FIRST 5 YEARS: (Monday-Kansas City, Missouri)
I was awake just laying in my bunk as my day stated and so I decided to get up and get going. Sunday night/Monday morning is sometimes the best time to drive; it's just quiet and nice. I was on my way up I-435 by 12:30 AM CST. I-435 turns west and I took it to I-29 northbound.
Matter of Opinion: This stretch of I-29(St. Joseph to Iowa border), I find one of the nicest drives. I once talked to a fellow that called this stretch the most boring drive he knew...
Ten miles into Iowa on I-29, I turned west on Hwy 2 toward Lincoln, Nebraska. Alot of road construction was going on around Nebraska City after I went over the Missouri River. Hwy 2 to Lincoln was mainly to 2 lane road(all four lane road in 2010) through corn country. I got up to Lincoln and got to I-80 which I took west...more corn!!! I find it interesting that I remember corn crops in Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska, Wheat is south west Kansas and cotton in Georgia...
Followed I-80 and all the corn, , taking a short break at the pickle park near York(Nebraska), and ending at Big Springs(Nebraska) where I stopped for a long break at our fuel stop. Running has been great today. Good chit-chat on the CB radio all the way. Got to Big Springs at 8 AM MST.
Shut down for a long break. I went into the restaurant and ate breakfast. Went back to my truck after eating and not finding anyone I knew. Went to bed and slept nicely 'til my alarm went off at 5:30 PM MST. I thought about fueling but decided to do it in Rawlins, Wyoming
as that would make a nice stop. After my vehicle inspection and logbook update, I was heading west on I-80 by 6 PM MST. This area is where I seem to get into the ranch lands; from here through alot of Wyoming looks like grass production for cattle.
After entering Wyoming, I had to stop at the "Port of Entry" which was a super couple. Was out of there shortly as all my paperwork was in order. Went through Cheyenne and then the mountains start. Through Laramie and I kept on moving. Got to Rawlins(Wyoming) and our fuel stop at 11:15 PM MST. I fueled( 128 gallons) and walked around the truckstop. My day ended as I was buying munchies for the road....
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...
August 13, 2010
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- 666--Highway (2)
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