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...

March 13, 2010

March 13, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEAR:(Tuesday-Martin, Tennessee)
As the day started at midnight CST I had backed up to the receiver's dock after they informed me that they were to reload me with auto parts back to Sterling Heights, Michigan. I called dispatch and confirmed that they were to reload me and they were. They told me to go to bed and they would unload and load me throughout the night. I went to sleep-when? Don't remember but did wake up around 8 AM CST and did not feel any activity going on in the trailer. Checked with shipping and they had me loaded hours ago. They said they didn't need the dock so let me sleep. I got all the paperwork for the load, did my paperwork and the vehicle inspection. I like seeing new territory so going back to Detroit, Michigan the same way I came out here(the same roads that I will travel hundreds of times) will be somewhat “boring”. Called dispatch and asked for the routed miles. Got the routing and reviewed the roads. Many roads were impossible for me to travel. After looking for a different way to go, I didn't find decent routing that would be worth going on; I stayed on the standard, and logical, routing. By 10:15 AM CST I was leaving Martin, Tennessee for Kentucky traveling north on Hwy 45E. In Kentucky, I took the Julian M Carroll Parkway(toll road in 1990). north to I-24 east . I did not spend much time on I-24 as I took the Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway east and once again saw some beautiful country before reaching Elizabethtown, Kentucky where I grabbed I-65 north. I stopped in Shepherdsville, Kentucky for a lunch of a dozen mini hamburgers, three orders of french fries and a large water*** to drink.. Took all the food/munchies with me at 3:45 PM EST as I got back on I-65 north and traveled through Louisville. Just south of the Ohio River, I got on I-71 and headed for Cincinnati, Ohio. I-71 and I-75 join south of Cincinnati and go north to Cincinnati. Before getting to the Ohio River, as a trucker I have to take the I-275 loop (I go east) because of a steep downgrade before that river. I don't like this loop as it takes extra time and miles. When I get to I-471, I go north into Cincinnati where I get on I-71 south to I-75 north. Confusing??? Life's full of confusion. Followed I-75 north, past Dayton(Ohio), and stopped at the rest area near Piqua, Ohio at 8:30 PM EST for a short break. Back heading north a 9 PM EST. Went through Toledo and into Michigan while on I-75. Got to Taylor(Detroit suburb)terminal at midnight.....Checked with dispatch and....


***Shortly after starting to drive a semi-truck, I found that I was drinking a lot of milk and soft drinks. The cost, added up daily, came to a pretty considerable sum. I started drinking water at meals and while driving and saved alot of $$$$...

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