Gads, I hate days like today!

I have to swap my load, was stuck for four miles behind a 6 car pile up and went over my 14 hours by over an hour.....................augh!!!!!!  Gotta love Salt Lake City!

We will swap in Beaver and then take that driver's load to Colorado.  That is all I know and I don't want to know more as 15 hours came and went too quickly.  Good night!

Saddle down! We are in Billings, Montana

Nothing intelligent or creative to say so it is picture day!

It was Gonja's day and he decided he was going to walk me........

Then he had to do the "I was here" tourist photograph......gads, what a ham!

Knock, knock!!!

Get out of bed!  Time to burn some rubber...........  ;)

Safe and sound in Fargo…..

It took us 5 hours to get that load from the paper plant!  I now have 44 – 1000 pounds each of printing paper…..amazing!  We stopped an hour short of our 14 for three reasons, one is we won’t make it to another stop before the clock runs out, two is fuel/food was required ASAP and three is…….I feel a cold coming on as I already have a sore throat.  As I have no time restrictions for the next two days, when I start or end doesn’t matter as long as I drive at least 10 hrs each day.  So I am going to sleep in and slowly get my body back on west coast time.  Later!

Good morning from International Falls, Minnesota

I had a great night in Williams, Minnesota!  I have been wanting to park outside a tavern and spend the night just like the truckers do in the movies and I finally got the chance!  I planned on stopping at 7 PM so I could get back to my early morning start time and entered the town of Williams right on the money.  To my right as I entered the town was the only restaurant/bar/liquor store and it had a big lot for a big truck!  I parked in the back, logged off the truck and went inside.

There were about a dozen people inside, half of which were related, enjoying dinner and drinks while discussing the town meeting that just ended 30 minutes earlier.  From what I was told, they had signed a petition to have the mayor of 1.5 years removed from office.  The little town of roughly 200 was in an uproar as the city finances were $90,000 in the rears and the mayor was suggesting they close this restaurant/bar/liquor store as it is paid for by the city/county.  It appears that the bookkeeper was getting a little more on his/her salary and the funds to run the restaurant/bar/liquor store were disappearing.  And……the bookkeeper has a criminal record of embezzling before!  So, the town folks had enough and had a town meeting.  This place is well taken of as it always has patrons and it is the ONLY liquor store for miles! The petition was given to the mayor, she pushed it aside and now it is the waiting game.  As the locals told me, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out!

So after a $16 dollar tab (the chili was homemade and good), two hours of conversation and gossip, it was time to call it a night.  No idle of the truck was necessary as it was a cool evening and no noises……no trucks……just sweet silence to fall asleep too.  It was just as I had hoped for, just like in the movies but with less fighting and a lot less sex!  ;)

I arrived this morning to International Falls to a very large paper plant that I think is connected to the paper plant across the river in Canada.  I am waiting on a load to take to CALIFORNA!  Fleet stated it was 2036 miles while my GPS states 2186 (I hate when they short change you) but none the less, if I get my load soon, I might be able to spend the night in Vegas in two days with my sister, Rhonda!  Cross our fingers that our hours fall into place so we can do just that. It is cold and wet and windy here and I am ready to hit the road since a nice walk and pictures are out of the question.  Enjoy your breakfast; we should be back on the road in less than an hour!

Winnie and Tigger are moving faster than me!

Good morning from the drop site in Winnipeg and as I predicted, we are sitting here until the fleet manager moves us or the client kicks us off the property.  There is another company driver here as well who was 1.5 hours late as he was to be here at 8 AM as well.  We both picked up on the same day, same time but he was delayed due to flat tires and the 6 hour wait for approval but by my calculations and our la la drive yesterday, he should have been here on time.

So, it has been two hours, we went for a nice little walk to the military cemetery (didn’t know where the main entrance was), Gonja got groomed (he NEVER stops shedding) and now enjoying a crisp cold apple.  I remember the days when I had no patience and now, I just smile and say……..let’s walk!  I must be getting old  ;)

Well, I am going to visit with the other driver, he is about the same age as James, been with the company a few more months than me, has been in a slight accident (back of his trailer hit a reefer causing a couple of grand in damages) and he is waiting to get fired.  I hope he finds a new job first!

Actually, he is 35 and has an 8 month old son and live in girlfriend.  We now have been sitting nearly 4 hours and I am back at the truck stop.  When I told fleet that I was moving my truck from the client to the Flying J, they came back with a message of "Canada?"  Like I would drive 3 hours to cross the border and wait for a load but on the same token, I could have been there by now!  That little bonus is no longer a bonus but wages I am currently losing from sitting yesterday and today.  :(  Not only that, the web service I pay for does not work properly at this location and I am paying Denny's $2 in hush puppies for their free internet.  Sweet!!!

I might be in Canada another day so don't expect text or phone calls.  I will keep you informed my dear truckers........later!

Winnipeg….aye!

We made it after taking our sweet little time.  Gonja has never smelled so many bushes, trees, and garbage cans all in one day and was in dog aroma heaven!  We did a nice 3 miles walk around the outskirts of Winnipeg and now I am enjoying chicken, mash potatoes and a roll for dinner, all prepared in my truck!  I used my backpacking Jetboil to heat 2 cups of water, added instant potatoes; and topped it off with some leftover chicken and a dinner roll……five minutes later, a hot meal!  My overhead expenses have cut down to over half now that I know what I am doing and I have the equipment to do it with!

It is going to be cool enough outside tonight to not run the truck but I always feel a tad nervous about keeping the windows down to enjoy a nice breeze…..because, I am at a TRUCK STOP.  But since I won’t be breaking idle hours, I will just let the truck run.  Heck, I still have to figure out what I am going to do for the next three hours as we get to sleep, our load is due at 8 AM, only 30 minutes away.  So I am going inside to wash my Jetboil, get online and update you all……and maybe watch a show or two.

Should be back in the States tomorrow……..but never promise as we all know what can happen to me!  Good night!

Good evening from the TA truck stop in Rogers, Minnesota!

We were just 5 minutes past our 14 hours so no nasty messages about log violations.  It was a beautiful drive from Illinois to Wisconsin to Minnesota and we still have North Dakota to run through before we hit the Canadian border for Winnipeg.  A nice summer storm is passing through cooling the air while coloring the clouds in various ominous shades of red and giving the truck stop that lil bit of clean scent (in this case, washing the urine off the asphalt).  Hate to ruin that image that was just running through your head but a reality check was required….we are in a TRUCK STOP  J

I don’t remember if I told you but my fleet manager gave me an extra $75 for this run to Canada.  Divide that by the miles for this trip and you have something to smile about!  You know, when we were first assigned to each other, it was not pretty but since we have proven to each other that we can do our jobs ………….we are getting along just fine now.

Anyway, this load of retail catalogs needs to hit Winnipeg at 8 AM on the 8^th so we have time to take it a little bit slow and enjoy a nice walk and nap tomorrow.  Sweet dreams everyone!