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...

April 13, 2010

April 13, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday- Lake Station, Indiana)
Woke up a little after 8 AM EST and just laid there and listened to my truck TV in had on. I was in no hurry as this load was due in Wichita, Kansas Monday AM. I went into the truckstop and had the breakfast buffet. After eating I just looked at the things in the trucker store for awhile.

I got out of there about 10:30 AM EST and headed west on I-94/I-80. When the two interstates separated, I followed I-80 to I-55 where I went south. Traveling through the state of terminal farmland. Farmland all over the place!!! no change! Enough to drive ya crazy!!! Just before 12:30 PM CST I stopped at he rest area at Funks Grove(Illinois). Was there about 30 minutes and hit the road again. At Springfield, Illinois I took Hwy 36(now I-72) west--alot more farmland-- to highway 100(highway 36 not completed to Hannibal, Missouri yet). A short distance on Hwy 100 to Hwy 106 where I went west. Had to stop at the draw bridge over the Illinois River for a boat passing. On west through the very small community of Detroit, Illinois and onto Pittsfield(Illinois) where I stopped at the Wal-Mart store for about 45 minutes. At Pittsfield, I picked up Highway 54 west and followed it to the very skinny bridge(a semi passing a car is a challenge-still that way in 2010) over the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri. Stayed on Highway 54 to Kingdom City, Missouri and then to Fulton(Missouri) where I checked my mail at the Post Office. Back to Kingdom City and stopped at a convenient store for a soda pop(soft drink) and some munchies. Back on the road (I-70) heading west at 6:45 PM CST and got to the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal at 9:15 PM. Parked my unit and checked in with dispatch.

Dispatch asked if I could bobtail(go with no trailer) to Lexington, Nebraska to pick up an auto parts load for Monday. I was out of driving hours for now but could go tomorrow...I said OK and dropped my trailer that was going to Wichita, Kansas. Went to bed to get some sleep. Will be leaving for Lexington early in the morning...
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