Woke at the truckstop at 6 AM (MST) and went into the truckstop and had breakfast. After breakfast, I drove to the Ogden tire store and parked on the side road where I will have to unload off of. After the store got opened, two workers came out and helped me get the trailer emptied. After my paperwork was signed, I drove back to the “No Big Deal” Truckstop, filled my fuel tanks(164 gallons) and got my logbook all caught up. Called dispatch and was told to go to Bonanza, Utah for a load to Marshal, Michigan. I took the truck back down to Bountiful (Utah) where I parked it next to a K-Mart store and behind a convenient store with other trucks. My Mom didn't live too far from there so I took her to lunch. After lunch, said, “Bye” and headed for Bonanza about 1 PM(MST). I went South on I-15 until I caught I-80 east. Did the steep climb out of Salt Lake City to Park City(Utah). Shortly after Park City, I took Hwy 40 south and east. Shortly after Heber City, Utah I was climbing toward “Daniel's Pass”. This whole area was so beautiful and I felt I was driving on the top of the world. I loved it!!!! This type of scenery makes driving great!!! When I got to Roosevelt, Utah, I found a grocery store with a parking lot that could take the truck. I stopped and bought some bottles of water and a lot of munchies which turned out to be a wise move. I left Roosevelt around 4:30 PM (MST) and started running along with two “lime” haulers who where hauling lime to the huge power plant north of Bonanza, They said to follow them as the sign to Hwy 45 and onto Bonanza was really small and hard to see. We chit-chatted through Vernal, Utah and then south toward Bonanza. These two drivers claimed to have never been to Bonanza but pointed me to it when they cut off for the plant. It was now dark out and I came upon a factory on my right side but no town. I kept going and no town. I finally went down a long grade with a sign at the bottom reading, “End of State Maintenance”. I had missed the town!!! I stopped my rig and got out and examined the desert dirt. I had to turn this rig around and part of it was going off the road and into this dirt. I decided to back the lighter trailer onto the dirt, keeping my whole tractor on the pavement. I did it!!! I was up the grade in a couple minutes and pulled into the plant that I had past. I talked to a fellow walking around and told him who I was picking up for. I told him I had missed Bonanza and he said no I hadn't. Bonanza consisted of 9 houses behind this plant. He said that I needed “Little Bonanza” which was off the road a couple miles back toward Vernal. There was a small, rusted out sign pointing the direction. I traveled over the small asphalted road a couple miles to Little Bonanza; I found "the town" and the company I was looking for. It was now long after dark and I didn't see anyone around. I parked in front of the building that looked like the head building. The parking area was a huge dirt field with a few small buildings circling it. One light was on for the whole area but the moon helped me see what was going on. The night was clear and cool as I walked a short distance from the truck. It was really nice outside for November. I went back to the tractor and tried to pick sometime up on the radio. I listened to a station out of San Antonio, Texas that faded in and out all night. Got logbook caught up, read, ate munchies and listened to the radio. Went to sleep early...
GAD! THE HORRIBLE STUFF (Gilsonite-natural asphalt) I AM ABOUT TO PUT IN THE TRAILER!!!!
