FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Watkins, Colorado)---all times are in “Mountain Standard Time”
Was awake by 6 AM so I went into the truckstop and looked at all the truck stuff and cards. Bought a Pepsi and munchies and headed back to my truck. Did vehicle inspection and paperwork and left for Aurora, Colorado. Got back on I-70 heading west to I-225 where I went south. Got off I-225 at Mississippi Ave. and found the tire store by 7:15 AM. The store opened at 7AM and the manager told me where to park and he checked my seal so I could open the doors. I worked the trailer from the inside and the trailer was ALMOST FULL. I rolled the tires to the tire store employees starting around 7:30 AM and we were done at 8:45 AM. I called dispatch and let them know I was on my way to the second and final stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I had a 1 PM appointment but got there early. Left Aurora at 9:15 AM heading north on I-225 to west on I-70. A short mileage to I-270 which I took to I-25 north. Drove into Wyoming and had to stop at the Wyoming weigh station and show the DOT officer my permit book. No problem... Got to I-80 and had to go a short distance on I -80. Got off I-80 and found the tire store at 11:15 AM. I and one tire store employee were unloading the trailer by 11:45 AM and at 12:15 PM there were two more employees helping. By 2 PM the trailer was totally unloaded and I had my paperwork. I went back to a close truckstop I had passed when I was looking for the tire store. I parked the truck and called dispatch. I was given a load of auto part in Lexington, Nebraska to pick up tomorrow morning. Decided to go to Big Springs, Nebraska(our fuel stop). By 3 PM I was heading for Big Springs on I-80 east. I pulled into the Big Springs fuel stop at 5:30PM. I fueled(146 gallons) and then decided to continue to Lexington, Nebraska as I still have time to travel. My truckstop booklet says Lexington has a truckstop. I went passed the closed Nebraska weigh station and got to Lexington around 9 PM.(my time-CST)..Found a convenient store with truck parking north of I-80. KFC restaurant was across the street so I went there for dinner. Back at the truck, I went to bed......
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
- The Protraveller...
- 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...
February 15, 2010
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What's in my blog...???
- 666--Highway (2)
- A Trucker Tale-introduction (1)
- A Trucker's Tale (33)
- abandonment of truck (1)
- accidents (12)
- animals (3)
- backing (2)
- buffalo burgers (1)
- bull haulers (1)
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- caught but... (2)
- caught-almost (3)
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- computer portable desk. (1)
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- diabetes and driving (3)
- dispatcher's mistakes (1)
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- interesting (3)
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- logbook violation-see violation (1)
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- violation (51)
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