FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Hutchinson, Kansas)
Was up by 3:30 AM CST and traveling west on Hwy 50 a short distance to Hwy 61. Took Hwy 61 to the southwest to Pratt, Kansas. Hwy 61, in the dark, has been really beautiful to travel....The beauty of the surroundings start falling off after Pratt-and the sun came up-but aren't bad. This time of year, the wheat waving in the breeze is not there as the farmers will be planting it soon. Continued west on Hwy 54. Stopped at the truckstop at Liberal, Kansas for a break at 7:30 AM CST. Was in the truckstop about 15 minutes only and I was back on Hwy 54 west bound when I slipped into Oklahoma for about 30 minutes. Following Hwy 54 west I went into Texas and changed highways in Stratford. Took Hwy 287 south through Dumas, Texas and down into Amarillo, Texas. In Amarillo, I stopped for lunch at “Just a Truckstop”. Since this is a fuel stop of ours and I don't know where I will go after delivery, I decided to fill my tanks.... Fueled them(120 gallons). Ate lunch and on my way again by 12:30 PM CST. Traveled down I-27. By 3 PM CST, I pulled into the warehouse where I will deliver these diapers in Lubbock, Texas tomorrow. Went to the truckstop a few blocks away from the warehouse and got all my paperwork caught up. Nothing special so I went back to the warehouse where I decided to stay for the night. Took it easy, ate munchies, watched my TV and dozed off when I felt like it...
Tomorrow: an interesting place to pick up a load...
A TRUCKER'S TALE:
This happened to me so it is my tale. I had delivered my load in Burnaby, British Columbia. With my trailer empty, I was told to go back into the United States. I got to the border at Blaine, Washington and the posted customs instructions were to park and go into the customs building. I walked up to the customs officer and claimed my emptiness. He said,”That will be $5.00.”. I said that I was empty and asked why I needed to pay $5.00???? He said that I just did. I stood there for a second and then said,”Shoot, for $5.00 I should at least get to talk to her(The female agent in the next booth that had no one in line and who had heard us talking.), He said,”OK” and moved the paperwork he had to her. I walked over to her and she said,”That will be $5.00.”. She said nothing more. I gave her the $5.00 and she gave me the token I needed to get out of the customs yard. I left...
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...
March 20, 2010
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- 666--Highway (2)
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