February 23, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Marion, North Carolina) Times in Central Standard Time....unless noted. Was awakened at 5:30 AM ((6:30 AM EST )) and told that we have to get the truck turned around before the employees start coming in. The whole lot has to be used to turn the truck around. As it was, there were five trucks that had to be moved so I could get the turn made. The truck needed to be pointing west to be unloaded and to use the driveway for exiting the warehouse. I got backed up to the correct dock and I was being unloaded; I got out of the tractor and talked to a man standing there. The sun was up-not high though-when they started unloading me and I saw how beautiful the area was. To the west of this warehouse, the way my truck was pointed, there was a mountain which I committed to the man I was talking with, how beautiful it appeared. I BELIEVE the man told me that it was called Bear Mountain and was a reserve for bears. He told me of a little history of the area and then I was informed that my trailer was unloaded...does not take long to unload insulation with four guys doing it. Got my paperwork signed, did my logbook, vehicle inspection and called dispatch that I was empty. Dispatch then gave me an auto parts load to be dropped in the Taylor(Detroit suburb)Michigan terminal yard. I had munchies for breakfast and was heading east on I-40 to Mebane, North Carolina around 8 AM((9 AM EST)). I went past-in North Carolina-Hickory, Winston-Salem and Greensboro before getting to my Mebane pickup at 11 AM((12 noon EST)). I checked in with the shipper and found that they were waiting for me. I backed up to the dock and was ready to leave by 11:45AM ((12:45 PM EST)). Got all legal and was on I-40 westbound by noon((1 PM EST)). Followed I-40 to Winston-Salem where I took Hwy 52 northwest. Just south of Mount Airy, North Carolina(TV's Andy Griffith's Mayberry), I took, what is now, I-74 west to I-77 north into Virginia. About 25 miles into Virginia, and having climbed some steep mountains, I got to the joining of I-77 and I-81 but continued to follow I-77. Since I like the “Just a Truckstop” here at the I-77 and I-81 junction, I decided to stop and have dinner or late lunch. Was there 1 ¼ hours before heading north on I-77 again. Traveled the winding mountain roads before getting to the tunnel that took me into West Virginia and onto the West Virginia Turnpike. Followed the turnpike(I-77) to Charleston, West Virginia. Since leaving “Just a Truckstop” I had snow, sheet and rain but it wasn't too bad. Had to use extra caution. I Charleston I grabbed I-64 west for a short distance. Just west of South Charleston(actually on Charleston's west side) I took Hwy 35 north west into Ohio at Gallipolis(in Ohio). Continued up Hwy 35 to Chillicothe, Ohio where I stopped for the night-south of town-at a convenience store with truck parking. Was bedded down by 9 PM. A really bad day for traveling tomorrow...