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 !!!

We're on the Road Again

I made it all the way back to OKC Friday afternoon. I was lolly gagging across Missouri and wondering what time I was supposed to meet the other driver and then got a message that I was to meet him by 4:00 Friday. It was 1130 Friday morning and I knew I had 250 miles to go.

I was at a rest area getting ready to take a nap ( remember I thought we were meeting Sat) and I was planning to go to the casino in OKC/KS/MO Friday afternoon and getting into OKC about 1300. Little wrinkle there. I ran to the potty and hit the road.

I followed that with a call to the Funny Lady and hit the road and didn't stop until I got there at 1530. Teresa hit the road about 1330 and we met right at 1530. Since I got in a day early we went back to Ponca City and stayed until 1900 Saturday night. Then we drove down and spent the night in the truck to catch a 0600 flight to Idaho.

We spent 3 days with my Mom, son and aunt. Great time. Scott's got a cute boy - 3 in Jan.

Teresa spent some time showing my Mom how to put together 3 new quilt tops ( Teresa had cut them out before we went). Mom says she's making good progress. Teresa also gave Scott's fiance Jennie one. She's a pretty busy lady, we'll see.

We arrived from Idaho at 1100 and headed for the truck. At 200 they sent a message, not a work assignment mind you, to "head towards Hutchinson, KS and they would send the w/a while we were enroute." We got there about 1800 and started to settle in. At 2000 the w/a came in to go 50 miles to Wichita and pick up a trailer at 2300. I said nope, no-can-do. I can go back in the morning. Left at 0430 and got back to Hutchinson by 0700. We picked up 43,000 of Morton salt and are taking it to Grand Saline, TX. We are now in OKC, showered and fueled and ready to go tomorrow.

Bob

Almost Heaven

It's 4:35 Thursday and I'm done for the day !!! One more and a wake up.

Tuesday I had all my loads dropped (Springfield, Leominster and Wilmington) all in MA by 10:00 am and ready for the next w/a. I expect the next ones to be tricky. 10:45, OK here we go. Wilmington is on the north side of Boston. Th next w/a has me going to the south side of Boston and picking up a load of GM transmissions/engines headed for Detroit. Wondering if I really had to go to Detroit I headed out. Whew - they routed me to Seville, OH to relay it.

I headed for Seville and got there Wed 1300. OK now what. Dropped the trailer, picked up an empty trailer and showered in 30 minutes...The next w/a was to run up to Cleveland 38 miles away and pick up some stuff for Dollar General in Ardmore, OK. PERFECT !!!

I get to the shipper and the load is canceled. DARN. Now I'm a positive thinker and doer, but this is starting to stretch. So I hang around Cleveland about an hour and I get ANOTHER w/a !

This time 80 miles to Clyde, OH - Whirlpool and pick up a load of appliances headed to Mexico. I didn't know they went out of the country I thought they were making them outside (cheaply) and shipping them back into the country. Learn something new every day.

So Wed about 5:00 I picked up a the appliances and this morning at 4:00 I headed out. I'll probably have to stop that when the Funny Lady gets back on board. I'll take it...

And now, as I said before, I'm in E. St. Louis, IL. Obviously just across the river from St. Louis. MO. I'm hanging around here in case Sarah Palin wants a little working man coaching before the debate with Joe Biden. At least I could tell her what magazines and newspapers make good reading ! "All of them" doesn't really cut it.

Anyway this load of appliances is headed for Laredo, TX but I'm expecting to meet another Schneider driver at my drop spot in OK on Saturday and be done for 5 days.

Since this is really what they call a high value load the hand off has to be face-to-face. So I'm waiting for the dispatcher to QC me an expected arrival time on Sat.

I don't have enough running hours to make it all the way to OKC from here so I'm planning to stop after about 6 hours at the new casino we were at a while back - the one that you enter from MO, park in KS and gamble in OK.

As I was driving in a bit ago I was reflecting that Friday last week I was delivering at Macy's on the west side of St. Louis and have since been up to Green Bay over the top of the UP and over to MA and all the way back to St. Louis in 7 days. I don't actually know how many miles that is, but I'm guessing real close to 3,500. And that's three weeks out.

I need a break and the Funny Lady.

Bob