20 "kids" popped up and started hauling them out. All new employees at the store. About 20 minutes and done.

This morning we had coffee in Roanoke, VA. Breakfast in West Virginia. Lunch, well we missed lunch but took a potty break in Hershey, PA. Then passed through New Jersey and New York and are now in Milford, CT. I think we touched seven states today. I tried like heck to get to the Long Island Sound for dinner but every bridge is under 13 feet and we just didn't fit. I had a hankering for surf and turf. We settled for fajitas at Moe's. Good, but not S and T. And for the record... BEFORE we could eat, the Funny Lady had to get a pedicure. Makes her happy and therefore me too.

We're headed for Wal-Mart in Raymond, New Hampshire (just outside Manchester) with a "high-value" load of pillows and pads. I love it. It's less than 10,000 pounds. Pays the same for me and easier to pull. We'll leave here oh, about 7 am and deliver by 1200 and then who knows.

Ron, I guess you're off the hook this trip... say hi to the folks there for me. Think about you guys often.

Mike Y... haven't heard from you in awhile, everything cool ? Any news on Matt ?

Around the States in 80 Days -

Not really but it feels like it. Yesterday we hooked up with Andrea at a truck stop just outside of Danville, IL. I think she thought we were quite cute in our little motor home. We a great breakfast at the Oakwood Truck Stop. It really helps when you are starving and we all were.

Here's proud Funny Lady and Andrea. Andrea got a job, not sure exactly when she starts, at the Hilton Garden Suites. She's going to do great there and use it as a stepping stone to many other opportunities in a couple of years.

Congrats to you, Andrea. They will love you, not like we do, but good enough.





So we continued on to Sam's and dropped our "confidential" load and then picked up a trailer with 1 pallet of erroneous baby training pants. It hadn't been on the previous bill of lading so they made Schneider take it back. I dropped it back at the Gary OC and informed them that their training pants had arrived. Got a laugh out of that one. We quickly dropped our pants, so to speak and picked up another trailer and headed out.


Headed down I65 we read the signs that there was an accident closing all the lanes about 30 miles down the road so we jumped off and headed south on IN-55. A bit slow going but nice anyway. When we got far enough south (IN-10) we headed east to pick up I65 again. On our way to I65 we saw the tow trucks hauling two big rigs away - quite a mess. Don't know how much or what else was involved but those two were ugly.


We stopped for the night at the rest area at about mile post 200. Took our walk and then I thought I would put a padlock on the load for security. So I checked the load - 10,000 pounds and no not diapers, or paper just 236 Target grocery carts. We're taking them to Danville, VA.


One the way down 64/77 the Funny Lady noticed the signs for the Tamarack. It's a great artisan - I said artisan not cortisan village.
There were numerous groups - quilts, pottery, class, wood and so on... She had to examine almost every quilt. We had a great bbq pulled pork sandwhich. Look, she's got a bag from there. Lucky for me we got out of there in under two hours and the bag is empty.


We're parked for the night in the WalMart in Princeton, WV and are about 3 - 3 1/2 hours from Danville so we'll drop by 11 tomorrow morning. I know from past experience that it is difficult to get back out of VA. If so, we'll rent a car and head for VA beach.
If we're real lucky we'll get routed through the Charlotte OC and get a chance to hassle big Ron and family. We'll see what comes to pass...


The other night we watched Bucket List - I liked Jack's line "as you grow older, never pass up a bathroom, never waste an erection and never trust a fart." We've got it covered, I guess we're older now.

Bob and the Funny Lady.

Headed for ... Illinois

Fairly uneventful trip through Tennessee and on to Georgia. Spent last night at the Atlanta OC. As I mentioned previously I was concerned that the delivery was scheduled for 6/20. Got it changed to today but still at 545 est. That requires us to get up at 345 cst. Last night, before delivering this morning got the next work assignment. Come back to the Atlanta OC and pick up a high-value load and take it to the Sam's Club distribution center in University Park, IL.

Go back about 700 dropped one trailer and picked up the next and on the road by 800 am cst.

Drove 460 miles today and have stopped in Henderson, KY. We checked into a Super 8 and The Funny Lady is reading, sunning and swimming. The Cubs are on tonight so I came in to catch up and watch the game.

Have about 200 miles to go tomorrow and we're trying to hook up with daughter Andrea around Champaign for breakfast enroute.

Got to tell you, it's rough world !!!

P.S. - passed a bunch of Red Lobsters and Olive Gardens recently and if Ron would send me a gift card we could stop in and eat, HAH !!!

