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...

February 28, 2010

February 28, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Louisville, Kentucky)
Woke up at 2:30 AM EST and couldn't really sleep anymore. Went to a pay phone and called dispatch. Found out the I had a load to pick up in Greencastle, Indiana today so I had the dispatcher dispatch me and I took off at 3 AM EST. I took the “back roads” instead of the Interstates...I just felt like it. I started on I-71 south to I-64 west in downtown Louisville, Kentucky where I went over the Ohio River. Was on I-64 only a couple miles before I took Hwy 150 west. Dark out so the greenery was somewhat meaningless. Got to Paoli, Indiana and took Hwy 37 north, through the mountains of Indiana, to Bloomington. At Bloomington I took Hwy 46 to Spencer, Indiana(crossroads of Hwy 46 and Hwy 231). Took Hwy 231 north to Greencastle, Indiana where I found the shipper as I crossed into the city limits on Hwy 231. Checked in at 7 AM EST and was backed up to the docks. If I had stayed on the interstates, I probably would have used more miles but would have cut a good hour off my travel time. I was loaded and leaving at 9:45 AM EST. Took Hwy 231 south to I-70 west. Fuel should be good to Kansas City, Mo. Load weight was 34,756 lbs and shouldn't be a problem for the weigh stations I go through. Was going to stop in Effingham, Illinois but when I got there, I just kept going. Stopped at the rest area near Altamont, Illinois and took a short break. Continued to follow I-70 to I-270 across the northern part of St. Louis. Got to I-70 on the west side of St. Louis and took it toward Kansas City. Was tired by the time I got to Kingdom City, Missouri so I stopped at “Just a Truckstop” and took my 8 hour break Not planning on traveling any further today....Went into restaurant and ate. Watched a movie in the movie room...went to bed...
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