Enjoying North America while earning a living...

I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.

About Me

My photo
Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.

About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...

I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net


Blog Dictionaries...

The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...

December 10, 2009

December 10, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-entering Oklahoma)
2AM found me rolling into the “Just A Truckstop” in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Parking my truck had to be done far from the truck store/restaurant as there were many trucks. I just parked and went to bed. Woke up at 9 AM and moved my truck up to being close to the store/restaurant doors. Went in and had breakfast and them came out, fueled(60 gallons), did vehicle inspection and got my paperwork work caught up. By 11 AM I was on I-35 heading south again. Nice day for driving. Following the flow of traffic at around 70 miles per hour. Down into Texas. It is interesting how the grasslands of eastern Kansas changed as I moved south to a less “green” color. Now in Texas the grass is more brown...greenish but more brown. Following I-35 south, I come to where I-35 splits into I-35E (goes through Dallas) and I-35 W (goes through Ft Worth). I am taking I-35 W south past Ft. Worth. I stopped for a break at the rest area outside Mansfield, Texas. By 3 PM I am back in the truck heading south. Come to the southern junction of I-35E and I-35 W and am on just I-35 south again. Pushing hard as I will stay the night in San Antonio and get to Laredo tomorrow. Pulling into the “Just A Truckstop” in San Antonio, Texas at 7:15 PM. I found a good parking spot and parked. I went in and enjoyed my dinner with several other truckers in the restaurant. Shoot! I have the urge to get the load to Laredo. I don't want to but those inner voices tell me to keep it moving. I fueled(76 gallons) and left by 8:45 PM. Beautiful night to be traveling!!! Radio is picking up several stations from far away; times are great! Pulling into the Laredo, Texas terminal at 11:15 PM. Checked with dispatch about what to do with the trailer and he said to just drop it in the yard and turn the paperwork over to him. This I did. I checked about getting out of Laredo and was told I would be here for a couple days....OH BOY!?! Watched my TV and went to sleep.

Tomorrow: Using diesel fuel as engine coolant????
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