Were Baaaack, and gone again

Our Saturday flight back to Chicago was supposed to leave SF at 6:20 and arrive about 12. I guess I have to report not everything goes perfect for us. The plan actually took off about 10:30 and we got into Chicago about 4 am and back to Gary a little before six... long day, but surely worth our time in CA with the kids.

Sun I picked up a Sprint wireless card for the laptop. I guess I can blog just about anywhere I want now.

We picked up a load in Gary. Iron fittings for Microsoft's new secret data center...ssshhh then drove over to the Ohare Oasis to get coffee/tea and wait for the next work assignment.

We've got it... 29,000 of mustard. Headed for a drop in Tennessee and then GA. I'm a little miffed. The load to TN has to be there by 10:00 tomorrow and then the GA not till 0545 on 6/20, three days 250 miles. Homey don't think so. We'll drop in TN then get to Atlanta tomorrow night and try to drop in College Park, GA 0800 on Wednesday. We'll see.

Anyway we're shacked up for the night at a real nice rest area in Kentucky.

So far the wireless card gets my approval. Keep you posted on that one.

Headed for ... Gary

They say "Home is where the heart is." We're headed back to Gary today but I think our hearts will stay in Monterey. Kids, grandkids and beautiful scenery. We've had a wonderful trip.

If it wasn't so darned expensive I would have to put this area on my top 10 to retire to in 10 years. Maybe I should install a retirement donation button on our blog and everyone can donate a buck now and then. Nah, but I'm pretty sure we'll be back "same time, next year."

But for now got to work to continue playing so off we go. This is the view of Monterey and Cannery Row from our room. Just can't get enough of it. Folks just stand for hours at the railing and admire the view. One thing we learned is that the ocean waves are noisey. Many times at truck stops it seems sooo loud from so many trucks running, but for sure the ocean is louder, though it is a much more pleasant sound.

Took a walk with the little ones around the hotel yesterday. This is Aslan and Aralyn. Aslan is Claire's first. He stayed with us most of the weekend and Aralyn too, yesterday.

Yesterday I spent the morning with Claire and Ledo helping them buy a new car. Yes, 48 hours after birthing. I know you're thinking how mean, but time was of the essence. We got a brand new 2008 Chevrolet Aveo for $10,600.
The Funny Lady and I put a couple thousand down and they got the car for $190 a month. Cheaper than the gas and maintenance they were paying for on their old beater. Thanks to Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Joe for helping us with college for the girls along the way, it lets us help Claire and Ledo and we all come out winners. THANKS, Grandma and Grandpa!!!

One quick commercial, we have rented cars from Enterprise each time we've taken our little jaunts. They are convenient, friendly and cheap. Just don't get the cars from the airport. Here we got it for $100 for three days and they wanted $300 and something at the airport. A $15 dollar cab ride saves over $200, and they gave me a ride back to the hotel.

We're happy and rested and ready to hit the road for another three weeks. The last run was 27 days and by the end I felt that was a bit too long without a break but we did that because that's when we could use our Mileage Plus miles for free flights to Monterey. In the future we'll keep our runs to about 3 weeks and then 5 days off.

Lastly I want to thank Ashley for getting us this beautiful room on the cheap and breakfast each day included. Ashley even had a fruit/cheese plate sent to the room. Guess you know I didn't get much of it, HAH. The Funny Lady loves her fruit. Thanks Ashley and we sure enjoyed you and your baby.

TAH Day 2

In case you needed to see more baby pictures... here you go

A day at the beach - the funny lady with Aslan and Aralyn...

End of day at the pool and hot tub.

Great day with family.

TAH Day 1 Monterey, CA

Guess what ? We have a new baby. That's Claire and baby Michael. He was born this morning while we were flying in from

Chicago. Beautiful baby. Mom, Dad baby and brother Aslan are all fine.

Isn't life grand...

Ashley works at the Monterey Beach Resort and got us a great room there. Here is the view of the Monterey Bay from our room.

We'll be here until Saturday evening then back to Chicago about 1:00 AM Sunday and a day to rest and straighten up the truck and then on the road for three weeks.

Whoa, look... there's that funny lady again. Followed me all the way to Monterey this time. I wonder how she keeps up with me !

We had dinner with Adam, Ashley and Aralyn (Ashley's daughter) and came back to the room to this this beautiful sunset.

Now I think we'll go sit in the hot tub, we've been on the move since 2:30 am Chicago time this morning and we're pooped. More tomorrow.

