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

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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...

October 23, 2010

October 23, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Provo, Utah)
Having gotten my first drop done yesterday, I was up and heading north on I-15 by 6:30 AM MST and backing into the Sandy delivery point shortly before 7:15 AM MST.

We were unloading at 7:30 AM MST. Finished the Sandy(Utah) store and went on to deliver in Kearns, Salt Lake City, Bountiful, finishing the day at Roy. The only problems I encountered today was having to back in to the stores in Sandy, Kearns and Roy off of busy street. I did it though.

After I finished with the Roy store, I called dispatch and was told to pick up a load of natural asphalt in Bonanza, Utah going to Cincinnati, Ohio tomorrow morning. I had been to Bonanza before-in the middle of nowhere-and so I took the time to make sure I was stocked up on food and water before I left the Salt Lake Valley.

I stopped at our fuel stop in Salt Lake and fueled(126 gallons) and then headed east on I-80 to Hwy 40. At Hwy 40, went south through Heber City(Utah). This area makes me feel like I am literally on top of the world. The late evening was beautiful, even with just a quarter moon to light the terrain. Got to Vernal(Utah) where I took Hwy 45 south to just a "hair" above Bonanza. I went to "Little Bonanza" actually. I got to the waiting area just before 10 PM MST and found the lot empty. I parked and as I was doing my paperwork, another truck from my company pulled up next to me. Said "hi" to the other driver on the CB radio and we talked about this place a little. I had been here before and I was ready for it. The other driver, Nick, had his wife with him and she kept him stocked up on supplies....Both trucks shut down for the night...

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