As I am want to say "Rough life ain't it"

Bob

We're Really Hauling Butt

After dropping a load - get it a load in the diapers !!! My next work assignment got tough. The instructions were to bobtail back to the Fontana OC and pick up a trailer that was supposed to be half loaded and take it to another location and finish loading. That should not have been a problem except the trailer was empty. I checked with the fuel desk and they said yep it's empty. So I grabbed it and headed to Salton - George Foreman stuff. They put their stuff on and before I left I thought I would check again... OH NO... the previous driver had taken the wrong trailer to get half loaded. That's a problem cause I need it all and I'm running out of time for todayand the week AND I need to get back to Gary. For reference this is now Friday about noon. So we head back to Fontana and wait for the trailer. At 1:00 he says he's about 30 minutes away, but arrives at 3:30. Accident on the 605, hard to believe, right ?


Really fast I grab his trailer and head back to the shipper. So now I have two trailers there and it's about 4:30. Understand, I left for Oxnard to drop the diapers at 3:30 so I am really running out of time. When I got to the shipper they were closing up shop, they had given up on me. A little one knee work and they moved everything from the trailer I had brought earlier to the new one and reprinted their bill of lading. It's about 5:30 on Friday and we're on our way.

Cheated just a bit and got almost to Barstow for Friday night. I still haven't told you where we're going - Beaver Dam, WI, 2000 miles plus another 250 back to Gary by Tuesday. That means 600 miles a day but then I'm running out of hours for 70 hours in 7 days. The funny lady is pissed, she says I shouldn't take it... stay in LA and take TAH now. For the record, I talked to Claire today and she still is pregnant.



Anyway on our way..




We headed through NV (had to skip Las Vegas) a section of AZ, a bunch of UT. These picutes are of San Rafael Swell - Incredible...Look, there's that funny lady again...





We then went west side to east side of CO.





When we left LA it was about 90 degrees. When we got to CO it was 43 degrees and it was pretty obvious that it had snowed on the mountains a bit last night. What an amazing country,



As you can see Beaver Creek ski area still has snow. The hotel in the foreground is the Sheraton Mountain Vista - we have a timeshare there for the week of New Years. Pardon the sales pitch, but another is coming.
This is the Christie Lodge, it's across the street from the Sheraton, we have a timeshare there for the week of Christmas... I might be forced to take two weeks off at Christmas if no one wants to rent them. OH WELL, it will be rough.


On the way down I70 to Denver - you will not believe this - I honked the air horn at a BEAR that was trying to cross the interstate... right in front of us.


So tomorrow we're headed to Cedar Rapids and then on to Beaver Dam Tuesday morning and one way or another on to Gary Tuesday afternoon - or the funny lady WILL be the bear that chews my butt. Wish me luck...

Dropped the load in Brownsville and put my status in the Qualcomm, in front of this pier area, to get the next work assignment. Nuttin'. Ask me if we care... NOT!!! Checked into a La Quinta hotel in Harlingen, TX and cooked our baked potatoes with brocolli and cheese and fruit with shortcake and cool whip. Suffering, can't you tell ? But really it was 102 degrees out.

The next morning at 5:00 am I went out to see if things had improved. Yep, run over to Laredo, TX and pick up a relay load from Mexico and take it to Oxnard, CA. Can you guess what it is ? Nope, it's not paper, but close. It's DIAPERS. 21,000 pounds of them. Made it to Sanderson, TX and had dinner at Mi Tierra. Not bad but don't go out of your way, a long way, to get there.

When we took our walk last night we surprised a group of deer and were surprised ourselves by a Pepe Le Pew. I threw a rock a him and he raised his tail at us.

For travelers, Texas and New Mexico rest areas have wireless. Don't bet your life on their stability but at least they do work.

So once again, there's that funny lady following me around. This is at the same rest area above. This view overlooks the Rio Grande and the hills in the background are Mexico.

Got a pretty full day in; now we're in Benson, AZ and have checked into a Motel 6. By the way both La Quinta and M6 give discounts to truckers.

We plan to get to Ontario, CA tomorrow, about 8 hours and then slip into Oxnard Friday morning about 4:00 am to avoid the LA traffic. The question at hand is: will we/can we get back to Gary by Wednesday at 5:00 am to catch our flights back to CA. Claire should be having grandson number 3 any minute now and we're headed there to see the baby and family along with Adam and his girlfriend Asleigh (sp).

When the funny lady gets done watching Dr. Phil we're headed for the pool.

No, not skinny dipping.